Here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world headed into the weekend:
1. Moncada to be made official:
The Angels agreed to re-sign third baseman Yoan Moncada to a one-year deal last week, but that deal still has yet to be made official. It’s unclear what’s caused the delay, as other clubs with agreements signed at a similar time have officially announced those deals. Regardless, an announcement figures to happen in the near future given that spring training is just around the corner. The Angels’ 40-man roster is at capacity, so Moncada will require a corresponding move to create space. There’s no indication that the Halos are planning to remove Anthony Rendon from the 40-man roster even after his contract was restructured and the club indicated that he won’t be with the team this season — they’ve already made multiple transactions that required 40-man moves since that revelation and have not removed him — so it seems they’ll simply place him on the 60-day IL when camp opens. That will give them some mid-February flexibility, but Moncada’s deal will surely be finalized before that point.
2. Fan events this weekend:
A number of teams are hosting fan events this weekend as spring training nears and fan excitement for the coming season grows. The White Sox will kick things off with SoxFest Live today and tomorrow, while the Braves, Royals, and Padres are all hosting one-day fan events tomorrow. The Giants’ Fan Fest tour will be in Sacramento tomorrow as well, while the Mariners will host their two-day FanFest tomorrow and Sunday. Details regarding each event’s schedule, ticketing, and location can be found at the team’s respective link, courtesy of MLB.com.
3. Free agents linger with February on the horizon:
The month of February is just days away. Pitchers and catchers report in just a couple weeks. Despite that, a number of notable free agents remain unsigned. Framber Valdez, Zac Gallen, and Eugenio Suarez are arguably the most impactful names still on the market, but solid mid-rotation pieces like Lucas Giolito, Chris Bassitt, and Justin Verlander have also yet to sign. Will the impending arrival of spring training increase pressure to get a deal done, or will some of these players be content to continue holding out for the best deal possible? Max Scherzer, for his part, has indicated a willingness to hold off on signing until after the season begins in order to ensure he finds the right fit.
I’m sure there’ll be a Yankees notes about it, but Heyman reported Yankees interest in Koepech, Nick Martinez, Austin Skater and Grichuk. I don’t think we need a Martinez type with Blackburn abd Yarbourugh in the fold, but I’d certainly take Koepech! I think Jasson is already better than those OF’s, but if adding another simply for the bench I’d rather Grichuk. Still with Hays out there…that’s the best bet.
Hey, fantasy baseballers, I think there was enough interest from my two posts earlier this week to get a MLBTR Fans league started. I’ll post about it soon in one of these Openers. Stay tuned!
Could the Rendon inaction on the 40 man have anything to do with insurance? Or are they just holding it in reserve?
It has to be something. Insurance makes sense, I think.
Mike
I have no inside info, of course
It’s guess it’s a procedural thing to do with his retirement/insurance/whatever and they’ll keep him on the roster until that’s sorted
I can’t see Gallen signing before the season starts. Maybe if someone has some injuries in ST, he can latch on, but it’s hard to see anyone giving up the QO “costs” to sign someone with so much unpredictability. Once the QO expires in June (?), then teams will certainly line up for him. He probably should’ve taken the QO and used it to re-establish his value.
it is one reason I think they need to change the QO to be where it drops off at a date around the beginning of spring if it is kept around at all – or at least have an expiration on penalty but still award the pic to the team offering. I don’t think it does anything good for baseball when fringe guys can’t get signed because there is an extra penalty for electing FA
Fringe guys don’t get QO’s
fringe guys do that is why they are fringe – EG look at someone like gallen this year or christian walker, bellinger who settled for a pillow, conforto when he got it – and then there are all the guys that ended up taking it over the years that could be considered fringe QO guys because they didn’t think they could go on the market with one attached. even at that , the guys on the market get their market limited by it.
What is Valdez asking for that teams are backing away? Or, is it the compensation issue?
Maybe it’s a high price tag or demand for a long contract. Or the compensation. Or maybe it’s the thing with hitting his catcher last year? Or maybe it’s his rough end to last season – didn’t he tank in his last ten games? Maybe he’s being picky regarding those teams that are most interested. Or maybe a combination of these things?
I don’t know. But I’d LOVE to know.
I’m gussing it’s years, coupled with his age and whatever went down with him and Salazar have team’s shying away. Valdez and Gallen were probably the two pitchers most impacted by Toronto’s mass overpay for Cease and they are finding out no one wants to pay them the same
They’re not on Cease’s level so of course they’re not getting what he got. You guys have to understand that front offices don’t care what Cease’s ERA was. They’re looking at the metrics that actually count, and he was deemed worthy of the contract by Toronto, one of the most intelligent organizations in baseball. If they didn’t pay him that, some other team would given him a similar deal.
You forgot the biggest fan fest of them all
Dodger fan fest is this weekend
the dodgers don’t need a fan fest, they already had a parade
Fan fest is needed, although I won’t attend because I will attend spring training this year
Wasn’t Dodger fan fest deferred a few weeks?
You haven’t lived until you’ve made it to a Pirates fan fest, where the annual “losing is not acceptable” mantra is dusted off and beloved heroes are somewhat kicked to the curb
BravesFest was cancelled due to weather.
Valdez is the money and years, Gallen probably compensation.
A lot of rush before spring training for a lot of guys not in the top tier. Many minor league deals with invites to spring training coming.
The top guys mentioned here might be settling for one or two year at the most deals at this point.
And yet guys like Suarez seem to be in no real hurry to sign anywhere
Nick, as the better writers on this website have said in chats recently, its not unusual for multiple top free agents to still be unsigned at the start of February. Maybe you should tune in for Steve and Anthony’s chats. Would be enlightening for you and you may just learn something.
I don’t know if you’re addressing me with this one—I’m not Nick—but you’re right. The Pirates’ offseason momentum kind of ground to a halt thanks to this delay. But yes, it’s not uncommon. Suarez and others are going to wait until their comfort level is addressed satisfactorily.
Personally? I would rather they engineer a trade for a good stick at 3rd. I’m just not sure they have to trade capital to do it
I was addressing Nick Deeds, the so called writer of this piece.