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Ryan Zimmerman Intends To Return In 2021

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Long-time Nationals corner infielder Ryan Zimmerman weighed retirement previously but ultimately elected to return for another season in 2020. He then reversed course in light of the coronavirus pandemic, opting out of the campaign.

It was fair to wonder whether Zimmerman would simply decide to hang up his spikes, particularly since he went out with a bang in the 2019 World Series. This being 2020, that question arose in a Zoom call between the veteran ballplayer and NIAID chief Dr. Anthony Fauci, who wisely took the opportunity to turn the tables (Twitter link to video).

Zimmerman was surprisingly decisive. “I fully plan on being back,” he said. “I’ve told my family and a bunch of close friends that I can’t go out like this.”

Perhaps this unusual stretch has provided Zimmerman a unique opportunity to experience retirement without committing to it. He says he has “missed every second” of being a part of the game and remains “very disappointed not being able to play.” At the same time, Zimmerman says he still believes he made “the right decision for me and my family” by opting out of the campaign.

Blue Jays, Orioles Discussing Sharing Of Camden Yards

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10:22am: The O’s have given their blessing, Jon Heyman of MLB Network tweets.

7:23am: Already bounced by Canada and turned away by the state of Pennsylvania, the Blue Jays are now engaged in talks with the Orioles about the use of Camden Yards. Dan Connolly and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic write that the O’s are amenable, with a few caveats.

The biggest question, as we’ve now learned from experience, isn’t whether the local logistics can be arranged. It’s whether the final authorities will grant approval for whatever scheme is worked out.

In this case, that means convincing the state of Maryland to permit another professional sports resident and, more importantly, to facilitate the flow of traffic of visiting teams to and from other states. That was the issue that gummed up the both of the Blue Jays’ prior schemes to play ball through the pandemic.

Before formal approval is sought, the two teams still need to hammer out a means of hosting the Jays. Per the report, the newly nomadic ballclub would not be permitted to utilize either of the regular clubhouses. Instead, they’d be housed in some kind of makeshift facility — potentially, one constructed in the Camden Yards concourse.

It’s quite the situation to be sorting out on Opening Day, though thankfully the Jays’ schedule allows a bit of remaining breathing room. If the Camden Yards effort fails to pan out, the barnstorming Blue Jays will likely be forced to settle for a minor-league facility — quite likely their top affiliate in Buffalo, New York.

Nationals Select Bonifacio, Freeman, Guerra

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The Nationals have selected three veteran players to their 40-man roster in anticipation of setting an Opening Day roster, as the Talk Nats blog first reported on Twitter. Utilityman Emilio Bonifacio, lefty Sam Freeman, and righty Javy Guerra are all slated to join the 30-man active unit.

It comes as no surprise that the defending World Series champs would call upon a group of grizzled vets to help fill out the 30-man roster to open the season. Whether any of these players will stick for the long haul or carve out significant roles remains to be seen; each has struggled to hang onto a MLB roster spot of late.

Bonifacio, 35, has been around the block more than a few times, appearing with eight teams (including the Nats) over 11 MLB seasons. He hasn’t appeared in the bigs since 2017 but had a solid showing last year at Triple-A and hit well in Spring Training.

Freeman (five teams) and Guerra (six) have also bounced around quite a bit over their time in the majors. The former spent most of 2019 in the minors but was a useful contributor to the Braves in the two prior seasons. The latter threw 67 2/3 MLB innings last year, most of them in D.C., compiling a 4.66 ERA with 7.6 K/9 and 2.3 BB/9.

Marlins To Select Contract Of Brad Boxberger

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The Marlins will carry Brad Boxberger on their Opening Day roster, MLB.com’s Joe Frisaro reports on Twitter. He’ll have to be added to the 40-man roster.

Boxberger joined the Miami organization on a minor-league deal right at the outset of Spring Training. The veteran reliever impressed in Grapefruit League action, allowing just one earned run and two baserunners while striking out eight in 6 1/3 innings.

This time last year, the 32-year-old Boxberger was pitching in the upper minors after a disappointing early showing led the Royals to cut him loose. He wasn’t able to force his way back up last summer but obviously impressed the Marlins brass this time around. Through 311 total MLB innings over his eight-year career, Boxberger owns a 3.59 ERA and has registered 77 saves.

Dodgers Finalizing Extension With Mookie Betts

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1:21pm: The new portion of Betts’ contract, once finalized, will guarantee him around 12 years and $350MM on top of this year’s $27MM salary, per MLB Network’s Jon Heyman (Twitter link).

