With Spring Training creeping ever closer, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:
1. What’s next for the Marlins?
The Marlins swung a trade with the Twins over the weekend, parting ways with lefty reliever Steven Okert to acquire utilityman Nick Gordon from Minnesota. Gordon, 28, missed most of the 2023 season but slashed a solid .272/.316/.427 back in 2022 while splitting time between second base, shortstop, and the outfield for the Twins. The former first-rounder struggled at the plate in both 2021 and in an injury-ruined 2023 season. The addition of Gordon adds some versatility to a club that entered the offseason in need of additional talent at shortstop and in the outfield. Gordon has just 33 games at shortstop in the majors, and the Twins viewed him as a better fit in the outfield and at second base. Of Jon Berti’s 86 games started at short, 52 came last season. He handled himself well in part-time duty there, but he’s a 34-year-old utilityman with only 764 career innings at short. Given that, the club could be best served relying on Gordon as a member of the outfield mix and pursuing a free agent shortstop. They’ve been tied to names like Tim Anderson or Amed Rosario, among others.
2. Signings to be made official:
A pair of free agents found new homes over the weekend as catcher Yasmani Grandal landed with the Pirates while the Phillies reached an agreement with right-hander Spencer Turnbull. Both clubs have full 40-man rosters at this point in the winter and will need to make a corresponding move to clear space for the new arrivals. For the Pirates, that can be accomplished by simply waiting a few days until the 60-day injured list open upon the start of Spring Training and the club can utilize the roster spots of injured players such as Johan Oviedo and Endy Rodriguez. The Phillies have no obvious candidates for the IL, however, meaning they’ll likely need to designate a player for assignment or work out a trade of some sort to open up space on the 40-man for Turnbull.
3. Last minute deals in free agency?
Spring Training is a matter of days away for most clubs, and plenty of free agents remain on the open market. While the quartet of star free agents at the top of the market in Cody Bellinger, Blake Snell, Jordan Montgomery, and Matt Chapman are unlikely to feel added pressure to sign with the start of camp looming, it’s possible some players lower on the free agent hierarchy could have extra incentive to find deals in order to enjoy a full spring with their new club. The likes of Brandon Belt, Adam Duvall, and Michael A. Taylor are among the mid-tier positional free agents who remain on the market, while the mid-tier pitching market includes names such as Michael Lorenzen, Mike Clevinger, and Hyun Jin Ryu.
I like the Gordon addition, but I hope that isn’t Miami’s solution to their SS hole (either Gordon or Berti). I still say that Anderson would fit there like a glove, and he has to be cheap at this point.
@ beyou
I think Gordon is an attempt to replace Berti with a cheaper Swiss Army knife. If Gordon has a really good Spring maybe Berti finds himself in a trade.
I think SS is going to start out an inhouse competition. X could mark the spot. (See what I did there?)
Berti had a good season IMO. i think he will stick as everyday SS. Yeah he doesn’t have the power but he plays a good defense and is really quick on base paths.
TA is the guy to sign if they have playoff aspirations. He still has all-star upside and probably understands that he needs to rebuild his reputation in terms of personality as well.
I’d prefer a more defensive-minded option, like Ahmed. TA, Rosario, Gordon will all hurt the time with their gloves.
We are going to see a lot of last minute deals for a whole lot less money than these guys thought.
I hope Boras really gets burned with this waiting game. I get waiting out the market a bit but it’s February 12th and 4 of the top like 7-8 free agents are still unsigned. This is getting ridiculous
Bryce Harper signed in March 2019, if I remember correctly, so Boras will drag as much as he can with some of his clients.
Boras never loses but some of his clients do. Boras though most likely has a financial spreadsheet for his clients in total. Some will exceed expectations while others may not approach them. For Boras, it’s an average numbers game.
That’s fine for position players who really don’t need all of ST to get up to regular season form. But 2 starting pitchers being unsigned with pitchers and catchers reporting later this week IS an issue for them getting ready for the opening of the season. If they don’t sign until early March they won’t be ready for the start of the season.
it is even worse since a lot of guys will push themselves to be ready and get hurt as a result. It is never good for a SP to not be in camp on time. I see the 3 lower tier guys (Clevinger, Lorenzen) signing ASAP, or in Lorenzens case, he may be looking at the relief market for a deal since teams will not see him as a starter if they cannot ramp him up.
