With a major offseason deadline now upon us, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:
1. The non-tender deadline is today:
The deadline for clubs to tender contracts to the players in their organization is 7pm CT this evening. The annual deadline never fails to spur activity with arbitration-level players, who typically are at the greatest risk of being non-tendered. MLBTR’s Anthony Franco discussed the process and a wide-ranging list of possible non-tender candidates yesterday, and it wouldn’t be much of a surprise to see a transaction regarding any player on that list at some point before this evening’s deadline. That transaction could be a non-tender, allowing the player to depart for free agency early rather retaining them at an arbitration-level price tag, but it could also come in the form of a trade to another club more willing to pay that arb price or even a pre-tender deal where the sides avoid arbitration at a lower price point to save the club some money and offer the player some certainty.
2. Could the trade market heat up this weekend?
Earlier this week, the Cubs swung a pair of trades on the same day. They acquired right-hander Eli Morgan, who is slated to be eligible for arbitration for the first time in his career this winter, from the Guardians in exchange for outfield prospect Alfonsin Rosario. They also acquired recently DFA’d catcher Matt Thaiss in a cash deal with the Angels. It’s likely that we’ll see an uptick of trades similar to both of these deals over the coming days.
With the arrival of the non-tender deadline today, several arb-eligible players on the bubble of being non-tendered get moved today, either off teams looking to cut costs to teams with budget space available, or from a team that would otherwise non-tender a player to one interested in offering him an arb-level contract. Aside from that, we saw a slew of players DFA’d in advance of the Rule 5 Draft protection deadline earlier this week. Any number of them could be flipped to another club via trade or waivers. That could lead to a handful of minor trades similar to the Thaiss deal, where a club adds a player for a typically relatively minor return, and there will also surely be plenty of waiver activity (and subsequent DFAs) in the days ahead.
3. Who else will meet with Snell?
Two-time Cy Young winner Blake Snell reportedly met with both the Red Sox and Dodgers recently, giving a glimpse into the soon-to-be 32-year-old’s market. Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic suggested yesterday that both the Blue Jays and Orioles could soon set up meetings with Snell, adding that the left-hander is aiming for a shorter stay on the free agent market this time around after waiting until March 19 to sign last winter.
It seems fair to presume that the Yankees (who had interest last offseason) and Mets (who saw 60% of their rotation reach free agency) could also sit down with the lefty. Snell could potentially hold broader appeal than fellow free agent aces Corbin Burnes and Max Fried due both to his lack of a qualifying offer and the fact that his age could tamp down the length of his contract (at the likely trade-off of a premium annual value). Might that create a few surprise suitors who don’t typically shop in the deep end of the free-agent pool?
Rocker49
Houston needs to swing a deal for Correa and let Bregman walk away.
CoasterPenguin
Why would Houston do that? Willy Adames would probably be a cheaper and more reliable option than Correa.
Fever Pitch Guy
Coaster – Correa used to play for the Astros.
CoasterPenguin
I’m know that I just don’t think it would be smart to add 36 million in payroll for an injury prone shortstop when there are cheaper options that would be just as good. I also don’t think there are any players that would appeal to the Twins that Houston would be willing to part with.
FemboySportsFan!
@coaster
Cheaper and better option than Carlos Correa??
Please, enlighten me…who’s better and cheaper than Correa?
Fever Pitch Guy
Coaster – How about Story? The Astros might be able to pry him away from the Red Sox.
chiefnocahoma1
Surely there’s a point to this comment.
CoasterPenguin
Willy Adames is projected for a 25 mil aav. Which is 11 mil less than Correa. Trevor Story could be an interesting fit but he’s kind of in the same boat as Correa in that if I’m Houston I won’t want to overpay for an injury prone veteran.
FemboySportsFan!
@coaster
an injury prone veteran?
the same one that had a 3.4 WAR this season despite being injured?
Trevor story isn’t good anymore, he’s nowhere close to correa, same with adames….Adames is good, but not Correa good.
Fever Pitch Guy
Coaster – Story has only $77.5M remaining on his contract whereas Correa has $133M remaining (not including team options).
Story is way overdue to have some healthy seasons.
Fever Pitch Guy
Fem – Story is due for a rebound, these things are cyclical.
