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Rangers Sign Jose Urena To Minor League Deal

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The Rangers announced Tuesday that they’ve signed veteran right-hander Jose Urena to a minor league contract. He’ll be in big league camp as a non-roster invitee this spring. Urena is represented by Premier Talent Sports & Entertainment.

Each of the past two seasons has played out somewhat similarly for the now-32-year-old Urena. He’s split both years between two organizations — Brewers/Rockies in 2022; Rockies/White Sox in 2023 — and pitched poorly for the first before rebounding for the second. In 2022, Urena tossed 7 2/3 innings for the Brewers, limiting opponents to three runs but doing so with more walks (five) than strikeouts (three). He latched on in Colorado after being cut loose and gave the Rox 89 1/3 innings of 5.14 ERA ball over the life of 17 starts. That’s not the most appealing ERA mark, of course, but pitching at Coors Field is hardly an enviable task — and Urena was quite successful down the stretch (2.25 ERA, 25-to-9 K/BB in his final five starts).

That run with the Rockies was enough for Colorado to bring him back on a one-year, $3.5MM contract, but that deal went south in a hurry. Urena was torched for a 9.82 earned run average in his first five starts and cut loose after pitching just 18 1/3 innings overall. He caught on with the White Sox later, was called to the big leagues in September, and posted an overall 4.10 ERA in his five starts with Chicago (26 1/3 innings, 20-to-8 K/BB ratio).

Urena had some solid seasons with the Marlins earlier in his big league career, but consistency has long eluded him. All told, he’s pitched 839 1/3 innings as a big leaguer and turned in a 4.89 ERA with a well below-average 15.5% strikeout rate, a roughly average 8.6% walk rate and a strong 48.2% ground-ball rate.

The Rangers will likely try to add a few arms of this nature — veterans who can be stashed in the upper minors as depth. With Max Scherzer and Jacob deGrom both recovering from surgery and Jordan Montgomery currently a free agent, they’re looking at a projected rotation of Nathan Eovaldi, Jon Gray, Andrew Heaney, Dane Dunning and Cody Bradford. Some additional certainty would be prudent — be it re-signing Montgomery or acquiring a different free agent or trade option — but improving the depth is similarly important and Urena helps to fill that need.

Rangers Acquire Daniel Duarte From Reds

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The Rangers acquired right-hander Daniel Duarte from the Reds, per announcements from both clubs. The Reds, who designated Duarte for assignment on the weekend, will receive cash considerations in return. The Rangers now have a full 40-man roster.

Duarte, 27, got a cup-of-coffee debut with the Reds in 2022, pitching 2 2/3 innings. He got a more sizable chunk of big league time last year, tossing 31 2/3 frames. In those two seasons combined, he has a 4.19 earned run average, though with less-impressive peripherals. His 46.5% ground ball rate is strong but his 16.7% strikeout rate and 15.3% walk rate are both a few ticks worse than league average. His .221 batting average on balls in play and 79.8% strand rate are both on the lucky side of par and seem to have helped him keep runs from scoring, which is why his 6.16 FIP and 5.68 SIERA are less shiny than his ERA.

The righty has generally done a decent job punching out Triple-A hitters, but has also walked them at a high clip. In 46 2/3 innings at Triple-A over the past three seasons, he has struck out 26.8% of hitters that have come to the plate and gotten a decent amount of ground balls, but has also sent 11.6% of opponents to first via base on balls, as well as hitting 3.5% of them with a pitch.

Despite the control issues, the Rangers are likely enticed by the combination of strikeouts and ground balls. Duarte has an option remaining and won’t need to be guaranteed a spot on the active roster. He’s also at least two years away from qualifying for arbitration and comes with five potential years of club control, while a season spent largely on optionable assignment could push that into the future by another year.

Despite winning the World Series last year, the bullpen was an obvious weak spot for the Rangers. Since hoisting the trophy, they lost Aroldis Chapman, Will Smith and Chris Stratton to free agency. They signed Kirby Yates as their most significant upgrade to date and may not be able to top that. The payroll may not have a ton of space due to uncertainty around the broadcast revenues. The club has given minor league deals to pitchers like Shane Greene, Diego Castillo, Austin Pruitt, Jonathan Holder and Jesús Tinoco.