The structuring of the deal is in many ways semantics, but it’s worth noting that in terms of new money, Betts’ extension may not top the new money promised to Trout on his prior long-term deal. Referencing the Betts deal as a 13-year, $380MM contract may skew things such that it appears Betts has set a new record, but by that logic, Trout’s contract should be referred to as a 12-year, $426.5MM deal (i.e. the sum of his preexisting two years and $66.5MM and his 10-year, $360MM extension).

If the deal indeed lands Betts in the $380MM range over 13 years, including his 2020 salary, his contract then boils down to the second-richest ever promised to a big league player (whether looking at total guarantee or new money promised on an extension).

11:54am: Betts will top Trout’s deal if the contract is completed, per Bob Nightengale of USA Today (via Twitter).

It’s expected that the deal will actually cover twelve additional seasons, per Jeff Passan of ESPN.com (via Twitter). The total forward-looking guarantee would top $380MM, Passan adds, including Betts’s salary for the 2020 season. (It’s not clear whether that tally includes Betts’s full $27MM or only the pro-rated portion thereof.)

10:42am: In a stunning development that would mark a massive shift in a moribund player market, the Dodgers appear to be closing in on a long-term extension with recently acquired star Mookie Betts. WEEI.com’s Lou Merloni hears that the sides are nearing agreement even as Betts prepares to don the Dodger blue for the first time tomorrow. Joel Sherman tweets that talks are indeed “quite real.”

If completed, the contract would cover a ten-year term and guarantee Betts somewhere in the neighborhood of $350MM to $400MM, according to the report. It sounds as if it would come in right near, if not over, the ten-year, $360MM Mike Trout pact that currently stands as the largest-ever MLB contract.

The Dodgers paid a significant price in prospects and took on a lot of salary (both for Betts and David Price) in order to secure just one season from the 27-year-old. It always seemed the team had designs on a lengthier relationship, though it wasn’t at all clear that vows would be exchanged before Betts hit the open market.

Until the paperwork is complete, Betts stands as the obvious top talent of the 2020-21 free agent class. As MLBTR’s Tim Dierkes explained in his pre-pandemic power rankings, Betts, who is represented by VC Sports Group, seemed situated to “reasonably seek a ten-year term with an average annual value in the $36-40MM range.”

Betts would have represented one of the most interesting-ever free agent cases. Recent market swings and upcoming collective bargaining negotiations provided a fascinating backdrop for the bidding on such a youthful, high-quality player. And then the coronavirus came along, overlaying broad uncertainty onto the situation.

It seems that both the Dodgers and Betts saw a path to limit the risk by striking a bargain now. They’ve certainly had time to get to know one another under trying circumstances over the past several months, even if Betts hasn’t yet recorded any stats for the storied ballclub.

Mets Sign Juan Lagares, Brian Dozier

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The Mets have struck minor-league deals with outfielder Juan Lagares and infielder Brian Dozier, according to reports from Deesha Thosar of the New York Post (Twitter link) and MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo (via Twitter). Both will join the 60-man player pool.

It’s certainly an interesting mix of new additions for the New York club. Both players ended up back on the open market after they failed to stick with the Padres. Each has a history in the division.

Lagares has still yet to suit up for a team other than the Mets for regular season action. The 31-year-old spent seven seasons with the team but departed over the winter. Now, he’ll take up a spot on the depth chart but likely won’t have an opportunity in the majors other than as a fill-in player. Lagares owns a .254/.297/.361 slash in over two thousand career plate appearances.

As for Dozier, he’s fresh off of a season with the NL East-rival Nationals. The veteran second baseman turned in a useful .238/.340/.430 batting line over 482 plate appearances, but was largely displaced late in the season. He is now several seasons removed from his days as a star slugger with the Twins but still looks to be a nice insurance policy for the Mets.

Marcus Stroman Could Miss First Scheduled Start

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As the Mets join the rest of the league’s thirty teams at the starting blocks, they’re waiting to see whether a key arm will be with them from the jump. Starter Marcus Stroman has experienced calf tightness that could prevent him from taking his anticipated turn in the rotation, MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo was among those to report on Twitter.

The Mets haven’t yet committed to a decision on Stroman, with skipper Luis Rojas indicating that the righty is considered day to day at the moment. Even if Stroman is held back a bit, the team may wish not to place him on the 15-day injured list. That’d mean missing nearly a quarter of the truncated season.

Stroman is of central importance to a Mets staff that will go without Zack Wheeler (free agency) and Noah Syndergaard (Tommy John surgery) in 2020. There’s still plenty of talent in the rotation mix, but the loss of those two prominent righties has cast Stroman in an even brighter light.

Last year, Stroman turned in 184 1/3 innings of 3.22 ERA pitching over 32 starts, the final eleven of which came following a trade to his native New York. If he can provide anything close to that kind of output in 2020 — or, at least, match the 3.77 ERA he posted with the Mets — then Stroman could help put the club over the edge in what’s likely to be a closely fought postseason race. He’s also pitching to set himself up for his first trip onto the open market at season’s end.

