MLB 2022-2023 hot stove

[Upstart Swan]

The US roster for the World Baseball Classic has been announced. Not a bad roster.

Position players - great. Pitchers - not so great

 

[Dixie Flatline]

Australia has announced its team for the WBC:

Position Players	Pitchers
Tim Kennelly (c) - Perth Heat (DH/RF/CF/2B)	Tim Atherton (c) - Brisbane Bandits (RHP)
Aaron Whitefield - Los Angeles Angels (minors) (OF)	Warwick Saupold - Perth Heat (RHP)
Ulrich Bojarski - Perth Heat (RF)	Josh Guyer - Sydney Blue Sox (RHP)
Andrew Campbell - Brisbane Bandits (OF)	Mitch Neunborn - Adelaide Giants (RHP)
Darryl George - Melbourne Aces (3B/SS/1B)	Kyle Glogoski - Cincinnati Reds (minors) (RHP)
Logan Wade - Brisbane Bandits (SS/2B/LF)	Sam Holland - Brisbane Bandits (RHP)
Robbie Glendinning - Melbourne Aces (SS/2B/3B)	Liam Doolan - Los Angeles Dodgers (minors)/Sydney Blue Sox (RHP)
Rixon Wingrove - Philadelphia Phillies (minors)/Adelaide Giants (1B)	Todd Van Steensel - Adelaide Giants (RHP)
Alex Hall - Perth Heat (C/1B/LF/DH)	Luke Wilkins - Sydney Blue Sox (RHP)
Robbie Perkins - Canberra Cavalry (C)	Steve Kent - Canberra Cavalry (LHP)
Ryan Battaglia - Brisbane Bandits (C)	Jon Kennedy - Melbourne Aces (LHP)
Jarryd Dale - Melbourne Aces (SS)	Daniel McGrath - Melbourne Aces (LHP)
Liam Spence - Adelaide Giants (SS/1B/2B)	Will Sherriff - Perth Heat (LHP)
Jake Bowey - Perth Heat (1B/C)	Blake Townsend - Seattle Mariners (minors) (LHP)
Jordan McArdle - Adelaide Giants (1B/RF/LF)	Jack O'Loughlin - Adelaide Giants (LHP)

No Curtis Mead for Australia. He's pretty likely to make it to the MLB this season, but seems like Tampa Bay decided to not allow him to play for Australia in the WBC. No Bjay Cooke (Oakland Athletics prospect), either.

Think there's a fair chance that they'll get blown out of the water by Japan and Korea. See how they go against the Chinese and the Czechia teams. Need to finish top two in order to progress to the semi-finals, which are played in Miami.

Baseball Australia

baseball.com.au

 

[largebus]

6 years for Darvish is ridiculous. He's not Verlander or Scherzer and he'll be 42 when it expires.

 

[FRUMPY]

Australia has announced its team for the WBC:

Position Players	Pitchers
Tim Kennelly (c) - Perth Heat (DH/RF/CF/2B)	Tim Atherton (c) - Brisbane Bandits (RHP)
Aaron Whitefield - Los Angeles Angels (minors) (OF)	Warwick Saupold - Perth Heat (RHP)
Ulrich Bojarski - Perth Heat (RF)	Josh Guyer - Sydney Blue Sox (RHP)
Andrew Campbell - Brisbane Bandits (OF)	Mitch Neunborn - Adelaide Giants (RHP)
Darryl George - Melbourne Aces (3B/SS/1B)	Kyle Glogoski - Cincinnati Reds (minors) (RHP)
Logan Wade - Brisbane Bandits (SS/2B/LF)	Sam Holland - Brisbane Bandits (RHP)
Robbie Glendinning - Melbourne Aces (SS/2B/3B)	Liam Doolan - Los Angeles Dodgers (minors)/Sydney Blue Sox (RHP)
Rixon Wingrove - Philadelphia Phillies (minors)/Adelaide Giants (1B)	Todd Van Steensel - Adelaide Giants (RHP)
Alex Hall - Perth Heat (C/1B/LF/DH)	Luke Wilkins - Sydney Blue Sox (RHP)
Robbie Perkins - Canberra Cavalry (C)	Steve Kent - Canberra Cavalry (LHP)
Ryan Battaglia - Brisbane Bandits (C)	Jon Kennedy - Melbourne Aces (LHP)
Jarryd Dale - Melbourne Aces (SS)	Daniel McGrath - Melbourne Aces (LHP)
Liam Spence - Adelaide Giants (SS/1B/2B)	Will Sherriff - Perth Heat (LHP)
Jake Bowey - Perth Heat (1B/C)	Blake Townsend - Seattle Mariners (minors) (LHP)
Jordan McArdle - Adelaide Giants (1B/RF/LF)	Jack O'Loughlin - Adelaide Giants (LHP)

