As all 30 clubs continue their spring preparations for the 2024 season, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:
1. Will the Red Sox extend a young player?
Red Sox right-hander Brayan Bello revealed to reporters yesterday that he and the club have been discussing a possible extension, with the 24-year-old hurler indicating that a deal could come together before the spring is up. The comments from Bello come just days after first baseman Triston Casas offered his own comments on the possibility of an extension, saying that he hoped to spend his whole career in Boston but that extension talks had produced “nothing enticing” to this point. While newly-appointed chief baseball officer Craig Breslow has yet to extend any players during his short tenure at the helm, the Red Sox haven’t been shy about extending players in the past. Many of the club’s recent extensions such as deals with Rafael Devers, Xander Bogaerts, and Chris Sale were for well-established talent nearing free agency, though the club has also locked down younger talent in the form of Garrett Whitlock. Could Bello or Casas join the list before Opening Day?
2. Senga undergoing testing:
Mets right-hander Kodai Senga sat out yesterday’s team workout due to “overall arm fatigue,” as manager Carlos Mendoza told reporters (including Anthony DiComo of MLB.com). DiComo adds that Senga was scheduled to undergo testing yesterday, meaning it’s possible that an update on the righty’s health could be made available as soon as today. If the injury were to impact Senga’s readiness for Opening Day, it would be a major blow to the club. Senga was a rare bright spot in the 2023 campaign for the Mets, pitching to a 2.98 ERA with a 29% strikeout rate across 29 starts last year. With the likes of Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer departing Queens last summer, Senga enters the 2024 campaign as the club’s likely Opening Day starter at the front of a rotation that added Luis Severino, Sean Manaea, and Adrian Houser this winter. Should Senga miss time to open the season, Tylor Megill, Joey Lucchesi, and Jose Butto would be among the options to fill in for him in the big league rotation.
3. First game of the spring:
The Dodgers and Padres will participate in the first spring training game of the year today, as the two clubs gear up for an early start to the season with the Korea series in Seoul next month. Today’s game will start at 2:10pm CT, with Padres right-hander Joe Musgrove kicking things off opposite Dodgers youngster Gavin Stone. The 25-year-old Stone struggled to a 9.00 ERA in his first 31 innings of work in the majors last year but is nonetheless one of the club’s most promising young arms and could battle with the likes of Emmet Sheehan and Michael Grove. Musgrove, meanwhile, pitched to an excellent 3.05 ERA and 3.52 FIP last year but was limited to just 17 starts due to injuries. Among those injuries was a bout of shoulder inflammation that ended the right-hander’s season in late July, though the 31-year-old righty nonetheless appears to be healthy ahead of today’s Cactus League opener.
First Bradish, now Senga. Notable pitchers racking up arm injuries already and it’s not even March.
Such is modern baseball, I guess :-/
(not to be confused with Modern Baseball)
At least we know it’s not the pitch clock.
The concept of the red sox doing something is potentially worrisome. There’s been lots of bad press about the direction of the club.
When the seat starts to get hot, and, embarrassing things happen to ownership, stupid things happen like Devers atrocious extension terms.
Let’s hope the pattern doesn’t repeat yet again.
I was going to dispute your use of “atrocious” to describe Devers’ extension…
…then I looked at it.
$31-33 million a year for his age 30-36 seasons when he will likely be a 1B/DH for most of that time period? Woof.
It is an ATROCIOUS contract. Especially when you consider Austin Riley is signed for the same term and $100 million less. He is twice the player Devers is.
Yes, my point was that I more or less agreed with his use of “atrocious” after digging into it further.
The comparison to Riley’s deal definitely reinforces that sentiment though.
aroid
“[Riley] is twice the player Devers is.”
That’s certainly debatable
What’s not debatable is that Riley signed with 3 ARB years left and Devers only 1.
So, any reasonable comparison of the contracts has to factor that in
Unfortunately the fans’ backlash last year ended up being why Henry overpaid (can’t put that deal on Bloom). As long as he hits, it won’t be Panda or Hanley. Devers though needs protection and even if Story rebounds, teams will pitch around Devers to get to Story. The team ultimately needs a Turner like bat to hit behind him. . Maybe in 25, a big righty bat will be available. If they wanted to compete, they should at this point get JDM for 24 and trade Yoshida. I do think he will have a great season but this club is still too left handed. I also don’t want Devers hitting second. If JDM were signed, my lineup:
1. Duran
2. Ceddane
3. Devers
4. Martinez
5. Casas
6. Story
7. O’Neill/Abreu
8. Wong/McGuire
9. Grissom
Such assumes JDM but not Duvall returns.
Um dont need Jd at all. U forgot yoshida
bWAR last 3 seasons combined
Riley – 18.6
Devers – 11.6
Pretty close to twice..