Look at Sale ;o)
CoasterPenguin
I still don’t believe the Twins would go through with a deal especially when Houston does not have many pieces the Twins would be interested in, that Houston would be willing to move.
Fever Pitch Guy
Coaster – Okay I have the solution, a 3-way …..
Story to the Twins
Correa to the Astros
Brice Matthews to the Red Sox
I need to contact Breslow ASAP!
Pete'sView
Fever Pitch Guy — Oh, I’m sure Boston would be delighted to rid themselves of Story and his contract. But I can’t see the Astro’s trying to “pry” Story to Houston.
Pete'sView
I still don’t understand why people don’t recognize Correa as a very good ballplayer. Old bias I guess.
Pete'sView
Fever Pitch Guy — That is a sure way to end in the poor house. Correa is the far better player at this stage and his contract is fine given his production.
Fever Pitch Guy
Pete – Yeah maybe wishful thinking on my part, but realistically we would probably have to wait and see if Story can get through the first half of next season healthy and productive … and also two of Mayer/Campbell/Grissom/Rafaela would need to have a strong half season in the bigs.
Maybe next offseason? Story is an Irving, Texas guy and would probably be re-energized playing in Texas again.
Baseballisthebest
Correa had a 3.7 WAR in 86 games and Adames has a 3.1 WAR in a full season.
Pete'sView
Yes but, as much as Carlos is a good player, Willy doesn’t come with injury concerns.
Rsox
All Houston can really offer is salary relief as they don’t have a particularly good farm system. I don’t see it, Correa has been a free agent twice now and the Astros didn’t show any real interest so why trade for him now?
Fever Pitch Guy
Rsox – It’s like a girlfriend you kick to the curb.
You don’t really want her, until you find out she’s happy with some other guy …. then you want her back.
Rsox
Before, they could have brought him back for just money, now he will cost money and prospects.
Using your metaphor, it’s like getting the girlfriend back, only now she has a kid from someone else
VegasSDfan
I am mot sure anyone can outbid for Snell, like that Dodgers could.
RodBecksBurnerAccount
I don’t see why they would want him. Granted, he’s great in the second half of the season but with all of their juggling they have to do with injuries and getting innings, signing another top dollar arm who has only thrown more than 130 innings twice in his career doesn’t seem like a high priority for them.
Bart Harley Jarvis
And if history is any indication, it might be another four years before Snell puts together another big season.
gbs42
Bart, Snell has been great both of the last two seasons.
Bart Harley Jarvis
@gbs42,
I’m unable to reply directly to you, so I’m replying to myself.
I’ll agree Snell has been great for the past 1.6 seasons. The guy’s just not on the mound enough year after year. It’s remarkable that the only two seasons he pitched 180 innings, he won the Cy Young Award.
Joe says...
I don’t see why anyone would want Snell. The guy refused to pitch the last time he was supposed to. But I bet he had no problem cashing the check he got for doing nothing.
FemboySportsFan!
@joe
Good thing you aren’t a GM.
Joe says...
Probably so Femboy but I wonder about someone’s commitment to the team if they just don’t want to play. I’m all for players getting paid but I’m also for earning said pay. It’s not like he was nursing an injury or anything. He was just being selfish. Any other pitcher that had to take his place ran the same injury risk as him.
Pete'sView
I know many Giant fans feel that way.
Baseballisthebest
Rod, it seems like the Dodgers M.O.
jawinks
Dodgers actually have the depth to deal with his injury problems. If he actually is healthy it’s all upside for them, but they’re more equipped than most teams to deal with his issues
Balk
Giants can surely outbid the Dodgers.
deweybelongsinthehall
And still not get the player (Judge, etc.).
Balk
They signed him already last year, so yeah that makes a lot of sense Dewey..smh!
RodBecksBurnerAccount
I doubt Buster wants Snell back.
avenger65
Dewey: The Giants could have signed judge if he wasn’t playing with them to get a better offer from the nyy, where he was going to stay all along. Same with Ohtani and the Jays.
Rsox
Even the Dodgers resources are finite.
Yankee Clipper
I think it’s less about who can outbid whom for Snell, and more about which team is willing to outbid another for his services.