No Curtis Mead for Australia. He's pretty likely to make it to the MLB this season, but seems like Tampa Bay decided to not allow him to play for Australia in the WBC. No Bjay Cooke (Oakland Athletics prospect), either.

Think there's a fair chance that they'll get blown out of the water by Japan and Korea. See how they go against the Chinese and the Czechia teams. Need to finish top two in order to progress to the semi-finals, which are played in Miami.

Baseball Australia

baseball.com.au

Probably not a bad idea by Meade not to play and try and win a spot on their MLB roster at spring training instead

On CPH2005 using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[FRUMPY]

6 years for Darvish is ridiculous. He's not Verlander or Scherzer and he'll be 42 when it expires.

Yeah that was my reaction

On CPH2005 using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[Dixie Flatline]

The Oakland Athletics and Miami Marlins have executed a trade that sends LHP A.J. Puk to Miami in exchange for OF JJ Bleday. Puk was a first round draftee for the Athletics back in 2016 in the hope that the beanpole left hander (Puk is measured at 6'7") would anchor the starting rotation. However, the Athletics chose to convert Puk into a relief pitcher at the Triple-A level and he made his debut for the A's as a reliever. After struggling with injury and consistency, Puk finally managed a full season of work as one of rookie manager Mark Kotsay's primary pitchers out of the bullpen. He pitched 66 1/3 innings in 2022, working to a 3.12 ERA and striking out 27.1% of batters faced. Puk was particularly effective against left handed batters, holding his opponents to a .153/.250/.259 slashline.

The A's had made noises during the off-season (most recently in December) that Puk would be prepared during Spring Training to return to the starting rotation, but the A's signed a number of starting pitchers in the offseason, including Shintaro Fujinami and Drew Rucinski. The A's did trade away Cole Irvin to the Orioles and there is some question marks over the health of James Kaprielian, but the A's felt that they have enough depth in their pitching to trade Puk away to the Marlins.

It's likely that the Marlins will slot Puk into their bullpen as their third left-handed option with Tanner Scott and Steven Okert. Puk features a 97 mph fastball and an 87mph slider, though he also has a sinker and a changeup in his arsenal.

In return, the Marlins have given up JJ Belday, who was the fourth overall pick in the 2019 draft for the Marlins. He had a strong year at Triple-A in 2022 and was rewarded by making his MLB debut. He struggled in his 238 plate appearances at the major league level, hitting .167/.277/.309 with five homeruns. He played mostly centre field for the Marlins, though he profiles at a better fit at a corner outfield spot. He'll find a pathway to major league playing time somewhat easier at Oakland than at Miami, with the Athletics' outfield still somewhat unsettled. Ramon Laureano will be pencilled in for one of the three outfield spots (though the A's are probably hoping for a bounceback season from Laureano to then help trade him away at the deadline), but Cristian Pache struggled at the plate after coming over as part of the Matt Olson trade, while Esteury Ruiz, Seth Brown, Conner Capel and Cal Stevenson are all in the mix (though Brown might also spend time at first base and designated hitter).