Nationals Hire Sean Doolittle As Pitching Strategist

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The Nationals announced Tuesday that they’ve hired recently retired left-hander Sean Doolittle and added him to the coaching staff in the role of pitching strategist. He’ll serve as a liaison between the club’s analytics department and pitching staff, per the announcement. He’ll also work with manager Davey Martinez, pitching coach Jim Hickey and bullpen coach Ricky Bones and assist with aspects of the job like pitching strategy, pitcher mechanics and mental preparation for the team’s pitching staff.

“Sean Doolittle was always an extremely talented pitcher, but he is also one of the most intelligent baseball minds you can find,” president of baseball operations and general manager Mike Rizzo said within today’s press release announcing the hire. “We’re incredibly excited to have him on our staff to help guide our talented group of young pitchers.”

Doolittle, 37, spent parts of five seasons pitching with the Nationals and spent the 2023 campaign there as well, although his comeback bid from elbow surgery ended before he was able to return to a big league mound. From 2012-22, he pitched 450 2/3 regular season innings between the A’s, Nats, Reds and Mariners, logging a combined 3.20 ERA with a 29% strikeout rate, 5.7% walk rate, 82 holds and 112 saves. He added another 22 1/3 innings of 2.42 ERA ball in the postseason, including an outstanding run in 2019 when he was a focal point of the Nationals’ World Series-winning bullpen; Doolittle delivered 10 1/3 innings that October, saving a pair of games and notching three holds while limiting opponents to a pair of runs on six hits and a walk with eight punchouts (1.74 ERA).

“I can’t thank the Lerner family, Mike Rizzo and Davey Martinez enough for all they’ve done for me and my family,” Doolittle said in his own statement on the hiring. “I love the Nationals and Washington D.C., and look forward to this new challenge while remaining an active member of an organization that means so much to me.”

Yuli Gurriel Has Drawn Interest For 2024 Season

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Veteran first baseman Yuli Gurriel has drawn interest from MLB clubs ahead of the 2024 season, reports Francys Romero. “Soon, a decision must be made,” Gurriel told Romero.

After seven seasons with the Astros, Gurriel spent the 2023 season with Miami. The Marlins inked him to a minor league pact late in the 2022-23 offseason, and Gurriel won a roster spot in spring training. He got out to a strong start, hitting .291/.350/.440 through his first 157 trips to the plate. However, Gurriel’s bat went cold in mid-June and never really recovered. Over his final 172 plate appearances, he slashed just .204/.262/.287 with only one home run.

That marked the second straight lackluster season at the plate for the now-39-year-old Gurriel, who posted a .242/.288/.360 output in his final season as an Astro. As recently as 2022, he’d turned in a robust .319/.383/.462 slash with 15 home runs, but Gurriel’s age, slow finish and back-to-back shaky seasons seem likely to limit him to another minor league deal — assuming he indeed plans to continue playing for what would be a ninth MLB season.

It’s not clear which clubs have shown interest in the Cuban-born veteran, though a few speculative landing spots come to mind. The Twins had interest in Gurriel last winter, and president of baseball operations Derek Falvey suggested earlier this winter that he could look to bring in a first base option from outside the organization. The D-backs have been tied to several right-handed-hitting DH options, and Gurriel’s younger brother of course re-signed in Arizona earlier this winter. The Mariners have been linked to more expensive righty-swinging DH options but are working with some known financial restrictions. The Guardians gravitate toward low-strikeout hitters like Gurriel (career 11.4%) and have a very left-handed lineup. Gurriel could be a right-handed addition to a first base/DH mix that includes lefties Josh Naylor and top prospect Kyle Manzardo.

On a minor league deal, there’s any number of fits that could be drawn up for Gurriel, who carries a career .281/.326/.440 batting line in 3634 plate appearances. He’s just two home runs shy of 100 for his career and is 61 hits away from 1000, so there are some round numbers in his future if he can latch on with another big league team. Gurriel, of course, didn’t make his MLB debut until age 32. He’d previously starred in his native Cuba since making his pro debut as a 17-year-old back in 2001. Gurriel is one of the most prolific hitters in the history of the Cuban National Series, evidenced by a career .320/.425/.599 batting line in nearly 5300 plate appearances in his home country’s top league.

