The Opener: Tatis, Scherzer, Donaldson
As everyone digests last night’s likely relocation news regarding the A’s, here are three other things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:
1. Tatis Returns
Padres superstar Fernando Tatis Jr. is expected to return to the major league club today after serving an 80-game suspension for PED usage. Tatis, who is slated to be the club’s everyday right fielder following the signing of Xander Bogaerts to man shortstop this past offseason, missed the entire 2022 season between the aforementioned suspension and a trio of surgeries: two to repair a fracture in his left wrist and one on his left shoulder after it sent him to the injured list twice during the 2021 campaign.
Despite his injury and suspension-related woes since the end of the 2021 season, Tatis figures to be an impact player for a scuffling Padres team. San Diego is currently in third in the NL West with a 9-11 record and will surely appreciate a jolt from Tatis, particularly given the struggles of fellow phenom Juan Soto in left field.
2. What’s next for Scherzer?
Mets ace Max Scherzer was ejected from his start yesterday after three innings of work thanks to a failed foreign substance check. That ejection comes with a mandatory 10-game suspension during which the club is not allowed to replace Scherzer on the roster, though MLB has not announced any discipline to this point. Scherzer intends to appeal the suspension if and when it is levied and insists the substance on his hand was a legal combination of rosin and sweat.
Scherzer, a slam-dunk future hall of famer with three Cy Young awards, 3210 strikeouts and a 3.12 ERA (135 ERA+) under his belt for his career, has scuffled a bit in the early going this season, posting a 3.72 ERA and 5.65 FIP far below his usual standards. Should he miss time due to a suspension, right-hander Kodai Senga will be the last member of the club’s projected 2023 starting rotation standing, with each of Jose Quintana, Justin Verlander, and Carlos Carrasco currently on the injured list. Jose Butto, Joey Lucchesi, and Denyi Reyes are among the potential options to take Scherzer’s turn in the rotation should he be suspended.
3. Donaldson Undergoes MRI
Yankees third baseman Josh Donaldson underwent an MRI on his right hamstring yesterday after a setback in his rehab process. Donaldson, 37, appeared to be on the verge of returning to the big league club prior to his setback, but now will be shutdown for an indeterminate amount of time. More info on the severity of Donaldson’s setback and his new timetable for return could become available ahead of the club’s game this afternoon.
Donaldson struggled in five games this season, recording just two hits and a walk while striking out six times in 17 plate appearances prior to his current IL stint. While that’s a minuscule sample size, Donaldson’s offensive struggles date back to last season, when he hit .222/.308/.374 and posted a 97 wRC+ that marked the first below-average full season of his career with the bat. The Yankees still have a plethora of infield options at their disposal, with DJ LeMahieu, Oswald Peraza, Oswaldo Cabrera, and Isiah Kiner-Falefa all capable of mixing and matching in the infield alongside Anthony Volpe at shortstop and Anthony Rizzo at first base.
The Opener: Betts, Prospect Debuts, MLBTR Chat
As the 2023 regular season continues, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:
1. Mookie to return to the infield?
Dodgers superstar Mookie Betts is set to return from the paternity list today, manager Dave Roberts tells reporters (including Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic). Of more significance than Betts’s return, however, is where he’ll be playing: Roberts notes that he expects Betts to start “somewhere in the infield” upon his return, with shortstop standing as a distinct possibility. Betts came up through the minors as a second baseman, but moved over to right field upon reaching the majors in Boston to accommodate Dustin Pedroia.
Still, he’s appeared at the keystone in 35 games across six seasons of his career, including at least once during every season he’s spent in LA. Five of those appearances have already come during the young 2023 season. It’s a move that’s understandable for the Dodgers, who have a plethora of potential outfield options on the roster but few infield options outside of their starting unit, particularly with Chris Taylor currently sidelined by a left side injury and Miguel Rojas having exited last night’s game with a hamstring issue.
2. MLB Debuts in Oakland and Cincinnati:
Both the A’s and Reds will turn to one of the top young arms in their farm system to start today’s game. Oakland is calling up flamethrowing righty Mason Miller, while the Reds have already activated righty Levi Stoudt for his own debut.