 

[Dixie Flatline]

The Pittsburgh Pirates have announced that they have signed catcher Kevin Plawecki to a minor league deal, with an invitation to Spring Training. Plawecki has appeared in each of the past eight MLB seasons, basically as a backup catcher, as the most number of games he's played in a single season is 79, with the Mets back in 2018. Plawecki spent the last three seasons with the Red Sox, and was designated for assignment by Boston towards the back end of last season after his hitting fell off and the Red Sox decided to give playing time to younger players like Reese McGuire as their season tailed off.

Plawecki is in line to earn $1.5 million if he makes the major league roster.

 

[Dixie Flatline]

The Arizona Diamondbacks and LHP Andrew Chafin are in agreement on a one-year contract with a club option for 2024. Chafin was drafted 43rd overall by the Diamondbacks back in 2011 and spent his first seven seasons with the Serpientes before being traded to the Cubs at the 2020 trade deadline. In 271 2/3 innings for the Diamondbacks, Chafin pitched 3.68 ERA. Since leaving the Diamondbacks, Chafin has spent time with the Cubs, the Athletics and the Tigers before becoming a free agent at the end of the season after he declined a player option for 2023 with the Tigers. Chafin turned down a $6.5 million player option with the Tigers and signed for $5.5 million with the Diamondbacks, so he's actually gone backwards in terms of salary for 2023, but he is in line to make that back if he makes at least 55 appearances in 2023 for the Diamondbacks. The club option for 2024 is worth $7.25 million, with a $750,000 buyout.

 

[Dixie Flatline]

Probably not a bad idea by Meade not to play and try and win a spot on their MLB roster at spring training instead

On CPH2005 using BigFooty.com mobile app

Kiley McDaniel has rated Mead the best prospect in the Rays' farm. I think it's probably fair to say that the Rays have asked Mead to not be available for Australia, as they'd rather he focus on Spring Training with a view to making the Rays' MLB 26-man roster out of Spring, as you say.

 

[FRUMPY]

Kiley McDaniel has rated Mead the best prospect in the Rays' farm. I think it's probably fair to say that the Rays have asked Mead to not be available for Australia, as they'd rather he focus on Spring Training with a view to making the Rays' MLB 26-man roster out of Spring, as you say.

be awesome to see, dont see many Aussie position players, just pitchers.

Been a few who have played a month here or there but never make it long term - probably Nillson the last one to be a starting player for more than a week. (stand to be corrected)

 

[Dixie Flatline]

The Chicago White Sox have signed left-handed LF Chris Shaw to a minor league deal. It is not clear whether he has received an invitation to Spring Training. Shaw last appeared in the MLB for the Giants back in 2019. He spent 2022 playing independent baseball, where he hit .264/.401/.459 with 17 home runs for Kentucky. Shaw earned his first call-up to the major league in 2018 after hitting 24 home runs at Triple-A, but Shaw struggled when hitting the big time, going .185/.274/.278 in 62 plate appearances across 22 games for the Giants. The Giants let him go at the end of 2020, and he was claimed by the Orioles on waivers. He was on the injured list for most of 2021 and only had four hits in 74 plate appearances in the O's farm system before being released.

 

[Dixie Flatline]

The Los Angeles Dodgers have agreed to terms with RHP Rubby De La Rosa to a minor league deal. It is unclear whether the 33 year old (who turns 34 in March) will get an invitation to Spring Training. De La Rosa last pitched in the MLB in 2017, and has spent the past few seasons working in the NPB as a reliever with the Yomiuri Giants. De La Rosa was an international signing out of the Dominican Republic back in 2007 for the Dodgers, but was part of the trade by the Dodgers to the Red Sox in 2012. De La Rosa struggled with the Red Sox after coming back from Tommy John surgery and was shipped off to the Diamondbacks in 2014, but after he required a second Tommy John surgery, he was released by the Diamondbacks. He re-signed with the Diamondbacks on a minor league contract, but he never made it back to the major leagues with the Diamondbacks and eventually ended up in Japan.

