With pitchers and catchers set to start reporting in less than two weeks, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:
1. Santana, Pirates await hearing results:
Right-hander Dennis Santana and the Pirates went to an arbitration hearing yesterday, according to a report from the Associated Press. Santana struggled early in the season for the Yankees with a 6.26 ERA in 27 1/3 innings despite a solid 3.93 FIP, but upon be plucked off waivers by Pittsburgh he turned his season around and delivered a 2.44 ERA with an identical FIP while striking out 50 batters in his final 44 1/3 innings of work. The righty filed at $2.1MM while the Pirates countered at $1.4MM, leaving a fairly substantial $700K gap between the sides. The hearing occurred against the backdrop of fellow Pirates righty Johan Oviedo losing to the club in his own hearing; Oviedo will be paid $850K rather than $1.15MM as a result. Players won the majority of cases in 2024 but historically teams have typically come out ahead in arbitration hearings.
2. Reds staying active:
This offseason initially appeared likely to be a very quiet one for the Reds, as right-hander Nick Martinez wound up accepting the club’s qualifying offer and that $21.05MM commitment single-handedly took Cincinnati’s payroll for this back to 2024 levels. They’ve managed to stay busy in spite of that, however. Trades for Gavin Lux and Jose Trevino helped bolster the club’s depth. Most recently the Reds have signed outfielder Austin Hays and lefty starter Wade Miley (on a minor league deal) while swinging a trade with the Giants for southpaw Taylor Rogers to bolster the bullpen.
It’s a solid collection of complementary additions, though RosterResource projects the club for a $116MM payroll in 2025 that might represent the upper limits of their payroll capacity for this year. President of baseball operations Nick Krall indicated earlier this month that the club’s new TV deal for 2025 would allow them to be more active in upgrading the club for the remainder of the winter, but it’s not clear exactly how much more budget space the front office has to work with at this point after $11MM to the payroll in the past week by picking up Hays and Rogers.
3. Relief market movement continues:
Rogers was far from the only notable bullpen arm to change teams yesterday. Free agent right-handers Ryne Stanek, Tommy Kahnle, and Carlos Estevez agreed to deals with the Mets, Tigers, and Royals, respectively. Stanek joins Edwin Diaz, A.J. Minter, and Jose Butto in the Mets bullpen, while both Kahnle and Estevez appear to be strong bets for high-leverage roles with their new teams. Estevez, in particular, seems to be all but certain to lock down the ninth inning in Kansas City with Lucas Erceg likely to shift back into the setup role he held with the A’s ahead of star closer Mason Miller. Even after yesterday’s moves, plenty of notable names remain available such as David Robertson, Kenley Jansen, and Kyle Finnegan. Who will be the next to sign?
“Rogers was far from the only notable bullpen arm to change teams yesterday. Free agent right-handers Ryne Stanek, Tommy Kahnle, and Carlos Estevez agreed to deals with the Mets, Tigers, and Royals, respectively.”
Technically, Stanek didn’t change teams. He finished the year with the Mets and then resigned with them.
Gee thanks, Ricky Rulebook.
You’re welcome.
Impressive auditing of mlbtr. BITA applauds.
For the D-backs I think it comes down to either Finnegan or Robertson if they go the FA route for a closer.
Jansen has experience pitching at Chase Field but his heart condition makes pitching at Coors Field less than a sure thing. D-backs play 7 games at Coors in 2025, which is enough for them to make a decision based off that.
The Dodgers sign Finnegan, Jansen and/or Robertson. Cut or trade Brazier and Graterol. Keep an all-closers all All-Stars bullpen. Don’t spare any expense.
Wouldn’t mind Robertson on the Mets again. Setup Diaz.
On the 29 man roster?
As he was supposed to be……before the WBC.
Cincinnati has definitely had one of the better low key offseasons. Who do y’all think has made better small moves?
Reds have positioned themselves to be a playoff contender without breaking the bank. Good job by FO. Many will say they could have done more and probably be right. But what they did with spending and retaining the farm system was extraordinary.
Much better front office than the Pirates who should have cleaned house after last year’s disaster. Skenes has arrived and they do nothing to add offense?
Sevy’s deal with the A’s was not small but they’ve improved. Astros and Mariners haven’t gotten better yet so I think the A’s are going to see the bigger swing in their W-L record over the Reds.
Article didn’t even mention arguably their biggest off-season move, the India-for-Singer trade.