Position players do not even report to camp for a few more weeks, so those guys have a little more time- and a vet hitter can get up to speed in like 50 spring training AB, so they just get more run in split squad games late. Harder for guys who need to compete for a job, but for a guy like Chapman who will be the starting 3b wherever he signs it is just about getting his timing up.
JB
“This is getting ridiculous”
Why is it ridiculous?
Players work their [butts] off as a amatures – often as free labor for the NCAA who profits off them. Then they get paid peanuts while they are in the minors. The. They get paid a fraction of their value for the first 3-6 years of their career. Then, 8f they are stars, they get one chance to cash in on decades of work and sacrifice. Why
1) shouldn’t they get the best deal that they can?
2) do you hope that they “get burned”?
And why do so many baseball “fans” seem ro hate the players so much?
I like players who fire Boras and get a new agent. I also like players who tell Boras that they want to stay on the same team. Players that are clearly out for the most money? Meh.
wh
“I like players who fire Boras and get a new agent”
Why?
“I also like players who tell Boras that they want to stay on the same team.”
Why?
“Players that are clearly out for the most money? ”
As a person who very much is not out for the most money, I agree there’s much more to life and a job or career.
But
As part or a union, players, do have to factor in trying to set precidents to increase salaries for future players.
whyhayzee — I never have gotten the whole hating of players trying to maximize their $$ while they can.
This is America, where capitalism and self determination rule.
Folks saying that some players get “too much” sounds a lot like “taxes are to high”: totally subjective whimsy based on feelings, not reason or acceptance of de Jury reality.
OSCYS
Username checks out
‘This is America, where capitalism and self determination rule.”
Since capitalism is the profiting of the rich off the poor, billionaires convincing the poor slovenly masses that millionaire players are overpaid fits right in.
Unions cost fans and consumers millions of $ , especially the UAW. I don’t have to go to ball games , but I really need a car
teddyj — Unions cost ownership, not fans.
Did the UAW negotiate with you, or the Auto manufacturers?
You’d rather have billionaires make tens of billions rather than pay workers a living wage. Seems like you might need the chauffeur for your car too.
TJ
“Unions cost fans and consumers millions of $ , especially the UAW. I don’t have to go to ball games , but I really need a car”
LOL
What flavor of boot is it?
Billionaires cost consumers billions. That’s how they become billionaires
great point. it is not hating players, it is hating Boras.
Honestly Boras is not the uber agent for everyone. If you are not a legit star player- he does not do very well. Yes for 80% of his clients he gets them an extra 10%, but the other 20% lose out big time. He pushes every players market to the breaking point, and it costs the very good players a lot.
Not sure who reps him, but a guy like Lorenzen has a market as a 4th SP that can throw from the pen in the postseason. There is a market in the 15m range for that. If the agent pushed him as a mid ration arm that should get 20-30m per, they misplayed his market. (no clue if that what happened, but it has happened to plenty of boras clients over the years that were that level of talent)
James
“If you are not a legit star player- he does not do very well.
…
the other 20% lose out big time.
”
Citation requested
Will be fascinating to see how far $ might come down.
Clevinger was dumb to opt out of his half of the mutual option
Pretty sure Clevinger wanted out of the White Sox, plus he thought he’d get more money in free agency.
Yeah, except he’s got the whole woman beater thing hanging over his head
Exactly this. He should have picked up his half just to possibly have a job. Probably a moot point because the Sox probably opt out (don’t remember if they did or not or if it was even announced after he opted out).
Bauer is out here begging to pitch for league minimum. How do you think it’s going for Clevinger?
I’m assuming Bellinger and Snell are holding out for 200 million. Montgomery probably wants the Rodon deal. And Chapman for me is the hardest to judge. I’m guessing he is pushing for a 5th season in a contract. I’d be hesitant to meet any of those asking prices, if they are the case or close to that.
If I were a GM, I would avoid Bellinger and Snell. Great ceiling, terrible floor.
