Here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:
1. Darvish contemplating retirement:
Over the weekend, Padres right-hander Yu Darvish clarified reports that he was poised to retire by noting that, while he has indeed contemplated calling it a career, he has not yet made a final decision. Negotiations between himself, the Padres, and the MLBPA regarding the final years of his contract remain ongoing.
Darvish underwent surgery on his UCL in November that will cost him the entire 2026 season. He’s owed $43MM total over the 2026-28 seasons. If he does decide to hang up the spikes and the Padres are able to work out a deal with him and the MLBPA to lessen the short-term financial burden of the right-hander’s contract, that could help create some additional financial flexibility for San Diego as soon as this offseason. The Padres are known to be interested in adding another starter and a right-handed bat to their first base/DH mix, and more budget flexibility could aid those pursuits.
2. What’s next for Cleveland after the Ramirez extension?
Seven-time All-Star and future Hall of Famer Jose Ramirez has never been shy about his desire to play his entire career in Cleveland, and after his latest extension with the club he appears all but guaranteed to do so. Ramirez signed a seven-year deal that overwrites the remaining three years on his current extension, keeping in him town through his age-39 season while also guaranteeing him an extra $106MM in new money. The deal comes with significant deferred money and takes the short-term price tag of Ramirez’s contract down by about $24MM over the next three years. If that financial flexibility is used to improve the club in the short-term, the Guardians could take the opportunity to add some much-needed right-handed help in the outfield. Harrison Bader, Austin Hays and Miguel Andujar are among the remaining free agents who’d fit that bill.
3. Will Sugano find a role in MLB?
NPB legend Tomoyuki Sugano came over to MLB for the first time last year and pitched his age-36 season as a member of the Orioles. The righty posted a 4.64 ERA with a 5.36 FIP across 157 innings of work. He led the AL in home runs allowed with 33 and struck out just 15.7% of his opponents. Despite his rough inaugural season in the majors, Sugano made clear over the weekend he wants to keep pitching in the U.S. rather than return to NPB in Japan.
Even with last year’s flaws, Sugano did manage to make all 30 of his starts last year for Baltimore, and he only walked 5.3% of his opponents. If nothing else, he could be an innings-eating fifth starter for a club with young and/or inexperienced rotation groups. Plenty of competition remains on the market ranging from Chris Bassitt to Lucas Giolito to Justin Verlander, but Sugano should have a lighter price tag than many of his veteran counterparts on the market. Will he find a role?
If Yu does retire, he’s going down as one of the best Japanese players to make the jump to MLB.
Rockies should kick the tires on Sugano, they need starters and he wouldn’t be expensive either.
One of Sugano’s biggest problems was giving up home runs and hard contact. One of the very last teams that should be interested in him is Colorado. He would be best in a place that suppresses the long ball, rather than a place that enhances it.
Valid points. Probably somewhere like the Giants or the Pirates would make sense then.
Those would make sense. Ideally, a spot on an AL Central team could work well. Cleveland and KC have 2 of the bottom four parks for home runs and he’d get to pitch a bunch of games against those lighter hitting AL Central offenses.
It doesn’t look like KC really needs him, but Cleveland might be able to find a spot for him. Not sure they would do it, but it would be a solid place for him.
Cleveland could use him and considering they don’t spend a lot on free agency, Sugano wouldn’t cost too much either.
The Reds! Arizona!
Why any team in MLB would be interested in Sugano in beyond my comprehension.
Innings. He eats them well and rarely gets so blown up you need to use your pen (mostly because he never walks anyone). That’s worth a lot to any but the top teams.
Somebody’s gotta pitch on the rebuilding teams, and the last thing you want is to overuse your young arms.
What a boring weekend for off-season news, hopefully this week is a little more exciting than this weekend was
SD uses Yu’s salary for 2 of the 3: Sugano, Verlander, Martinez.
Sugano gave up an .800 OPS and struck out 15% of batters. Not an upgrade over the backend guys like Sears & Waldron. Possibly a downgrade since he’ll be 36.
I like Giolito better than those 3 as I think there is more upside with him and he seems primed for a Preller special.
I’d definitely take Verlander over Nicky tight pants though.
It wouldn’t surprise to see the sort of staged settlements worked out in the next CBA. It’s probably something both sides could support. Create a roster spot, cap space, reduce the number of years the player (who can’t play) has to go through the motions, etc. You’d have to be careful about abuse, and I don’t know how disability insurance would fit in, but it would provide a sane off-ramp
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I want to start a MLBTR Fans fantasy baseball league.
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Who here would be interested?
Me
Me.
Darvish said he isn’t retiring, at least not at this point. He did say he wants to void his contract and become a free agents. The finish his rehab and see if he can make a comeback.
He said it’s my contract, my life and should be able to do what he wants/. He also said the remaining money on his deal he doesn’t consider it his. He said he hasn’t done anything to of earned that money.
Where did that get reported?
Where did you hear that?
Future HOF? No.
Jose Ramirez?
At the age of 33 he already has 57.6 bWAR, so there’s a good chance he ends his career with 65-75+ career bWAR.
Most guys over 50 WAR have a decent shot, and guys with over 60 are shoe-ins with very rare exceptions.
Additionally staying with one team is something some voters will appreciate.
The only real ding on his reputation is his lack of an MVP, but he played his career against Ohtani, Judge, and Trout. There weren’t a lot of MVP’s to go around.
Barring steroid allegations or some other outside factor, I can’t see him being anything other than a Hall of Famer.
He passes the eye test. He has the look of a Hall of Famer. Plus he knocked down Tim Anderson with the mystery right hand! Don’t mess with Jose. I am happy for him that he received his extension. I just love the fact that it was set up with deferred money so that Cleveland can perhaps make a move to help the team around him.
At this point, I would be thrilled if Cleveland signed any of those three guys, However, since Antonetti said that he doesn’t want to take playing time away from the young guys, I doubt it will happen
How did the Darvish story get so turned around the other day?
One word: Acee