OFFSEASON UPDATE - EDITION 4

2023-01-04 · 7 min read · MLB/Baseball
Sean Murphy and Michael Conforto

Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images | Scott Taetsch/USA Today

Is this edition 4? Or 3.5? What colour is the sky? Why am I asking all these questions? I have no clue, but here’s the latest over the last month or so - excluding those mentioned as part of Edition 3.0!
MLB SIGNINGS:
  • Corey Kluber, SP, Boston Red Sox - One-year, $10 Million:
    • His third AL East team in three years, Kluber now joins a Red Sox staff looking for consistency. James Paxton and Chris Sale are returning from injury, with Pivetta and Whitlock (and/or youngster Brayan Bello) filling out the rotation. As long as he’s healthy, he’ll eat innings - which is all that can really be asked of him.
  • Nathan Eovaldi, SP, Texas Rangers - Two-years, $34 Million:
    • Eovaldi adds to a much-improved Rangers’ rotation which, on paper, has the ability to be one of the best in baseball. When healthy, he’s been a good pitcher for Boston since 2018 and he hopes to keep that going down south.
  • Jean Segura, SS, Miami Marlins - Two-years, $17 Million:
    • For a team that has some question marks with regards to the middle of the diamond, Segura will provide some much needed stability. He’s a good bat-to-ball hitter, making up for his lack of any thorough power. His best season came in 2016 with Arizona, as Segura slugged 20 homers with 64 RBIs (both career highs) and led the NL in hits and ABs.
  • Danny Mendick, INF, New York Mets - One-year, $1 Million:
    • Amidst a plethora of high-octane signings this offseason, Mendick is notably minor. A contact-hitting utilityman, he’ll serve as nothing more than depth on Steve Cohen’s squad. In 31 games with the White Sox last year, Mendick hit .289 with 15 RBIs over 106 PAs.
  • Craig Kimbrel, RP, Philadelphia Phillies - One-year, $10 Million:
    • The once-dominant closer inks a short deal with the Phillies, looking to recover from a very mediocre last two seasons between the White Sox and Dodgers. For four straight years starting in 2011, Kimbrel led the NL in saves and made the All-Star team each season. After a brief one-year spell in San Diego, Kimbrel then spent three seasons in Boston - an All-Star each year - before bouncing around Chicago. If he can regain any of what he once had, even as recently as 2021, it’ll be a steal of a deal for the defending National League champs.
  • Wil Myers, 1B/OF, Cincinnati Reds - One-year, $7.5 Million:
    • Should Myers have a productive first half of ‘23, I can all but guarantee that he’ll be shipped at the deadline. The ten-year vet has flashed his massive power in the past, and will get some serious playing time in Cincinnati to show it. The strikeout numbers are high, but they always have been with Myers and it would seem that they are what they are at this point.
  • Drew Smyly, SP, Chicago Cubs - Two-years, $19 Million:
    • After a good 2022 with the Cubs, Smyly returns on an inexpensive deal and looks to help continue to bring some stability to the back-end of the rotation. He’s bounced around his whole career - seven teams over nine years up until now - but should get consistent innings for at least 2023.
  • Tucker Barnhart, C, Chicago Cubs - Two-years, $6.5 Million:
    • The longtime Cincinnati backstop finds a new home after a one-year hiatus in Detroit last season, as he’ll likely act in a platoon-backup role alongside Yan Gomes to begin the year. He’s never been particularly gifted offensively, though he’s very solid behind the plate. On a deal this cheap, there is little to lose
  • Rich Hill, SP, Pittsburgh Pirates - One-year, $8 Million:
    • The soon-to-be 43-year old finds himself with one more contract, as Hill will have a solidified rotation spot with minimal competition in Pittsburgh. Good veteran leadership is the key here, as he will enter his nineteenth season in 2023. Hill was serviceable for the Red Sox in 2022, amounting a 4.27 ERA over 124 ⅓ innings - his fifth-highest workload in his career.
