The Opener

As the offseason continues to move along, here are three things to keep and eye on throughout the day today:

1. Reported signings that could be made official.

Free agent deals are often reported before they’re officially complete and announced by the team. Delays in making things official are often due to the player’s physical not being done yet, or perhaps simply because the team wants to delay having to make a corresponding 40-man roster move. The recent holiday season could also play a role in delaying the physicals on such agreements. MLB.com’s Adam McCalvy tweets that Wade Miley’s one-year, $4.5MM deal with the Brewers, agreed upon yesterday, could have a short turnaround and become official as soon as today. Additionally, deals that still haven’t been made officially from last week, such as Arizona’s one-year, $4MM agreement with Evan Longoria and the one-year, $10MM deal between the Red Sox and Corey Kluber, could also be made official soon. All three organizations have full 40-man rosters, so they’ll need to make a corresponding move to open up space for their incoming free agent.

2. Could Cueto be nearing a decision?

According to The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal, the Padres and Marlins are “vying” for the services of veteran right-hander Johnny Cueto, with the Reds also interested in acquiring the 36-year-old. Cueto stands as one of the top free-agent pitchers remaining on the market following a solid season with the White Sox where he posted a 3.35 ERA (18% better than league average by ERA+) and a 3.79 FIP. Both the Marlins and Padres have been previously mentioned as interested in adding Cueto to their rotation; this being said, it’s somewhat notable that Rosenthal seems to indicate that the Padres and the Marlins are the frontrunners at this point ahead of Cincinnati, with whom Cueto spent the first seven and a half years of his career.

3. Two Cubs players are currently in DFA limbo.

Yesterday, the Cubs sent recently reliever Erich Uelmen, who had recently been designated for assignment, to the Phillies in exchange for cash considerations. While this move brings Uelmen’s DFA to a conclusion, Chicago still has two players in DFA limbo, with the results of their DFA unannounced: first baseman Alfonso Rivas and catcher P.J. Higgins. Rivas, who was designated to make room for a waiver claim of Anthony Kay, cannot reject an outright assignment to Triple-A, meaning he will likely stay in the Cubs organization if he goes unclaimed on waivers. Higgins, meanwhile, does have the option of rejecting an outright assignment, by virtue of the fact that he’s been outrighted previously in his career. He’ll have control of his own future should he go unclaimed on waivers following his DFA, which made room for the club’s signing of Tucker Barnhart.

As the baseball world starts to wake back up, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on throughout the day:

1. 1B Market Update

There was some movement on the first base market yesterday, as Dominic Smith landed with the Nationals and Eric Hosmer appears to be headed to the Cubs. While many corners of the free agent market are running low on both suitors and options at this point, there are still several recognizable veteran names at first base. Trey Mancini is the top option remaining, but the likes of Luke Voit, Brandon Belt, and Miguel Sano all remain available to teams looking to make an addition. While both the Cubs and Nats were among the most obvious clubs for a first baseman, other teams still remain. The Orioles were known to have interest in Hosmer, while the Rays and Royals were in on Smith. The Marlins, Mariners, and Tigers are other teams for whom it could make sense to add another bat, though such an addition for any of these clubs would not necessarily need to come at first base.

2. Could the Yankees stand pat in left field?

The Yankees came into the offseason with the outfield as their most obvious hole, and while they’ve succeeded in retaining Aaron Judge, there’s still plenty of room for the club to make a second addition. Judge, Harrison Bader, Oswaldo Cabrera, and Aaron Hicks are the team’s current outfield options, and Giancarlo Stanton could potentially contribute on days he isn’t the team’s DH. There’s been a lot of talk throughout the offseason about who the team could add to play left field, but is it possible they’re content going into opening day with their current options? Cabrera was solid in a 44-game cup of coffee in 2022, batting .247/.312/.429 (111 wRC+) while splitting time between both outfield corners and all four infield spots. Meanwhile, Hicks is under contract for the next three seasons, so they may prefer to see if his value can bounce back in more of a part time role after a difficult season in 2022.

