7:02 AM EDT, Tue March 19, 2024
Minneapolis Star-Tribune

NL Central Preview: Cardinals, Cubs and Reds are at the front of a wide-open division

The St. Louis Cardinals signed Sonny Gray, Lance Lynn and Kyle Gibson. The Chicago Cubs added Shota Imanaga and Héctor Neris. Even the Cincinnati Reds and Pittsburgh Pirates jumped into free agency.

Amazin Avenue

Adam Ottavino is back in the Mets’ bullpen in 2024

Photo by Alex Slitz/ Ottavino is entering his age-38 season. Back at the start of this offseason, Adam Ottavino chose to decline his option to stay with the Mets on a $6.75 million salary for the 2024 season. After testing free agency, the 38-year-old reliever ended up signing back with the Mets on a one-year, $4.5 million deal. In between those decisions, he also made some appearances on SNY and expressed concerns about what the Mets were trying to accomplish this year along with his desire to play for a contender. It was all a bit weird. Here we are, though, with...

Over the Monster

What if One of the Big Three Prospects Stalls?

Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/ The Red Sox are putting a lot of pressure on the notoriously unpredictable development of prospects For the Boston Red Sox, this offseason devolved from “full throttle” to “pursue trade markets and free agency to have more consistent starting pitching” to “pressing (sic) all levers,” and finally to a payroll that will “probably be lower.” This eventually led to Craig Breslow uttering the following: “And it’s going to require aggressive player development in the minor leagues and the major leagues so guys that...

The Crawfish Boxes

Astros Crawfish Boil

Chas McCormick | Photo by Megan Briggs/ Welcome to the Wednesday Boil. Houston Astros News Verlander (shoulder) needs time to build strength, will open season on IL Small-town guy Trey Cabbage dreaming big with Astros this spring (Houston Chronicle) Here’s how Astros next extension candidate might actually catch you by surprise (Sportsmap Houston) We have the depth’: Analyzing Astros’ rotation after JV injury Astros’ Alex Bregman could be at the center of uptick in Mets-Yankees free agency battles AL West News Blarts — Rangers spring training postcard: The...

Purple Row

State of the Position, 2024: First Base

Photo by John E. Moore III/ Kris Bryant is projected to start at first every day, but those plans could still change One year ago, our State of the Position article for first base was titled “The Rockies Have A Traffic Jam at First Base.” Entering the 2023 season, the Colorado Rockies had C.J. Cron ready to man the position until he was either traded or departed via free agency. When he was traded to the Los Angeles Angels in July, the plan of succession seemed fairly simple. However, as has been the case for a few seasons now, the Rockies once again find...

Amazin Avenue

Flushing is Burning: Spring Has Sprung, I Guess

Spring Training games have begun, and they’re fine! Grace is back with actual baseball games to discuss! First, she talks the Mets first few Spring Training games, how they’ve looked and what could possibly be ahead. She laments the participation of Murphy in the booth but is resigned to the fact that he will just be in the Mets orbit until the end of time. And she touches on the Steve Cohen’s recent remarks about Pete Alonso’s free agency. Then, she generally discusses the state of baseball, with the controversy around Scott Boras and his clients this offseason. His...

New York Post

Astros’ Alex Bregman could be at the center of uptick in Mets-Yankees free agency battles

For most of the nearly half century of major league free agency, the New York teams have avoided each other on that financial battlefield until both almost pulled out all the stops to not get Yoshinobu Yamamoto this offsesason.

Twinkie Town

Rival Roundup, Vol. 52: Creepin’ Closer

Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports There’s still plenty of free-agency activity to come, but the first week of spring is settling in. The Detroit Tigers will deploy Tarik Skubal to start their season, as we enter the era of official Opening Day starter statements from teams who don’t employ Pablo Lopez. Tarik Skubal is the Opening Day starter, A.J. Hinch announces. #Tigers— Evan Petzold (@EvanPetzold) March 1, 2024 Among the deluge of other off-season organizational changes, the Chicago White Sox are employing a dietician for the first time, at the direction of...

Los Angeles Times

Kiké Hernández bemoans 'shameful' free-agent market, but is grateful for return to Dodgers

Kiké Hernández says being back with the Dodgers "feels like home," but he didn't enjoy the free agency process during an offseason he describes as "weird."

DodgerBlue.com

Kiké Hernández: Dodgers Were Free Agency Decision Over Yankees Because Of Guarantee

With the Boston Red Sox facing a roster crunch at the 2023 trade deadline, it created an opportunity...