Miller, 24, was a third-round pick in 2021 who’s turned heads with a triple-digit heater and a dominant 11-strikeout, zero-walk showing in his first start at Triple-A this season. Injuries have limited him to just 45 1/3 innings since being drafted in ’21, but A’s GM David Forst has already indicated that this is more than a spot start; Miller will remain in the rotation moving forward. Time will tell how he acclimates and what type of workload the A’s are comfortable with after he pitched just 31 2/3 innings between the minors and the Arizona Fall League in 2022.
It’s a different story for Stoudt, whose outing has already been confirmed as a spot start by Reds skipper David Bell. Like Miller, Stoudt a former third-round pick (2019). He’ll be the first of the four players Cincinnati acquired from the Mariners in exchange for Luis Castillo to make his Reds debut. He pitched to a tidy 2.63 ERA between Double-A (five innings) and Triple-A (19) following last summer’s trade and has a 4.09 ERA through three Triple-A starts in ’23, albeit with a more concerning 10-to-9 K/BB ratio.
Both Miller and Stoudt are potential long-term rotation options for their respective clubs, providing baseball fans a potential glimpse into each team’s future.
3. MLBTR Chat:
Yesterday, MLBTR’s Steve Adams fielded questions during a live chat (transcript here). If you still have unanswered questions about the beginnings of the 2023 season, you’re in luck, as MLBTR’s Anthony Franco will be hosting another chat today at 5pm CT. You can submit a question in advance here, and you can use the same link to check back in this evening and participate live once the chat begins. In addition, be sure to check out the newest episode of the MLB Trade Rumors podcast, which dropped earlier today!
The Opener: Injuries, Kershaw Milestone, MLBTR Chat
As the 2023 regular season continues, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:
1. Incoming updates on pitcher injuries:
A handful of updates on pitchers are expected around the league today, led by a pair of aces who exited their starts yesterday: Jacob deGrom left his start with the Rangers after four innings with wrist soreness, while Brewers manager Craig Counsell told reporters (including MLB.com’s Adam McCalvy) that Corbin Burnes left his start against the Mariners with a left pec strain. Both aces are expected to be evaluated later today.
We could also receive updates on Reds right-hander Hunter Greene, who left yesterday’s start with a right tibia contusion, with Bobby Nightengale of the Cincinnati Enquirer noting that initial x-rays came back negative. Meanwhile, Royals manager Matt Quatraro told reporters (including MLB.com’s Anne Rogers) that Kris Bubic would require a second opinion after tests yesterday revealed a flexor strain for the young lefty.
2. Kershaw goes for No. 200:
Pitcher wins aren’t exactly en vogue among front offices and analysts in 2023, but they still hold an important place in the hearts of many fans and in most pitchers themselves. That’s particularly true when it comes to milestones; round numbers always grab our attention and are often cited when looking back at a player’s career through a historical lens.
Clayton Kershaw will take the mound for the 405th time in his career tonight (402nd start), and with a victory, he’ll become just the 121st pitcher to ever reach 200 wins in his career. In an era where teams have shorter leashes for starters and are more reliant on bullpen arms than ever before, reaching such heights is extra difficult. Howard Cole observes (Twitter link) that Kershaw would become just the third pitcher to ever accumulate 200 wins solely in a Dodgers uniform, joining Hall of Famers Don Sutton and Don Drysdale.
Kershaw’s place in Dodgers lore is already cemented, but this will be another feather in his cap and another achievement on his own eventual case for Cooperstown enshrinement. So far in 2023, his 16th Major League season, the 35-year-old Kershaw has a 3.50 ERA and 17-to-4 K/BB ratio in 18 innings.
3. MLBTR Chat today:
We’re now around 10% of the way through the 2023 regular season, with plenty of interesting early season trends to discuss. If the beginning of this season has spurred any questions in your mind about your favorite team or the league as a whole, MLBTR’s Steve Adams is holding a live chat with readers at 1pm CT today. You can click here to ask a question in advance, join in live once the chat begins, or read the transcript once the chat is complete.
Mets Recall Brett Baty
APRIL 17: New York officially recalled Baty and reliever Edwin Uceta. To clear active roster space, they’ve optioned Jose Butto and placed outfielder Tim Locastro on the 10-day injured list with back spasms.
APRIL 16: The Mets are planning to recall top prospect Brett Baty, per SNY’s Andy Martino. A corresponding move will be required to make room for Baty on the active roster, though no such move has been announced as of yet. Tim Healey of Newsday notes that Baty will not be active for today’s game against the A’s, with Jon Heyman of the New York Post noting that he’s set to join the club in LA tomorrow.
