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Rockies Extend Bud Black Through 2023

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2:01pm: The Rockies have formally announced the extension.

11:22am: The Rockies have signed manager Bud Black to a one-year contract extension, reports Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post. Black had previously been set to enter the final year of his deal, but he’s now signed through the conclusion of the 2023 campaign.

Bud Black } Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports

The 2022 season will be Black’s sixth with the Rockies and 15th managing at the big league level. The 2010 National League Manager of the Year in San Diego, Black was hired by now-former general manager Jeff Bridich heading into the 2017 season. His first two years on the job resulted in Wild Card berths, with Black’s Rockies going 1-1 in those one-game postseason showdowns. The division-rival D-backs toppled Colorado in 2017, but Black and the Rockies took down the Cubs in 2018 — albeit before falling to the Brewers in a three-game NLDS sweep.

Since their last postseason appearance, the Rockies have posted three straight losing seasons. With a 171-212 record in that time (.446 winning percentage) and a change at the top of the baseball operations staff, there’d been at least some speculation as to whether Black would remain with the Rockies beyond the current season. Owner Dick Monfort is generally regarded as one of the most loyal executives in the sport (often to a fault), and new GM Bill Schmidt was a prominent figure in the front office even at the time of Black’s original hiring by Bridich and Monfort. In spite of the losing ways in recent year, it appears Black will receive the opportunity to turn the ship around.

Frankly, that’s a defensible stance for the Rockies to take. Black’s rosters haven’t exactly been set up for success, after all, as the Rockies didn’t spend anything in free agency in either of the past two offseasons. Perhaps Monfort and the front office were still reeling from an ill-fated series of free-agent foibles that saw Ian Desmond, Wade Davis, Bryan Shaw and Jake McGee sign for a combined $176MM with very little in terms of a return on investment. Perhaps Monfort truly believed that the 2020-21 Rockies were capable of producing 90-plus wins as constructed and needed little to no augmentation, as he previously implied.

Beyond the lack of roster upgrades, of course, was the organizational turmoil that eventually led to Nolan Arenado’s departure. Signed to an extension that ostensibly set him up as the face of the franchise moving forward, Arenado quickly grew frustrated with the front office’s lack of additional moves. Rockies brass had reportedly promised that his contract would be the first in a series of moves aimed at putting a perennial contender on the field, but the team instead repeatedly stood pat. A rift between Arenado and the front office/ownership grew, with Arenado famously going on record to state that he felt “disrespected” by the Rockies — Bridich in particular.

Whatever the reasoning, the lack of upgrades and the eventual trade of their clear best player makes it difficult to have set much in the way of expectations for Black. Managers are evaluated on far more than their wins and losses in today’s age of aggressive tanking and rebuilds anyhow, and there’s no indication Black has ever lost his grip on the clubhouse. He’s also known as a manager who specializes in helping young pitchers — Black himself is a former Major League pitcher — and Monfort and Schmidt surely have to be pleased with the manner in which Colorado’s rotation performed in 2021.

Coors Field will always prove problematic for the home pitching staff, but the Rockies’ rotation was generally durable and dependable. The quintet of Jon Gray, German Marquez, Kyle Freeland, Antonio Senzatela and Austin Gomber combined to start 135 of the Rockies’ games (83.3%), and each posted an ERA in the mid-4.00s with an average or better ground-ball rate. The Rockies weren’t necessarily a powerhouse rotation, but for a team that often ranks at the bottom of the league in terms of pitching performance, it was encouraging to get such volume and fairly consistent results from the top five arms.

The Rockies face an uphill battle if they hope to return to contending in a deep NL West that is currently headed up by the No. 1 and No. 2 win totals in all of baseball from 2021 (Giants and Dodgers). The Padres remain squarely in win-now mode as well, and the Rockies will be tasked with improving the club despite a bottom-tier farm system and the likely loss of two more top players (the aforementioned Gray and shortstop Trevor Story). Whether they have a Cinderella run in them can’t be known, but Black will now have another pair of chances to coax that out of this group.

Gerald Williams Passes Away

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Former Yankees, Mets, Devil Rays, Braves, Brewers and Marlins outfielder Gerald Williams passed away today at 55 years of age, former teammate and close friend Derek Jeter announced (via the Players’ Tribune).

“Gerald Williams passed away this morning after a battle with cancer,” Jeter said in his statement announcing the saddening news. “To my teammate and one of my best friends in the world, rest in peace, my brother. My thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Liliana, and their whole family.”

Williams, originally a 14th-round pick by the Yankees back in 1987, debuted as a 25-year-old during the 1992 season — the first step in what would become a 14-year career at the MLB level. That journey took him to six different organizations and spanned 1168 games. Williams, nicknamed “Ice,” posted a career .255/.301/.410 batting line with 85 home runs, 183 doubles, 18 triples, 106 stolen bases, 474 runs scored and another 365 runs driven in. Yankee fans may fondly remember an impressive first-inning grab by Williams back in May or 1996, which seemed innocuous at the time but wound up proving a pivotal play in what would eventually become a Doc Gooden no-hitter (YouTube link).