Bleed Cubbie Blue

SB Nation Reacts: Fans blame Scott Boras for the free-agent signing delay

Cody Bellinger and his agent, Scott Boras | Paul Sullivan/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via The results of the first 2024 survey are in! Our first SB Nation Reacts survey for the year addressed the question of free agency, why it was delayed so much, and what to do about it. Here are the results: Fans like to blame Scott Boras for a lot of the vagaries of the free-agent market. Let’s be clear that Boras is just doing his job for his clients. This year, though, it seemed as if none of his clients rated the $200...

NESN.com

Latest Blake Snell Free Agency Report Good Sign For Red Sox?

Blake Snell is among a still-solid group of MLB free agents awaiting their next landing spots with spring training already underway. After being named the National League Cy Young Award winner for 2023 for going 14-9 with a 2.25 ERA, it looked as though Snell was booked for a payday. The left-hander, just 31 years […]

Royals Review

Royals Rundown: See right through MLB uniform issues, sluggish free agency

Lux of the Royal de Lux Podcast joins the show. Jacob Milham and Jeremy Greco are joined by Lux of the Royal de Lux Podcast, as the Kansas City Royals finish their third spring training game. These three talk about the surprising addition of Austin Nola and what it means for the catching depth chart for the Royals. Also, how are the MLB uniform problems spreading like wildfire and causing issues for the game? Lastly, hear about Jeremy’s latest on Royals Review, talking about the free agency issues (he predicted)! You can follow the team on Twitter with Jeremy Greco at...

Brew Crew Ball

Milwaukee Brewers 2024 preview by position: First Base

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports Brewers have several new faces set to get playing time at first Looking back at our first base preview from 2023, the Brewers have a completely new look at first base. Rowdy Tellez had a down year after a breakout campaign in 2022, departing for the Pirates after becoming a free agent last fall. Keston Hiura continued to look like a AAAA player, earning his fourth MiLB All-Star selection. He elected free agency and ultimately signed a minor-league deal with the Tigers. Luke Voit never really panned out with Milwaukee, struggling against...

NESN.com

Alex Cora Addresses New Red Sox-Jordan Montgomery Report

The Red Sox are keeping tabs on one of the best players still available in Major League Baseball free agency. In a post to X on Monday morning, ESPN insider Buster Olney revealed Boston recently held a virtual meeting with starting pitcher Jordan Montgomery. Montgomery, one of baseball’s best starters last season, has been on […]

NESN.com

Ex-Red Sox Kiké Hernández Breaks Own Free Agency News On Social Media

Kiké Hernández is returning to the Los Angeles Dodgers. The source? Himself. Hernández broke the news on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, on Monday after reports indicated the veteran utility player was close to signing a one-year contract with Los Angeles. Hernández tweeted: “Sources say….. I’m back!!! 1st to break news @myself” Hernández, […]

Pinstripe Alley

Old faces in new places: 2024 edition

Photo by Matt Thomas/San Diego Padres/ Getting a glimpse of how some 2023 Yankees look in their new getups. Spring training is officially underway. Teams are showcasing the young players in their systems, superstars, and newest acquisitions, whether through trades or free agency. The Yankees didn't change too much of their core outside of bringing Juan Soto and Trent Grisham into the mix via a trade with the San Diego Padres, but they did still add other known players like Alex Verdugo and Marcus Stroman and are hoping that Austin Wells can come in and prove himself...

South Side Sox

Today in White Sox History: February 26

On this day six years ago, Jake Burger’s unfortunate injury odyssey began. Jake Burger suffers his first injury setback 1991 Five years after his death, Bill Veeck was elected to the Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee. The two-time owner of the White Sox (also with ownership of St. Louis Browns, Cleveland and the minor-league Milwaukee Brewers) was the last of the “small-time” or “common-touch” owners now made obsolete by free agency. He found quick success in both of his stints as White Sox owner. In 1959, he was finally handed the keys — the first...

NESN.com

Red Sox Pitcher Lucas Giolito ‘Pumped’ By Spring Training Turnout

Red Sox newcomer Lucas Giolito is getting an idea of what pitching in Boston might be like, and the 29-year-old is looking forward to what’s to come. Giolito signed a two-year, $38.5 million deal with the Red Sox in free agency, becoming the team’s most notable pitching addition. He took the mound for Sunday’s spring […]

Bleed Cubbie Blue

Cubs News: Cubs sign Cody Bellinger

Photo by Kevin C. Cox/ The long-awaited deal has happened as Cody Bellinger returns on a three-year deal with opt-outs The Chicago Cubs and Cody Bellinger have agreed to a three-year, $80 million deal for the outfielder/first baseman to return to Chicago, according to Jeff Passan of ESPN. BREAKING: Centerfielder Cody Bellinger and the Chicago Cubs are in agreement on a three-year, $80 million contract, sources tell ESPN. Bellinger will receive opt-outs after each of the first two years of the deal. Bellinger, 28, returns to the Cubs after a prolonged free agency.—...

