One the heels of all but 22 arbitration-eligible players around the league agreeing to deals yesterday, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:
1. Cubs to introduce Imanaga:
The Cubs are expected to introduce newly-signed lefty Shota Imanaga in a press conference at 2pm CT this afternoon (h/t to Yuki Yamada of Sankei Sports) just hours before the team’s annual Cubs Convention kicks off this weekend. Imanaga signed in Chicago earlier this week on a four-year, $53MM deal with opt-outs after the second and third years that can be voided if the club exercises a fifth year club option that would take the total commitment to $80MM. Adding the lefty isn’t the only move the Cubs have made in recent days, and president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer will surely be asked about the prospect-for-prospect swap that brought infielder Michael Busch to the Cubs from the Dodgers yesterday in addition to the signing of Imanaga. To acquire Busch and right-handed reliever Yency Almonte, the Cubs surrendered a pair of recent draftees: left-hander Jackson Ferris (2022 second round) and outfielder Zyhir Hope (a 2023 11th-rounder who signed an over-slot $400K bonus, the equivalent of fifth-round money).
2. Yankees roster moves incoming:
The Yankees deepened their pitching staff yesterday, adding right-hander Luke Weaver on a major league deal in the afternoon before signing veteran righty Marcus Stroman to a two-year pact last night. Stroman, in particular, is a significant boost to the rotation behind Gerrit Cole, filling out a staf that also includes Carlos Rodon, Nestor Cortes, and Clarke Schmidt. Deepening the rotation mix has left something of a roster crunch in the Bronx. The club already had a full 40-man roster, so they’ll need to clear two spots for Weaver and Stroman in the coming days. The club could accomplish this simply by designating two players for assignment, though an alternative solution could be working out a minor trade with another club to acquire non-roster talent in exchange for players towards the back of the club’s 40-man.
3. Kranick in DFA Limbo:
In order to make room for newly-signed lefty Martin Perez on the 40-man roster, the Pirates designated right-hander Max Kranick for assignment last week. The seven-day period during which Kranick can be left in DFA limbo expires this afternoon, meaning a conclusion is expected sometime today. Kranick, 26, was an 11th-round pick in the 2016 draft by Pittsburgh and came up to the majors with the club back in 2021. The righty pitched to a 5.56 ERA in 43 2/3 innings of work across 11 appearances for the Pirates between 2021 and 2022 before he underwent Tommy John surgery in June of the latter year.
The righty didn’t appear in the majors 2023 due to a lengthy rehab but returned to action in the minor leagues toward the end of the season, posting a strong 2.76 ERA in 16 1/3 innings of work at the Triple-A level. Kranick has a very solid Triple-A track record (3.72 ERA, 19% strikeout rate, 7.2% walk rate), but he’s also out of minor league options and therefore would need to be carried on any club’s active roster or else exposed to waivers again. If Kranick goes unclaimed, the righty figures to be outrighted to the minors by the Pirates, where he’ll serve as depth at the Triple-A level entering the season.
It isn’t often a top 100 prospect just gets dumped off in a low return trade like this.
Top-50, at that. That was the best offer on the table?
I don’t know about “low return.” Second highest regarded arm in the Cubs system, only 19. Could possibly be the Dodgers’ best pitching prospect 1 year from now. The poor defensive Busch was rotting away on the Dodgers’ 40-man roster.
The guys they got are teenagers who have potential to be elite prospects 1-2 years from now.
They also have the potential to be nobodies. That’s the risk with young pitchers. Busch has his flaws but is ready to help now. If Jake Burger, and Bohm can play 3B, don’t see why Busch can’t handle the position.
Ferris is definitely not a low return. Out of all the prospects in the Cubs, highly regarded, farm system, Ferris and Horton were the only two I would not have dealt. Odds are Ferris will be catapulted into the top 100 by mid-season.
I’m hoping Busch will catch on with Kelly. I’m curious if Kelly worked with Busch after he was drafted at all.
From what I hear from local Chicago Sports talk radio. Take that for what it’s worth. Ferris is a pretty good prospect. Only 19 so a young prospect. He’s like 6’ 4” and a lefty and shows off very good pitching mechanics. One host mentioned that in 3-4 years especially with a team like the Dodgers he’s likely to be the next Clayton Keyshawn. We’ll see.
