MLB 2022-2023 hot stove

[Dixie Flatline]

LHP Zach Britton is hosting another workout for teams looking for relievers. With Diaz now on the shelf for the season thanks to the torn patellar tendon, it's being reported that the Mets will attend, along with seven other clubs. It's at least the third time that Britton has auditioned for clubs this off-season, having previously thrown in January for all-comers, and then a narrower workout for six teams in mid-February.

 

[Dixie Flatline]

From a payroll vantage point, Diaz's contract would be covered under an insurance policy regardless of the severity of their injury. The lack of insurance is the reason that Clayton Kershaw did not participate in the WBC, because the insurers decided that his injury history was too extensive for him to be covered under the umbrella policy. Kershaw did explore into getting his own personal insurance policy, but decided against playing for Team USA.

The Mets will now be without Diaz for the season and LHP starter Jose Quintana until at least July.

Why some MLB players are deemed 'uninsurable' for the World Baseball Classic

Injury risk assessment is only part of the reason why players like Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw can't get insurance for the World Baseball Classic.

www.latimes.com

 

[Dixie Flatline]

Sergio Romo has signed a minor league deal with the San Francisco Giants with a non-roster invitation to Spring Training, according to reports. The plan is for Romo to pitch in the Bay Bridge exhibition game against the Oakland Athletics at Oracle Park towards the end of Spring Training as part of a "farewell tour" for Romo, who pitched in nine seasons for the Giants and won the World Series with the Giants in 2010, 2012 and 2014.

Romo has indicated to reporters that he does not intend to make the Giants' major league roster, so it seems that his minor league deal with the Giants is akin to signing a one-day contract with a team to retire.

Giants to sign Sergio Romo and give him a chance to pitch — and say goodbye

Romo will sign a non-roster deal and likely throw his final pitch on March 27 at Oracle Park. "Forever Giant. And for me, that's what's up."

theathletic.com

 

[Dixie Flatline]

The Washington Nationals pitching depth has been dealt a blow with the Nationals announcing that RHP Cade Cavalli has suffered a grade 3 UCL sprain that requires Tommy John surgery, ruling him out for the entirety of the 2023 season. It was expected that Cavalli was going to be a part of the Nationals' starting rotation this year after making his MLB debut in August 2022.

The Nationals are reportedly likey to rely on non-roster invitee Chad Kuhl to fill their rotation for Opening Day. Kuhl, 30, has pitched for the Pirates and the Rockies, and would provide a veteran presence for a young rotation.

 

[Constantgin]

 

[RPCB]

 

[Dixie Flatline]

Looks like we have to cancel Spring Training. Heck, we shouldn't even play the actual regular season. Just simulate it on MLB the Show until we get to the playoffs, then do simulations until we get to the World Series.

 

[Dixie Flatline]

The New York Mets have claimed RHP Dennis Santana off waivers from the Minnesota Twins. Santana is out of minor league options. The Twins attempted to pass Santana through waivers after deciding that he would not be on the Opening Day roster, having claimed Santana off waivers from the Braves earlier in spring training.

Santana came into professional baseball with the Los Angeles Dodgers and has experience through five major league seasons with a combined 5.12 ERA in 139 innings pitched. Santana pitched for the Rangers in 2022, averaging 97.7 mph on his four seamer and 96.7 mph on his sinker. But he walked 11% of batters faced and put up an ERA of 5.22.

Santana will be in the mix for a bullpen spot in the wake of injuries to Edwin Diaz and Sam Coonrod.

 

[Dixie Flatline]

The Los Angeles Angels have agreed to a minor league contract with RHP bullpen option Evan Marshall. Marshall sat out the 2022 season after having Tommy John surgery in 2021. Marshall had a strong run with the White Sox in 2019-2020, pitching a combined 2.45 ERA with a 23.5% strikeout rate, 10.3% walk rate and 52.3% ground-ball rate in 73 1/3 innings as a reliever. However, his form turned down in 2021, pitching 5.60 ERA in 27 1/3 innings before landing on the IL and undergoing Tommy John surgery. He underwent the operation in November 2021, so he is more than 12 months removed from the surgery. He will still need to build up to game readiness after going unsigned through the off-season, and he's likely to end up with Salt Lake in Triple-A to open the season.

 

[Dixie Flatline]

Joining Zach Britton in completing a pitching showcase is free agent reliever Ken Giles, according to the New York Post. Britton and Giles have both worked out for multiple teams this off-season but as Opening Day comes closer, are doing so again (possibly in order to demonstrate their health to interested teams who might be nervous about their lengthy injury histories).

 

[Dixie Flatline]

The Mets have announced that closer Edwin Diaz underwent successful surgery to repair the torn patellar tendon in his right knee. The general timeline for recovery is around eight months, though it is possible he could be back to full health within six months (which would put his recovery time in late September). The team has not announced an expected timeframe for Diaz's return, as he and his doctors are yet to confirm their rehab program.