Baty, 23, is a consensus top-25 prospect in the sport. He made his MLB debut in an 11-game stint with the Mets last year, though he struggled to a .184/.244/.342 slash line in that brief call-up. The club initially optioned him to Triple-A ahead of Opening Day, where he had only six games of experience coming into the season, but in 9 games with Syracuse to open the season, Baty has looked to be clearly above what the Triple-A level has to offer, slashing .400/.500/.886 with five homers and nearly as many walks (7) as strikeouts (9). That phenomenal performance has continued a stellar track record as a hitter all throughout the minors for Baty, who sports a .903 OPS in 1,075 minor league plate appearances.
A third baseman by trade, Baty likely stands to benefit from Eduardo Escobar‘s slow start to the 2023 season, as the 34 year old veteran has slashed just .114/.167/.227 to open the 2023 campaign. That being said, Baty has begun getting reps in the outfield in recent years in the minor leagues, leaving open the possibility he could also factor into the outfield mix alongside Mark Canha, Brandon Nimmo, and Starling Marte. Daniel Vogelbach and Tommy Pham are currently in a timeshare at DH, where Baty could also receive at-bats.
Per Matt Eddy of Baseball America, Baty will be retroactively credited with service time for his time in Triple-A as he was on optional assignment for fewer than 20 days. That leaves Baty poised to receive a full year of service time in 2023, while also making the Mets eligible to receive an additional draft pick should Baty qualify via thr Prospect Promotion Incentive by placing in the top three of NL Rookie of the Year voting or top five of NL MVP voting.
The Opener: Baty, Fried, Rangers
As the third week of the 2023 regular season begins, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today.
1. Baty to be recalled:
The Mets are reportedly poised to call up top prospect Brett Baty later today, prior to the club’s 9:10pm CT game against the Dodgers. Baty, 23, has torn up Triple-A in the early going this season to the tune of a .400/.500/.866 slash line. Of course, the club will have to make a move to make room for Baty on the active roster, though he does already have a 40-man roster spot.
The club’s only optionable bat (beyond stars Pete Alonso and Jeff McNeil, both of whom are locked into the everyday lineup) is Luis Guillorme, leaving the option of sending him to Triple-A one potential route. The Mets could also have an injury they’ve not yet made known, which would pave the way for an IL stint to open that roster spot. Outside of that, it’s possible the club could designate a player like outfielder Tim Locastro or even struggling third baseman Eduardo Escobar, who figures to lose substantial playing time to Baty, for assignment.
2. Fried set to return:
Rotation reinforcements are coming in Atlanta, as ace Max Fried is poised to return from the 15-day injured list today to make this evening’s 8:40pm CT start against the Padres. Fried suffered a hamstring strain on Opening Day and left his first start of the season early. Now that Fried is set to rejoin the team, the rotation appears to be set, with right-hander Bryce Elder settling into the fifth spot over rookies Jared Shuster and Dylan Dodd after he impressed with a 1.53 ERA over 17 2/3 innings while filling in for Fried.
Throughout the early part of the season, the Braves have been able to utilize a nine-man bullpen by carefully managing their roster so only four starters are on the active roster at a time. With Fried’s activation, the club’s ability to do that seems set to come to an end, meaning the roster move to make space for Fried could shed some light on the club’s preferred bullpen structure when able to utilize eight relievers.
3. Rangers to unveil City Connect uniforms:
The Rangers are expected to unveil their City Connect uniforms today, following the Braves’ announcement earlier in the month. Later in the season, the Mariners, Reds, Orioles, and Pirates are expected to announce City Connect uniforms, joining 14 clubs that had unveiled jerseys of their own over the past two seasons. The Rangers unveil their jerseys as the club is out to one of its best starts since the team’s most recent playoff run back in 2016, with the club currently 9-6 with a 1.5 game lead in the AL West. You can read more about the jerseys unveiling and related promotions here.
Red Sox Announce Several Roster Moves
The Red Sox announced a series of roster moves ahead of this morning’s game against the Angels. The club has optioned infielder Bobby Dalbec to Triple-A and designated right-hander Jake Faria for assignment, while activating right-hander Brayan Bello from the 15-day injured list and recalling outfielder Jarren Duran from Triple-A.
