On the heels of big news out of Toronto earlier this morning, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world today:
1. Roster decisions abound:
Opening Day is just around the corner, and as a result a flurry of roster moves have taken place over the past few days. That’s sure to continue going forward, as non-roster players breaking camp with the team will need to be added to the 40-man roster, while players without options remaining who don’t make their current team will need to be cut loose. Some big roster decisions yet to be made include whether top prospect Kevin McGonigle will break camp with the Tigers and whether Astros shortstop Jeremy Pena will be healthy enough to begin the season on the roster or require a trip to the injured list.
2. Trades, opt-outs, and signings galore:
As teams finalize their rosters and inform veterans on minor league deals that they won’t make the club, many of those veterans will have the opportunity to return to free agency. We’ve already seen southpaw Joey Lucchesi granted his release from the Giants, while catcher Reese McGuire managed to leverage his opt-out in the Brewers organization into a big league deal with the White Sox. In addition to those veterans moving in and out of free agency, the trade market is rife with possibilities at this time of year. The Nationals already took advantage of a roster crunch in New York by acquiring young infielder Jorbit Vivas from the Yankees, while some minor league veterans like Joe La Sorsa have upward mobility clauses in their contracts that can force a trade to a team willing to roster them.
3. Extension season continues:
Even amid the flurry of roster moves headed into Opening Day, springtime remains extension season all around baseball. It’s been a busy past few days on the extension front, as the Phillies inked southpaw Cristopher Sanchez to a new contract yesterday, locking up the lefty through his mid-30s, while this morning saw the Blue Jays extend GM Ross Atkins and manager John Schneider ahead of what would’ve been the final years of their contracts. Outside of the deals that have already gotten done, the loudest buzz in terms of extensions involved star Pirates prospect Konnor Griffin, who was assigned to minor league camp over the weekend but also has mutual interest in an extension with his organization. Are there more deals on the horizon as Opening Day draws near?
Noah Hiles reported an offer of 8/$110M for Griffin, plus performance incentives that “could push it over $150M” with limited no trade protection. This didn’t get it done, certainly, but it’s a pretty competitive first offer. I’m hopeful.
Considering Griffin is still in AAA, I think it was a good offer, but I’m sure the agent sees big $$$ with all the hype.
We will see in the next couple of years if that hype is deserved.
I hoping he’s what we think and hope he is. If he struggle a little at AAA which is possible making the adjustment from AA and disappointment of not making the opening day roster, it could help in a long term contract that’s more affordable Roman Anthony with the Red Sox is a good comparison, 8 years @ $130, with incentives it could take it to $230. With a possible lock out in 2027 he could ask for a large signing bonus off the contract payable this year.
The big difference is Anthony had 2 months of MLB time. Off the top of my head I can’t recall the largest extensions for rookies without MLB experience, let alone AAA experience.
Ignoring the lockout effect on the price tag, I think it’s actually smart for both to wait until he has some MLB time under his belt. Assuming Griffin does as well in AAA as he did, well in all minor league levels last year, he’ll be up in the majors within two months. So, like with Anthony it’ll probably be a good idea for Griffin to bet on himself and wait until August to actually make a deal. Truthfully might be best for the Pirates too, get a better idea of how he’ll look in the MLB.
Jackson Chourio with Brewers – In December 2023, the Brewers signed Chourio to an 8-year, $82 million guaranteed extension. This was a landmark deal because it shattered the record for the largest contract ever given to a player with zero Major League experience. And only played 6 six games in AAA.
Extend Hunter Brown and Jeremy Pena!
Window has long since passed for both.
I know. Maybe it should be…
Extend Cam Smith and Mike Burrrows!
(Best I can think of)
The MLBTR Fantasy league has been cooking on the trade front during Spring Training, it’s been like the Hottest Stove! Without revealing who made the trades, I thought THE trade rumor site we came from would be interested in reading these:
O’Hearn for Manaea
Vargas for Mize
Gleyber/Fairbanks for R.Lopez/Woodruff
W.Abreu for Stott
Lile/Verlander for Moniak/Sasaki
Neto for Ryan
Jansen/Wilson/Song for Adell/Armstrong/Alvarez
Marsee for Boyd
G.Williams/Baz for Gore/Whitlock
O.Lopez/Wheeler/Weathers for Trout/Semien/Gaddis
Rice for Duran
Weathers for Lile
Let us know your thoughts! Onto the season!
Draftin tonight and this is gettin me in the perfect headspace lol
Much luck! I completed my 4th and final for the season last night.
Ah best of luck, I toil away too much with a single league, but I always want to draft more haha.
4 is definitely too many. For the longest time I had just one, but the second popped up a few years back, plus starting this one, and also public roto which I never do, but wanted a no hassle roto refresher. So I should be back to 3 next year at least.
Who is Lile? Verlander was a FA and can’t be traded until after the all star break. I can see why you left that site.
Lile is a Nats OF, Verlander is on the Tigers. Also what site, stymee?
Can you give us the rosters?
Honestly a bit too much for here and changing daily.
The question on the Tigers is whether Slater is opting out. None of Meadows, Perez, or Jones produced this spring, but Perez and Jones performed well last year. Jones has no options left. If Slater is kept, it might mean no LH platoon for Javy in CF, and would force Veirling to 3B, which might effect McGonigle making the team out of ST.
I can’t see Vierling starting over Keith at 3B, one of the OF spots seems more likely. To me McGonigle looks like he has won the starting SS job and Javy at least a portion of CF. Meadows and Perez have not been good. I’ll take Jones showing last year over Slater’s. Julks showed better than Slater in Spring training. Should be interesting.
Just a comment on these veteran opt-outs that came available over the weekend. I saw that Kimbrell just chose not to exercise his. I’m surprised more guys don’t do that. I wonder, how many of them are just accelerating the end of their career by opting out of a minor league contract, when they already went through the off-season and discovered that’s all that was available to them. Does anyone keep any statistics on this, like of the guys who triggered these automatic opt-outs last year, how many got jobs and how soon, where they all ended up? Seems to me their best career move would be in AAA playing, and thus having an opportunity to showcase their skills, as opposed to sitting at home, getting rusty, and being forgotten.
I don’t see a point in keeping tabs on this as there are so many variables at play. The guys who opt-out of MiLB deals are not just sitting around at home waiting for another call. They are staying prepared at non-MLB facilities. I assume some MLB vets don’t find minor league bus travel and budget lodging appealing.
There is always a.shortage at C, and being a backup in the majors is better than being in the minors. I’m surprised McGuire didn’t have more options. As to Slater, several teams have had injuries/suspensions and could use a reliable OF. They may not have had an opening earlier, but with Profar and Rojas out, Tauchman injured, Slater may see some options.
Do you really “leverage” your way onto the white Sox though? I mean on one hand, you’re on a major league roster. On the other hand, you’re on the white Sox.