Offseason In Review: Cleveland Guardians
2023/03/offseason-in-review-cleveland-guardians-2.htmlLikewise, even trading more established players like Amed Rosario, Aaron Civale, or Zach Plesac to create room for the newcomers might've been a tactic the Guardians would've explored if they didn't feel they were genuinely close to competing for a championship. … The Guards did move some younger players in trades this winter, partly out of necessity to open up 40-man roster spaces for more up-and-comers.
AL East Notes: Manoah, Shapiro, Rortvedt, Bautista
2023/02/al-east-notes-manoah-shapiro-rortvedt-bautista.html"Once we have that mass of talent, we want to put it in a position to sustainably be a championship-calibre team. … "But not build the team solely through free agency, supplement a team through free agency....The thought was we’d always have to ramp up payroll as we went." The Jays have some regular shoppers in the higher-end free agent market over the last four offseasons, signing such players as George Springer, Hyun Jin Ryu, Kevin Gausman, and (most recently) Chris Bassitt to expensive long-term deals, while also investing in some pricier trade targets and contract extensions.
Examining The Cubs’ Fifth Starter Options
2023/02/examining-the-cubs-fifth-starter-options.htmlLongtime Cubs starter Kyle Hendricks is expected to begin the season on the injured list, setting the 2023 Opening Day roster in Chicago up to be the first one to not include a member of the 2016 World Series championship team since 2012 following the departure of Willson Contreras and Jason Heyward over the offseason. … As manager David Ross told reporters, including the Chicago Tribune's Meghan Montemurro, young righties Keegan Thompson and Adbert Alzolay do not figure into the club's rotation plans, with both players expected to start the season as members of the bullpen.
AL West Notes: Maldonado, deGrom, Bleday
2023/02/al-west-notes-maldonado-degrom-bleday.htmlMartin Maldonado played through a sports hernia and a broken hand for the latter part of the 2022 season, toughing it out to remain on the field and help the Astros win a championship. … "I know as an owner, as a front office, they’re going to try to always get the best position players available and help the team get better.
Manny Machado Set Feb 16 Deadline For Padres Extension Talks; Team Offered Further Five-Years, $105MM
2023/02/manny-machado-set-feb-16-deadline-for-padres-extension-talks-team-offered-further-five-years-105mm.htmlI just want to focus on my team and the guys in here and what our goal is — to win a championship. … That should come as no surprise, as Machado has been one of the game's best players in recent seasons and at 30 is both young enough and good enough to earn a long term deal far surpassing what was remaining on his current contract.
Cardinals, President Of Baseball Operations John Mozeliak Agree To Extension
2023/02/cardinals-president-of-baseball-operations-john-mozeliak-agree-to-extension.htmlLouis has only advanced past the Division Series once since 2014, during a '19 campaign in which they were then swept by the Nationals in the NL Championship Series. … The Cards have gotten MVP-caliber production from Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado, both of whom were acquired in some of the more high-profile trades in recent memory (deals in which the players the Cardinals surrendered have largely underperformed).
Brown: Astros Pursuing Extensions With Multiple Core Players
2023/02/astros-rumors-extensions-cristian-javier-kyle-tucker-alex-bregman-jose-altuve.htmlIt's likely music to the ears of Astros fans, who saw substantial roster turnover from the 2017 World Series team to the 2022 World Championship club. … It's been two weeks since the Astros tabbed now-former Braves vice president of scouting Dana Brown as their new general manager, but Brown has wasted little time in embarking on extension talks with Houston's core players.
Dodgers Sign Miguel Rojas To Contract Extension
2023/02/dodgers-sign-miguel-rojas-to-contract-extension.htmlBut, with the Dodgers now projected to be slightly over the $233MM threshold, Friedman said this week that the Dodgers…… Shorter-term extensions have been a favored tactic for president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman as of late, as Los Angeles also inked such players as Max Muncy, Blake Treinen, Daniel Hudson, and Austin Barnes to deals that give the Dodgers up to two years of extra control.