Faria, 29, was selected to the roster just yesterday, is DFA’d without making an appearance for Boston. A career 4.70 ERA (90 ERA+) pitcher with a 20.9% strikeout rate and 10% walk rate in the major leagues, Faria will now likely look to catch on with another club, as the Red Sox have seven days to waive, trade, or release the right-hander. Faria last pitched in the major leagues in 2021, as he spent all of the 2022 season in the minors with the Twins.
Bello’s activation is no surprise, as he had already been announced as the starter for this morning’s game against the Angels. Long considered to be one of the club’s top prospects, Bello made his major league debut in 2022 and held his own, posting just a 4.71 ERA (90 ERA+) in 57 1/3 innings of work, though his strong 2.94 FIP, inflated .404 BABIP, and somewhat low 68.2% strand rate all indicate there was some bad luck baked into Bello’s performance last year. The 23 year-old will step into the Red Sox rotation, potentially replacing fellow young right-hander Tanner Houck in the long term, though the club appears poised to use a six-man rotation for the time being.
Dalbec, 28 in June, was a 4th round pick by the Red Sox in the 2016 draft, and impressed early in his career with a 114 wRC+ in 545 plate appearances in the 2020 and 2021 seasons. That impressive start to his career had a major red flag, however, as Dalbec was striking out in 35.8% of his plate appearances over that time. That penchant for strikeouts has continued in the years since, while Dalbec’s power dissipated. Dalbec hit 33 home runs, 24 doubles, and 5 triples from 2020-2021, but has managed just 12 home runs, 9 doubles, and 2 triples in 364 plate appearances since the start of the 2022 season. Dalbec will now head to Triple-A and serve as infield depth for the club going forward.
Duran, 26, figures to make his season debut today against the Angels. Despite an impressive .299/.366/.468 career slash line in the minors, including a .266/.353/.498 line in 641 Triple-A plate appearances, Duran has struggled mightily at the major league level since his debut in 2021, posting a career wRC+ of just 68 and -0.8 fWAR in 91 career games in the big leagues. Duran figures to provide further outfield depth behind starters Alex Verdugo and Masataka Yoshida in the corners and the current center field platoon of Raimel Tapia and Rob Refsnyder.
Yankees Recall Oswald Peraza, Place Giancarlo Stanton On 10-Day Injured List
4:18PM: Stanton has a Grade 2 hamstring strain, ESPN’s Marly Rivera reports (Twitter link). The increased severity of the strain likely means a longer stint on the IL, with Stanton facing perhaps at least a month away.
10:30AM: According to Bryan Hoch of MLB.com, the Yankees have recalled shortstop Oswald Peraza to the major league club. To make room for Peraza on the active roster, MLB Network Radio’s Jim Bowden notes that Giancarlo Stanton is being placed on the injured list with a left hamstring strain, for which he’s set to undergo an MRI this afternoon.
Peraza, 23 in June, made his big league debut for the Yankees last season, impressing with a .306/.404/.429 slash line (good for a 146 wRC+) in 18 games while playing strong defense at both second base and shortstop. Peraza spent spring training battling for the starting shortstop job with the Yankees, though he ultimately lost out on the role to top prospect Anthony Volpe. A consensus top 100 prospect in his own right, Peraza has 502 plate appearances at the Triple-A level across the past three seasons, posting a .263/.331/.434 slash line in that time.
As for Stanton, this hamstring issue is the latest in a series of leg injuries over the past few seasons. Stanton went on the IL twice in 2022, once for a minimum stay due to a calf strain and once for a month due to tendonitis in his left Achilles. Stanton also missed two weeks in 2021 with a quad strain, most of the shortened 2020 season due to a hamstring strain, and most of the 2019 season due to a knee sprain. For a player with Stanton’s injury history, a hamstring issue is of particular concern, though the extent of the injury and a timetable for Stanton’s return to action will not be known until the results of today’s MRI are revealed.
When healthy, Stanton has been long been among the game’s most fearsome hitters. Though he hasn’t quite reached the heights he did with the Marlins (where he posted a 149 wRC+, made four All Star appearances, and won an MVP award from 2012-2017) since his trade to the Bronx, Stanton has still posted a strong 129 wRC+ in a Yankees uniform while clubbing 115 home runs in just 461 games. That being said, he’s seen a downturn in his overall production in recent years, as he has gotten on base at just a 32.7% clip since the start of the 2021 season, including a concerning .297 OBP in 110 games last year. Some of that can be attributed to a deflated .227 BABIP, but it’s also worth noting that Stanton’s 30.3% strikeout rate in 2022 was his highest in a full season since his rookie year.