Kendall Graveman Expected To Miss 2024 Season Following Shoulder Surgery

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Astros right-hander Kendall Graveman underwent shoulder surgery last week and is expected to miss the 2024 season as a result, the team announced Tuesday. The team did not specify the nature of the procedure.

Graveman, 33, missed the 2023 postseason due to shoulder troubles. Doctors recommended a rest-and-rehab approach to the injury, and that proceeded well enough for the right-hander to begin throwing from flat ground as he ramped up for spring training. However, Graveman experienced renewed discomfort at some point upon resuming a throwing a program, leading to last week’s surgery.

Houston reacquired Graveman in a deadline trade that sent young catcher Korey Lee back to Chicago. The veteran Graveman had thrived with the Astros down the stretch in 2021 before signing as three-year, $24MM contract with the ChiSox in free agency. He returned to Minute Maid Park and posted a 2.42 ERA over 22 1/3 innings down the stretch. The performance wasn’t without its red flags, however; Graveman maintained a strong 25% strikeout rate but also posted an uncharacteristic 16.7% walk rate following the trade. Whether that was just an anomaly in a relatively small sample of an indicator that he wasn’t pitching at 100% can’t be fully known, but the end result is the same regardless of when the shoulder troubles initially became apparent.

The loss of Graveman is significant for the Astros. His acquisition was expected to fill a key role both in the 2023 and 2024 bullpen, but their relief corps will now be depleted further than anticipated. Houston has already seen righties Hector Neris, Ryne Stanek and Phil Maton become free agents this winter. With Graveman shelved, the setup bridge to closer Ryan Pressly becomes murkier. Bryan Abreu was brilliant in 2023 for a second straight season, but the rest of the setup corps is suspect.

Rafael Montero is entering the second season of a three-year, $34.5MM contract that looks regrettable after he limped to a 5.08 ERA in 67 1/3 frames during year one of the deal. The veteran righty did improve in the season’s second half, but it clearly wasn’t the year owner Jim Crane envisioned when signing Montero early last offseason before he had a general manager in place to take over for James Click.

Other setup options on the 40-man roster lack an established MLB track record. Each of Ronel Blanco, Bennett Sousa, Seth Martinez, Dylan Coleman, Oliver Ortega and Parker Mushinski has some MLB experience, but there are no proven options among the bunch.

For an Astros club that has seemingly been operating on a tight budget this winter, the Graveman injury is all the more problematic. General manager Dana Brown candidly acknowledged earlier in the offseason that he wasn’t working with much payroll flexiblity.

Graveman is set to earn an $8MM salary this coming season, and that money will still count against the team’s luxury ledger. Houston is right up against the luxury-tax threshold and ostensibly prefers not to cross that line. Perhaps that’ll push the team more toward the trade market if the plan to is to bring in some bullpen help from outside the organization, but an $8MM hit for a player who likely won’t pitch at all in 2024 is an unwelcome development for a front office that’s already been dealing with budgetary restrictions.

KBO’s Kiwoom Heroes Plan To Post Infielder Hye Seong Kim For MLB Teams Next Offseason

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For the second time in five years, the Kiwoom Heroes of the Korea Baseball Organization will post an infielder for MLB clubs. The Heroes announced this week that they’ll post second baseman/shortstop Hye Seong Kim for big league clubs following the 2024 campaign (English-language link via Jee-ho Yoo of South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency).

Kim (no relation to former Heroes infielder Ha-Seong Kim, who was his double-play partner in the KBO) will be 25 years old and have seven seasons of pro experience in the KBO, thus exempting him from amateur status under MLB’s international free agency rules. He’ll be able to sign a Major League contract of any length with any team, though he’ll still fall under the purview of the MLB/KBO posting system — meaning any team to sign him will need to pay a posting/release fee to the Heroes.