Boras won’t help his case, imo, if his goal for Bregman is a “Machado-like” deal.
Balk
Exactly Yankeeclip! This whole notion about who can outbid who is pointless. It’s up to the player and where he wants to play. Period. What’s funny is how a lot of teams refused to offer Snell a contract last year but now he’s the second coming! Crazy! Haha
This one belongs to the Reds
I saw an item someone wrote that the Reds could sign Snell or Fried to go all in. Best laugh I had in weeks.
stymeedone
Did you see the article on KC and Soto? Just the headline had me in stitches.
This one belongs to the Reds
I did this morning and spit my coffee all over my phone.
deweybelongsinthehall
It’s what’s wrong with baseball. It’s great when. team like the Royals locks up their own like they recently did. Not just great for the Royals but great for baseball. Signing a top free agent though will not happen often if at all. Look at Correa, two big market teams, the Mets and Giants backed away before the Twins got creative.
This one belongs to the Reds
The thing is, a team like the Royals or Reds, if they lock up their own, can only afford to do so for one of those mega deals. Witt (or Votto during his) is reduced to pretty much a solo act with some backup singers.
The Saber-toothed Superfife
A true ego maniac would prefer KC over LAD.
In KC, he can be the all-time hero.
In LA, he’s just another pretty fish in the bowl- not even top dog.
metsin4
That’s not even true. Bobby Witt is the face of the franchise no matter who came in.
deweybelongsinthehall
Imagine though Witt AND Soto…
darkhorses2010
George Brett and Bobby Witt are outside and would like a word.
avenger65
Saber: Who said everyone wants to be top dog?
Fever Pitch Guy
This – I don’t think Tito chose the Reds because he wanted to be on a non-contender.
unpaidobserver
I feel like in the wake of the JD Davis stuff were likely to see fewer tough calls now and more hardball with tendered players in spring…
Gwynning
Could be a “backpocket” strat for some Pobos, for sure. We’ll see!
longdistancebrewer
Agreed. If what happened with JD effectively normalizes that situation (ie other FOs who wouldn’t previously have stuck it to a player in those circumstances now feel ‘well, everyone knows it’s how the system works’) then the arbitration system is heavily weighted against players who go to a hearing, thus few will risk doing it. Feels like it’ll be something that gets looked at in the next CBA negotiation.
Salzilla
Heat up them tendies, gonna be a wild one!
whyhayzee
Snell gives you 26 starts and 137 innings on average over the past 7 full seasons. That’s not bad. Sounds like he fits in a six man rotation. My vision of a six man rotation is actually using five starters at a time and giving one a respite. There will be injuries along the way that necessitate the respite. I’m starting to think that the days of 30 starts and 180 innings are slowly disappearing.
Mikenmn
“’I’m starting to think that the days of 30 starts and 180 innings are slowly disappearing.”
Which is kind of disorienting, for a middle-aged to older baseball fan. If you are 50, and started watching baseball at 10, go back to 1984 and you find that 207 IP got you just to 50th on the leaderboards..
Psychguy
Emphasis on 100 mph fastballs ruining pitchers.
Troy Percival's iPad
The problem with 6 man rotations is the impossibility of getting 6, the incredible difficulty of getting 2 or even 3, guys who are good enough to start. It’s a worse idea when (not if) the last 2 or 3 guys are all a drag on the bullpen because they get pulled in the 3rd or 4th inning
FemboySportsFan!
the thing is, starters don’t need to go as many innings as they did before.
marinersblue96
Cal Raleigh drops Boras as his agent. Boras got dumped by the Big Dumper!!! Maybe there is hope he signs an extension with the M’s.
noproblempablo
I’d like to see Seattle sign Snell and then trade Castillo to Baltimore for some offense since they have zero shot at any of the big bats and Snell actually wants to play there. Carlos Santana and/or Justin Turner ain’t gonna get it done, Jerry.
YankeesBleacherCreature
Why would the O’s do that since they’ve lost Santander? They can sign Jack Flaherty long-term for less than Castillo’s AAV if they want a pitcher.
azcrook
Giants bullpen is excellent….that fits perfect a type of pitcher like Snell….who enjoyed his time in SF….and it is on the West Coast