Williams and Jeter were teammates for the Yankees’ postseason appearance in 1995, and he returned to the playoffs with Atlanta in both 1998 and 1999. He played a huge role in the Braves’ 3-1 National League Division Series win over the Astros in ’99, going 7-for-18 (.389) with a double, a pair of runs scored, three RBIs and a stolen base in that four-game set. A member of both the 1996 Yankees and 2003 Marlins, Williams received a pair of World Series rings (even though the Yankees traded him to the Brewers in August of ’96).

Williams’ two best seasons came with the ’98 Braves, when he hit .305/352/.504 with 10 homers in a part-time role, and in 2000 with Tampa Bay, when he saw regular action in the outfield. Williams logged a career-high 682 plate appearances in his first of two seasons with the then-Devil Rays, adding in a career-best 21 home runs, 30 doubles, a pair of triples and 12 steals.

Most pro ball players can only dream of a 14-year run at the game’s top level — and that’s particularly true among players selected well down the draft board, as was the case with Williams. We at MLBTR offer our condolences to Williams’ family, his friends, his former teammates and the thousands of fans who took joy in rooting him on over the course of his decade-plus in the Majors.

Let’s Find A Shortstop For The Twins

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The utter dearth of starting pitching for the Twins has been well-documented by now. Out of the 2022 equation are longtime top starter Jose Berrios and 2020 AL Cy Young runner-up Kenta Maeda; Berrios was flipped to Toronto in exchange for a pair of touted prospects at last summer’s deadline, while Maeda underwent Tommy John surgery late last year and hopes for a September return — in a best-case scenario. Also out the door is righty Michael Pineda, a free agent who could yet return but remains unsigned. Thus far, the extent of the Twins’ offseason shopping was a roll of the dice on Dylan Bundy. He’ll join rookie/top prospect Joe Ryan and sophomore Bailey Ober in a thin Twins rotation mix.

For all the focus on the team’s starting pitching, however, Minnesota also lacks an obvious starter at shortstop. Andrelton Simmons’ one-year stint proved largely underwhelming. By measure of wRC+, Simmons ranked second-worst among hitters with at least 450 plate appearances last season (56). His .223/.287/.274 batting line negated much of his defensive wizardry and was one of many reasons the Twins’ 2021 season went south so quickly. Simmons was never brought in to be an offensive force, but he’d at least been competent (and occasionally above average) in the five preceding seasons, posting a combined .281/.328/.394 slash.

In a perfect world, 2017 No. 1 overall pick Royce Lewis might’ve been ready for a run at shortstop this year. An immensely gifted athlete who’s been ranked among the sport’s top 100 prospects since the moment he was drafted — peaking in the top ten, heading into 2019 — Lewis is seen as a major building block for the organization. Unfortunately for both the Twins and Lewis, he sustained a torn ACL while ramping up for Spring Training last year and wasn’t able to make it back to the field in 2021. Couple that with a 2020 season spent at the Twins’ alternate site during the canceled minor league campaign, and Lewis has missed some crucial development time.

By all accounts, the future is still bright — Lewis clocks in at No. 82 on Baseball America’s latest Top 100 ranking — but the lack of recent playing time and a major surgery have both added some extra risk to his profile and slowed his timeline to the Majors. There was always some question as to whether Lewis would settle in at shortstop or wind up playing third base, center field or second base, anyhow, and even if shortstop is still his future home, he’s not ready just yet.

There are similar defensive questions about fellow top prospect Austin Martin, the headliner of the Berrios trade. Martin, the No. 5 overall pick in 2020 who was viewed as a candidate to be drafted first overall himself, is a gifted hitter and on-base machine whose defensive home is less certain. The Twins will continue getting him work at shortstop, though some scouting reports believe he’ll end up at second base or in the outfield. Martin is considered among the 50 or so best prospects in MLB, but he’s had just one pro season and did not advance beyond Double-A last year. Perhaps he’ll be an option this summer if he mashes out of the gate in Triple-A and looks sound at shortstop, but like Lewis, he needs more time.

Up on the big league roster, the Twins have one well-known option who could slide back to the position. Jorge Polanco spent four years as Minnesota’s primary shortstop, hitting a combined .277/.335/.435 in 418 games from 2017-20. However, Polanco was never a good defender there, hence the move to second base and the subsequent signing of Simmons.

The 28-year-old Polanco turned in the best season of his career following the move to the other side of the bag, so the Twins may not want to tinker with a decision that yielded one of 2021’s few bright spots. Polanco erupted with a 33-homer campaign, hitting .269/.323/.503 through 644 plate appearances. He also turned in a positive showing in Defensive Runs Saved (3) and was only slightly below par in Statcast’s Outs Above Average.

