MLB Rumors - MLBTradeRumors.com

Twins Sign Jeff Hoffman To Minor League Deal

By Nick Deeds | February 26, 2023 at 2:42pm CDT

Right-hander Jeff Hoffman has signed a minor league contract containing multiple opt-outs with the Minnesota Twins, reports Phil Miller of the Star Tribune. Per FanSided’s Robert Murray, the opt-outs are for March 28, May 15, and June 15. The deal pays Hoffman $1.3MM when in the majors, and includes $50K incentives for pitching appearances in each of 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, and 50 games, meaning the deal’s potential value maxes out at $1.6MM total.

Hoffman, 30, was the 9th overall pick in the 2014 draft, selected by the Blue Jays. Following a swap to Colorado as part of the Troy Tulowitzki trade, Hoffman came up as a member of the Rockies in 2016, and spent parts of five seasons in a swing role for the club. Despite racking up 230 2/3 innings for the club across those five years, Hoffman never found his footing in Colorado, pitching to a 6.40 ERA (79 ERA+) with a 5.58 FIP.

Even in spite of those struggles, Hoffman’s top prospect pedigree, impressive stuff, and ability to start all intrigued the Reds enough to swap reliever Robert Stephenson for him ahead of the 2021 campaign. Out of Coors Field for the first time in his big league career, Hoffman posted back to back seasons with an above average ERA+ in 2021 and 2022, combining for a 4.28 ERA (108 ERA+) and 4.86 FIP in 117 2/3 innings of work. The 2022 season in particular was a strong one for Hoffman, who pitched largely out of the bullpen en route to a 3.83 ERA (117 ERA+) and 4.30 FIP in 44 2/3 innings.

That encouraging uptick in performance wasn’t enough for Hoffman to avoid getting non-tendered in November, however, and it’s easy to see why the Reds may have had concerns: Hoffman struggled with his control during his time in Cincinnati, walking a 12.8% of batters faced over the last two seasons, and his success last year may have been predicated, at least in part, on an unsustainable 7.5% of his fly balls leaving the yard despite an 8.7% barrel rate.

Now, Hoffman is set to compete for a role on Minnesota’s pitching staff. Such a role seems likely to come in the bullpen, given the club’s deep group of rotation options. Hoffman seems particularly likely to compete for a spot in the Twins bullpen with fellow new arrival Dennis Santana, who was claimed off waivers from the Braves earlier today. Both right-handers have big stuff and have to this point in their careers struggled with control, but has shown himself to be an interesting long-relief or swing option in the big leagues, as well.

In this hypothetical camp battle, Hoffman has prospect pedigree on his side, but Santana has the advantage of youth in addition to even more impressive stuff: his fastball ranked in the 91st percentile in 2022, per Statcast, while Hoffman’s ranked in just the 61st percentile (albeit with a more impressive 93rd percentile spin rate). Should Hoffman not make the Opening Day roster in Minnesota, the three opt-outs in his deal will provide him with ample opportunities to test the open market again, should he so choose.

Twins Claim Dennis Santana

By Nick Deeds | February 26, 2023 at 2:05pm CDT

The Twins have claimed right-hander Dennis Santana off waivers from the Braves, Phil Miller of the Star Tribune reports. In a corresponding move, Twins shortstop Royce Lewis will be transferred to the 60-day IL. Atlanta had acquired Santana from the Rangers earlier this offseason in exchange for cash considerations. The Braves have announced the waiver claim. There had been no previous indication Santana was removed from Atlanta’s roster but they evidently tried to pass him through waivers in recent days.

Following brief stints in the majors with the Dodgers in 2018 and 2019, Santana got his first extended run of playing time in the shortened 2020 season, where he pitched out of the Dodgers bullpen in twelve games. Santana struggled in those appearances, racking up a 5.29 ERA and 5.72 FIP throughout the season. He stuck with the Dodgers into the first half of the 2021 season, though his struggles in LA continued until he was traded to the Rangers in June of that year. While Santana never found his footing in LA, struggling to a 6.48 ERA, 32% worse than league average, across his 40 2/3 innings as a Dodger, he was able to turn a corner upon arriving in Texas.