In addition to the options currently on the 40-man roster, the Yankees have loaded up on veteran outfield depth on minor league deals. Outfielders Michael Hermosillo, Willie Calhoun, and, most recently, Rafael Ortega have all landed deals to play in Scranton to start 2023. Any of them could prove to be plausible bench pieces for the big league club if the current position player mix suffers any losses, whether via injury or trade, before Opening Day. Ortega, in particular, posted a .265/.344/.408 line (108 wRC+) across 701 plate appearances with the Cubs during the 2021-22 seasons, and his left-handed bat could provide balance to a Yankees hitting corps currently dominated by righties.

3. MLBTR Chat Today

Yesterday, MLBTR’s Steve Adams fielded questions during a live chat (transcript here). If you still have unanswered questions about this offseason or the direction of your favorite team, you’re in luck, as MLBTR’s Anthony Franco will be hosting another chat today at 5pm CT. You can submit a question in advance here, and you can use the same link to check back in this evening and participate live once the chat begins.

Three things for baseball fans to keep an eye out for as the New Year gets rolling…

1. Outside of Miami, which teams could plausibly trade a starter?

Fortunately for teams either unable or unwilling to meet the asking price on a member of the Marlins starting corps, there are other teams out there who could be willing to deal from their available starting options. The Mariners have expressed interest in dealing one of Chris Flexen or Marco Gonzales, either of whom could shore up the back of a contender’s rotation. The Mets, who have expressed a willingness to listen to offers on Carlos Carrasco, could also provide a back-end option to teams looking to add to the rotation. Teams looking for a little more upside could discuss Chris Sale with the Red Sox, though he comes with a hefty salary and a great deal of uncertainty following several injury-marred campaigns.

It’s also worth noting that other clubs with an excess of pitching options could move a starting-caliber player who’s been pushed out of the rotation by offseason additions or recent prospect graduations. For instance, neither Adrian Houser (Brewers) nor Adrian Sampson (Cubs) has a clear rotation spot right now. The Braves have multiple MLB-ready arms vying for one rotation spot (Mike Soroka, Ian Anderson, Bryce Elder). The Guardians were willing to listen on names like Zach Plesac and Aaron Civale prior to the trade deadline. Ultimately, there are options still available for teams looking to add starting pitching, though few (if any) with the combined certainty and upside of, for example, Miami’s Pablo Lopez.

2. What options remain for the White Sox at second base?

The White Sox currently project to run out Leury Garcia and Romy Gonzalez at second base, but neither of those options is particularly inspiring. Garcia posted an OPS of just .500 in 2022, and Gonzalez’s .609 mark is not much better. Free agency offers the potential for a reunion with either Josh Harrison or Elvis Andrus, but little else in the way of certainty, though bounceback candidates like Jonathan Villar do remain available. All told, it seems likely Rick Hahn’s front office will have to explore the trade market to find new talent to bring into the fold.

One team with a plethora of options at second base, as discussed yesterday by MLBTR’s Anthony Franco, is the Blue Jays. Toronto appears poised to mix and match between Whit Merrifield, Cavan Biggio, and Santiago Espinal, with Merrifield likely earning the lion’s share of playing time out the gate. Either Biggio or Espinal would represent an upgrade over in-house options for the White Sox, and both would come with some upside, as they’ve shown flashes of being above-average regulars in the past. The Padres, meanwhile, are reportedly willing to listen to offers on Ha-Seong Kim, but he’s also slated to play a regular role in their infield, so he won’t necessarily be easy to acquire. Miami’s Joey Wendle was pushed out of a starting role by the Marlins’ signing of Jean Segura. There’s been ample speculation about the Yankees moving Gleyber Torres throughout the offseason, and the Rockies at least discussed Brendan Rodgers in talks with the Marlins (albeit with Colorado seeking the type of controllable MLB pitching the White Sox don’t necessarily have to offer).

3. MLBTR Chat today at 1pm CT

MLBTR’s Steve Adams will host a chat with readers today at 1pm CT. You can submit a question in advance, and be sure to circle back to participate live this afternoon at 1:00!