Top 50 prospect? Seriously? He is 26 years old
Josh Jung made his debut at 25. He had similar offensive numbers as Michael Busch at AAA and had similar questions about the defense. I think the dominance at AAA warrants Busch to be a top 50 prospect despite the age and glove questions.
Hey Nick, Ferris was a 2022 draftee.
The Yankees are just scraping the bottom of the barrel. Bargain basement shoppers lol let’s see if they make a deal with snell. They need a 1 , 2 punch in the rotation. Cole, Stroman is not it. Cole, Snell could work.
Shota coming to Chicago on the first big snow of the year lol. Poor guy. Someone please tell him it won’t be like this during the season.
He will be begging to be traded to San Diego for the weather alone…..
@Catuli Carl- Hey in Chicago, you really never know. Lol.
FA right!
It snows more in Japan, and is colder for longer… it’s the crap team around him that will make him think again. I can’t believe the Yankees didn’t even make an offer, seems nonitger teams made an offer..
Just keep in mind a fly ball pitcher doesn’t work out at Yankee Stadium, nobody keeps the ball on the ground as good as Stroman.
I suppose thru that lens, it makes sense. I just hope he’s not drama, he doesn’t seem wanted by places he’s pitched prior. I’ll be rooting for him this year.
I mean it’s put up or shut up time for Stroman, he’s got to just stop being obnoxious everywhere he goes. He’s back home so hopefully he’s chill now. It might be a good match at Yankee Stadium if he can behave himself.
Captain you’d think that someone with a 178iq would have known why Imanaga wasn’t a good fit for the Yankees. I question if he really has a 178iq.
Yeah Joe definitely an excellent point. You think Monty or Snell? Or are we done with the rotation? The White Sox want Jones back in a Cease deal, so that’s not happening. Edward Cabrera or Jesus Lazardo could be had in a trade also with the Marlins. Lmk. Pereira, Lombard, Schmidt and Warren for Lazardo.
Shota is not a flyball pitcher. He is a command pitcher. If he pitched in Seattle he would pitch higher for flyballs. If he pitched in New York he would pitch low for contact. He is a pitcher in the Kuroda mold.
I think we’re out on Snell. I do wonder if a trade involving Torres and Cortez (plus prospects not named Smith or Dominguez) to Miami for one of their pitchers may happen.
Imanaga is hands down healthier and better pitcher than Stroman. Stroman is a gamble. Imanaga’s fly balls are ONLY a worry if the Yankees can’t score again this season. Seems they are worried that they can’t out slug teams again so they are going with Stroman BECAUSE NONEONE WANTS HIM. The only player the Yankees have signed is someone with NO OTHER OPTIONS. some of you guys are so 2 dimensional. You can see past your nose.
The only way a starter gets to you before the deadline is a trade.
That “crap team” was a game away from the playoffs last year and will be better this season. Your ‘hater’ is showing.
Barely over .500 crap teams don’t win in the playoffs. Look at records of all the playoff teams last year. Should do your research before opening your big mouth. There wasn’t 1 team the cubs with their 4 games over .500 season were beating in the playoffs last season. and there are in the weakest division in MLB
That why Arizona won the pennant. They had the best record in the NL correct? Ask Tony LaRussa how he won a World Series winning what I believe was 86 games. Also why not ask Pinella why his Mariners did not win a WS when winning over 110 games during the regular season. You know less than nothing.
Hey, no fair. You looked farther back than just last year!
Agreed!! I am surprised more MLB teams didn’t beat that contract. Seems cheap for a very solid #3 pitcher that won’t get injured often. I am equally surprised to see the Yankees prefer Stroman at more money. They are pretty much the same pitcher.
Just curious about everyone else’s opinion, I know Boras does this every year, but I have to believe that dragging the major FAs out has to backfire at times. I would imagine that most of these FAs want a home this close to Spring Training and Teams are feeling the same about roster construction.
Clubberlang: Jurickson Profar is a past (and present) example of your stated free agent “backfiring” as brought forth by the hair slicked back, greasy, pinky ring fingered Scott Boras.