As member of the Rangers, Santana pitched to a well above average 3.63 ERA (123 ERA+) in 2021, a figure that was largely backed up by his solid 4.15 FIP. These improved results stood as Santana was catching up to his own talents as a flamethrower. His fastball had always been impressive, with his 96 mph 4-seamer ranking in the league’s 81st percentile in terms of velocity. Still, red flags were present, as Santana continued to struggle with his control. He walked a whopping 13.5% of batters in 2021 while striking out just 19.4%.

Unfortunately for Santana, 2022 proved to be a difficult season. Despite an uptick in velocity raising his fastball to an average of 97.7 mph and improved barrel and whiff rates, the right-hander’s strikeout and walk improvements, to 21.2% and 11% respectively, still left him below league average in those regards. When those below average rates are combined with an extremely low 54.3% of Santana’s runners being left on base, it’s easy to see how his ERA ballooned up to 5.22 in 2022, 24% below league average. Still, that fluky lack of stranded runners kept his FIP at a much more palatable 3.35 for the year, leaving reason for optimism headed into the 2023 season.

Santana now joins a Twins bullpen mix that includes the likes of Emilio Pagan and Jorge Alcala set to work the middle innings to bridge the gap between the starting rotation and back-end options Jhoan Duran, Jorge Lopez, and Caleb Thielbar. The acquisition of Santana also helps Minnesota build up a depth of relievers who can go multiple innings. This would help the club keep players like Josh Winder and Cole Sands in starting role at Triple-A, which the organization has previously stated as its preference. Santana is out of minor league options, meaning that if the Twins wish to retain him in the organization without putting him on the Opening Day roster, they’ll have to attempt to pass him through waivers at some point this spring.

As for Lewis, he had the misfortune of tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in June of last year. That was the same ligament he tore the previous year, leading to two straight seasons ended by ACL surgery. At the time of that injury diagnosis, his estimated timeline was given as 12 months, meaning he likely won’t be able to rejoin the club until June and making this IL placement an expected result.

Diego Hernandez To Miss 3-4 Months With Dislocated Shoulder

By Nick Deeds | February 26, 2023 at 12:13pm CDT

Royals outfield prospect Diego Hernandez is set to miss the next three to four months of action after dislocating his non-throwing shoulder yesterday, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

Hernandez, 22, was added to the 40-man roster back in November ahead of this offseason’s Rule 5 draft. Hernandez signed with the Royals as an international free agent during the summer of 2017 for a $200K bonus, a figure which made up the majority of Kansas City’s pool during the 2017-18 signing period. Hernandez grades out as a quality defensive center fielder and a plus-plus runner according to prospect reports, which allowed him to steadily rise throughout the Royals’ minor league system from his debut in 2018 until his full season debut in 2021.

Across 79 games played almost entirely at the Single-A level in 2021, Hernandez struggled with the bat, slashing .263/.346/.320 in 327 plate appearances. He did manage to swipe 35 bags in 46 attempts, however, and that speed combined with his center field defense once again earned him a promotion to High-A in 2022. Hernandez appeared to unlock another gear in 2022, and began showing with the bat to the tune of a .279/.343/.418 slash line in 83 games at the High-A level.

This surge in offensive capability came largely on the back of newfound power; Hernandez swatted seven home runs, 17 doubles, and four triples in those 83 games, compared to just two home runs, 13 doubles, and four triples in his 131 career minor league games headed into the 2022 season. That power boost earned Hernandez a late season call-up to the Double-A level, where he continued to impress by hitting .298/.357/.379 in 32 games. In addition to his step forward with the bat, Hernandez retained the speed that helped him on the basepaths and in the field, swiping 40 bags in 52 attempts across both levels in the 2022 season.

This showing in 2022 surely made protecting Hernandez from the Rule 5 draft an easy decision for the Royals, and put a big league debut during the 2023 season into play as a reasonable possibility. Obviously, this injury puts that possible trajectory in doubt, as Hernandez will miss the first half of the season and have little time to prove himself big league ready in 2023. Hernandez joins fellow Royals outfielder Drew Waters in starting the season on the injured list, though the oblique injury Waters is suffering from is expected to keep him out of action for much less time than Hernandez’s shoulder woes. The Royals still have plenty of outfield depth, as Kyle Isbel, Edward Olivares, Nate Eaton, Franmil Reyes, MJ Melendez, and Hunter Dozier represent some of the options still at manager Matt Quataro’s disposal.

