Here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:
1. Griffin nearing deal?
Yesterday, it was reported that left-hander Foster Griffin has received major league offers, including at least one multi-year offer. A former first-round pick by the Royals, the southpaw has just eight innings of MLB experience but enjoyed a brilliant campaign in Japan this year, with a 1.62 ERA and a 25.1% strikeout rate in 78 innings of work for Nippon Professional Baseball’s Yomiuri Giants. MLBTR’s Steve Adams reported yesterday that Griffin has spoken to eight different teams with varying interest levels in his services, while MLBNetwork’s Jon Morosi added that a deal could come together soon for Griffin. Which team will land the intriguing lefty?
2. Rangers press conference today:
The Rangers made official a pair of previously reported free agent signings yesterday when they announced the additions of catcher Danny Jansen and left-hander Tyler Alexander. Jansen replaces Jonah Heim in Texas’s catching tandem alongside Kyle Higashioka, while Alexander adds another lefty to the club’s bullpen to complement setup man Robert Garcia. At 11am local time today, president of baseball operations Chris Young and GM Ross Fenstermaker will be holding a press conference over Zoom to discuss the club’s latest signings with reporters. Amid an offseason where the Rangers are known to be limited in their ability to spend, today’s press conference could offer some indication towards the club’s plans for the remainder of the offseason and how much flexibility remains in the team’s budget.
3. 40-man roster moves incoming:
The Tigers, Diamondbacks, and Cardinals worked out deals with free agent right-handers Kenley Jansen, Merrill Kelly, and Dustin May, respectively, over the weekend. All three of those clubs have 40-man rosters already at capacity, however, and as a result each club will need to make a corresponding move the clears space on the 40-man before it can bring its new player into the fold officially. Those corresponding moves could be as simple as designating a player for assignment, though it’s also possible that a trade could be worked out that creates additional breathing room on the roster by trading someone already on the 40-man for non-roster prospects. That could be a particularly realistic route for the Cardinals, who are known to be engaging in trade conversations regarding a number of players on their roster as they enter a rebuilding period.
Is there not going to be a chat?
Astros – I hope there will be, I want to ask if this is the first time every Jansen in MLB has signed with a new team at the same time.
Another opener without Murakami being mentioned…..curious. Monday, Dec. 22, at 5 p.m is coming fast.
The updates on the posted Japanese players have been very few and far between. Not surprising but definitely curious.
Road – I love the way they are handling it. Murakami refuses to have his name used for ulterior motives. When he makes a decision, they will announce it.
Kinda fun knowing it might just surprise us on a refresh.
Rumors tend to come from the big market teams, which have lots of reporters covering them (including Japanese ones). Murakami I think is headed to a mid-market team and they just don’t leak as much.
Foster Griffin has AJ Preller’s fingerprints all over him… figuratively speaking.
I could see him going back to KC. Affordable, and makes trading a current starter easier.
Phillies are signing Adolis Garcia to a 1 yr/$10M deal.
Not a bad move by them imo. But outside of a possible JT Realmuto reunion, it makes me wonder if the Phillies free agency signings (as far as “big” moves) is kind of over with.
That said, they may be able to swing an interesting trade or two still.
Adolis Garcia wRC+ the last two years is 94 and 83. I would call that a waste of money.
There’s this thing called “defense,” which some people say is really important. You should look into it.
Right because you can’t find better than a glove first outfielder for less than 10 million. There’s this thing called not acting like a jacka$$ you should look into it
The thing about Garcia’s defense is that it’s not a sure thing. Last season he had +16 DRS and a defensive run value of +2 (+1 OAA) which was obviously good.
But in 2024 he had a -5 DRS and a ghastly -11 defensive run value (-12 OAA).
He’s shown good defense throughout his career, but he’s also had a few stinkers. If he continues with his poor offense and also produces another bad year in the field, he could be really expensive dead weight.
Maybe not one who hits the ball as hard as this guy does. With the offensive potential in play, I think it’s a reasonable deal…and a great “prove it” situation for the player.
They aren’t paying for the last 2 years though. They are paying for next year
And Garcia has been in the league more than just the last 2 years.
FanGraphs projects him for a 99 wRC+ and 1.1 fWAR. Which has a value of right around $10 million
The last few years are generally a pretty good indication of what next year will look like.
If you think a wRC+ of 99 is worth 10 million then good for you. In the 5 years he’s played the whole season he’s been over 100 wRC+ twice (2022, 2023). If you want to bet on him getting back to even an average bat 3 years later I’d gladly take that bet.
Ere
“If you think a wRC+ of 99 is worth 10 million then good for you”
I didn’t say that. What did I say?
“ FanGraphs projects him for a 99 wRC+ and 1.1 fWAR. Which has a value of right around $10 million”
You literally said 99 wRC+ is worth around 10 million
The longer it goes without the Phillies getting a replacement, the more likely it is that JTR re-inks and they basically run it back with Garcia replacing Castellanos.
I still want them to sign a bunch of guys named Phil Lee.
Or maybe Toronto signing a bunch of guys named Jason who are sad…
I really don’t want Boston to sign players who out of office wear red socks…
That reverses the actual situation. Its not the Phillies choice. It’s JT who gets to choose. Dombrowski is simply waiting and hoping. Lots of teams need a catcher.
“Griffin nearing deal”
Don’t do that to us sad Pirates fans. Almost got me excited about something.
The winter meeting’s energy still on slow I see. Can we have a Tucker or Gallen signing soon?
I’m hearing Bregman had until yesterday to decide on a contract offer from the Red Sox – 4/$140, no specifics and he turned it down over the weekend. And that the Red Sox are now in a hard push to get Bichette signed I’m told 7yrs $200m, no specifics. Remember, you heard it hear first.
Sources roadtrip?
Sounds like a panic move. 7 year contracts have a low level of success.
At some point (not yet) we end up with musical chairs, with a few players, having turned down a lot of money, find there’s less left than expected. There will be the surprise short-term opt out high AAV player.