[Related: Jorge Polanco’s Bounceback Season]

One could argue that the Twins should focus on pitching, move Polanco to back to shortstop and play Luis Arraez everyday at second base. However, doing so would weaken the defense (thus diminishing the returns on some of the pitchers they do inevitably add). And, whether it was correlation or causation, Polanco seemed more comfortable once freed from shortstop — a position where his -39 Defensive Runs Saved from 2016-20 ranked second-worst in Major League Baseball.

The Twins made some depth additions recently, picking up former No. 1 pick Tim Beckham and former Rays/Brewers utilityman Daniel Robertson on minor league deals. Neither is on the 40-man roster and neither should be seen as a candidate to step up as their primary shortstop. Either could vie for a bench spot, competing against Nick Gordon — a former top-10 draft pick who made his big league debut with Minnesota last season. However, Gordon mustered just a .240/.292/.355 output in 216 plate appearances and was used all around the diamond. A full-time run at shortstop isn’t likely for any of this trio.

Whoever suits up at shortstop on Opening Day for the Twins probably isn’t in the organization yet, so let’s look at some options.

The Big Free Agents

There’s probably not much point in pondering whether the Twins could or will sign Carlos Correa. Minnesota currently projects to about a $91MM payroll next season (per Roster Resource’s Jason Martinez). That drops to $61MM in 2023 and $27MM in 2024. Technically, they have the payroll space to sign Correa to a mega-deal. However, starting pitching is likely a bigger focus, and the Twins have never gone anywhere near the Correa stratosphere on a contract. Joe Mauer’s $184MM extension is the largest deal in franchise history, and Josh Donaldson’s $92MM pact is the biggest free-agent splash they’ve made. Signing Correa for north of $300MM would be a legitimate shock.

Trevor Story is more plausible, financially speaking, but it’s likely he’s seeking a nine-figure deal of his own. A salary in the $20-25MM range isn’t the dealbreaker it once was for the Twins, and Story would give them quality defense with far more offensive output than Simmons. Story seems more likely as a fit here if his market just doesn’t come together as hoped. There are teams who might swoop on a one-year deal in that scenario (e.g. Yankees), but if Story isn’t able to secure a five- or six-year deal and still wants to max out, a Donaldson-esque, four-year offer at least seems feasible. A lot of pieces need to fall into place in this scenario, though.

The Remaining Free Agents

The Simmons deal didn’t work out, but the dismal nature of his 2021 season reduces his 2022 price tag substantially. If the Twins simply want to sign the best glove available and focus on pitching, a cheap Simmons reunion makes sense. There have also been rumors connecting Simmons to the Yankees, who looked into the possibility of acquiring Simmons last summer.

Once upon a time, Jose Iglesias would’ve been viewed in a similar capacity to Simmons. Some may still see him in that light. However, Iglesias’ 2021 season was punctuated by a rather shocking downturn with the glove. Defensive Runs Saved pegged him at a staggering -22, and he posted the first negative Ultimate Zone Rating (-6.1) of his career. Outs Above Average was the most forgiving metric, but even OAA only pegged him as an average defender. Iglesias’ .271/.309/.391 output in 2021 confirmed that his outrageous 2020 season (.373/.400/.556 in 150 plate appearances) was more small-sample fluke than late-blooming breakout. He could be had on an affordable one-year deal himself, but there’s no guarantee the glove bounces back.

Switch-hitting Jonathan Villar remains unsigned, and he’d probably offer the best hope of offensive production from this group. The 32-year-old carries a .259/.327/.408 slash with 58 homers and 104 steals through 497 games over the past four seasons, but Villar isn’t regarded as a strong defender at shortstop. He’s also hit well in two of the past three seasons — 2020’s small sample being the exception — so he could justifiably seek a two-year deal.

There are a handful of other free agents with recent shortstop experience — Josh Harrison, Phil Gosselin, Matt Duffy, old friend Ehire Adrianza — but they profile as bench options (or, perhaps in Harrison’s case, as a starter at second or third base, where the Twins aren’t looking for solutions).

The Trade Market

There are a handful of interesting names to consider if, as seems to be the case with their pitching needs, the Twins deem the trade market a more palatable path to finding a shortstop. The Rangers, for instance, have already inked two of the “big five” shortstops this winter, pushing Isiah Kiner-Falefa to third base — at least until top third base prospect Josh Jung debuts in 2022. Minnesota GM Thad Levine was an assistant GM in Texas when Kiner-Falefa was selected in the fourth round of the 2013 draft. There’s no urgency for the Rangers to move Kiner-Falefa, who’s controlled through 2023, but it’d probably behoove the Twins to inquire. Kiner-Falefa owns a .273/.316/.361 batting line with elite defensive contributions over the past two seasons.