Rockies Owner Dick Monfort Addresses 2023 Season, Padres, Off-Season
2023/01/rockies-owner-dick-monfort-addresses-2023-season-padres-off-season.htmlThe Dodgers again look like one of the best teams in the league, while the Padres have had another aggressive off-season and will be playing for a championship this season. … The Diamondbacks appear to be a team on the rise with an exciting crop of young players.
The Dodgers’ Outfield Gambles
2023/02/the-dodgers-outfield-gambles.htmlEven the latter outcome would be a great return on a 7th-round pick and a testament to Outman's excellent minor league resume but it raises concerns about his viability as an everyday player on a team with championship aspirations. … Betts is still one of the top five players in the sport.
Arte Moreno No Longer Pursuing Sale Of Angels
2023/01/arte-moreno-no-longer-pursuing-sale-of-angels.html"This offseason we committed to a franchise record player payroll and still want to accomplish our goal of bringing a World Series Championship back to our fans. … That's come despite having some superstar players on the roster in those years, include current Angels Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani.
Yankees Reportedly Reluctant To Surpass Fourth Luxury Tax Tier
2023/01/yankees-reportedly-reluctant-to-surpass-fourth-luxury-tax-tier.htmlThe Yankee roster looks strong, with Rodon replacing Jameson Taillon in the rotation for a team that won 99 regular season games and made it to the AL Championship Series. … Players like Gleyber Torres or Isiah Kiner-Falefa would draw more interest if New York wanted to make them available, though doing so would obviously deal a hit to their infield depth.
John Mozeliak Discusses Contract, Cardinals’ Offseason, Payroll
2023/01/john-mozeliak-discusses-contract-cardinals-offseason-payroll.htmlLouis has enjoyed 15 consecutive winning seasons, 10 postseason appearances, and a World Series championship in 2011. … Whether a true big-ticket addition (via a trade or from what remains of the free agent market) is possible perhaps seems doubtful, as Mozeliak noted that improvements from such players as Carlson, Tyler O'Neill, and Jack Flaherty might be the key factors in whatever success the 2023 squad enjoys.
MLBTR Poll: The NL East Favorite
2023/01/mlbtr-poll-the-nl-east-favorite.htmlAfter eight-straight winning seasons between 2012-19 culminated in a championship in 2019, the Nationals are in full rebuild mode. … The bullpen lost a number of players this winter, but the additions of Strahm, Soto and Kimbrel to a group that already has Seranthony Dominguez, Jose Alvarado and Andrew Bellatti should make that area of the team a strength in season.
Managers & Top Front Office Executives On Expiring Contracts
2022/12/managers-top-front-office-executives-on-expiring-contracts-4.htmlAstros: Hired in rather abrupt fashion in the wake of the sign-stealing scandal, Dusty Baker's three seasons in Houston have resulted in two World Series appearances, and the 2022 championship represented Baker's first ring as a manager in 25 seasons in the dugout. … Heading into with the winter with an aggressive mandate to spend and attract high-profile talent to the Bay Area, the Giants have added some notable players but fallen short on two superstars --- Aaron Judge re-signed with the Yankees, while Carlos Correa had agreed to a 13-year, $350MM pact with the Giants before the team delayed finalizing the deal due to concerns stemming from Correa's physical.
Red Sox’s Chris Sale Drawing Trade Interest
2022/12/red-soxs-chris-sale-drawing-trade-interest.htmlArriving in Boston after the 2016 season, Sale continued to display his superiority on the mound, pitching to sub-3 ERAs in 2017 and 2018 while helping the Red Sox win their fourth World Series Championship since 2000. … Nevertheless, the club has yet to add to their staff, instead fortifying their bullpen and adding position players Masataka Yoshida and Justin Turner.