While Stanton is on the shelf, Peraza seems likely to step into the lineup at second base, allowing Gleyber Torres to fill in for Stanton at DH. Stanton’s injury leaves the Yankees outfield mix in further flux, as Harrison Bader has not yet played for the club in 2023 due to an oblique strain. That leaves reigning AL MVP Aaron Judge as the club’s regular center fielder, while Franchy Cordero, Willie Calhoun, Oswaldo Cabrera, and Aaron Hicks mix and match in the corners.
Red Sox Select Jake Faria, Place Chris Martin On 15-Day IL
10:38PM: There are “no red flags as far as structure” to Martin’s shoulder, manager Alex Cora told MassLive.com’s Chris Cotillo and other reporters. The Red Sox are hopeful that Martin might be facing just a minimal 15-day absence.
12:12PM: The Red Sox announced a series of roster moves this afternoon, placing right-hander Chris Martin on the 15-day IL (retroactive to Thursday) with right shoulder inflammation. To replace Martin on the active roster, the club has selected the contract of right-hander Jake Faria from Triple-A. To clear a 40-man roster spot for Faria, the club has transferred right-hander Wyatt Mills, who is suffering from right elbow inflammation, to the 60-day IL.
Martin debuted with the Rockies back in 2014, but struggled to a 6.19 ERA in the first two seasons of his big league career before departing for Japan, where he dominated in the NPB to the tune of a 1.12 ERA in 88 1/3 innings of work. That performance earned him another shot in the big leagues, where he’s been a successful setup man ever since. Since the start of the 2018 season, Martin has posted a 3.41 ERA (135 ERA+) with a 3.06 FIP in 221 2/3 innings of work.
While his top-level run prevention numbers last season left something to be desired in the beginning of his season as a member of the Cubs, his 4.31 ERA in his 31 1/3 innings as a Cub were inflated by a .393 BABIP. Underlying metrics saw him strike out 30.1% of batters while walking just 3%, leaving him with a 3.01 FIP during his time with in Chicago. Those strong underlying stats manifested in a dominant stretch run following a midseason trade to the Dodgers: in 24 2/3 innings in Dodger blue, Martin posted a fantastic 1.46 ERA with a microscopic 1.13 FIP.
That left Martin entering free agency with a 3.05 ERA, 2.18 FIP, 32.9% strikeout rate, and 2.2% walk rate in 2022. Those numbers were strong enough to net him a two-year, $17.5MM deal with the Red Sox, where he figured to slot into the back of the Boston bullpen alongside fellow offseason signing Kenley Jansen. Those plans will now be put on hold for awhile, however, with Martin headed to the IL. No timetable has been announced for his return. While Martin is on the IL, John Schreiber and Josh Winckowski figure to handle late-inning duties alongside Jansen.
With Martin on the shelf, the Red Sox turn to Faria. The 29 year old did not pitch in the majors in 2022, though he has a career 4.70 ERA (90 ERA+) with a matching 4.74 FIP in 203 big league innings with a 20.9% strikeout rate a 10% walk rate. After spending 2022 in the minors with the Twins, where he struggled to a 7.48 ERA in 43 1/3 innings of work, Faria signed a minor league deal with the Red Sox back in February.
Mills was acquired from the Royals in a trade this winter, but was shut down last month with elbow inflammation. He has a career 6.21 ERA in 42 big league innings, albeit with a much more palatable 3.84 FIP.
Padres Announce Several Roster Moves
The Padres announced a series of roster moves ahead of this afternoon’s game against the Brewers, optioning right-hander Domingo Tapia and utiltyman Brandon Dixon to Triple-A while recalling catcher Brett Sullivan and right-hander Reiss Knehr. The moves come on the heels of a recent injury to catcher Luis Campusano, who jammed his thumb catching a bullpen session. According to MLB.com’s AJ Cassavell, x-rays on Campusano’s thumb came back negative, but he will still be sidelined due to considerable swelling. It appears that, at least for now, Campusano will avoid a stint on the injured list, with the Padres instead opting for a three catcher roster while the 24 year-old is sidelined.