Just over 1.5
Didn’t forget Yoshida who I think will have a great year. Team is still too left handed and I’m still looking at a trade.
I think Devers glove is what has caused enough of his problems. Yes they overpaid for him. My thoughts on him are that he knocks in a lot of baserunners, but also leaves a ton stranded
aroid
“Pretty close to twice..”
So, your best evidence shows he’s NOT twice the player? Noted
And this
“What’s not debatable is that Riley signed with 3 ARB years left and Devers only 1.
So, any reasonable comparison of the contracts has to factor that in”
???
Just no comment? Gonna ignore it?
aroid – No offense but that’s a really, really ignorant statement.
Nobody is denying Devers is likely an overpay, but “atrocious” is way too strong a word. You want real “atrocious”? Look at Sale’s extension, or the Chris Davis extension, Yelich, Bryant, Rendon, Strasburg, Baez, Rodon, Rusney Castillo, Panda …. so many that were TRULY atrocious because the player flat-out sucked and/or was injured most of the time. Devers produces offensively, only a fool would deny that.
As for your comparison to Riley, you’re totally obvious to TWO key differences between him and Devers:
1) Devers’ contract is actually $291M/10 yrs so it’s $80M more than Riley, not $100M more.
2) Riley’s contract bought out 3 years of arbitration, guess how many arb years Devers’ contract bought out? ZERO!
You simply CANNOT compare 3 years of arbitration buyouts to all-free-agent-year buyouts, that is beyond dumb.
And since Devers’ contract doesn’t even start until this year, how about holding off on the ridiculous predictions. Sheesh!
KF
“…then I looked at it.”
Let’s see what others think
“There’s a credible argument that 11 years and $331 million is a trifle too much for a player like Devers. I’d disagree with such an argument given the contemporary financial and competitive climate, but it’s not the kind of thing only a raving crank would say.”
blogs.fangraphs.com/the-red-sox-have-finally-exten…
I know who I (based on logic (Bayesian reasoning specifically)) am siding with.
Guys with Devers’ body type and skill set often tend to age less than gracefully. Will he turn into Pablo Sandoval 2.0? Will his body break down like Prince Fielder’s? I don’t know, but I am glad that my team (Orioles) will not be on the hook for $30+ million a year for those age 32-36 seasons, especially since his 3B days will likely be far behind him by then.
KF
“Guys with Devers’ body type and skill set often tend to age less than gracefully.”
Citation requested
RE KF
“I am glad that my team (Orioles) will not be on the hook for $30+ million a year for those age 32-36 seasons, ”
Reminder that teams are also smart enough to know that players decline with age
The decline years are baked into the total contract value
Players are “underpaid” at the beginning and “overpaid” at the end
Dumb dumbs only look at the end and offer criticism without also looking at the beginning
I cited 2 notable examples.
One was even specifically a Red Sox example.
You say that, and yet we see mega-deal after mega-deal explode in the signing team’s faces, and often in very short order.
Seems like there are quite a few “dumb dumbs” in MLB front offices, eh?
“Citation requested”…some things can be attributed to common sense. It doesn’t take a genius to know that carrying a heavier load can be tougher on the joints and other body parts.
KF
“I cited 2 notable examples.”
That means absolutely nothing
Please try and operate at a highschool level, at least
KF
“You say that, and yet we see mega-deal after mega-deal explode in the signing team’s faces, and often in very short order.”
No. We really don’t
Ah, so you’re a smug, self-satisfied midwit with delusions of grandeur.
Thanks for clearing that up so that I don’t accidentally waste any more of my time replying to you than I already have.
KF
Recognizing that your level of discourse
“Pablo Sandoval was fat and sucked, so Devers will too”
is not a delusuon of my grandeur.
It has nothing to do with me
You thinking that your argument was adequate was the delusion of grandeur.
Keep reading, you might learn something you haven’t so far
KF – dumb dumbs, really? They’re the ones with jobs with MLB clubs. You’re here in the comment section of a website. Yeah, they’re the dumb dumbs…
King – It’s not that bad, look at how much is deferred.
With that said, yeah it was a massive overpay. That’s what happens when you push out Mookie and Xander, and Devers is the only star remaining.
Based on the last five years of data anything the RS do will backfire.
This Year’s Red Sox club is 74-88 and that’s playing their absolute best. Last place finish is on the horizon yet again.
70 – 92. Book It Dano!
Bee – I wouldn’t be surprised if the Red Sox become the Khris Davis of teams and finish 78-84 for the third straight year.
I’m just happy there will be Baseball today. My meter is on low.
How is it that a player who played nowhere during the off season has arm fatigue in March?
Narrator: It’s not actually “arm fatigue.”