Mets To Sign Carlos Correa
2022/12/mets-to-sign-carlos-correa.htmlToday's news marks the latest twist in a controversy-filled career for Correa, largely tied to his participation on the 2017 Astros team that won a World Series championship later clouded by the sign-stealing scandal. … Correa now joins Nimmo and Francisco Lindor as Mets players signed beyond the 2029 season, though the Mets' expenditures this winter have varied widely in length.
Astros Re-Sign Michael Brantley
2022/12/michael-brantley-in-talks-with-astros.htmlUnfortunately for Brantley, his role in the Astros' 2022 championship season ended on June 26, due to a shoulder injury that eventually required surgery. … The presence of Yordan Alvarez has probably kept the Astros from using Brantley as a DH as often as they would probably like, though on paper, manager Dusty Baker can alternate the two players between left field and DH in order to hopefully keep everyone fresh.
Dodgers Sign J.D. Martinez
2022/12/dodgers-to-sign-j-d-martinez.htmlThat production led to five All-Star appearances, three Silver Slugger Awards, a key role on Boston's 2018 World Series championship team, and one big free agent payday in the form of Martinez's five-year, $110MM contract with the Red Sox in the 2017-18 offseason. … Martinez doesn't bring the defensive versatility that the Dodgers usually prefer, but the club has enough other versatile players that the overall roster flexibility won't be much hurt by Martinez getting the bulk of DH at-bats.
Cubs Sign Dansby Swanson
2022/12/cubs-finalizing-contract-with-dansby-swanson.htmlThat draft selection will represent the last piece of Swanson's tenure with the Braves, an overall very successful run highlighted by the team's 2021 World Series championship. … The Braves have been very aggressive in locking up several young players to contract extensions, and also swung separate trades with the Athletics to bring in two more star players in Matt Olson (essentially Freeman's replacement at first base) and new catcher Sean Murphy.
Chaim Bloom Discusses Xander Bogaerts, Rafael Devers, Extensions
2022/12/chaim-bloom-discusses-xander-bogaerts-rafael-devers-extensions.htmlThe signing officially ended Bogaerts' time with the Red Sox, a tenure that began when Bogaerts was an international signing in August 2009 and lasted through 10 Major League seasons, two World Series championship teams, and four All-Star appearances for the shortstop. … Bloom told Cotillo that the team may change how it approaches extension candidates, perhaps with more of a focus on extending players to contracts before they reach salary arbitration.
Cubs Have Met With Carlos Correa At Winter Meetings
2022/12/cubs-have-met-with-carlos-correa-at-winter-meetings.htmlCorrea only turned 28 in September, so he's still young enough to be a long-term piece for a Cubs team that may not have all the pieces it needs to compete for a championship in 2023. … Swanson is a year older than Correa, while Bogaerts is 30, and while both are elite players in their own right, both will probably command smaller commitments than Correa.
Blue Jays “Remain Engaged” On Justin Verlander’s Market
2022/12/blue-jays-remain-engaged-on-justin-verlanders-market.htmlStill, Verlander was more than worth the investment, as he posted one of the finest years of his incredible career and helped lead Houston to a World Series championship. … If ownership did allow the front office to spend up to the tax threshold, it can be argued that the extra money would be better served being spent on multiple players, rather than a single superstar in Verlander.
Fred McGriff Elected To Baseball Hall Of Fame
2022/12/fred-mcgriff-elected-to-baseball-hall-of-fame.htmlThe first baseman became one of the stalwarts of the Braves' success throughout the 1990's, and enjoyed some championship success himself with Atlanta's 1995 title. … Twelve votes were required for selection, and of the other seven players on the ballot, Don Mattingly came closest with eight votes.
Astros Sign José Abreu To Three-Year Contract
2022/11/astros-reportedly-finalizing-deal-with-jose-abreu.htmlThough they're getting close to their previous highs in spending, it stands to reason that they can push it a little bit this winter on the heels of a Championship run and all the extra revenues that go along with that. … Both players reached free agency at season's end, leaving a vacancy for Abreu to step into.