The Twins are a natural trade partner for the Reds, who’ll have several starting pitchers available. Minnesota could conceivably look to double dip, adding a shortstop as well as a pitcher. In Cincinnati, that could be utilityman-turned-starter Kyle Farmer, who figures to cede playing time to top prospect Jose Barrero before long. Farmer, 31, hit .263/.316/.416 with solid glovework in a career-high 529 plate appearances in 2021. He’s controlled through 2024.

Some might argue there’s a similar approach to be taken with Oakland, as the Twins could offer to take back some of Elvis Andrus’ contract to help grease the wheels on a trade for a starter. However, as I explored back in December, there are plenty of obstacles in a potential Andrus deal (namely a no-trade clause and a problematic vesting option). He also just hasn’t hit since 2017, and his defensive ratings have cratered. It’d be more sensible to just sign Simmons or Iglesias and focus solely on a starting pitcher in trade talks with the A’s.

Over in Arizona, the D-backs have a well-regarded defender in Nick Ahmed, but the 31-year-old limped through a career-worst year at the plate. The glove still plays, and outside of 2021, he’s “only” been a below-average hitter (.248/.307/.421, 89 wRC+ from 2018-20). The Snakes owe Ahmed $17.5MM combined from 2022-23, and they’ll want to open a spot for top prospect Geraldo Perdomo before too long. If you want to consider two-for-one possibilities here, as with the Reds, perhaps the Twins could try to pry Merrill Kelly away. He’ll be a free agent next winter.

If the Twins and Guardians are both comfortable dealing within the division, Cleveland has a bevy of middle infielders while the Twins are deep in outfield options. Both have a deep supply at an area the other is lacking. Amed Rosario is two years from free agency, while Andres Gimenez is more controllable but less proven offensively. Cleveland has so many middle-infield prospects bubbling up toward the Majors behind that pair, that there’s a natural on-paper fit here. (The Guardians are also deeper in starting pitching than the Twins, setting up additional possibilities.) It’s always tougher to envision division rivals dealing with one another, but Twins president of baseball operations Derek Falvey was hired out of the Cleveland front office back in 2016.

As with any offseason need, there are boundless possibilities to consider even beyond this list. The Twins could try to buy low on KBO star Ha-Seong Kim — a square peg in a round hole with the Padres — or look into defensive standout Kevin Newman over in Pittsburgh (though he was the only shortstop who was less-productive at the plate than Simmons last season). You can mix-and-match the possibilities to your liking — what else is there to do with no end to the lockout in sight? — but it’s likely the Twins’ next starting shortstop hasn’t yet been acquired.

Major League Baseball Job Openings

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From time to time, as a service to our readers, MLB Trade Rumors will post job opportunities of possible interest that are brought to our attention. MLBTR has no affiliation with the hiring entity, no role in the hiring process, and no financial interest in the posting of this opportunity.

Replay Support Engineer (Part – Time)

Replay Support Engineers will be responsible for confirming and troubleshooting all replay related hardware and software. These are part-time positions working directly with the Senior ROC (Replay Operations Center) Support staff to ensure the proper delivery of all Replay related technologies for all MLB games.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

  • Verification of ballpark equipment & communication systems, pre-game
  • Documentation of equipment status & incoming broadcast footage
  • Daily operation of Replay equipment in the Replay Operations Center
  • Troubleshooting of issues with Replay devices and equipment.

Requirements:

  • Schedule flexibility (weekends/evening availability required)
  • Must be able to operate in Live production environments
  • Must be able to work independently as well as in a team environment.
  • Must be able to communicate clearly, multitask, and prioritize.
  • Must be able to react quickly and adjust to change on the fly.
  • Must be able to handle fast-paced & high-pressure situations
  • Experience in live video and/or production is a plus.
  • Working knowledge of Mac OS and Microsoft Excel.

Position:

  • Looking for a candidate who can work 30 – 40 hours a week
  • Compensation is paid at an hourly rate

 

Replay Operator (Part – Time)

Description: Replay Operators assemble & play out ‘in game’ video for Live use in officiating, using record/playback servers & MLB’s proprietary Replay software. These are part-time positions.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

  • Verification of ballpark equipment & communication systems, pre-game
  • Documentation of equipment status & incoming broadcast footage
  • Daily operation of Replay equipment in the Replay Operations Center
  • Monitoring of multiple concurrent MLB games for possible review
  • Troubleshooting of issues with Replay devices and equipment.

Requirements:

  • Strong knowledge of baseball & MLB rules.
  • The ability to identify MLB players.
  • Schedule flexibility (weekends/evening availability required)
  • Must be able to operate in Live production environments
  • Must be able to work independently as well as in a “team” environment.
  • Must be able to communicate clearly, multitask, and prioritize.
  • Must be able to react quickly and adjust to change on the fly.
  • Must be able to handle fast-paced & high-pressure situations
  • Experience in live video and/or production is a plus.
  • Working knowledge of Mac OS and Microsoft Excel.

Position:

  • Looking for a candidate who can work 30 – 35 hours a week.
  • Compensation is paid at an hourly rate.