I think it’s common at the start
Maybe with all these early spring pitcher injuries some of the big free agents will actually start to sign contracts…
The only two big FA pitchers left are Snell and Monty. Baltimore ain’t signing either of them. The Mets might but with Sterns running the show, they’re not going overboard with their offer.
I don’t see the injuries really impacting Snell or Montgomery. Orioles should probably go after one but won’t because of the price. The Mets aren’t trying to compete this year so I doubt losing Senga really alters anything.
Boras is holding out hoping injuries will drive up the price but its risky because it has to be the right injury to the right team.
Casas isn’t a free agent for five more seasons. He plays a position, 1B, that caps the dollars to even the top hitters at the position. Unless he’s open to a sweetheart deal, I don’t see any reason for the Red Sox to not go year to year.
Lord – I totally agree! Even if he becomes a monster hitter, his health issues and defensive shortcomings would cause me to hold off extending him. Look how bad the Whitlock extension has been thus far.
Herbie Stempel: No, the Red Sox are not going to extend a young player. The Red Sox are going to take a dive!
Senga really was an eye opener last year. So much better than expected. Great fantasy asset, too, and he was going pretty high in mock drafts already in the 4-5th rounds. If he has any sort of injury/setback couple that with Bradish that’s going to be significant to some strategies.
Wouldn’t be modern baseball without tons of pitcher injuries, despite the fact that that is no all they do. No longer do they need to swing the bat or have any significant involvement in fielding balls. And yet, they are getting injured more frequently.
Old – That’s because with starting pitchers it’s Full Throttle for 5 innings every start.
Bello is a .500 pitcher w a plus 4.3 era on a bad ball club but we need to extend him to make guys come play at Boston? Am I missing something on this guy here cause I’ve never been a believer on the hype.
That’s exactly why you sign him now. If he went 15-5 with a 3.00 ERA, do you think he’d give the team favorable terms on an extension?!?!
labia – It’s a matter of exchanging guaranteed money for security.
Even if he did go 15-5 with a 3.00 ERA there’s no guarantee he doesn’t blow his arm out next year.
I say wait a few more years and if you have to pay him a bit more than so be it. There’s a reason why the Yankees don’t usually do longterm extensions.
He’s the best pitcher they’ve homegrown since Jon Lester. He had over a 3 war last year for them and that’s without even really an average breaking ball. If he adds a serviceable one this year, he’s got really high upside so I think an extension for him makes a ton of sense.
That’s really not saying much to him or the organization. Nothing against Lester either but this screams singleton and kingery to me here. If the numbers justify the extension I’d say go for it. Don’t pay a guy just cause he’s on your team. You pay him because he makes the team immediately better with him on it. I’m not seeing that at all on Bello and I’m all for pitchers getting paid before they blow their arms out.
HeHe
“Bello is a .500 pitcher w a plus 4.3 era on a bad ball club but we need to extend him to make guys come play at Boston? Am I missing something”
Yes
It’s 2024. Everyone knows not to judge pitchers on ERA and W-L record
Senga, ya dead?
If you’ve seen the movie Saltburn, you’ll know it was based on a young Scott Boras.
Whatever team has the decency, honor, common sense and courage to sign Trevor and add him to their #1 spot in their rotation will be immediately thrust into contention.
He is waiting.
Personally, Owensboro, at this point, I’d love to see Bauer sue MLB big time. This is nothing but full-blown blackballing. Discrimination at its zenith.
“Discrimination at it’s zenith”..When people and businesses conclude you’re more trouble than you are worth, that’s actually not even close to “blackballing” or “discrimination”. Blackballing and “discrimination” are not based on bad or questionable behavior.
Hopefully little man Trevor doesn’t hold his breath
“Hold his breath”…I personally agree Bauer should be allowed to play, but I mostly save my sympathy for little old ladies, children in poverty and disabled military veterans. I can’t get that worked up over a guy who’s made close to 100M in his career and has made some very questionable life style choices.
If Bauer is eventually is signed it will have nothing to do with courage and everything to do with desperation
@owensboro- LMAO
You’re acting like bauer has the ability to lift a team from last place to first all on his own. He’s not even ace caliber lol but he is a d1ckh3ad.
If Trevor was a Minority he would done be signed. Maybe White people need to start using the race card
Tell that to Colin Kaepernick after you’re done crying, whiney white boy
Will the Red Sox suck?
Without a doubt I hope they lose 130 games.
Anger is actually a good thing with fans. Unfortunately for the Red Sox it is apathy nowadays. Life long fans are turned off. Great job by ownership turning loyal fans into passive fans.
Nick Deeds: another incompetent MLBTR writer. “Meanwhile” should never come in the middle of the sentence, set off by commas. It has to START the sentence.