New York Post

Pete Alonso could follow Brandon Nimmo’s free agency path back to Mets

Two years ago, Nimmo began spring training in the same spot Alonso now sits, entering his walk year and feeling the pressure to succeed.

Pinstripe Alley

Aaron Judge headlines the Yankees’ top prospects from a decade ago

Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports Ten years later, a look at how the Yankees’ farm system has panned out. In the spring of 2013, the Yankees found themselves with three picks in the first round of the amateur draft. At #26 (their original pick), they snagged Eric Jagielo. Then, as recompense for Nick Swisher and Rafael Soriano departing in free agency, New York drafted Aaron Judge 32nd overall and Ian Clarkin at 33. Unsurprisingly when Baseball America released its top-30 list of Yankee prospects several months later, that trio of first-round picks all appeared high on...

Amazin Avenue

Mets Morning News for February 24, 2024

Set Number: X163532 TK1 Your Saturday morning dose of New York Mets and MLB news, notes, and links. Meet the Mets There are a few candidates to replace Kodai Senga now that the Mets ace will open the season on the injured list. Despite the internal options present, there’s no doubt that the team’s rotation has taken a hit with Senga’s injury. Steve Cohen acknowledged his desire to keep Pete Alonso with the Mets after this season. Alonso may wind up pulling a Brandon Nimmo and reaching free agency before ultimately re-signing with the Mets. A familiar face will be...

www.thegoodphight.com

Unproductive drafts of the past are causing the roster decisions of today

Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports It’s time to call those drafts what they are: failures Roster building in baseball is a multifaceted thing. There is no one right or wrong way to do it. Hardcore believers in stretching the value of a dollar might prefer to have a completely homegrown team that is supplemented only by a smattering of players from outside the organization. Others might tend to lean more towards star hunting on the free agency market, arming themselves with just enough players from the farm system to maintain at least some semblance of balance on the...

DodgerBlue.com

Dodgers Spring Training: Gavin Lux ‘Excited’ For Return To Peoria Sports Complex

After a relatively modest attempt to re-sign Trea Turner in free agency fell short when he joined the...

South Side Sox

Tim Anderson agrees to a deal with the Marlins

With his storied time in Chicago over, Tim Anderson has signed on to play with the Miami Marlins. | Justin Casterline/ STICK TALK is headed to Miami After being among the last infielders in free agency, Tim Anderson has inked a deal and is taking his talents to South Beach. The longtime Chicago shortstop and the Miami Marlins are in agreement on a one-year, $5 million contract, pending physical, per ESPN. Anderson won the batting title in 2019, a Silver Slugger award in 2020, and was a two-time All-Star in 2021 and 2022. In 2022, he was the starting shortstop for the...

Lone Star Ball

Pirates, Keller agree to contract extension

Photo by Julio Aguilar/ Mitch Keller and the Pittsburgh Pirates have agreed to terms on a five year deal, per reports The Pittsburgh Pirates and pitcher Mitch Keller have agreed to terms on a five year, $77 million extension, per multiple reports. Keller, who turns 28 in April, would have been eligible for free agency after the 2025 season. Keller was a second round pick of the Pirates on 2014, and spent a number of years in the upper levels of top 100 prospect lists, but struggled to put everything together, culminating in an awful 6.17 ERA in 23 starts in 2021. ...

MLB.com FastCast: Tigers sign Josh Harrison - 2/20/19

The baseball world's attention focuses on Bryce Harper's free agency, plus Josh Harrison agrees to a one-year deal with the Tigers About Major League Baseball: Major League Baseball (MLB) is the most historic professional sports league in the United Stat

Jerry Remy Previews 2019 Red Sox Season, Talks Health, Free Agency

NESN's Jerry Remy previews the 2019 Boston Red Sox season with Adam Pellerin. They discuss the Sox bullpen, re-signing Nathan Eovaldi and Steve Pearce and Remy gives an update on his health. For more: https://nesn.com/boston-red-sox/

12/17/18 MLB.com FastCast: Machado tours South Side

Manny Machado's free-agency tour starts with the White Sox, plus the Astros near a deal with Michael Brantley and the Mets sign Wilson Ramos About Major League Baseball: Major League Baseball (MLB) is the most historic professional sports league in the U