 

Replay Administrators (Part – Time)

Replay Administrators will support MLB Instant Replay through in-game communications with league representatives, daily reporting, data input, and other administration. 

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

  • Compile and distribute daily replay information, video links, and datasheets for end of day e-mail
  • Record relevant data points specific to each replay review in Excel
  • Create written explanations and descriptions pertaining to each replay review
  • Assist with weekly replay official schedule as needed
  • Announce official reviews and replay official’s decision to ballparks in real time
  • Assist in responding to internal inquiries regarding replays
  • Other administrative duties as assigned by the Instant Replay Director / Coordinator 

Requirements:

  • Strong knowledge of MLB rules, Replay Regulations and baseball specific language
  • The ability to identify MLB players and managers
  • Must be able to work independently as well as in a “team” environment
  • Must be able to communicate clearly, multitask, and prioritize
  • Must be able to react quickly and adjust to change on the fly
  • Must be able to operate and handle live fast-paced & high-pressure situations
  • Must be able to act professionally with and around MLB Umpires and MLBOC employees 
  • Working knowledge of Mac OS and Microsoft Excel
  • Previous experience working in baseball is preferred

Position:

  • Looking for a candidate who can work 30 – 40 hours a week
  • Compensation is paid at an hourly rate
  • Schedule flexibility (weekends/evening availability required)

Apply at: http://www.mlb.com/careers

Contact: james.sensale@mlb.com

Cubs Have Reportedly Considered Pursuit Of Anthony Rizzo In Free Agency

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The Cubs have had internal discussions about making a run at Anthony Rizzo in free agency, reports Bruce Levine of 670 The Score. Chicago is obviously barred from having contact with Rizzo or his representatives at Sports One Athlete Management during the lockout, but Levine suggests they could put forth a contract offer whenever the transactions freeze is lifted.

The Cubs’ previous efforts at locking Rizzo up for the long term obviously didn’t result in an agreement. During last year’s Spring Training, Chicago made a reported five-year, $70MM offer that the star first baseman turned down. President of baseball operations Jed Hoyer expressed optimism at the time the parties would work something out during the regular season, but a mutually agreeable price point never presented itself.

The North Siders reportedly made a renewed effort at extension talks with both Rizzo and Javier Báez in July, but neither signed and both impending free agents were ultimately shipped off in advance of the July 30 trade deadline. Rizzo landed in the Bronx, with the Yankees sending prospects Kevin Alcantara and Alexander Vizcaino to the Cubs in return. The three-time All-Star spent the final few months of the year with the Yankees before hitting the open market for the first time in his career.

Given that extension discussions between the Cubs and Rizzo’s reps didn’t get across the finish line, a return to Chicago may seem far-fetched. Yet it’s possible Rizzo doesn’t find the kind of contract he apparently sought, at least during last March’s round of talks. Entering the offseason, MLBTR projected he’d receive a three-year, $45MM guarantee, $25MM and two years south of the extension offer he reportedly declined during Spring Training.

That dip in likely earning power reflects both Rizzo’s age (32) and downturn in production over the past two years. After posting a .222/.342/.414 mark during the shortened 2020 season, the lefty hitter put up a .248/.344/.440 line with 22 home runs over 576 plate appearances in 2021. That’s solid production — 12 percentage points above the league average, by measure of wRC+. Yet it falls short of the elite offense he brought during his 2014-19 peak, when he combined for a .284/.388/.513 showing that was 41 points above the league average output (141 wRC+).

Rizzo’s batted ball metrics offer mixed signals on his chances of rediscovering his middle-of-the-order form. On the plus side, last season’s 90.1 MPH average exit velocity matched his personal high, while his 41.1% hard contact rate was a career best. His bat speed still seems intact, but Rizzo has gotten increasingly pull-oriented of late. In each of the past two seasons, he’s hit more than 47% of his batted balls to the right side of the diamond — the two highest single-season marks of his career. Defenses have responded by shifting against him more than ever. Paired with an uptick in pop-ups, that’s contributed to a meager .246 batting average on balls in plays since the start of 2020; during his aforementioned six-year peak, Rizzo sported a much better .295 BABIP.

While the Florida native may no longer be the star he was at his peak, that’s not to say there’s no appeal for possible suitors. In addition to his still-strong exit velocities, Rizzo owns excellent bat-to-ball skills. The former Silver Slugger punched out in just 15.1% of his plate appearances last season. That’s right in line with his career mark and more than seven points lower than last year’s league average. Rizzo also consistently draws a fair amount of walks and while he’s limited to first base, he still rates highly as a defender there. The Cubs are also no doubt familiar with his generally well-regarded clubhouse presence, and he was among the faces of the most successful run of play in more than a century of franchise history.