Padres Sign Daniel Johnson To Minor League Deal

By Darragh McDonald | February 26, 2023 at 8:44am CDT

The Padres have signed outfielder Daniel Johnson to a minor league deal, according to his transactions tracker at MLB.com.

Johnson, 27, was originally drafted by the Nationals but was traded to Cleveland in the 2018 deal that sent Yan Gomes to Washington. Johnson was able to get up to the majors with Cleveland, appearing in 35 games over the 2020 and 2021 seasons. He hit four home runs in that small sample but also struck out in 34% of his trips to the plate while walking in only 5.3% of them. His batting line in that time was .202/.245/.337 for a wRC+ of 52.

He was outrighted off the club’s roster after that 2021 season and was traded to the Mets in May of 2022. The latter club released him in July, which resulted in Johnson returning to the Nats on a minor league deal. All that bouncing around didn’t seem to suit him well, as he hit a combined .219/.268/.347 for the year. He was much better in Triple-A in 2021, hitting 14 home runs in 72 games and producing a .222/.314/.444 batting line.

Johnson will jump into San Diego’s outfield mix, which is in a temporary state of flux. Fernando Tatis Jr. is expected to man right field eventually but won’t be eligible to play in the regular season until he serves the 20 games remaining on his suspension. For the time being, the likely configuration will have Juan Soto in left and Trent Grisham in center, with right field potentially occupied by players like Matt Carpenter, Adam Engel, José Azocar or Brandon Dixon. Johnson will look to fight his way onto the roster alongside other non-roster invitees such as David Dahl and Preston Tucker.

Pirates Owner Bob Nutting Addresses Bryan Reynolds, Payroll, CBA

By Simon Hampton | February 25, 2023 at 11:03pm CDT

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). At this stage, Reynolds has not set a deadline for a potential deal to get done.

7:59am: The future of Bryan Reynolds has dominated Pirates-related headlines ever since his trade request early on in the off-season. Speculation looks set to bleed into the spring now, and it likely won’t stop until the Pirates either hammer out an extension with their star outfielder or trade him.

According to Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Pirates’ best offer to Reynolds was a six-year, $80MM deal, while the player was seeking eight years and $134MM — both of which would have represented a franchise record contract. While a $54MM gap is significant, owner Bob Nutting said in an interview with Mackey that the team is working hard to try and bridge that at the moment.

“We’d love to see Bryan as a long-term part of the team. The piece that I was most concerned about was his level of frustration in the sense that he felt disrespected by the team. If there’s a way we can bridge the gap, we’re working hard to do that. We’re continuing this week to work hard to do it. Bryan’s important. We want to do what’s right for him, for his family and for the team. We absolutely have respect for Bryan. We want to keep lines of communication open,” Nutting said.

The trade request came on the heels of that impasse in contract negotiations, but Reynolds has still maintained his preference is to stay in Pittsburgh if the right deal can be found. On that front, however, it does appear to be make-or-break time. Another strong season of production would likely push an extension next winter well out of Pittsburgh’s price range, and while the Pirates could still likely get a strong package in return for Reynolds next winter, his dwindling years of control and increasing arbitration salary will make it trickier to justify the bounty they might receive this season.

Reynolds can be a free agent following the 2025 season, which would not appear to line up perfectly with the Pirates’ projected window of contention, which may well be just opening around 2024-25. As such, an extension which keeps him in Pittsburgh beyond 2025 or a trade for younger players with more years of control makes plenty of sense. Reynolds, 28, has established himself as one of the game’s top outfielders in recent years. The switch-hitter has compiled 12.5 fWAR, averaging an excellent .281/.361/.481 line while belting 74 home runs over the past four seasons.

In any case, there seems to be little chance of the Pirates following the Padres anytime soon, and turning their small market payroll into one more resembling that of the game’s heavy hitters.