Michael Conforto too
Conforto got hurt in the offseason did he not?
It’s ok for Snell/Montgomery-a mix of old/struggling and even a PED cheat starter are landing 1-2yr deals in the 15 to 20mil per year range. They’ll both do very well.
Bellinger/Chapman will get 9 figure deals even if he stalls, but no one seems desperate to pay an inconsistent guy or the 30yo regressing guy like superstars.
Cws….what about Matt Carpenter?
Yeah…..for players well past their prime, hope the phone rings after teams lose out on better players. That’s not on the agent so much.
His tactics are dicey for the players who have just modest demand. Someone makes a legit good offer early & then that club moves on from the games while he fails at squeezing/finding motivated bidders for an okay client.
I’m sure he has been good for more than half his athletes. However, for a decent minority, it has probably done more harm. It I were an owner, and this agent put together a notebook about how my 2 war player was the next Griffey, I would end all conversations
Players have a choice to switch representation at any time. They know what they’re signing up for with Boras and the associated risks of getting burnt. A-Rod dumped Boras after opting-out of his contract in favor of using Goldman Sachs during his last contract negotiations with the Yankees. Every responsible free agent has a pitch deck and updated medicals.
Jake Arrieta was first offered same deal Darvish took from Cubs. 127m. Refused. Cubs pivoted to Darvish. Ended up taking 75 during spring training from Philly. Never earned another dollar. 52 million difference was probably the tax and agents commission on the 127. Was a big loss for Jake. Boras needs to learn from Kenny Rogers. Know when to hold ‘em know when to fold em.
Max kranik being DFA’d is one of the big stories today?
the day just started, Fraham_ give it time for other articles to come
SMH
Definitely a pickup for Chaim Breslow. Young, Controllable Pitcher – Could be our ACE of the future. 🙂
I couldn’t really think clearly on the late Stroman signing last night as I was dealing with something, but looking at it, the Yanks will need to trade or DFA more than a few pieces if they’re bringing someone else aboard. To me, that points to them moving away from Snell whereas last night I thought it still possible. Trading off a few guys for Luzardo makes more sense. If that’s 3-4 pieces, great. Then I’d pivot to possibly getting Hader at this point and make that pen a better weapon at the end of games. I’d feel like then NYY had done enough to be a playoff team, but right now not so much.
I’m not sure Stroman and Hader in the same locker room would be wise.
I’m not sure how much the Yankees are willing to spend but they need another pitcher and bullpen help. Truth be told I don’t love the offense either, too much station to station waiting on a home run type guys which isn’t translating well to those era.
To me, it looks like the Yankees will have to operate well above the luxury tax for several seasons. When GT leaves next year, they should really go hard after Arraez or someone other dynamic runner with elite contact skills.
Probably right on that first part, but roster wise it would be the most effective move they could make. For chemistry and money, I’d say probably Hicks would be better. Then again adding another guy with a bit of injury history makes me leary.
3yrs of Luzardo control is the highest price starter now in terms of trade capital. Marlins probably won’t deal him either. Would involve anyone’s elite prospects (minimum 2). No one can pull their perceived studs off the table and say “pick a few from our next tier” or include a vet player with limited contract control.
If they want another starter it’s thru a trade. Hader not going to NYC. He’s looking for 100 plus. Maybe is depends on how much Hader is willing to defer? He will need to defer
almost everything to end up in Dodger Blue. Roberts 110 wins second round exit to 88 win team!
As many health concerns as a rotation consisting of Cole, Rodon, Stro and Cortes has, it’s still a very good one. Those four plus that offense will put them in a solid playoff position come the deadline where they can add as needed.
I don’t expect the Yankees call it good with their current rotation. You don’t trade all the pitching they did for one year of Soto, have the reigning Cy young winner and ride out with 4 additional question marks.
I don’t love the Soto trade but the Yankees made their bed.
Yankees solution is not pitching,,,it is Soto, Judge and Domínguez healfty,,,it should be a explosive Bomb
I think it’s a dated philosophy in todays baseball but we will see.
Cubbies may have given up a couple future pitching stars to dodgers but so difficult to predict what will happen to pitchers 3-4-5 years from now.
Cashman is delirious