Diaz was dominant in 2022, pitching to 1.31 ERA and 32 saves with a strikeout rate of above 50% (50.2%) of batters faced. Diaz signed a record-setting five year, $102 million contract one day after the completion of the 2022 World Series.

 

[Dixie Flatline]

Veteran reliever Mark Melancon is expected to miss multiple months with a shoulder strain, according to the Arizona Diamondbacks. The four-time All-Star will receive a platelet-rich plasma injection to address a subscapularis strain.

Prospect Brandon Pfaadt sharp vs. Cubs as rotation battle heats up

Diamondbacks right-hander Brandon Pfaadt, the club’s top pitching prospect, turned in a strong performance on Thursday afternoon.

www.azcentral.com

 

[Dixie Flatline]

Darren Baker is a prospect in the Washington Nationals organisation and is the son of Houston Astros World Series-winning manager Dusty Baker. He hit a game-tying grand slam against the Astros this morning in a Spring Training game, a game which the Nationals would go on to win.

 

[Jatz]

**** sake.

Missed this until now. That's a big blow.

 

[Constantgin]

 

[Upstart Swan]

Darren Baker is a prospect in the Washington Nationals organisation and is the son of Houston Astros World Series-winning manager Dusty Baker. He hit a game-tying grand slam against the Astros this morning in a Spring Training game, a game which the Nationals would go on to win.

I would've thought Dusty Baker would have grandsons playing, not sons!

 

[RPCB]

I would've thought Dusty Baker would have grandsons playing, not sons!

Had his son late in life. Dusty is 73, his son is 24.

 

[Upstart Swan]

Had his son late in life. Dusty is 73, his son is 24.

Actually, now I think about it, I was 43 when my youngest daughter was born...so I'm probably not the one to be making jokes about Dusty.

 

[hotchilli]

Shattered, heading over to watch the Astros early season so looks like I'll miss out on Altuve.

 

[Dixie Flatline]

Arizona Diamondbacks RHP Corbin Martin has been diagnosed with a tear to the lat tendon under his right shoulder and has chosen to undergo surgery to repair the tendon. It is doubtful that Martin will be able to return before the end of the season, according to Diamondbacks manager Torey Luvullo. Martin has previously missed the 2019 season and most of the 2020 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery.

D-Backs send down prospect Brandon Pfaadt despite solid spring results

The Diamondbacks trimmed down their rotation competition by reassigning right-hander Brandon Pfaadt to minor league camp.

www.azcentral.com

 

[Dixie Flatline]

San Diego Padres catcher Austin Nola was forced to leave a Spring Training game after being hit in the face by a Michael Fulmer pitch. Bob Melvin suggested to reporters after the game that Nola had suffered a broken nose, but the Padres have not formally announced Nola's condition.

 

[Dixie Flatline]

The Atlanta Braves announced that RHP Jackson Stephens has been outrighted to Triple-A Gwinnett. The move was necessary to remove Stephens from the 40-man roster since he is out of minor league options. Stephens joined the Braves on a minor league deal last off-season and pitched 53 1/3 innings of relief for the Braves in 2022. He posted a 3.69 ERA during his time with the Braves at MLB level. He was blown up in Grapefruit League work during Spring Training, after giving up five runs in one third of an inning across two appearances, for an ERA of 33.75. He is out of the running to make the bullpen on Opening Day.

 

[Dixie Flatline]

The Seattle Mariners have signed former Reds OF Delino DeShields to a minor league deal. The Mariners will be the eighth organisation of DeShields' career, though he has only played MLB for three of them (Texas from 2015-2019, the Guardians in 2020 and the Reds in 2021). DeShields spent 2022 between the Marlins and the Braves at minor league level.

 

[Dixie Flatline]

The Boston Red Sox announced that INF Angel Pierre has been acquired from the Kansas City Royals as the player to be named later together with Adalberto Mondesi in the trade that sent Josh Taylor to the Royals. Pierre was an international signing for the Royals in January 2022, and he hit .300/.424/.550 with two home runs over 125 plate appearances in the Dominican Summer League. He has time at shortstop and second base, but mostly has played third base in his short career.

 

[Dixie Flatline]

After being linked with him for some time, the Colorado Rockies have signed OF Jurickson Profar, according to the NY Post. Profar will be guaranteed $7.75 million, with an extra $1 million available if he has 400 plate appearances. The deal is pending a physical. Profar most recently played for the Padres, achieving a slash line of .243/.331/.391 in 2022, including 15 home runs. Profar has played all over the diamond in his career, but the Padres kept him exclusively in left field in 2022.

Profar has remain unsigned (until now) partly due to reports that Profar has been seeking at least $10 million per season, but this apparently has not materialised, though his deal is still better than what he would have earned in the third year of his three year contract that he signed back in 2021 with the Padres.

It's likely that the signing of Profar will put Chuck Nasty, Charlie Blackmon, back at DH, while Kris Bryant will probably spend more time at right field (which he had started to do during Spring Training after Randal Grichuk underwent sports hernia surgery during the off-season).