After trading away many of the most recognizable stars of that run, the Cubs were expected by most to be in for a quiet offseason. Hoyer consistently denied they were embarking on a full rebuild, though, and they’ve already signed Marcus Stroman and Yan Gomes and claimed Wade Miley off waivers from the Reds. The roster still looks short of contention, but reuniting with Rizzo would be a welcome development for much of the fanbase and upgrade an overall lineup that looks lacking. While they’ve already been more active than many anticipated, the Cubs should have financial flexibility to explore further additions. Jason Martinez of Roster Resource projects Chicago’s 2022 player payroll in the $114MM range. It seems unlikely they’ll jump to the $200+MM heights of the franchise’s record expenditures, but there’s plenty of room even before last season’s estimated $147MM season-opening level.

The Cubs would surely like to get another look at Frank Schwindel to see if his excellent showing as a 29-year-old rookie (.326/.371/.591 in 259 plate appearances) is the start of a late-career breakout. It’s widely expected the next collective bargaining agreement will include a universal designated hitter, though, likely leaving at-bats for both Schwindel and a possible outside addition to the first base/DH mix.

None of that is to say that the Cubs signing Rizzo is inevitable, or even especially likely. Front offices discuss possible moves that don’t ultimately come to fruition on a regular basis. And while reported interest in Rizzo has been fairly quiet this offseason, a couple more potential suitors have emerged.

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman expressed a desire to keep the 32-year-old in the fold back in November. With Freddie Freeman still unsigned, the Braves have looked into the possibility of pivoting to Rizzo. Freeman signing and a Matt Olson trade may be the catalysts necessary kickstart the respective free agent and trade markets for first basemen, which have yet to get going in earnest. Whenever that happens, perhaps the Cubs will embark on another effort to have Rizzo on the North Side for 2022 and beyond.

Pablo Sandoval Signs With Mexican League’s Acereros De Monclova

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Pablo Sandoval is headed to the Mexican League for the 2022 season. The Acereros de Monclova announced this evening (Spanish-language link) that they’ve signed the two-time MLB All-Star.

Sandoval, a client of Beverly Hills Sports Council, has appeared in parts of fourteen MLB seasons. He made his big league debut with the Giants in 2008, and he’d established himself as an everyday player by the following season. The switch-hitting Sandoval hit a remarkable .330/.387/.556 across 633 plate appearances during his age-22 campaign, finishing seventh in NL MVP balloting that year. That showing cemented him as a key member of a burgeoning core that would go on to win three of the following five World Series titles.

There’s no doubt Sandoval was a huge part of that success. He appeared in at least 108 regular season games each season between 2010-14, posting above-average offensive numbers (by measure of wRC+) in every season other than 2010. The Kung Fu Panda again earned some down ballot MVP support in 2011, and he was downright excellent during the Giants’ 2012 and 2014 postseason runs. He claimed World Series MVP honors in the former season, thanks to an 8-16 showing in a sweep over the Tigers. And while he didn’t receive any postseason awards in 2014, his 12-28 performance in that year’s World Series helped San Francisco narrowly defeat the Royals in a tightly-contested seven-game battle.

Following the 2014 season, Sandoval signed a five-year, $95MM contract with the Red Sox. That proved a sizable misstep for then Boston-GM Ben Cherington, as Sandoval’s production tanked fairly quickly thereafter. He hit only .245/.292/.366 in his first season with the Sox. That proved to be his final year as an everyday player, as he hasn’t topped 300 plate appearances in any season since. The Venezuela native missed almost all of 2016 recovering from a labrum injury, then got off to a terrible start to the 2017 campaign. Boston released him midway through that season, and he returned to the Giants in free agency.

By 2018, Sandoval reinvented himself as a capable bench bat and part-time corner infielder. He played with San Francisco until 2020, then hooked on with the Braves late in that season and made their playoff roster. He re-signed with Atlanta on a minor league pact last winter and broke camp with the club. While he got off to a nice start as a designated pinch-hitter, Sandoval saw his production turn downward by May. He was traded to the Indians at last year’s deadline, with his contract included in the deal that sent Eddie Rosario to Atlanta to offset some of Rosario’s salary. Cleveland released Sandoval immediately and he sat out the remainder of the season, although he did collect a World Series ring when the Braves went on to win the championship.

Sandoval returned to the diamond this winter. After putting up impressive numbers in the Venezuelan Winter League, he’ll head to Mexico for the upcoming season. It remains to be seen whether the 35-year-old will make a return to affiliated ball in the United States at some point down the road.

Red Sox, Roberto Ramos Agree To Minor League Deal

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The Red Sox have signed first baseman Roberto Ramos to a minor league contract with an invitation to big league Spring Training, reports Chris Cotillo of MassLive (Twitter link). It’s a stateside return for the 27-year-old, who has spent the past two seasons in South Korea.

Ramos has yet to appear in a big league game. A 16th-round pick of the Rockies in 2014, he worked his way up the minor league ranks, reaching Triple-A by 2019. Ramos spent that season with Colorado’s top affiliate in Albuquerque, popping 30 home runs in 505 plate appearances. After that season, the left-handed hitter made the jump to the Korea Baseball Organization, signing on with the LG Twins.