  • Evan Longoria, 3B, Arizona Diamondbacks - One-year, $4 Million:
    • Although not able to stay on the field as much as he once did, Longoria is a cheap, no-downside pickup for an Arizona team that has sneaky potential in 2023. I’d expect around 15 HRs and 50 RBIs to go with a mid-.200s average, but he provides a better option - for n0w - than Emmanual Rivera at 3B.
  • Taylor Rogers, RP, San Francisco Giants - Three-years, $33 Million:
    • We should all get used to the Tyler-Taylor madness for the near future, as now both brothers have found roles in the Giants’ bullpen. He’ll look for a bounce-back season, as the veteran lefty struggled in 2022 between San Diego and Milwaukee. From ‘16-’21 though, Rogers was outstanding with the Minnesota Twins and made his first All-Star appearance in 2021.
  • Michael Conforto, OF, San Francisco Giants - Two-years, $36 Million:
    • After missing the entirety of 2022 due to injury, Conforto is the last “big-named” bat off the board. A relatively successful seven years with the Mets ended in a disappointing 2021, but the 29-year old looks to regain his ‘17-’19 form in which he pounded 88 Homers alongside a .257/.363/.492 slashline.
DFAs:
  • Toronto Blue Jays DFA LHP Anthony Kay.
  • Baltimore Orioles DFA INF Tyler Nevin.
  • New York Yankees DFA RHP Junior Fernandez.
  • Boston Red Sox DFA SS Jeter Downs, 1B Eric Hosmer.
  • Detroit Tigers DFA RHP Angel De Jesus.
  • Detroit Tigers DFA LHP Zach Logue.
  • Detroit Tigers DFA OF Bligh Madris.
  • Minnesota Twins DFA OF Mark Contreras.
  • Oakland Athletics DFA OF Cody Thomas.
  • Los Angeles Angels DFA RHP Oliver Ortega.
  • Texas Rangers DFA RHP AJ Alexy.
  • Texas Rangers DFA SS Eli White.
  • Atlanta Braves DFA 1B Lewis Diaz.
  • New York Mets DFA RHP William Woods.
  • Philadelphia Phillies DFA RHP Taylor Scott.
  • Pittsburgh Pirates DFA RHP Nick Mears.
  • Pittsburgh Pirates DFA RHP Bryse Wilson.
  • Chicago Cubs DFA C P.J. Higgins.
  • Chicago Cubs DFA 1B Alfonso Rivas.
  • Chicago Cubs DFA RHP Erich Uelman.
  • Cincinnati Reds DFA INF 3B/1B Mike Moustakas.
  • San Francisco Giants DFA RHP Gregory Santos.
  • San Francisco Giants DFA 2B Tommy La Stella.
  • Los Angeles Dodgers DFA RHP Jake Reed.
  • Arizona Diamondbacks DFA LHP Tyler Gilbert.
  • Arizona Diamondbacks DFA Taylor Widener.
  • Arizona Diamondbacks DFA C Ali Sanchez.
WAIVERS:
  • Washington Nationals claim RHP AJ Alexy off waivers from Texas Rangers.
  • Washington Nationals claim SS Jeter Downs off waivers from Boston Red Sox.
  • Chicago Cubs claim LHP Anthony Kay off waivers from Toronto Blue Jays.
TRADES:
  • Oakland Athletics acquire LHP Kyle Muller, RHPs Freddy Tarnok and Royber Salinas from the Atlanta Braves, and C Manny Pina and OF Esteury Ruiz from the Milwaukee Brewers, in exchange for C Sean Murphy to the Atlanta Braves and RHP Joel Payamps to the Milwaukee Brewers, while the Milwaukee Brewers acquire C William Contreras and RHP Justin Yeager from the Atlanta Braves.
  • Atlanta Braves acquire RHP Joe Jimenez and Cash from the Detroit Tigers in exchange for INF/OF Justyn-Henry Malloy and LHP Jake Higginbotham.
  • Atlanta Braves acquire UTL Hoy Park from the Boston Red Sox in exchange for a PTBNL or cash.
  • Atlanta Braves acquire 1B Lewin Diaz from the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for Cash.
  • New York Mets acquire LHP Brooks Raley from the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for LHP Keyshawn Askew.
  • Miami Marlins acquire OF Jake Mangum from the New York Mets as PTBNL (via Elieser Hernandez).
  • Kansas City Royals acquire RHP Jacob Wallace from the Boston Red Sox in exchange for RHP Wyatt Mills.
  • Los Angeles Dodgers acquire IF Yonny Hernandez from the Oakland Athletics in exchange for cash.