 

[Dixie Flatline]

The Dodgers also have an agreement in place with RHP Alex Reyes, pending a physical. This looks to be a deal for a spot on the 40-man roster. Reyes would be due $1.1 million in 2023, and the Dodgers would hold a $3 million club option for 2024. The deal comes with a number of incentives that could boost the contract value to up to $10 million. Reyes can add $2 million in incentives to his contract in 2023, and there would be $8 million of incentives in 2024.

Reyes has had an injury-plagued career so far, but he was named an All-Star for the NL in 2021 with the Cardinals. He is still recovering from shoulder surgery that will delay the start to his 2023 campaign, but he is expected back to full health before the All-Star break.

 

[Dixie Flatline]

The Tampa Bay Rays and RHP Kyle Crick appear close to an agreement on a minor league deal, with an invitation to Spring Training. Crick last pitched for the White Sox in 2022, delivering a 4.02 ERA and a 28.8% strikeout and a 16.7% walk rate, albeit from a small sample size (15 2/3 innings). He was done for the season in June with right elbow inflammation, but he recently held a showcase for scouts. Crick was drafted 49th overall by the Giants back in 2011, and was turned from a potential starter to a reliever back in 2017 when he had problems with his command. The move paid dividends for Crick, as he made it to the major league with the Giants as a reliever and has appeared in parts of the following six years. Crick and a certain Bryan Reynolds were traded by the Giants to the Pirates in January 2018 in exchange for Andrew McCutchen. Crick could not maintain consistency and was released by the Pirates. He stuck with the White Sox on a minor league deal.

 

[flamethrower]

be awesome to see, dont see many Aussie position players, just pitchers.

Been a few who have played a month here or there but never make it long term - probably Nillson the last one to be a starting player for more than a week. (stand to be corrected)

Craig Shipley, Trent Durrington, Justin Huber and Luke Hughes are other Aussie position players who had multiple years playing in the Big Leagues.

 

[FRUMPY]

Huber and Hughes were the type I was talking about, played a little here or there but not much more than that

On CPH2005 using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[Dixie Flatline]

Trent Durrington played second and third sporadically for the Angels and Brewers between 1999 and 2005.

James Beresford played 10 games at third base for the Twins in 2016.

Justin Huber has the distinction of hitting a home run off the Big Unit when Huber was with the Padres in 2008. Huber came up through the Royals organisation and played a couple of years as first baseman and left field for the Royals (after being signed by the Mets as an international free agent as a catcher in 2000). The Royals traded Huber to the Padres in March 2008, and he hit his first career home run off Randy Johnson on 20 April 2008 when Johnson was with the Diamondbacks. He became a free agent at the end of the 2008 season and signed a minor league free agency deal with the Twins in February 2009. He was called up to the Twins in September as the rosters expanded and played his last MLB game on 11 September 2009. He went to the Hiroshima Carp as a free agent in 2010 before playing a few years with the Aces.

Aaron Whitefield has been with the Twins and the Angels. He signed with the Twins in 2015 and made his MLB debut coming in as a pinch runner for Eddie Rosario on 25 July 2020. On 10 August 2020, he was outrighted off the Twins' 40-man roster. He spent 2021 in Double-A, and elected free agency at the end of the season. He signed a minor league contract with the Angels. He was called up by the Angels in May 2022 to cover for Mike Trout, but then designated for assignment a week later and went back to Double-A.

 

[CrowdedHouse]

6 years for Darvish is ridiculous. He's not Verlander or Scherzer and he'll be 42 when it expires.

True, but like the 11 years Bogarts deal, the Padres might be able to move the bill off their books in the later years of the contract.

