Here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:
1. WBC pool play continues:
Pool play in the World Baseball Classic remains underway, with Samurai Japan (3-0) and Korea (2-2) both having advanced out of the pool stage of the tournament. Those two clubs will be the quarterfinalists from Pool C. In Pool A, the favorites to advance are Puerto Rico and Cuba, both of which have 2-0 records. The same can be said for the Dominican Republic and Venezuela in Pool D given their own 2-0 records. The most interesting pool at the moment is Pool B, where each of the United States, Italy, and Mexico have perfect 2-0 records. The winner of tonight’s game between Team USA and Team Mexico will be an overwhelming favorite to secure a spot in the quarterfinals. The U.S. will send reigning NL Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes to the mound against former Orioles right-hander Manny Barreda.
2. Littell contract to be finalized:
The Nationals and right-hander Zack Littell have reportedly agreed to one-year contract that includes a mutual option for 2027. That deal was pending a physical, however, and the exact dollar amount of the deal has not yet been reported. Financial details figure to become available at some point in the near future, and the deal should be finalized quickly in the interest of getting the righty into camp with the Nats; there are just over two weeks until the regular season begins. The Nationals will need to make a 40-man roster move to accommodate the addition of Littell, and the club has no obvious 60-day IL candidates after already transferring Trevor Williams and DJ Herz earlier this spring.
3. Giolito stands alone:
Now that Littell has a deal, right-hander Lucas Giolito stands alone as the final member of MLBTR’s top 50 free agents list who has yet to land a deal somewhere. MLBTR’s Steve Adams took a look at a handful of teams that remained plausible candidates to add a starter like Giolito to the mix back in February, and many of those teams still make some sense for his services. Clubs like the Braves and Phillies that look like plausible fits on paper have indicated a lack of interest in the right-hander to this point.
Of course, the nature of pitcher injuries (particularly in Spring Training) is such that any given pitch thrown by a player expected to be in the rotation mix for their team could lead to an injury that creates an opening for Giolito. That’s been all too apparent in Atlanta, where injuries to Spencer Schwellenbach and Hurston Waldrep at the start of camp have more recently been compounded by an injury to Joey Wentz. Wentz was carted off the field with an apparent right knee injury sustained while covering the bag on a grounder to first. Initial reports were that Wentz seemed to have avoided a major injury, but he was still being sent for imaging. If he’s forced to miss some time, perhaps losing a third rotation option would push the Braves to consider some external additions.
Atlanta isn’t doing anything with Cy Elder on the roster……
Can’t believe nobody has signed Giolito yet he isn’t an ace but most teams would happily take him on their starting staff. I was also wondering why Nestor Cortes didn’t get a redemption deal but then I saw he’s out most of the year so that makes sense.
He’s probably waiting out a MLB deal. Teams I guess only want to give him a MiLB deal. Also, Cortes is injured so he’s not rushing.
I’m sure you’re right but man that’s crazy a mid 3 ERA and low 4 FIP starter with that low of interest it’s crazy how some free agents fly off the board and similar ones sit for ever.
Twins – I don’t think you’re understanding, he ended last season with a concerning injury. Doesn’t matter how good a season he had, you don’t give a big contract to a pitcher with his injury history.
You don’t need to give him a big contract. He never said to give him a big contract. If someone offers 2/5 to Cortes, would he take it?
Cortes shouldn’t take that deal. If he comes back in July, August, September, or even after the season and shows he’s 100% he’s probably looking at least a 1 year deal for the 2027 season of 8M+.
He is coming back in late August at the earliest. He’s not resuming baseball activities until July when he starts throwing. He needs a big ramp up.
Astros – the ‘big contract’ FPG highlights is probably not Cortes, its Giolito.
Last deal Gio signed he didnt even pitch half of due to injuries, and, ended the walk year shut down with another injury before declining his side of a mutual option.
Fever, it’s a one year deal so a team could provide a lower base with easy incentives assuming he stays healthy. I’m thinking he’s waiting for a good club to have an injury or two as compared to signing with a non-contender who woukd look to flip him at the deadline. That club though would have to agree to not tag him at season’s end.
Giolito should come back to the Sox.. Coop will fix… oh wait.
Giolito to Atlanta makes too much sense, but I feel like they would have done it by now.
Atlanta keeps getting hit with pitching injuries, at some point the damn will be break I think.
I mean they are nuts for putting bandaids on that dam break already!
Has Profar’s appeal gone through yet? Until it’s confirmed, that money isn’t free up to spend on anyone like Giolito.
Giolito getting hurt right at the end of the season is hurting his free agency. He’ll sign with any team that hits the emergency button though.
Acoss – Yes without question, teams don’t want to invest a lot for a pitcher who ended last season with a concerning injury. Nobody believes him saying he’s perfectly fine, not after what he did to the Red Sox 2 years ago.
Fever,
Oh yeah, especially if his asking price is anywhere near what the Red Sox gave him two years ago. At this rate, he’s probably going to sign with a team around May to be ready for June….
I’m betting his initial demands were no where near the offers teams were willing to give at the time. Now, most teams have spent their budgets and his current offer(s) are way below his expectations. Eventually, a team with enough ? marks will make him an offer he’s willing to “survive off of” for the year.
Six-two and even Gio ends up in Atlanta…
Well, my cat has a sense about these things and when I asked him about Giolito going to the Braves, he scratched the hell out of me, so…
Giolito MIGHT be a good pickup for some team but then again might be a waste of money. It’s good that he has confidence in his abilities but he should be pitching in the WBC to prove that he’s healthy. Otherwise he’s just working out and no one is chomping at the bit to sign him. The alternative to the WBC would be to set up a camp and training schedule for unsigned free agents to show their wares to prospective employers. And maybe they already do that and I haven’t been paying attention. I know at least we’re not at war because Mike Johnson tells us that. But what’s going on is escaping me these days.
Hayzee – your higher end agents usually do just that. I know Boras has done it before on times he seriously missed the market on QO guys.
Cool, thanks GA.
Giolito is likely looking for a raise on what he made with the Sox last season and that’s not going to happen. He may not sign til after opening day which will push his availability til May