It doesn’t sound as if there’s any reason for major concern here. But the situation highlights the delicate balance that teams will face. On the one hand, the Mets will want to get Stroman on the mound as soon as possible in order to maximize his impact. On the other hand, pushing too hard and suffering a setback could easily wipe out much of the campaign.

It’ll be interesting to see how the Mets end up handling pitching assignments if Stroman is kept on ice for a bit. With Walker Lockett already sidelined, the team could turn to an alternative such as Corey Oswalt. It might also seek to utilize Oswalt, Erasmo Ramirez, Stephen Gonsalves, and/or other starter-capable pitchers in some kind of piggyback arrangement. Most intriguing, perhaps, is the idea of bumping prospect David Peterson, though that would mean starting his service clock and clearing a 40-man roster spot.

Hunter Dozier Tests Positive For COVID-19

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Royals outfielder Hunter Dozier will open the season on the coronavirus-specific injured list. The club announced that he has tested positive for COVID-19.

This is obviously quite disappointing (and rather worrisome) news to receive, particularly on the eve of Opening Day. Dozier will be sidelined until he’s able to clear the virus from his system and register two positive tests. He says he is experiencing some symptoms. Hopefully, he’s able to make a swift and full recovery.

It’s concerning also that Dozier has been active with his teammates this week. He has obviously been isolated since receiving the test results, but it’s hypothetically possible he could’ve transmitted the virus to others in the organization before that time. It isn’t yet known if any other personnel came into such close contact with Dozier that isolation will be required.

Dozier, who’ll soon turn 29, entered 2020 hoping to build on a breakout effort last year. The first-round pick finally made good on his original promise, turning in a .279/.348/.522 batting line with 26 home runs and a league-leading ten triples over 586 plate appearances. While he benefited from a lofty .339 BABIP, Dozier backed it up with excellent exit velocity and sprint speed.

The news will dent Dozier’s earning abilities after the season, when he’ll qualify for arbitration for the first time. And it’ll hurt the Royals’ hopes for a surprise run in 2020. The added opportunity will open the door for a variety of other players for at least a few weeks. The newly acquired Franchy Cordero should be in line for significant action, with players such as Bubba Starling and Brett Phillips perhaps also seeing increased chances.

Indians Set Rotation

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The Indians have set their rotation to open the 2020 season, manager Terry Francona told reporters including MLB.com’s Mandy Bell (Twitter link). Aaron Civale and Zach Plesac have made the five-man unit.

That decision leaves righty Adam Plutko on the outside looking in. He’ll jump into the relief unit to begin the season. With the short run-up to the season, there ought to be plenty of frames to go around.

The 28-year-old Plutko made twenty starts for the Indians last year, working to a 4.86 ERA with 6.4 K/9 and 2.1 BB/9. He had a lot of ground to make up to catch the other two hurlers.

Both Civale and Plesac are 25-year-old righties who debuted with aplomb in 2019. The former limited opponents to 2.34 earned per nine in his first ten starts. The latter posted a 3.81 ERA in 115 2/3 frames.

In both cases, there’s some cause to question the repeatability of the output. Civale benefited from a .250 BABIP-against, though Statcast suggests he has a real skill for inducing soft contact — related, no doubt, to his exceptional spin rates. Plesac’s own .255 BABIP-against doesn’t seem quite as sustainable. Opposing hitters produced a .315 wOBA against him last year, but Statcast spit out a far-less-promising .343 xwOBA based upon the quality of contact.

Athletics Place A.J. Puk On Injured List

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JULY 21: Puk had a cortisone injection and will miss “at least” two weeks, Shayna Rubin of the Mercury News tweets.

JULY 20: Prized southpaw A.J. Puk is headed to the injured list, as Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle was among those to report via Twitter. He’s said to be dealing with a shoulder malady.

While the seriousness remains unknown at this point, this certainly constitutes sub-optimal news for the A’s. Puk is scheduled for a visit with baseball surgeon Dr. Neal ElAttrache. That’s a bit of an ominous development, though it’s hardly proof of a major injury.

For the time being, righty Daniel Mengden is expected to step into the rotation. The A’s already had to dip into their rotation depth to fill in for southpaw Jesus Luzardo, who’s on his way back but will be spelled for the time being by Chris Bassitt.

Puk made it all the way back from Tommy John surgery last year and seemed primed for his first full MLB campaign in 2020. Then came some shoulder problems this spring. While it had seemed that Puk was on the mend, something obviously hasn’t fully healed up. He and the A’s will anxiously await further word on his outlook.

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