With 2023 officially underway, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:

1. Where can the Royals look for pitching?

Recently, Royals GM J.J. Picollo told reporters that the team is still interested in adding to their rotation, even following deals with righty Jordan Lyles and lefty Ryan Yarbrough. While a deal for another starter makes sense for the club, the best available arms, such as Pablo Lopez and Chris Sale, reside on the trade market at this point in the offseason. It seems unlikely that Kansas City would go to the level of prospect (in the case of Lopez) or financial (in the case of Sale) commitment necessary to land either of those arms, or any other top arm that could become available, for that matter. Given this reality, it seems the best option for Picollo’s front office would be scouring what’s left on the free agent market.

Few quality free agent starting pitchers remain, but a reunion with future Hall of Famer Zack Greinke might make the most sense if the Royals are going to continue adding pitching. Greinke was a stabilizing force in the Kansas City rotation in 2022, posting a solid 3.68 ERA over 137 innings. Failing a Greinke reunion, the Royals could look to take a flier on a pitcher with a solid track record who battled injuries in 2022, such as Wade Miley or former Royal Danny Duffy. Either pitcher comes with durability concerns, but Kansas City should have enough young depth to cover for those potentially missed innings.

2. Could a Hosmer deal be imminent?

Following the Red Sox decision to release Eric Hosmer, other clubs have expressed interest in adding the first baseman to their roster. In particular, the Cubs and Orioles have been connected to Hosmer since his release by Boston, with Jon Heyman of the New York Post describing the prospects of a deal between Hosmer and the Cubs, specifically, as “promising” in a tweet over the weekend. A Hosmer signing would allow the Cubs to give first base prospect Matt Mervis more time in the minors should he not win a big league job out of camp this spring. Hosmer can hold down first base at Wrigley until Mervis is ready and afterwards could act as an additional lefty bat in the DH mix for a team that saw only Ian Happ take regular at-bats from the left side in 2022. A deal with Hosmer could take the Cubs out of the market for the likes of Dominic Smith and Trey Mancini, to whom Chicago had previously been connected this offseason.

As for the Orioles, Hosmer would provide a veteran clubhouse presence to a young roster that exceeded expectations in 2023 on a league-minimum salary. He could share time with Ryan Mountcastle at first base while joining Kyle Stowers and Terrin Vavra in the mix for DH at bats. The Orioles are far from the only club who could be interested in Hosmer’s combination of veteran leadership and cheap acquisition cost, however, even in spite of his release by Boston.

3. Which teams have the biggest weaknesses left to address?

Yesterday, MLBTR’s Mark Polishuk took a look at how each AL and NL club has addressed their weakest positions in 2022 by bWAR, and a few weaknesses on contenders stick out as potential places the clubs could look to address headed into the next phase of the offseason. As has been mentioned in previous Openers, perhaps the most glaring needs remaining on teams looking to contend in 2022 are that of the Rangers and Braves in left field, where each club got negative contributions in terms of bWAR. Jurickson Profar is the last everyday player on the free agent market, but even a part time addition like David Peralta or Andrew McCutchen could improve either team’s production at the position.

Looking elsewhere around the league, the Rays have pursued a handful of potential upgrades at catcher throughout the offseason, but as of now are set to go into the season with Francisco Mejia and Christian Bethancourt as their tandem behind the plate. And a handful of catchers remain on the free agent market, however, so it’s possible the club could see a potential upgrade in a player like Jorge Alfaro or Gary Sanchez. By contrast, the Diamondbacks have made several additions to their weakest 2022 position, adding Miguel Castro and Scott McGough (among others) to their MLB-worst bullpen. Still, given the massive struggles of Arizona’s relief corps in 2022 (-4.4 bWAR), more additions could make sense, with former Diamondback Andrew Chafin leading the pack of relief options still on the market.