Kim doesn’t possess the power that many prominent KBO free agents have been able to market when seeking to jump to the Majors. However, he’s batted .300 or better in each of the past three seasons while continually whittling down his strikeout rate and improving his walk rate. Over the past three years, Kim is a .319/.380/.405 hitter — including a .335/.396/.446 slash in 2023. He’s connected on just 14 homers since 2021 but also touts 67 doubles, 16 triples and a hefty 105 steals in 119 tries (88.3% success rate). Kim walked at a 7% clip with a 25.2% strikeout rate as a rookie in 2018, but he walked at a 9.2% rate with just a 12.4% strikeout rate in 2023. That marked his third straight year with a strikeout rate of 15% or lower.

Prior to the 2023 World Baseball Classic, Kyle Glaser of Baseball America ranked Kim ninth among international prospects to watch in that year’s tournament. Glaser called Kim a plus defender at second who can handle shortstop on occasion, adding that he has strong pitch recognition skills, a “preternatural feel for contact” and an ability to catch up to good velocity. Kim has a Gold Glove at shortstop and two at second base. As one might expect for a player with Kim’s minimal home run totals, BA’s scouting report paints him as a line-drive hitter with a knack for finding the barrel but a lack of over-the-fence power.

While the lack of power will limit Kim’s appeal in MLB free agency, he’s at the very least a high-contact left-handed bat who can handle multiple positions and deliver value on the bases. At 24 years old (25 later this month), it’s not out of the question that Kim develops a bit more power this season, though his swing doesn’t appear geared for substantial power (as seen in this 35-minute compilation of highlights from Kim at the plate this past season). He’s listed at 5’10” and 170 pounds, so Kim certainly doesn’t have a prototypical slugging frame.

There’s a ways to go before Kim is legitimately on MLB radars in free agency next winter; it stands to reason that with a major injury and/or down season at the plate, he might not test the free-agent waters at all. Still, Kim made clear that his ultimate goal is to secure an opportunity to test himself in MLB. “Just challenging myself to make it to such a big stage means a lot to me,” he told reporters (via Yoo).

Lack of power notwithstanding, Kim could draw interest as a speed/contact-oriented second baseman next winter. Glaser tabbed him as a potential big league utilityman. His age will surely hold appeal, and Kim will likely be an affordable alternative to MLB free agents like Gleyber Torres, Jose Altuve and, coincidentally, his own former teammate and double-play partner (Ha-Seong Kim), who’ll become a free agent next winter when the mutual option on his contract with the Padres is inevitably declined (likely by the player). As a potential, if not likely entrant into next winter’s free-agent class, Kim’s production will be worth keeping an eye on during the 2024 KBO campaign.

The Opener: Hernandez, Giants, MLBTR Chat

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With less than a month remaining until pitchers and catchers report for Spring Training, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:

1. Dodgers to introduce Hernandez:

The Dodgers have announced that outfielder Teoscar Hernandez will be made available to the media via Zoom later today. The virtual press conference is scheduled to begin at 5pm CT this evening, with GM Brandon Gomes also expected to be made available in addition to Hernandez. The addition of Hernandez may prove to be the capstone on an incredible offseason for L.A. headlined by the signing of two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani. Along with Ohtani, the club has revamped its starting rotation by signing Yoshinobu Yamamoto as well as dealing for and extending Tyler Glasnow. Meanwhile, the outfield mix has seen a similar overhaul with the addition of right-handed bats in Hernandez and Manuel Margot who can complement existing center fielder James Outman as well as Jason Heyward, who was re-signed early in the offseason to patrol right field.

2. Will the Giants keep adding to their rotation?

San Francisco entered the offseason with a clear need for rotation upgrades, and that need was only exacerbated by the announcement that veteran righty Alex Cobb underwent hip surgery in late October and is expected to miss the start of the 2024 campaign. Without Cobb as part of the mix for the Opening Day rotation, the Giants had only ace Logan Webb locked into a rotation spot for the coming season with youngsters like Kyle Harrison and Keaton Winn and depth options like Ross Stripling penciled in to fill out the rest of the group. Since then, the Giants have made a pair of additions to their rotation, though they’ve both been somewhat unorthodox.