  • Los Angeles Dodgers acquire RHP J.P. Feyereisen from the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for LHP Jeff Belge.
  • Milwaukee Brewers acquire INF Owen Miller from the Cleveland Guardians in exchange for a PTBNL or Cash.
  • Pittsburgh Pirates acquire UTL Connor Joe from the Colorado Rockies in exchange for RHP Nick Garcia.
  • Baltimore Orioles acquire C James McCann from the New York Mets in exchange for a PTBNL.
  • Chicago White Sox acquire RHP Gregory Santos from the San Francisco Giants in exchange for RHP Kade McClure.
  • Arizona Diamondbacks acquire INF Diego Castillo from the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for RHP Scott Randall.
  • Detroit Tigers acquire INF Tyler Nevin from the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for Cash.
  • Atlanta Braves acquire LHP Lucas Luetge from the New York Yankees in exchange for INF Caleb Durbin and RHP Indigo Diaz.
  • Toronto Blue Jays acquire C/OF Daulton Varsho from the Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange for C Gabriel Moreno and OF Lourdes Gurriel Jr..
NOTABLE MiLB SIGNINGS:
  • Nomar Mazara, OF, Baltimore Orioles.
  • Julian Fernandez, RP, Toronto Blue Jays.
  • Niko Goodrum, UTL, Boston Red Sox.
  • Michael Hermosillo, OF, New York Yankees.
  • Ryan Weber, RP, New York Yankees.
  • Wilmer Difo, INF, New York Yankees.
  • Billy McKinney, OF, New York Yankees.
  • Brendan McKay, LHP/1B, Tampa Bay Rays.
  • Tyler Wade, UTL, Oakland Athletics.
  • Justin Garza, RP, Los Angeles Angels.
  • Jake Lamb, 1B/3B, Los Angeles Angels.
  • Jackson Stephens, RP, Atlanta Braves.
  • Sean Reid-Foley, RP, New York Mets.
  • Michael Chavis, UTL, Washington Nationals.
  • Matt Adams, 1B, Washington Nationals.
  • Tommy Romero, RHP, Washington Nationals.
  • Garrett Hampson, OF, Miami Marlins.
  • Tyler Chatwood, RP, Pittsburgh Pirates.
  • Sergio Alcantara, INF, Chicago Cubs.
  • Roenis Elias, RP, Chicago Cubs.
  • Thomas Pannone, LHP, Milwaukee Brewers.
  • Pedro Severino, C, San Diego Padres.
  • Anderson Espinoza, SP, San Diego Padres.
  • David Dahl, OF, San Diego Padres.
  • Jason Heyward, OF, Los Angeles Dodgers.
  • Bradley Zimmer, OF, Los Angeles Dodgers.
  • Adam Kolarek, RP, Los Angeles Dodgers.
  • Cole Tucker, SS, Colorado Rockies.
  • Ryan Hendrix, RP, Arizona Diamondbacks.
AROUND THE LEAGUE:
  • Pittsburgh Pirates:
    • The Pirates have won the 2023 Draft Lottery, and will pick first overall when it comes around in July. Pittsburgh entered the lottery tied with Washington and Oakland for the best odds, though the Nationals landed second and Oakland fell to sixth. The Tigers, Rangers, and Twins will pick 3-4-5 respectively. This is the first-ever lottery for an MLB Draft in history, as previously seeding had been specifically according to each team’s record.
  • Sean Murphy:
    • The newly-acquired Atlanta backstop inked a six-year, $73 Million contract extension - now locking him in until at least 2028 with an option included for 2029. Murphy is the latest Brave to ink an extension, as Atlanta GM Alex Anthopoulos signs yet another core piece to a long-term deal.
  • Trevor Bauer:
    • The Los Angeles Dodgers have until January 6th to release Bauer, which, by all accounts, they will do. Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault allegations have prevented him from throwing a Major League pitch since 2021 - along with, generally, an incredibly annoying attitude - and should he pitch in the Majors once again it will likely be outside of the Dodgers’ organization. Rumours have circulated about where it would make the most sense for Bauer to land, though the California Penal League would make a lot of sense.
RETIREMENTS:
  • OF Jeren Kendall voluntarily retires.
  • OF Wil Dalton voluntarily retires.
  • RHP Victor Azor voluntarily retires.
Sports Tree Profile

By: Gus Cousins

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