“It’s a model that we have belief in and have had success with. As we varied away from that model, which arguably we did in ’17, ’18 and ’19, it doesn’t work very well. I think we’re right at the brink of seeing success. I think what we’re continuing to do and what we have done is try to show discipline and make sure that we’re investing in the right places. I continue to look at baseball as one part of a much broader bucket,” Nutting said.

The Bucs’ payroll has ranked 30th, 30th and 28th in the past three seasons, failing to clear the $60MM threshold. The Pirates were at a similar stage of their rebuild in 2011-12, and were running out bottom-three payrolls in those seasons. As their window of contention opened, payroll more than doubled from 2012-15 (according to Cot’s Baseball Contracts) as the Pirates enjoyed a trio of playoff seasons.

Nutting’s brief but wide-ranging interview with Mackey also touched on the new collective bargaining agreement which was agreed upon a year ago between the league and the MLB Players Association.

“There’s no question the CBA contained several things that were not good for the Pirates and very few things that were excellent for us. You also have to remember there was no baseball going on. We had a real risk of losing the season. I felt a significant sense of urgency to get on the field. Could have had a protest vote. That’s not really who I am. I’m not sure it would be good for the team, and I don’t think it would be good for baseball,” Nutting said.

“It’s the single biggest issue facing the Pittsburgh Pirates. Competitive disparity, revenue disparity and payroll disparity are all real challenges. I think it’s great [Commissioner Rob Manfred] is publicly talking about it. We simply can’t be here in the next cycle. We’ve got to see fundamental change in the economic structure of the game. I believe that we’re positioned to do it — not this year or next year but over the longer-term cycle.”

Chicago Notes: Suzuki, Taillon, Crochet

By Mark Polishuk | February 25, 2023 at 10:47pm CDT

Seiya Suzuki was a late scratch from the Cubs lineup, as the team announced to reporters (including Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times) that the outfielder was dealing with left oblique tightness. More will be known about Suzuki once he completes some tests, though for now, there is certainly concern over his status given the rather wide range of recovery timelines associated with oblique injuries. Even if Suzuki’s issue is relatively minor, it might create an immediate problem with his planned participation on Team Japan at the World Baseball Classic.

A finger sprain cost Suzuki about six weeks of his first MLB season, but he still hit a solid .262/.336/.433 with 14 homers over 446 plate appearances with the Cubs in 2022. More will be expected from Suzuki in his sophomore year (especially for a Cubs team that plans to be more competitive) but the first order of business is to make sure that he’s healthy and that his oblique injury doesn’t lead to much missed time.

Some more notes on both Windy City teams…

The Mets and Phillies were the other finalists for Jameson Taillon, as the New York Post’s Jon Heyman writes that Philadelphia offered Taillon slightly more than the four years and $68MM he received from the Cubs. Since Taijuan Walker signed with the Phils for four years and $72MM, it could be that the Phillies offered similar deals to both pitchers and either Walker accepted first, or perhaps Taillon opted for Chicago’s offer instead. However, Taillon said that “I thought I was going to be a Met for a while,” indicating that New York was also strongly in the running. The mutual interest between both Taillon and the Cubs may have been the deciding factor, as “the Cubs made a really strong first impression” on the first day of free agency, and the team “made it clear from day one I was a top priority. If you can nerd-out and talk pitching with me, that really works for me. They showed me a good plan. It’s been exciting.”
The White Sox are tentatively aiming for May as Garrett Crochet’s return date from Tommy John rehab, as per MLB.com’s Sox-specific injuries and transactions page. Crochet underwent the TJ surgery last April, so the 13-month layoff would fit within the procedure’s usual recovery timeline. The Sox have already said that Crochet will work as a reliever when he returns, so he’ll need to build less arm strength than a pitcher who was returning to a starting role. Crochet is slated to move from two bullpen sessions per week to one high-intensity bullpen session per week, with an eye towards pitching in game action during extended Spring Training and then a minor league rehab assignment.