The club landed left-hander Robbie Ray in a deal with Seattle, though the southpaw isn’t expected to return from Tommy John surgery until sometime this summer and San Francisco gave up a potential rotation piece in Anthony DeSclafani to complete the deal. Aside from that trade, the club’s major addition to the rotation has been landing right-hander Jordan Hicks on a four-year deal over the weekend. While the club has reportedly signed Hicks to be a starter, the flamethrower has just eight starts in the majors under his belt and has struggled to a 5.47 ERA in those 26 1/3 innings of work. Will these upside additions be the only rotation upgrades the Giants make this offseason, or will they seek the stability of a more surefire starter? Top-of-the-market lefties Blake Snell and Jordan Montgomery remain available, but options are dwindling after that duo with the likes of Mike Clevinger and James Paxton among the best starters available in the next tier down.

3. MLBTR Chat Today:

Now that 2024 is upon us, are there any questions burning in your mind about the offseason with Spring Training a matter of weeks away? Are you wondering what’s next for your favorite team, or perhaps curious about what the market for a particular free agent looks like? If so, tune in this afternoon when MLBTR’s Steve Adams hosts a live chat with readers at 1pm CT. You can click here to ask a question in advance, and that same link will allow you to join in on the chat once it begins or read the transcript after its completed.

Notable International Signings: 1/15/24

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January 15 marks the official opening of the international signing period. While the vast majority of top talents have reached verbal agreements with teams months or years in advance, they’re allowed to formally put pen to paper to begin their affiliated careers. The signing period technically runs until December 15, but the top signees will ink their contracts as soon as first eligible.

Ben Badler of Baseball America and Jesse Sanchez of MLB.com are among those covering the activity. At MLBTR, we’ll highlight a few of the top signees. Both Baseball America and MLB Pipeline provide scouting reports and bonus information on more of the highly-regarded prospects. They’re each worth full reads for those interested in the class.

Note: MLB Pipeline ranks the class on talent. Baseball America orders the players by bonus amount, not on evaluations of the players’ ability. Since international amateurs are so young and tend to agree to their bonuses well in advance of signing day, a player’s profile can change significantly between the time they reach agreement on a bonus and the official opening of the window.

Some of the top names (ordered by signing bonus):

  • Jose Perdomo, SS, Braves: A right-handed hitting infielder from Venezuela, Perdomo leads the class with a $5MM signing bonus. MLB Pipeline ranks him as the #3 prospect in the group. He’s regarded as a polished hitter with a good chance to stick somewhere on the infield. Badler notes (on X) that the $5MM bonus is the largest ever for a Venezuelan player.
  • Leodalis De Vries, SS, Padres: De Vries lands the second-highest bonus at $4.2MM. Sanchez and Badler each indicate he’s now regarded as the most talented prospect in this year’s class. It’s the second straight year in which San Diego landed the #1 player in the international period after last year’s signing of catcher Ethan Salas. De Vries, a native of the Dominican Republic, is a 6’1″ switch-hitter. He draws praise for a well-rounded offensive profile with power potential and a chance to stick at shortstop.
  • Fernando Cruz, SS, Cubs: A $4MM signee out of the Dominican Republic, Cruz is a 5’11” infielder. Evaluators praise his bat speed and all-fields power potential. He draws attention for his athleticism and defensive toolset at shortstop. MLB Pipeline notes he has an aggressive offensive approach, while BA indicates some scouts have expressed concern about the length in his swing. MLB Pipeline ranks Cruz as the #4 talent in the class.
  • Dawel Joseph, SS, Mariners: Signed for $3MM from the Dominican Republic, Joseph is a right-handed hitter with a 6’2″ frame. That build leads to ample raw power projection. BA and Pipeline each indicate that Joseph has lost some of his formerly elite speed as he has grown, although he still has a shot to play somewhere up the middle. Both outlets suggest he sports more of a power-over-hit offensive profile.