For the final time in 2022, here’s three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around baseball throughout the day today:

1. Looking for a partner in a Grisham deal

A report yesterday suggested the Padres may be open to moving either center fielder Trent Grisham or Ha-Seong Kim. After adding Xander Bogaerts and Matt Carpenter to their already considerable corps of position player talent, and with Fernando Tatis Jr. on the way back from suspension early in the 2023 season, it’s no wonder that the Padres would at least consider dealing a player like Grisham or Kim if they could improve the big league club in other areas by doing so. While Kim would surely draw interest from infield-needy clubs, Grisham likely has more value thanks to an extra year of team control and being a quality center field option in a market devoid of options at the position. Perhaps the most obvious fit for Grisham is the Marlins, who have a deep starting rotation they’re reportedly open to dealing from. A starter such as Pablo Lopez or Trevor Rogers would allow the Padres to push either Seth Lugo or Nick Martinez into the bullpen, improving both sides of the pitching staff in doing so. From Miami’s perspective, Grisham would offer them a true Center Fielder who would free up Bryan De La Cruz and Jesus Sanchez to join Avisail Garcia, Jorge Soler, and Jon Berti in the mix in the outfield corners and at DH. Grisham would also provide a different look to pitchers as a lefty hitter in a predominantly right-handed lineup, and his bat has upside should he rediscover his 2020-21 form at the plate (111 OPS+ in 191 games). Getting more creative, one potential fit for Grisham would be the Yankees, who are known to be looking for a lefty hitting outfielder. Grisham, as a gold glove Center Fielder, should have no trouble patrolling left in Yankee Stadium, and would combine with Harrison Bader and Aaron Judge to form the likely best defensive outfield in all of baseball. While adding Grisham certainly makes sense for New York, nailing down a trade return isn’t as simple as it would be in a deal with Miami. Perhaps they could package Frankie Montas, who struggled badly after a trade to New York last season, with a member of their excess position player depth such as Gleyber Torres or Oswaldo Cabrera? These surely aren’t the only two teams who would be interested in adding a player with Grisham’s combination of talent and team control, however, leaving the possibility of a deal as something to be monitored as the calendar flips to 2023.

2. What will the Angels do with Adell?

Jo Adell was once among the most promising prospects in the game, but after three consecutive seasons of struggling in his opportunities at the major league level, he appears to be in danger of being pushed off the roster in Anaheim entirely. Taylor Ward and Hunter Renfroe are poised to start in the outfield corners on either side of Mike Trout on Opening Day 2023, and with Shohei Ohtani locking up the DH slot, it seems that Adell will be relegated to competing for fourth outfielder duties with Mickey Moniak this spring. Between this situation and the fact that Adell has already had roughly a full season’s worth of plate appearances with the Angels (557 PA), it would be understandable if the club decided a change of scenery was the best thing for both sides, particularly if the Angels could deal him to fill one of their remaining needs. While there aren’t any glaring holes remaining on the club, they could certainly benefit from adding another starter who could push Jose Suarez into a swing role, a late-inning reliever to join Carlos Estevez at the back of the bullpen, or a more surefire shortstop than their currently available options of Luis Rengifo, Gio Urshela, and David Fletcher. On the other hand, given Adell still has a minor league option remaining, it’s possible the club could be content stashing him in Triple-A as depth to protect against the injury woes that have so frequently plagued the Angels in recent years.

3. What will the Tigers do from here?

The Tigers came into the 2022 season as a trendy wild card pick, but had a deeply disappointing season that featured a brutal 66-96 record and long-term injuries to promising youngsters Casey Mize and Tarik Skubal. This left Detroit in a curious position to begin the offseason, and new president of baseball operations Scott Harris hasn’t made the club’s direction clear going forward his transactions thusfar; short-term deals for Matthew Boyd and Michael Lorenzen, and a trade of reliever Joe Jimenez to the Braves are the biggest moves out of Detroit so far this offseason. Perhaps part of the quietness on the transaction front is due to the fact that, given the under-performance of almost the entire position player corps, there’s little in the way of obvious holes in the roster outside of third base, where Jeimer Candelario was non-tendered earlier this offseason. Bringing in a bat to replace Candelario seems sensible, whether that comes through free agency, where Evan Longoria is the top option remaining, or through trade, where Joey Wendle, Eduardo Escobar, and Ramon Urias are among the names who could be available. Looking beyond the hot corner, the club could add one of the complementary outfielders still remaining on the market such as AJ Pollock or David Peralta; while they might not be surefire upgrades over the current group, they could still pitch in to raise the team’s floor. Additions to the bullpen mix to solidify the group could also make sense, though Alex Lange and Gregory Soto seems capable of handling late-inning duties. Another possible direction for the Tigers would be to sell of short-term assets such as Austin Meadows in order to improve the club’s longer-term outlook while waiting for Skubal and Mize to return to make another push toward contention.

