Diamond Sports Planning To File For Bankruptcy; MLB Planning To Stream Games For Free Temporarily
2023/03/diamond-sports-planning-to-file-for-bankruptcy-mlb-planning-to-stream-games-for-free-temporarily.htmlManfred has expressed a desire to move to a new system that would allow customers to purchase broadcasts regardless of where they are, though it's unclear how long it would take to get such a model in place. … Diamond Sports Group, the corporation that owns 14 Bally Sports regional sports networks, is expected to file for bankruptcy March 17, according to a report from Josh Kosman of The New York Post.
MLB Adds Three Former RSN Executives To Local Media Department
2023/03/mlb-adds-three-former-rsn-executives-to-local-media-department.htmlThe very creation of MLB's new local media department is reflective of the turmoil currently being felt throughout the RSN industry -- a model that appears to be rapidly dying in a content market dominated by streaming services. … Major League Baseball announced this week that it has hired a trio of executives with experience at Bally Sports and AT&T SportsNet to its newly created Local Media department.
Offseason In Review: Kansas City Royals
2023/03/offseason-in-review-kansas-city-royals-14.htmlOver five seasons with the Rays, Yarbrough was a more of a modern take on the "innings eater" model, working as both a bulk pitcher (behind an opener) and as a traditional starter. … The Royals focused mostly on adding veteran pitching, while clearing some space on the position-player side for new younger talents to get a larger big-league opportunity.
Offseason In Review: Los Angeles Dodgers
2023/03/offseason-in-review-los-angeles-dodgers-13.htmlAs pretty much a DH-only player at this point in his career, Martinez's lack of versatility is a bit of a departure from the Dodgers' usual model of player acquisition, yet the team is hopeful that Martinez can get fully on track after his power numbers dipped with the Red Sox last season. … While other NL powers loaded up during the offseason, the Dodgers had a comparatively quiet winter that focused more on shorter-term contracts.
Offseason In Review: Cleveland Guardians
2023/03/offseason-in-review-cleveland-guardians-2.htmlBell and Zunino are the big additions to a Cleveland roster that will look very familiar to the 2022 model, and the "if it ain't broke..." logic can certainly apply to the Guardians' relatively slow winter. … The Guardians had a pretty quiet offseason, but they splurged (by their modest payroll standards) on a pair of everyday sluggers to augment the lineup.
Blue Jays Hire James Click As Vice President Of Baseball Strategy
2023/02/blue-jays-hire-james-click-former-astros-gm.htmlAny future GM/president appointments for Click will obviously depend on his own appetite for returning to a position with baseball…… The Blue Jays announced Monday morning that former Astros general manager James Click has been hired as their new vice president of baseball strategy.
MLBPA Head Tony Clark On League Economics, TV Deals, Minor League CBA
2023/02/mlbpa-head-tony-clark-on-league-economics-tv-deals-minor-league-cba.htmlIt’s the [regional sports network] model that appears to be challenged, not fan interest in sporting events."… The newly-formed economic reform committee comprised of five team owners drew some criticism from MLB Players Association executive director Tony Clark, who told The Athletic's Evan Drellich that "the underlying theme" of the committee is reducing and controlling player payroll rather than any significant reshaping of the league's business.
Pirates Owner Bob Nutting Addresses Bryan Reynolds, Payroll, CBA
2023/02/pirates-owner-bob-nutting-addresses-bryan-reynolds-payroll-cba.html"It’s a model that we have belief in and have had success with. … 8:04am: Reynolds spoke with reporters this morning about contract talks with the Pirates, and said the team has made no new offers thus far (per Rob Biertempfel of The Athletic).
MLB Monitoring Diamond Sports Group Uncertainty
2023/02/mlb-monitoring-diamond-sports-group-uncertainty.htmlThe (RSN) model is at risk. … Diamond Sports Group, the corporation which owns the Bally Sports networks responsible for local broadcasts of a number of MLB teams, forewent interest payments worth roughly $140MM to creditors last Wednesday (Associated Press link).
The MLB Trade Rumors Arbitration Model Had Its Best Year Ever
2023/02/the-mlb-trade-rumors-arbitration-model-had-its-best-year-ever.htmlWith the last of the arbitration hearings officially in the books, we can now officially report that this was the most accurate year that the MLB Trade Rumors Arbitration Model has ever had. … The model estimated salaries within ten percent of salaries for 69% of cases – breaking the previous record of 65% and well above the 54% low point just three years ago.
MLB Creates Economic Reform Committee
2023/02/mlb-creates-economic-reform-committee.html“We have businesses that are literally not similar in terms of the overall revenue that they’re generating." Manfred tells Drellich, "And to the extent that you could find a new distribution model that actually helped on that disparity side, that would be the daily double. … One year after a tense period of CBA negotiations between MLB and it players that resulted in a lockout and a delay to the start of the 2022 season, it appears the league is already preparing for the next round of negotiations.
Royals Looking Into Extensions For Young Players
2023/02/royals-looking-into-extensions-for-young-players.htmlAs Rogers notes, such players as Bobby Witt, Brady Singer, and Vinnie Pasquantino fit the model of young extension candidates the Royals would certainly have interest in locking in as key parts of their future. … At the Royals' fanfest event today, general manager J.J.