A few others with a noteworthy signing figure and/or placement on MLB Pipeline’s prospect rankings:

  • Yovanny Rodriguez, C, Mets: $2.85MM signing bonus, Venezuela native, MLB Pipeline’s #6 prospect
  • Victor Hurtado, OF Nationals: $2.7MM-2.8MM signing bonus*, Dominican Republic native, MLB Pipeline’s #20 prospect
  • Adolfo Sanchez, OF, Reds: $2.7MM signing bonus, Dominican Republic native, MLB Pipeline’s #5 prospect
  • Joswa Lugo, SS, Angels: $2.3MM signing bonus, Dominican Republic native, MLB Pipeline’s #37 prospect
  • Yandel Ricardo, SS, Royals: #9 on BA’s bonus board (specific number unreported), Cuba native, MLB Pipeline’s #16 prospect
  • Emil Morales, SS, Dodgers: #10 on BA’s bonus board (specific number unreported), Dominican Republic native, MLB Pipeline’s #14 prospect
  • Paulino Santana, OF, Rangers: $1.3MM signing bonus, Dominican Republic native, MLB Pipeline’s #2 prospect

* BA reports Hurtado’s bonus at $2.7MM, while MLB.com pegs it at $2.8MM

Sacramento Among Potential Home Venues For A’s In 2025

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In mid-November, the A’s were officially granted approval from MLB to relocate to Las Vegas. Their planned 33,000-seat stadium on the Vegas strip won’t be ready until 2028. With the team’s lease at the Coliseum in Oakland expiring at the end of next season, they’re still sorting through possibilities for the intervening three years.

A handful of options are on the table. Team president Dave Kaval has floated the possibility of a short-term lease extension at the Coliseum, but that’d require approval from Oakland officials. Given the broken relationship between the organization and city, that seems unlikely. Reports have suggested city officials could condition a lease extension on the franchise leaving the A’s moniker behind, which would be a non-starter for the organization. Other options include sharing Oracle Park with the Giants or playing at their Triple-A affiliate’s field in Summerlin, Nevada.

John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle added a fourth possibility this morning, reporting that the A’s are considering Sacramento’s Sutter Health Park. That’s also a Triple-A venue — in this case, the home of the Giants affiliate, the River Cats.

One of the factors for the A’s is their local broadcasting contract. Their TV rights deal with NBC Sports California runs through 2033. The A’s lose those broadcasting revenues once they depart the Bay Area. If they’re hoping to retain the revenues between 2025-27, they’d need to find a park in the area.

A lease extension at the Coliseum or an agreement to share Oracle Park would meet that criterion. Shea notes that Sacramento, on the other hand, is outside the bounds of their contract. However, he reports the sides could renegotiate the deal at a lesser value if the A’s were to land in Sacramento. A new agreement could allow the A’s to continue receiving some portion of the revenue while getting the network off the hook for a chunk of the money which they wouldn’t be able to shed if the A’s stayed in Oakland or San Francisco until 2028.

While the broadcasting situation remains uncertain, the organization has ensured another key revenue source. The collective bargaining agreement provided that the A’s would lose their status as a revenue sharing recipient if they didn’t reach a binding stadium agreement by today. Mick Akers of the Las Vegas Review-Journal confirmed earlier this month the stadium deal is sufficient to maintain revenue sharing. That’s despite the fact that community benefits and lease agreements technically still need to be finalized for the A’s to receive their $380MM in agreed-upon public funding for the park’s construction.

Giants Hire Dusty Baker As Special Assistant

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The Giants are hiring Dusty Baker as a special assistant, reports Bob Nightengale of USA Today (X link). He’ll add an experienced voice to work with president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi; Nightengale adds that Baker will also assist CEO Larry Baer on certain business operations.

It’s an unsurprising development. Baker revealed last month that he was in talks with the Giants about some kind of non-coaching role. It allows the baseball lifer to remain involved with the game in a less demanding capacity than the managerial position in Houston from which he stepped down after the 2023 campaign. Changing teams also allows Baker to work closer to his home in Sacramento.

Baker is plenty familiar with the Giants. He managed for a decade in San Francisco, winning a trio of Manager of the Year honors along the way. Baker led the Giants to an 840-715 showing from 1993-2002. He helmed them to an NL pennant in ’02. Baker capped off what’ll very likely be a Hall of Fame career when he led Houston to a World Series in 2022.

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