With the new year fast approaching, here’s three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around baseball throughout the day today:

1. Does the Segura signing signal more moves for Miami?

The Marlins have long been considered a likely participant in the trade market this offseason, with plenty of holes in the lineup and a deep rotation from which to deal. This speculation is sure to increase with last night’s signing of Jean Segura to a two-year, $17MM contract. While Segura seems like a good bet to improve Miami’s offense, he’s a curious positional fit for a team that already has Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Miguel Rojas up the middle. Barring a position change on Segura’s part, it seems likely that Rojas will join fellow infielder Joey Wendle on the trading block. Rojas didn’t hit much in 2022 (72 OPS+) but could be attractive to teams looking for help at short as a glove-first, veteran option thanks to his strong defensive metrics last season that made him a finalist for the Gold Glove award. The Red Sox are known to have previously checked in on Rojas already this offseason, though the Marlins are said to have rebuffed Boston’s advances at the time. It’s possible Miami’s tune changes with the acquisition of Segura, though, particularly given the sides have since discussed Wendle in trade talks as well. Speculatively speaking, the White Sox could also make sense as a trade partner for one of Miami’s infielders given their hole at second base, while it’s possible the Angels could look to add a stronger glove to their shortstop mix than the current top options of Luis Rengifo and Gio Urshela.

2. Will the Mariners add a bat?

At the beginning of this offseason, there was something of a logjam in Seattle’s outfield, which was only exacerbated by their acquisition of Teoscar Hernandez from the Blue Jays. Since then, however, the Mariners have shipped out Kyle Lewis and Jesse Winker in separate deals, leaving them in a position where it could behoove them to add another bat to their outfield/DH mix. As things stand, Jarred Kelenic, Dylan Moore, and Cooper Hummel appear to be the primary internal options set to mix and match between left field and DH, and the addition of another bat could solidify that mix considerably. That could come through free agency, as Jurickson Profar remains on the market as an everyday option, while the likes of David Peralta and AJ Pollock could be added as more complementary options. It would be no surprise, though, if the Mariners decided to explore the trade market, given the thinned out market for starting pitchers and Seattle’s willingness to deal one of Chris Flexen or Marco Gonzales to improve other areas of the roster. Should they choose to go this route, striking a deal with the Cardinals or Orioles could make some sense, as both teams have an excess of position player talent and could benefit from the addition of an arm like Flexen or Gonzales.

3. Where does the infield market stand now that Segura’s off the board?

With Segura joining the Marlins, the infield market has lost its best remaining bat. There are still plenty of teams in need of an infielder, though, even in addition to the aforementioned Red Sox, White Sox, and Angels. The Dodgers, Braves, and Twins could all stand to add an infielder after losing their starting shortstops to free agency earlier this offseason, while the Giants and Tigers could also stand to upgrade their infield mixes. Elvis Andrus, Josh Harrison, and Evan Longoria represent the best options remaining across the infield, though players like Matt Duffy, Brian Anderson, and Cesar Hernandez could also be worth a look as potential bounce-back candidates. Shifting focus to the trade market, in addition to Miami, Baltimore could be another club to watch, as they could look to deal an infielder like Jorge Mateo or Ramon Urias to make room for their incoming infield prospects like Joey Ortiz, and it’s possible the Mets could look to deal Eduardo Escobar if the Carlos Correa deal makes it past the finish line.