Signing Ramos paid immediate dividends for the Seoul-based team. He blasted 38 homers across 494 plate appearances during his debut campaign. Ramos’ overall .278/.362/.592 line checked in 41 percentage points above the KBO league average, by measure of wRC+. Ramos struck out in a hefty 27.5% of his plate appearances that year, but he also drew walks at a robust 11.1% clip and showcased power that garnered plus or better grades during his time as a prospect.

Ramos re-signed with the Twins last offseason, but his follow-up campaign wasn’t as impressive. He hit a league average .243/.317/.422 with eight homers in 205 trips to the plate before suffering a back injury. Former MLB first baseman Justin Bour replaced him on the roster in late June, setting the stage for Ramos’ return to the United States. He’ll attempt to work his way to the bigs for the first time with the Red Sox, who are slated to open the year with the right-handed hitting Bobby Dalbec at first base and J.D. Martinez at designated hitter. Top prospect Triston Casas worked his way to Triple-A Worcester late last season and should get a look in the majors at some point in 2022.

MLB Suspends Drug Testing As Part Of Lockout

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As the lockout continues, Major League Baseball has ceased drug testing for players who are part of the MLB Players Association, reports Ronald Blum of the Associated Press. It’s an expected development, as Evan Drellich and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic wrote last November that the union did not believe the league could continue drug testing throughout a work stoppage.

The MLB – MLBPA Joint Drug Agreement covers players on 40-man rosters, major league free agents, and certain professional international free agents. The JDA contained an expiration provision for December 1, 2021 at 11:59 pm EST, overlapping with the expiration of the most recent collective bargaining agreement. However, as labor lawyer Eugene Freedman points out (on Twitter), the implementation of the lockout is the direct force behind the current testing stoppage. In the absence of a work stoppage, the previous CBA remains the governing document until a new agreement is reached. Had MLB not instituted a lockout, the offseason would have proceeded under the terms of the previous CBA and its ancillary agreements — the JDA among them — despite the expiration provisions contained therein.

The JDA encompasses testing both for drugs of abuse (including cocaine and opiates) and performance-enhancing substances. As the lockout continues, testing will not be in place for substances of either form. While the JDA was in effect, it was customary for drug testing to continue over the offseason. Blum relays statistics from program administrator Thomas Martin, noting that nearly 48,000 cumulative tests were conducted between 2017-21. Of those, more than 7,300 were administered during the offseason. (It is not clear what percentage of those were for drugs of abuse versus for performance-enhancing substances).

What effect, if any, the cessation of offseason drug testing will have remains to be seen. Given that MLB instituted the lockout in the early morning of December 2, it stands to reason testing has already been suspended for over two months. Whenever a new CBA is agreed upon, a drug testing provision — whether a new system or simply a reimplementation of the previous JDA — will no doubt be included. Potential modifications to the JDA are reportedly among the non-core economics issues the parties have discussed.

Whatever form the drug testing program eventually takes, it doesn’t seem a resolution is in the near future. There’s been little progress in negotiations thus far, and it remains to be seen when MLB will make its next move. A delayed start to Spring Training seems an inevitability, and there’ll need to be rapid progress over the next three weeks if the regular season is to start on March 31, as currently scheduled.

MLB Owners Set To Meet As MLBPA Awaits Counteroffer To Last Week’s Proposal

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As the ongoing MLB lockout continues at a snail’s pace, the sport’s owners are convening at their quarterly meetings from Tuesday to Thursday. MLB Network’s Jon Heyman tweets the expectation among players is that a counterproposal will be among the topics discussed, and that a new offer from the league should be forthcoming in the days ahead (perhaps not until the owners’ meetings conclude, however).

It’s been nearly a week since the MLBPA made its latest proposal to the league — an offer that was met with the promise of a counter but instead resulted in MLB’s request for a federal mediator to intervene. The union outright rejected the notion of mediation, instead repeating a desire to head back to the negotiating table with MLB.

That was the widely expected route, as the mediation request always smacked as more of a public relations move than an earnest request. To that end, veteran left-hander Andrew Miller, one of the eight players on the MLBPA executive subcommittee, spoke with ESPN’s Jesse Rogers about the decision to reject mediation.

“…[W]e don’t think it speeds up the process at all,” Miller told Rogers when asked about the union’s rationale. “History tells us in our sport it hasn’t been favorable to reaching a deal and our staff and outside council guide us on things like this. That is what they are for. Our position is that it is quite the opposite from negotiating and being ready to negotiate. We are there and our proposals and desire to meet at the table show that. The league is refusing to counter, the league is the side that has stalled and not been willing or ready to meet.”