West Notes: Syndergaard, White, Davis

By Mark Polishuk | February 25, 2023 at 9:33pm CDT

Noah Syndergaard signed a one-year, $13MM free agent deal with the Dodgers this winter, and the right-hander tells the New York Post’s Jon Heyman that “there might have been more money on the table with another team.” But, Los Angeles held particular appeal for Syndergaard, as “I wanted to give myself the best chance to get back to the World Series and win it all. And I wanted the best coaching and direction that the sport has to offer and I’m fully convinced that that is with the Dodgers.” There is certainly a solid track record of pitchers being revived after joining the Dodgers, and Syndergaard might have a lot in particular to offer, given his past ace status and the fact that he is now fully healthy.

Tommy John surgery and some related setbacks cost Syndergaard all but two innings of the 2020-21 seasons. While he had a 3.94 ERA over 134 2/3 combined innings with the Angels and Phillies last year, Syndergaard still felt the “Tommy John hangover,” saying that “I didn’t throw a pitch where it didn’t feel like I was pitching in a straightjacket….It’s hard to get hitters out when you’re thinking about what your body is doing in mid-delivery.” It remains to seen if Syndergaard can ever fully return to his All-Star form, but even solid numbers and a clean bill of health would put him in nice position for a richer, multi-year contract in free agency next winter.

AL East Notes: Manoah, Shapiro, Rortvedt, Bautista

By Mark Polishuk | February 25, 2023 at 7:45pm CDT

“I don’t think there’s been any talks about anything” involving a long-term extension between Alek Manoah and the Blue Jays, the right-hander told Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi. Noting that he is under team control through 2027, Manoah didn’t seem to expect any negotiations in the near future, saying “I don’t think I’m a priority right now.” The right-hander did state that “there’s no hard feelings, it’s just the business part of it” in regards to both the lack of talks, and Manoah’s decision to again take a salary renewal from the Jays rather than officially agree to their offered salary for his pre-arbitration season. Manoah will earn $745,650 in 2023, and he might become eligible for arbitration as early as next winter if he gains Super Two status.

Extending Manoah would give the Jays come cost certainty over what might be some increasingly pricey arbitration years, given how impressive he has looked in his first two MLB seasons. After a strong rookie campaign, Manoah took things a step further in his first full season, posting a 2.24 ERA over 196 2/3 innings and finishing third in AL Cy Young Award voting. If an extension didn’t come, Manoah said “I’m completely happy riding out that [arbitration] process and allowing the team to go spend money on other guys and me continuing to earn my value and earn what I hope to get one day,” though he also stated that “I want to play in Toronto for a long time.”

MLBPA Head Tony Clark On League Economics, TV Deals, Minor League CBA

By Mark Polishuk | February 25, 2023 at 6:51pm CDT

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.

“The economic reform committee is not a new idea. They had a Blue Ribbon panel, and even an economic committee that was put together back in 1991….Those two in particular, and perhaps even this third, based on the comments that came out today, is focused in on how best to depress player salaries,” Clark said.

The MLBPA declined to make an initial comment last week when the committee was announced, though it naturally isn’t surprising that the union and the owners would have greatly differing perspectives on economic inequalities within baseball. For starters, Clark feels that “baseball is doing very well,” which seems to belie the existence for the committee in the first place.

“There was a lot of discussion in 2020 about the challenges that the industry had. There were a number of positions taken suggesting that the industry was in harm’s way, and was unlikely to come out of it for years following,” Clark said. “And yet, 2021 (league-wide) revenue was nearly back to what it was pre-pandemic; 2022 is above what it was pre-pandemic. And so the industry is doing well.”

The possible bankruptcy of the Diamond Sports Group is the primary reason for the committee’s creation, as 14 different MLB teams have broadcasting deals with Bally Sports (the regional networks owned by Diamond Sports). This will certainly have a major impact on the revenue streams for those teams, but only in the near future, Clark argues.

“We think, based on the expertise that we’re receiving, that over the long term, growth will still happen,” Clark said. “Live events, sports itself, have still done remarkably well. It’s the [regional sports network] model that appears to be challenged, not fan interest in sporting events.”

While certain teams could be harder hit depending on the specific length of their TV contracts, the potential also exists for those game broadcasts (and thus revenues) to be covered via new deals with streaming platforms, as opportunities could emerge in relatively quick fashion should a bankruptcy trigger a resolution to any pre-existing contracts with the Diamond Sports Group.