Here are three things we’ll be watching around baseball throughout the day today as the New Year approaches:

1. After extending Murphy, have the Braves maxed out their payroll?

The Braves agreed to a six-year, $73MM extension that could be taken to seven-years, $88MM if the Braves exercise a 2029 club option, locking one of the best catchers in the game up under team control for the rest of the 2020s. In inking Murphy to this deal, however, Atlanta finds itself projected to pay into the luxury tax for the first time in club history, per RosterResource. This isn’t entirely unexpected, as the Braves were reportedly considering exceeding the luxury tax threshold earlier this month, while ownership had previously mentioned fielding a top five payroll in the sport. RosterResource has Atlanta clocking in at the fifth-highest luxury tax figure in the majors after the Murphy deal, meaning they’ve already hit the point ownership has indicated to be comfortable spending by one metric, even though their actual projected 2023 payroll of $198MM ranks eighth in the majors. Should this be the upper limit of what the club’s budget will allow, that will leave Atlanta heading into the 2023 season with Eddie Rosario, Marcell Ozuna, and Jordan Luplow sharing time between left field and the DH slot (perhaps with Travis d’Arnaud chipping in at DH as well). It’s hardly a group that inspires confidence, though, so it’s possible that the Braves would explore the trade market for ways to shed salary and open up payroll space for another bat in the left field mix if they are unwilling to go farther beyond the luxury tax threshold.

2. The Starting Pitching Market Continues To Thin

The already-thin free agent market for starting pitchers just lost its top remaining option last night, as the Rangers signed Nathan Eovaldi to a two-year deal worth $34MM in a move that likely pushes Jake Odorizzi to the bullpen when the rotation is fully healthy. Eovaldi wasn’t the only pitcher to sign yesterday, either, as Rich Hill will join the twelfth club of his career in 2023 after signing a one-year, $8MM deal with the Pirates. As many as half a dozen teams out there have been connected to the starting pitching market this offseason are likely still looking for an arm, whether they’re clear contenders looking for depth such as the Dodgers, Padres, and Cardinals or they’re a team still looking to fill out the rotation such as the Orioles, Diamondbacks, or Angels. With so many teams still in the hunt for a starter and both Eovaldi and Hill landed with teams who weren’t seen as locks to add another pitcher to their rotations, that could open the door for teams with starting depth to take advantage on the trade market. This includes the Marlins, as we discussed in yesterday’s Opener, but other teams could jump in to capitalize on the thin market as well. The Mariners, for example, have been rumored to be willing to deal either Marco Gonzales or Chris Flexen to improve the club in other areas, while the Twins and Guardians are among other teams that could have enough starting depth that they could feel comfortable dealing a starter. Still, the free agent market isn’t completely barren yet, as players such as Michael Wacha, Corey Kluber, and Zack Greinke remain unsigned.

3. MLBTR Chat Today

Have the recent moves this offseason left you with questions burning in your mind? Are you looking for answers about your favorite team’s direction? Or perhaps you simply missed the holiday chat hosted by MLBTR’s Mark Polishuk on Christmas Eve? Whatever the case may be, you can tune in at 3PM CST today, when MLBTR’s Anthony Franco will be hosting a live chat and fielding questions from readers. You can submit a question in advance using this link, and the same link will take you to the chat when it begins if you would like to check back and participate in real time.

As the hot stove continues to warm back up after the holidays, here’s three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around baseball throughout the day today:

1. What’s next for Arizona following their trade with Toronto?

The trade last week that sent Daulton Varsho to Toronto with Gabriel Moreno and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. heading to Arizona in exchange brought to a conclusion two storylines that had stretched throughout the whole offseason to that point- that of the Diamondbacks trading one of their outfielders and that of the Blue Jays trading one of their catchers. Toronto could be mostly done after adding Varsho, Kevin Kiermaier, Chris Bassitt, and Erik Swanson, but Arizona still has work to do to round out their roster, even after adding Kyle Lewis in a trade with the Mariners earlier this offseason. The D-Backs lineup looks fairly set at this point, but Mike Hazen’s front office has been said to be targeting relief pitching this offseason, and even though that didn’t come to pass in the Varsho deal, there’s plenty of free agent relievers left on the market for Arizona to choose from. Chief among them is former Diamondback Andrew Chafin, though others such as Michael Fulmer and Will Smith also remain available. Perhaps even more in need of additions than the relief corps is the rotation, however. Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly combine to form a solid top of the rotation, and Madison Bumgarner is locked into a rotation spot toward the back, but the D-Backs could really use another arm or two to occupy the middle of their rotation. Nathan Eovaldi, Michael Wacha, and Johnny Cueto are the top options remaining on the free agent market, though a bounce-back candidate such as Wade Miley or Corey Kluber could also make sense.