Say, 4 years from now and when the Padres farm system is loaded again, another team comes calling interested in the prospects, the Padres will say something like "Sure, you can have these three or four prospects for next to nothing, but in return, you've got to take Darvish and the remainder of his contract".

 

[Dixie Flatline]

True, but like the 11 years Bogarts deal, the Padres might be able to move the bill off their books in the later years of the contract.

Say, 4 years from now and when the Padres farm system is loaded again, another team comes calling interested in the prospects, the Padres will say something like "Sure, you can have these three or four prospects for next to nothing, but in return, you've got to take Darvish and the remainder of his contract".

Teams hate doing this though, because it dilutes the value of the prospects. I think the Padres will just wear the contract in the hope that Darvish can pitch well enough while they have a talent-laden team to help the Padres get into the World Series. If Machado and Soto leave, then it doesn't really matter what they're paying Darvish, because they probably won't have the talent to get to the promised land.

 

[Dixie Flatline]

Looks like Whitefield has an invitation to Spring Training (along with former Oakland outfielder, Luis Barrera).

 

[Dixie Flatline]

Miami Marlins RHP Nic Enright announced on social media that he was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma in December 2022. He states on Instagram that he has completed the first round of treatments. It is unclear when he will be cleared to return to baseball, but presumably he will miss some time while recovering from cancer.

 

[Dixie Flatline]

The Houston Astros announced that they have claimed LHP reliever Matt Gage off waivers from the Blue Jays. Gage was designated for assignment by Toronto to clear a space on the Blue Jays roster for Chad Green. The Astros do not need to make a corresponding roster move, but Gage fills their 40th slot on their roster. Gage made his MLB debut for Toronto last season after being signed by the Blue Jays on a minor league deal. He posted a spiffy 1.38 ERA in 13 MLB innings in 2022, striking out 24% of batters faced and inducing groundballs at a 50% rate. Gage also pitched 42 1/3 innings in Triple-A, with a 2.34 ERA, 27.4% strikeout rate, 47% ground ball rate and 9.5% walk rate.

The Astros are in need of left-handed pitching. Framber Valdez is at or near the top of the rotation, but the Astros only have Blake Taylor and Parker Mushinski as left handed pitchers on the 40 man roster at the moment. Taylor, Mushinski and Gage all have options, so it's likely that the Astros will mix and match as the season rolls on.

 

[Dixie Flatline]

Nestor Cortes has withdrawn from Team USA for the upcoming World Baseball Classic after being diagnosed with a Grade 2 hamstring strain that will rule him out of throwing off a mound for the next fortnight. Team USA selected Kyle Freeland of the Rockies to fill Cortes' space on the roster. It is not anticipated that the Cortes' injury will affect his availability for the start of the 2023 season.

 

[Dixie Flatline]

The Rob Manfred "ghost runner" rule will now be made permanent after the Joint Competition Committee voted to make the free runner on second base in extra innings permanent from 2023 onwards. Additionally, position players will only be permitted to pitch in extra innings or in the ninth inning for a leading team that is up by 10 or more runs or any time for a trailing team that is down by eight or more runs.

Source: Extra-inning, extra-runner rule to remain

MLB's joint competition committee has voted to keep the rule that places a runner at second base at the start of extra innings, and a separate set of rules that puts parameters on when position players can pitch, a source told ESPN's Jesse Rogers.

www.espn.com

 

[Dixie Flatline]

The Detroit Tigers and RHP Matt Wisler are in agreement on a minor league contract with an invitation to Spring Training. Wisler pitched for the Rays in 2022, posting a 2.25 ERA over 44 innings. Wisler was designated for assignment by the Rays in September and cleared waivers. Wisler struggled to strike out batters regularly in 2022, fanning just 19.9% of batters faced in 2022, and the velocity on his fastball dropped from 91.5mph in 2021 to 89.7mph in 2022. Wisler joins an organisation with some openings in the bullpen after the Tigers traded Joe Jimenez to the Braves and Gregory Soto to the Phillies during the winter.