Jesus Luzardo Wins Arbitration Hearing Against Marlins
2023/02/jesus-luzardo-wins-arbitration-hearing-against-marlins.htmlBoth figures from Luzardo and the Marlins were above the $2MM projection of Matt Swartz's arbitration model. … The arbiter's ruling means that Luzardo will earn his desired $2.45MM salary in 2023, rather than the Marlins' submitted figure of $2.1MM.
SSG Landers Close To Signing Kirk McCarty
2022/11/ssg-landers-close-to-signing-kirk-mccarty.htmlDue to his lack of strikeouts, McCarty doesn't really fit most MLB teams' preferred model for a starter or a…… Left-hander Kirk McCarty is close to signing with the KBO League's SSG Landers, according to a report from Ilgan Sports (hat tip to reporter Sung Min Kim).
Twins Likely To Explore Catching Market This Offseason
2022/10/twins-rumors-catcher-left-handed-hitter-ryan-jeffers.htmlPresident of baseball ops Derek Falvey recently spoke of the "co-catcher" model -- that is, two catchers splitting time more evenly rather than a conventional starter/backup committee (link via Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic). … Though the Twins' top priority at the moment is likely ascertaining whether they have a real chance to extend Carlos Correa before he formally triggers his opt-out clause, they'll head into the winter with a lengthy list of needs.
Dodgers Notes: Kershaw, Bellinger, Turner, Anderson
2022/10/dodgers-notes-kershaw-bellinger-turner-anderson.htmlImportantly, as predicted by Matt Swartz's model, Bellinger is expected to earn $18.1MM in arbitration this winter. … Despite winning a league-leading 111 games, the Dodgers will find themselves watching the World Series rather than playing in it, having lost yesterday's game to the Padres, and bowing out of the NLDS.
Report: Cubs Interested In Jose Abreu
2022/10/report-cubs-interested-in-jose-abreu.htmlAn Abreu signing might fit into this shorter-term model, as a three-year deal might be the most Abreu could hope to achieve as he heads into his age-36 season. … The Cubs could be looking across town for a lineup boost, as Bruce Levine of 670 The Score (Twitter link) reports that longtime White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu may be a free agent target for the Wrigleyville club.
Projected Arbitration Salaries For 2023
2022/10/mlb-projected-arbitration-salaries-2023.htmlMatt Swartz has created a model to project salaries for arbitration eligible players, which we’ve been publishing at MLB Trade Rumors for 12 years. … In the baseball industry, teams and agents determine arbitration salaries by identifying comparable players.
Giants Claim Jose Rojas From Angels; Steven Duggar Elects Free Agency
2022/09/giants-claim-jose-rojas-from-angels-steven-duggar-elects-free-agency.htmlSan Francisco has also favored versatile players, and Rojas fits that model with his experience at third base, second base, first base, and both corner outfield spots. … San Francisco has also announced the move, with Brandon Belt (who is undergoing season-ending knee surgery) moved to the 60-day injured list to create space for Rojas on the 40-man roster.
Giants Acquire Dixon Machado From Cubs
2022/07/giants-cubs-discussing-trade-involving-dixon-machado.htmlWhile Machado has played as a shortstop for the vast majority of his pro career, the 30-year-old has also seen…… 3:15PM: The Giants announced the trade to reporters, including Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area, with minor league righty Raynel Espinal going the other way.
Red Sox Notes: Eovaldi, Vazquez, Martinez, Mets, Vientos
2022/07/red-sox-notes-eovaldi-vazquez-martinez-mets-vientos.htmlA player on the cusp of the majors could also fit Boston's model, with SNY's Andy Martino suggesting that Mets infield prospect Mark Vientos could be of interest in trade talks. … As the Red Sox continue to struggle, it seems increasingly likely that the team will be selling in some capacity at the trade deadline, even if the likes of Xander Bogaerts and Rafael Devers aren't going anywhere.
Details On Spring Extension Talks Between Red Sox, Rafael Devers
2022/07/details-on-spring-extension-talks-between-red-sox-rafael-devers.htmlSome more details on the negotiations were shared by The Boston Globe's Alex Speier, who reports that the Sox viewed Matt Olson's extension with the Braves as a possible model for a Devers deal. … Prior to the start of the season, the Red Sox and third baseman Rafael Devers engaged in some extension talks that didn't yield much progress, as the two sides were reportedly around $100MM apart in their floated prices.
Dodgers, Giants Among Teams With Interest In Brandon Drury
2022/07/dodgers-giants-among-teams-with-interest-in-brandon-drury.htmlAs for the Giants, they've also been fans of the versatility model, hardly surprising given the fact that president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi came over from the Dodgers. … Reds infielder Brandon Drury is among the more obvious candidates to be traded in the coming weeks, as he's having an excellent year and is an impending free agent on one of the worst teams in baseball.
AL Central Notes: Twins, Guardians, Blitzer, Ilitch, Tigers
2022/07/al-central-notes-twins-guardians-blitzer-ilitch-tigers.htmlThe industry economic model is what it is and so we know what our challenges are being a small market. … The bullpen will be a focus for the Twins heading into the trade deadline, even though "the reliever (trade) market is always the toughest one to navigate and always the toughest one to pin down," chief baseball officer Derek Falvey told The Athletic's Aaron Gleeman and other reporters.
Offseason in Review: Detroit Tigers
2022/05/offseason-in-review-detroit-tigers-12.htmlThough Baez's bat will have its ups-and-downs, he fits Detroit's model because of his defensive upside. … It may not be enough to compete for a playoff spot this season, but it signaled the organization was putting the rebuild in the rearview mirror.