2. Which teams remain a fit for a Kepler deal?

The Twins are known to have interest in dealing longtime right fielder Max Kepler this offseason, and it’s possible that, with the long-awaited outfield deal out of Arizona done, Kepler’s market could begin to heat up. The Yankees and Marlins both were known to have interest in Arizona’s outfielders prior to the Varsho deal, and if Arizona is done trading from its outfield corps then its possible either team could pivot to Kepler as a less expensive backup option. While the Dodgers and Braves are both known to have interest in upgrading their outfield mixes, the addition of Kepler’s $8.5MM salary in 2023 would be a complicated add for either team, making a deal unlikely. Perhaps the best fits for Kepler are the Rockies and Rangers, both teams in need of outfield help who could be improved by Kepler’s steady though unspectacular bat even if he fails to return to the solidly above average bat he was 2019-2020, when he posted a .831 OPS in 182 games.

3. When will the Marlins move an arm?

The Marlins are known to be shopping members of their starting rotation to other clubs in their search for improved offense, though they’ve made it clear both Sandy Alcantara and Eury Perez are off-limits. Pablo Lopez is the most frequently discussed trade candidate in the Marlins rotation, but Trevor Rogers could make more sense for clubs with a longer path to contention, as he is under club control for two more years than Lopez, a free agent after the 2024 season. The Dodgers and Cardinals, as immediate clear contenders with solid rotations lacking in depth, seem like prime candidates to deal for Lopez, as such a deal would allow them to push Dustin May and Steven Matz, respectively, into swing roles. The Orioles and Diamondbacks, meanwhile, could make sense as partners in a Rogers trade. Both clubs are making pushes toward increased competitiveness in 2023, but face tough divisions that could limit their playoff opportunities in the near-term, making a longer term investment make more sense. Both teams are also in desperate need of rotation help; Arizona’s situation is detailed above, while Baltimore arguably downgraded the rotation by swapping out Jordan Lyles for Kyle Gibson when it was already the weakest part of their roster. All four of these clubs have the young, controllable position players/prospects who could be attractive to the Marlins as a return for one of their pitchers, as well.

After an unsurprisingly quiet holiday weekend, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on as the hot stove turns back on around baseball today:

1. What will happen with the Correa-Mets deal followed renewed medical concerns?

News came out over the weekend revealing that the Mets had flagged a right ankle issue in their physical examination of Carlos Correa, which was the final step before the sides finalized a 12-year, $315MM pact. The issue is reportedly the same one that gave the Giants enough pause that their 13-year, $350MM agreement with Correa fell apart, which is what allowed the Mets to land Correa in the first place. Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports that a deal is still expected to get done, noting that other teams have checked in on Correa over the weekend, but the sides are still committed to working things out. Heyman suggests that language in the contract may be revised to accommodate New York’s concerns, as it was when the Red Sox had post-physical medical concerns while finalizing JD Martinez’s 5-year deal with the club before the 2018 season.

2. Are the last starters going to start coming off the board?

Reports about three of the top starting pitching targets left on the free agent market surfaced over the weekend, with Nathan Eovaldi being connected to the Padres, Angels, and an AL East mystery team, with the Angels also linked to Corey Kluber and the Padres also linked to Johnny Cueto. Both teams certainly make sense as landing spots for any of the aforementioned free agent starters; the Angels have solid options for five slots in their rotation, but have typically gone with a six-man rotation to accommodate their unicorn superstar Shohei Ohtani. The Padres, meanwhile, have a relatively thin rotation even after adding Seth Lugo, especially when compared to their incredibly deep lineup and strong bullpen. One factor that could mix up the starting pitching market, however, is the sudden willingness of the Red Sox to listen to offers on oft-injured ace Chris Sale. Sale was previously among the very best starters in the game, making trips to the All Star game and receiving Cy Young votes in seven straight seasons from 2012-2018. An array of injuries have largely kept Sale off the field from 2020-2022, however, with less than 50 innings pitched in that time. Sale surely offers more tantalizing upside than any other starter available, but if his injury woes continue, an acquiring club could be left on the hook for his hefty salary without much production to show for it.