Short contracts with very high AAV and club options might get me to the table
Bellinger’s down seasons were related to shoulder health after over celebrating a big home run in the 2020 playoffs. Everything before that, and a rebound last season, tells me a healthy Bellinger is a star in this league. I would 100% jump on signing him as he makes any team better.
@ mikeyz
Fair point. I haven’t heard a story that justifies Snell’s erratic years
He is hit or miss but he is a 2 time cy young winner, 1 in AL and 1 in NL. that right there gets you about 200 mil in this day an age. Someone will pay him that or damn near close.
No over celebration. Just a high five gone awry
the advanced metrics on Bellinger last year were not very nice to him. So the counting stats were all great, but for guys who are exceeding expections from the underlying numbers, they normally need more than a single season to show teams they are the sort of player who pulls that off consistently.
He is clearly not the guy he was 4-5 years ago, but is the guy he was last year real or not?
@Jake Biggar
I feel like Toronto is going to feel desperate enough to sign Bellinger, due to some of the upgrades in the AL East. It’ll be a bad contract but that’s the point of billionaire owners, to overpay for players.
I would like to see the Twins sign Lorenzen or Clevinger. Could really use more SP. Desclafini is not going to be able to replace Sonny Grey and Maeda’s production…
i think he will be solid.
Pittsburgh needs to jump in late for pitching!
I’d say the same for Cincy but their front office has shown a reluctance to get high end established starting pitching.
You can say that again and again and again dice.
Unfortunately, it won’t matter.
There’s probably a less than 5% chance they sign one of Clevinger, thor, or Lorenzen.
You know HOW SAD that is? Imagine refusing to spend enough to get a guy like THOR signed LOLOLOL Absolutely insanity.
I’m SOOOO sick of this teams owner and FO.
I wish I had it in me to stop following the team. I really really do..
Very sad situation! I got spoiled in the 70’s. Like to add Oliver,Madlock,Parker to this line up. Candyman, Drabeck!
Thor is washed up. I don’t know why anyone would sign him for anything more than a prove it incentive laden contract.
Syndergaard has been crap for 2 years now it’d be a waste of money signing him. But Clevinger and Lorenzen are worth a contract
Rough weekend for Nick Gordon. Loses his Arbitration case and gets traded to Miami.
@16
Maybe Miami gives him a slightly better chance of a Big League job. There are still pretty strong odds against him breaking camp with the team
all happened in a FLASH (cough cough)
COVID?
Conversation with airborne particulates?
I’m surprised no one is interested in taking a 1-year flyer on Tim Anderson. Could be an upgrade to the Marlins at a low cost. Could be a good make or break opportunity for him and a cheap option to possibly flip at the deadline if he’s good.
his track record may get him a 2 year deal; he may also overvalue himself.
I am sure every team that needs a SS would give him 5m, and a few would try to convert him to CF or 2b…. but if he wants to stay at SS and wants 10-15m, he may have priced himself out of that small market.
I really like to see Michael Lorenzen return to Philly.
Most underrated fanbase, ownership, stadium, tradition, and city in MLB history
Wondering which of the unsigned will end up losing at Musical Chairs. It’s not they won’t get a contract, but that it will be closer to something short term, maybe two years with an opt-out. The “Mid-tier” group is going to have them, but maybe even one of the top four–richer numbers but not duration.
Red Sox really can’t afford Michael Lorenzen? Seriously?
The Boras situation is really interesting. He definitely brings out a lot of negative feelings from fans.
Some points:
– Players who sign with Boras are after top dollar, regardless of which team they end up on – that’s why they chose him.
– Most players understand the nature of the high risk/high return game that Boras plays and they accept that risk.
– Many players get huge/top dollar contracts and some get screwed by playing the waiting game, but overall, Boras does a really good job for his clients.
I think fans dislike him for a couple of reasons:
– They view him as screwing up the Free Agent process/timing since fans want to see action from their teams.
– He pushes teams to spend more than they wanted to, which is viewed as hurting future spending ability.
– He’s an arrogant SOB.
Again, it’s a fascinating situation.
I think many of the unsigned free agents will start feeling pressure to sign soon, so many in recent years have seen poor results due to late signings.