Here are three things we’re keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:
1. Valdez to make Tigers debut:
Tigers fans will get their first glimpse of newly-signed southpaw Framber Valdez on the mound for Detroit, as he’s set to start the club’s Spring Training game against the Braves later today. At 1:05pm local time in at the Tigers’ spring complex in Lakeland, Valdez will face off against Atlanta righty Bryce Elder. The soon-to-be 27-year-old Elder is a one-time All-Star but has struggled badly over the past few years, and is coming off a 2025 campaign where he posted a 5.30 ERA in 28 starts. Valdez, of course, has been one of the top starters in the AL for several years now. Last season was one of his weaker campaigns, but he still posted a solid 3.66 ERA with a 3.37 FIP.
2. More extensions on the way?
Over the weekend, the Cardinals extended manager Oli Marmol on a two-year deal that includes a club option for the 2029 season. There will surely be additional extensions over the coming weeks, both for players and personnel. MLBTR’s Mark Polishuk took a look at the managers and top front office executives on expiring contracts back in January, and while a few (including AJ Preller of the Padres and Pat Murphy of the Brewers) have already reached new deals since then, many are still on lame duck contracts. As for players, extension rumors have been fairly quiet to this point in the winter but, as Chris Sale‘s recent extension with the Braves showed just last week, these sorts of deals can come together very quickly.
3. Big league deals still on the table for free agents?
We’re now into the month of March, and Opening Day is just a few weeks away. By this point in the calendar, most veterans lingering on the free agent market are likely to wind up signing minor league contracts. That won’t be the case for all of them, of course; both Lucas Giolito and Zack Littell have the track record and platform season necessary to earn a meaningful big league deal even this late in the year. There’s less certainty on that front for the rest of the remaining free agents, but over the weekend veteran outfielder Starling Marte landed a big league deal with the Royals. That Marte, who is 37 years old and has been more of a part-time player in recent years, was able to get a big league deal could offer reason for optimism for other players still on the market. Who will be the next to sign?
Hopefully the Yankees extend Cash man and Boonedoggle for another 100 years.
And someone needs to tell Giolito and Littell to shave their expectations if not their beards.
As you were.
Great sense of humor. We can use more guys on here like you. Giolito and Littell can go elsewhere, and keep the beard. The Yankees have an abundance of starters, so no need there. I definitely agree with the A part of the comments above, 100 percent though.
“We can use more guys on here like you.”
No. My jokes are bad. And my nicknames are worse. Error in Judgement is pretty special though.
Does anyone besides the Braves FO think they’re making a good decision by not signing a FA pitcher? I’m not heard any support for their position and I’d be interested in hearing someone explain why this might be the right move for them.
Some flawed SPs with recent injury issues or who aren’t as valuable to clubs as they think they are might be thinking that they’ll get a really good multi-year offer (or high 1yr) as injuries occur in ST.
Hold outs tend not to be useful/good until well into season (if at all)-so some clubs won’t go beyond low base with tiered incentives offers based on IP.
There’s so much dead money around MLB tied into hurt/declining SPs that unless 1 of the deep pocket teams really wants you the other clubs will wait it out with zero desperation (stay in-house early on).
George Mitchell is in the Epstein Files. The credibility he used to have before he issued that Steroid Report is now gone. Go back and let Raffy, Sammy, Barry, et. al. in. No need to wait or posturize anymore over minor details of what they may or may not have done.
Okay bossman, we’ll get right on that.
TPI- Yeah, there goes his credibility. And just because Barry’s head grew 2 sizes and Sammy’s arms suddenly were the same size as his thighs there’s no reason to suspect roids. It was all a lie. There’s only one thing that affects the human body like that and it ain’t Wheaties.
So is Cher.
The MLBTR Fans Fantasy Baseball League drafted last night and it was a good time! We’ve got some good teams out of the gate and I’ll be updating here weekly in the Openers once games are underway. Thanks again to all of the commenters here that joined in!
Still laughing that I ended up with Devers after all the drama last year
Extend Jeremy Pena and Hunter Brown!
If you get a free agent starter cheap enough, he’s easy to jettison if performance or general health isn’t there. That’s got to be in the thinking of some FO’s when they look at what’s left…and especially if the signing team is in a penalty phase.
That doesn’t mean the FA has no value, but roster spots and penalties may raise the price too much.
Far too many egos on the Detroit SP staff for it to be successful.
I’m still scratching my beard wondering why Michael Kopech and Danny Coulombe (to lesser extent) remain unsigned.
Perhaps Kopech isn’t fully healthy.
Coulombe is 36, but he is still left handed.
Maybe he is about to pull an Inigo Montoya and declare that isn’t, in fact, left handed.
Why even are those 2 guys unsigned still?