Miller’s point about history is likely a nod to federal mediator Bill Usery, who was brought in for just such a purpose in the 1994 labor stoppage. Usery provided very little utility in negotiations as he was not sufficiently up to speed on the intricacies and complexities of the issues at hand, and his presence ultimately did not result in an agreement being reached.

Further, as Giants lefty Alex Wood points out (Twitter link), it would likely take weeks to bring a federal mediator into the fold, and the basis for a new deal would be largely rooted in the existing CBA, from which the players are trying to create some distance. Wood’s usage of quotation marks when describing an “’impartial’ mediator” and his characterization of the current CBA as an “already broken system” underscore both the MLBPA’s distrust of any measures put forth by the league and of the union’s current dissatisfaction with the status quo.

That said, it’s still worth noting that United States labor secretary Marty Walsh has expressed a willingness to get involved in the lockout, as first reported by Politico’s Jonathan Lemire (Twitter link). Walsh later removed any doubt on the matter, issuing the following statement to Lemire:

“I have spoken to both the MLBPA and MLB about the ongoing contract negotiations and encourage both sides to continue engagement. Like any contract negotiation in any industry, I stand ready to help facilitate productive conversations that result in the best outcome for workers and employers.”

While the league may continue to hold out hope for outside mediation, it’s clear the players have no desire to traverse that path. A large number of Major Leaguers have taken to social media in recent days to express their frustration and their desire to negotiate a new deal. Twins catcher Mitch Garver, for instance, tweeted that key members of the union “want to meet every day until a deal is done,” contesting that “the other side does not.”

Former Tigers lefty Matthew Boyd, a union representative who’s currently a free agent, struck a similar chord to Miller in telling Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press that the union feels resorting to mediation would only further prolong matters. The clearest path to resolving matters, Boyd added, is to continue meaningful negotiations with the league.

Banding together to voice a unified set of goals has been a clear tactic for the MLBPA over the past week. Miller and fellow executive subcommittee member Max Scherzer have been vocal, as have the likes of Wood, Garver, Whit Merrifield, Jameson Taillon and many others. The talking points remain largely the same, as hammered home by Miller and Scherzer. Various players have reiterated that the MLBPA wants to eliminate the incentives for teams to tank (i.e. access to better draft picks, larger draft and international bonus pools), bring about better compensation for young/inexperienced players, put an end to service-time manipulation and, to use Scherzer’s exact terminology, create “a system where threshold and penalties don’t function as caps” (in reference to the current luxury/competitive balance tax).

It should be noted that not every player has spoken so strongly. Cardinals ace Adam Wainwright clearly shares the frustration of his union-mates, but he also at least rhetorically suggested that if the league were to propose “the exact same deal that we have right now, we would probably go play baseball” (link via Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat). Those comments were made off the cuff at a charity fundraiser, but they’re still a notable departure from other recent, public statements from the union.

That said, Wainwright agreed with his peers that a “good and fair deal” doesn’t appear likely as things presently stand. “That’s not even close to happening, honestly,” he added. “It’s pretty one-sided. And [MLB] are not really willing to talk right now. That makes it tough.” Wainwright further told Jones that MLB’s most recent offer “is far from a place we could even start negotiations.”

Whether a third party is ultimately brought on board or not, the ball is in MLB’s court as the union continues to wait for a counter to last Tuesday’s latest offer. It remains to be seen exactly when the league will make its next move.

Rangers Hire Nick Hundley As Special Assistant

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The Rangers announced Monday that they’ve hired former big league catcher Nick Hundley as a special assistant to general manager Chris Young. The 12-year MLB vet had been working in league offices as a senior director of baseball operations.

While Hundley’s title with the league was a bit nebulous, MLB’s press release at the time of his hiring in 2020 indicated that he would serve “as an MLB liaison to Major League Clubs, players and umpires” in addition to aiding “in the administration of on-field discipline and will provide insights regarding on-field rules, initiatives, technology, instant replay and other topics.” Hundley’s role with the league also included working to promote youth baseball initiatives in somewhat of an ambassadorial capacity.

Hundley, 38, is no stranger to Young. The two were not only teammates but batterymates with the Padres from 2008-10, worked together in the league offices in 2020, and surely still enjoy a strong relationship to this day. Hundley spent the first six and a half seasons of his career in San Diego and also appeared with the Orioles, Giants, Rockies and A’s throughout his dozen years in the Majors.

Hundley received few starting opportunities but was typically used more heavily than a standard backup catcher. He appeared in 974 Major League games and racked up 3373 plate appearances over his 12-year career, batting .247/.299/.405 with 93 home runs, 169 doubles, 20 triples, 319 runs scored and 376 runs knocked in from 2008-19.

The Rangers’ press release did not specify which areas of baseball operations will be Hundley’s primary focus, but he represents the latest in a growing number of former players the organization has hired as special assistants. Michael Young, Colby Lewis, Brandon McCarthy, Darren Oliver and Ivan Rodriguez are also listed as special assistants in the Rangers’ baseball ops department.

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