Tapia, 31, made his debut in 2020 with Boston and posted strong numbers from 2020-2021, sporting a 2.61 ERA and 3.62 FIP across 38 innings split between the Red Sox, Mariners, and Royals. He struggled badly in 17 innings with Oakland last year, however, posting a 8.47 ERA and 5.11 FIP. While those numbers are somewhat inflated by his .387 BABIP and unfortunate 62.2% strand rate, Tapia’s struggles were somewhat deserved, as well, as he actually walked more batters (14) than he struck out (12) with the A’s. Control problems have been an issue for Tapia even outside of Oakland, however, has he sports a career 13.1% walk rate and has never posted a walk rate lower than 10% in a season.
With Tapia headed to Triple-A, Knehr is set to join the Padres bullpen for the first time this season. The 26 year-old righty has pitched for the Padres in the big leagues in each of the past two seasons, with a 4.64 ERA in 42 2/3 innings over that time. Knehr struggles with control as well, with walk rates consistently over 10% in both the major leagues and Triple-A. Still, he’ll provide a fresh arm for the Padres bullpen, which has recently been taxed thanks to short starts from the club’s six-man rotation.
Dixon, meanwhile, heads to Triple-A to make room for a third catcher on the roster. The 31-year old struggled in his limited playing time with the club this season, recording just one hit and no walks while striking out eight times in his ten plate appearances with the club. Still, he figures to provide depth in the minors for the Padres, particularly given his versatility. Dixon has played all three outfield spots as well as first, second, and third base in the majors throughout his career.
Sullivan, 29, has yet to make his major league debut to this point in his career. A 17th round draft pick by the Rays in the 2015 draft, Sullivan signed with the Brewers on a major league deal during the 2021-22 offseason but was traded to the Padres in the deal that sent Victor Caratini to Milwaukee before appearing in a game for the organization. Sullivan has served as catching depth in the upper minors for the Padres ever since, and now figures to get his shot in the big leagues while Campusano is on the mend. A career .273/.321/.430 hitter in the minor leagues, Sullivan has experience in the outfield corners and at third base in addition to behind the plate.
White Sox Select Adam Haseley, Place Hanser Alberto On 10-Day IL
Per The Athletic’s James Fegan, the White Sox have selected the contract of outfielder Adam Haseley. In addition, infielder Hanser Alberto has been placed on the 10-day injured list (retroactive to Saturday) with a left quad strain. Infielder Nick Solak was designated for assignment to make room for Haseley on the 40-man roster.
Haseley, who celebrated his 27th birthday earlier this week, was taken 8th overall in the 2017 draft by the Phillies, but has failed to live up to that promise he showed as a prospect to this point in his career. In 355 plate appearances with Philadelphia, Haseley slashed just .264/.322/.373 before being traded to the White Sox ahead of the 2022 season. The outfielder only made it into 14 games with his new club in 2022, posting a 73 wRC+ in those games prior to being outrighted by Chicago during the offseason. With Alberto headed to the injured list, Haseley will now get another chance in the big leagues, where he will likely be the fourth outfielder on the roster, backing up Andrew Benintendi, Luis Robert Jr., and Oscar Colas.
Haseley will take the roster spot of Alberto, who is headed to the injured list without a timetable for his return. A veteran now playing in his 8th MLB season, Alberto has ever hit much in his career, posting a .271/.293/.380 line across 1406 plate appearances while only cracking 90 wRC+ once in his career, in 2019 with the Orioles. Still, the 30 year old remains a useful bench piece by virtue of his career strikeout rate of just 12.2% and his positional versatility; Alberto has played all four infield spots and the outfield corners in his career. With Alberto on the shelf, that should make more playing time available to fellow bench infielder Romy Gonzalez.
As for Solak, the utilityman spent the past four seasons as a member of the Rangers, slashing .252/.327/.372 (93 wRC+) in 974 plate appearances while playing primarily second base, though he’s also seen time at third base, left field, and even center field during his career. Solak was shipped from Texas to Cincinnati at the beginning of last offseason, and since then has bounced to the Mariners and the White Sox. Now, he figures to look to catch on with his fifth club in the past six months. That should be an attainable goal, considering the attractiveness of optionable infield depth.