3. Will the Rangers manage to add the bat they need?

The Rangers were reportedly a finalist for the services of Michael Conforto before he landed in San Francisco on a two-year deal. This leaves Texas in a place they’ve been all offseason: in desperate need of outfield help. Leody Taveras and Adolis Garcia look like they can handle the lion’s share of starts in center field and right field, respectively, headed into the 2023 season. That still leaves left field as largely vacant, however, with Josh Smith and Brad Miller among a list of internal options who do not inspire confidence. Outside of a long shot trade for a big bat like Bryan Reynolds, the club seems likely to add a bat from free agency. The pickings at the position are slim at this point, though, with Jurickson Profar and Trey Mancini looking to be the only clear everyday players left available. Failing the addition of one of those two players, the Rangers could add multiple players in order to mix and match between left and DH, where Mitch Garver primarily played in 2022. Options for such a venture include Rafael Ortega, David Peralta, AJ Pollock, and Andrew McCutchen.

Here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:

1. Last chance for moves before Christmas

During the offseason, major holidays are occasionally used by teams and players as soft deadlines for deals to get done. Some free agents like to know where they’re going to live next year before a holiday, and GMs at the one-yard line on a trade may have a little extra incentive to get it over the line before they go home to celebrate. The day before Thanksgiving was rather quiet this year, perhaps partially because the flood gates of transactions really only opened once the Winter Meetings had begun. Will it be different today, the Friday before Christmas weekend?

2. When will we hear how Correa’s physical yesterday went?

Carlos Correa reportedly underwent his physical with the Mets yesterday, a necessary step toward finalizing their 12-year, $315MM deal. This is a typical, routine step in a new deal with a club, but it has taken on added significance in this case. That’s because the Giants pulled back from their 13-year, $350MM agreement with Correa after flagging something in his physical with them, which is what opened the door for the Mets to swoop in in the first place. With Correa’s physical completed, the Mets are reportedly expected to take roughly 24-48 hours to review the information before the deal is finalized, meaning if all goes well, Correa should be a Met before Christmas. It will be worth watching to see if word comes down about how the physical went, as that news could be available as soon as today, and in the event the Mets do find something concerning, as the Giants did, it would be another shocking turn of events in what’s already become one of the strangest forays into free agency by a player in recent memory.

3. With newfound payroll certainty, how will the Dodgers conduct the rest of their offseason?

Yesterday, a decision was handed down that Dodgers right-hander Trevor Bauer would have his suspension reduced to 194 games. This leaves him reinstated ahead of the 2023 season, meaning that LA will be on the hook for most of his 2023 salary (Bauer’s pay has been docked for the first 50 games of the 2023 season, which cuts into his final payday considerably). The news leaves the Dodgers barely $100K under the first luxury tax threshold, per RosterResource, giving them essentially no breathing room if they wish to stay under the luxury tax, as has been rumored following their unusually quiet offseason. If they truly wish to stay under the tax this year rather than face penalties as a third-year offender, it’s possible they’ll have to consider moving salary out, whether that’s in the form of a smaller, one-year commitment like Daniel Hudson or a more significant contract like that of Chris Taylor. Such a move would represent a considerable shift from LA, who has been one of the league’s biggest spenders in recent years, but it wouldn’t be unheard of. Prior to the 2019 season, the Dodgers swung a massive deal with the Reds, sending Matt Kemp, Yasiel Puig, Alex Wood, Kyle Farmer, and cash to Cincinnati in exchange for Homer Bailey, Josiah Gray, and Jeter Downs. The trade ended up a resounding success for the Dodgers, as it allowed them to duck under the luxury tax for the 2019 season and acquire two prospects who would grow into top-100 types in LA’s farm system before being flipped in buy-side trade to acquire Mookie Betts, Max Scherzer, and Trea Turner. While it seems unlikely that another deal of this impactful could come together, it still shows the Dodgers are quite willing to get creative in an attempt to duck under the luxury tax for a year to reset their penalties.