With Spring Training workouts in full swing, here are three things to keep an eye on around baseball today:
1. Awaiting financial details for Brandon Woodruff, Hyun Jin Ryu
A couple of veteran starters reportedly agreed to new deals this past week, but the financial details of both contracts have yet to be revealed. News of Brandon Woodruff returning to the Brewers broke on Monday morning, but currently, all we know is that his new pact is a two-year deal. Hyun Jin Ryu is also returning to a former team, the Hanwha Tigers of the KBO. While the complete details of his contract have not been revealed either, Jeeho Yoo of Yonhap News reports that the Eagles are likely to announce the deal on Thursday. Taking into account the time difference, Ryu’s deal could be announced at some point this evening; 6:00 pm CT will be 9:00 am in South Korea.
2. Are the Rays planning to trade an infielder?
The Rays agreed to terms on a one-year, $1.5MM contract with infielder Amed Rosario on Tuesday. While $1.5MM might be a drop in the bucket for some teams, it’s hard to imagine the Rays would sign Rosario to such a deal if they weren’t planning to give him regular playing time. Yet, with Brandon Lowe entrenched at second base and José Caballero the presumptive starter at shortstop, Rosario is likely to fill a utility role off the bench. That would leave infielders Junior Caminero and Osleivis Basabe without a clear path to playing time. A top prospect like Caminero can force his way onto the roster with a strong performance in the minor leagues, but it is less clear how Basabe fits into the Rays’ plans for 2024. Moreover, with veteran infielder Yu Chang in the organization on a minor league deal and Taylor Walls set to return from hip surgery sooner rather than later, this team has no shortage of depth. One has to wonder if the Rays are planning to make a trade from their surplus of infielders.
3. Full-squad workouts have begun, but teams are far from complete
As of Tuesday, all 30 clubs have now held their first full-squad workouts. That means Spring Training is officially underway, with games set to begin later this week. The Dodgers and Padres will kick things off in the Cactus League on Thursday afternoon, with Grapefruit League play set to begin a couple of days later. However, despite what the moniker “full-squad workout” might imply, several clubs are far from finished improving their rosters. With 10 of MLBTR’s Top 50 Free Agents still unsigned, including Cody Bellinger, Blake Snell, Jordan Montgomery, Matt Chapman, and J.D. Martinez, plenty of teams could be significantly better by Opening Day than they appear right now. The free agent market has been slow as of late, but as Spring Training continues, more pieces will inevitably fall into place.
Hey TB: Giants need a backup SS
Rays have plenty of backup SS. In fact, that’s all they have at the position this year. 🙁
Would rather have prime Roger Clemens
Or even a post-prime Barry Bonds.
I’d settle for a prime rib.
Hey Boras, repeat after me “Discount!”
Is Basabe out of minor league options? If not, why is trading him the next logical instead of just sending him down to Durham? I only recall him being called up once, so can’t see how he’d be out of minor league options already. This doesn’t seem like that big of a surplus of infielders considering some of them are young and probably still need to be in the minors.
The number of option years (i.e. “options”) remaining does not depend on how many times a player is called up, but the number of seasons in which he is sent to the minors on optional assignment.
As it happens, Basabe is not out of options. But if they feel he is MLB-ready and can’t give him MLB playing time, they can trade him to a team that needs SS depth and get something back that fills their needs. I would think they’d keep him around and assign him to Durham for now, though.
Basabe or whoever for a upgrade at catcher or another young SP.
One catcher on the 40-man…seems like this is the definition of “area of need”, though I don’t think Basabe brings back much (he is not a top prospect).
Thanks for explaining how options work, @layventsky. I did errantly assume it was the amount of times you were called up.
But given their propensity to run very low payrolls, maybe they try to move Lowe.
The best thing about Robby the robot letting the Bally’s fiasco continue is Boras and his high priced clients are on the outside looking in as spring training begins.
Who are the other 5 in the top 50.
Gio Ursh, Lorenzan, ….
… Clevinger, Belt, and Anderson.
Just think where the Rays would be with Franco at short. 99 wins mostly without him, on Baltimore’s heels the whole way.
technically, ahead of BAL for most of the season.
I double checked and I believe it is JD, Clevenger, Urshella, Belt, Tim Anderson, and Lorenzen but that is 6 not 5.
Also HMs Duvall, Stanek, Michael A. Taylor, and Votto are still out there too.
Thanks to both of you. If the Rays just gave AR 1.5 million I can’t imagine Tim Anderson getting much. Maybe there is a typo in the article or maybe they thin the same of TA as I do.
Big Brandon’s HR off kershaw is 1 of the best moments in the history of sports
Chokeshaw
I can see the Rays trading Lowe. Between Mead, Aranda, Bassabe, Walls, Caminero and Williams he would make the most sense to move due his “cost” and age. Not that I want it to happen but I wouldn’t be surprised.
If it’s for a young good young SP for B.Lowe I am for that trade.
Lowe has/had good results when on the field, but with all the injuries and the less then great results the last few years, some teams may wonder if his best days are already behind him.
Not sure he gets you a good young starting pitcher.
Maybe a decent reliever or a longer shot starting pitching prospect.
Rays won’t give Lowe away & he hit more HRs than Randy of RandyLand did last season in way less games played.
Really? In an injury marred 2023, Lowe still managed to put up 2.8 fWAR and he makes under $10MM. HIs contract has 1 guaranteed year and 2 annual options. He’s a low risk high reward trade candidate who will definitely get the Rays more than a decent reliever (unless you’re talking a decent closer) or longer shot SP prospect.
If they get rid of one of their two left-handed bats…ugh. That is why I think they keep him, but otherwise I understand your point. Williams comes next year, Junior comes at some point this year…where to put Paredes? I think *he* may be the trade bait…another right-handed hitter, will be pushed out by Junior and if Lowe is at 2B, nowhere to go. I guess they could trade Yandy, but that would be a mistake simply due to PR>
I think Yandy is here to stay or we’d have to be blown away to trade him. I say Lowe just based on past results when we typically trade players. I wouldn’t be surprised tho if it’s Parades. Kinda hope it is tbh sell high while we can.
Twins really need a legit SP to make themselves legit contenders. I like what they’ve done to the bullpen, and if we’re relatively healthy then we should score enough runs. I still think we need someone to replace Sonny Grey however, so one solid starter should make us legit playoff contenders…
Monty is a nice fit for Minnesota. He’s not a number 1 but definitely a good 2/3 guy. He could slot in for Gray. Between Lopez and Ryan. It looks good on paper.
He just gives me that Jeff Suppan vibe from a few years back. Solid innings eater coming off a WS performance. But just never living up to expectations of the salary he’s going to command.
I can definitely see the comparison. Monty being a lefty makes him a bit more attractive but again I definitely see what your saying.
This one belongs to the Reds
The best thing about Robby the robot letting the Bally’s fiasco continue is Boras and his high priced clients are on the outside
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That almost has to be a coincidence. Is anyone clever enough to think of Boras as ancillary benefit to the Bally’s issue?
There shouldn’t be a comma after “yet” in the second paragraph.