To this end, it is possible a good portion of the Bally Sports-related problems could be solved well before the end of the current Collective Bargaining Agreement, which expires at the end of the 2026 season. Given how the CBA was only settled less than a year ago in the wake of a 99-day lockout, much could still change between now and 2026, though the league seems quite likely to continue to push revenue disparities between teams as a prime motivator for an overhaul of baseball’s financial structure in the next CBA.

Commissioner Rob Manfred noted last week that the league’s exploration of the Bally Sports issue has led to a broader discussion between owners of revenue disparities, which is the other purpose of the economic reform committee. A salary cap doesn’t appear to be on the table for now since even the owners, Manfred said, would have difficulty in finding a cap ceiling that would be agreeable to all parties.

That said, Clark reiterated the longstanding MLBPA tenet that “we’re never going to agree to a cap….we’re not going to agree to a cap. A salary cap is the ultimate restriction on player value and player salary. We believe in a market system. The market system has served our players, our teams and our game very well.” The last round of CBA talks did involve the union exploring the idea of a salary floor, which Clark said was “similar to what currently exists on the top” in terms of the current luxury tax structure rather than an actual cap. However, “we have yet to have a conversation with the league that doesn’t include something far more restrictive on the top end. That makes the conversation null and void to this point.”

Unsurprisingly, Clark praised the Padres’ increased spending, which has come under public criticism from some owners (including the Rockies’ Dick Monfort). Though the Padres play in a relatively smaller market, Clark feels the team’s willingness to spend and compete at the upper levels “should be celebrated, not questioned.”

“The question that should be asked in regards to one team’s payroll versus another, is whether or not that team is making a conscious decision to have its payroll there, or whether it has the ability to increase its payroll?” Clark said. “The answer is the latter, and not the former. So at the end of the day, particularly when you see teams in smaller markets — aka San Diego, in this instance, as the best example — provide a level of engagement for their fans, and a level of excitement in being one of the seven smallest markets we have, it begs the question as to why they made that decision, and why others aren’t.”

Returning to labor talks, the union and the league are in ongoing negotiations about another CBA, the first agreement between MLB and minor league players. Though no deal has been reached since the two sides began talks in November, Clark doesn’t feel a work stoppage is likely if an agreement isn’t in place by Opening Day, since “the greater likelihood is that the terms and conditions that currently exist will likely continue as we continue to negotiate.” According to Clark, one of the roadblocks is that the league has again looked to reduce the size of minor league rosters, which the union considers a “non-starter” of a proposal.

Diamondbacks Notes: Spending, Ballpark, Martin, Jones

By Mark Polishuk | February 25, 2023 at 4:38pm CDT

Diamondbacks managing general partner Ken Kendrick and team president/CEO Derrick Hall spoke with MLB.com’s Steve Gilbert and other reporters earlier this week, discussing several topics about the club’s offseason and future plans. In regards to the biggest-picture topic of the Diamondbacks’ quest for a new ballpark, Hall said that “nothing has really changed yet….We’re still looking at what other options there might be in Maricopa County, not outside of Maricopa County,” and that “we’ll start accelerating that process again” now that the MLB lockout and the pandemic delayed the process. The club’s lease at Chase Field is up after the 2027 season, and while the D’Backs have been in talks with Phoenix officials, there were some reports in 2019 that the Diamondbacks had possibly considered Las Vegas and Henderson, Nevada as alternate sites. Hall said that the team would likely prefer to remain in the downtown Phoenix area, and Kendrick added that “whether it be the downtown setting or perhaps a ballpark somewhere in the Valley that would be a brand new one,” the D’Backs are “prepared to spend hundreds of millions of dollars” to help fund the construction of a new home.

Speaking of finances, the Diamondbacks have had an active offseason as the team looks to improve on its 74-88 record from 2022. The Snakes’ current payroll sits at around $118.9MM, which Kendrick noted was almost a 30 percent increase from last year’s figure. While this spending still puts the D’Backs in the bottom half of all MLB payrolls, Kendrick said that ownership was prepared to reinvest at the deadline if necessary: “If the team is competitive and has the chance to play in October is there, we’re going to spend more money to get there.”

Headlines

Navigation

MLBTR INFO

Connect