Headed into the final weekend before Opening Day, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:
1. Article XX(B) veterans on minor league deals have opt-out opportunity tomorrow:
Tomorrow is the first date that Article XX(B) free agents (i.e. six-plus years of MLB service, finished the 2022 season on a Major League roster or injured list) who settled for minor league deals will have that opportunity to opt out of those contracts. A few dozen players qualify for this distinction. With the looming opt-out date on the horizon, clubs will need to make decisions on whether or not to add members of this group to their 40-man roster soon. As such, certain camp battles and Opening Day roster decisions will come into focus over the next day, in addition to the free agent market potentially receiving an influx of veteran players looking for a new opportunity. Article XX(B) free agents who do not opt out tomorrow will also have opt-out opportunities on May 1 and June 1.
2. External options for the Phillies following Hoskins’s injury:
Yesterday, first baseman Rhys Hoskins tore his ACL, requiring surgery that puts his season in danger before it even begins. The Phillies have enough depth to weather the injury, with Darick Hall standing as a suitable first baseman while Alec Bohm or Nick Castellanos could slide over to first against southpaws if the lefty-swinging Hall is utilized as a platoon player. That said, it would certainly make sense if the Phillies were interested in adding a veteran right-handed first baseman to complement Hall, who has just 41 games of MLB experience.
Currently, Miguel Sano is the only free agent that fits that profile, but tomorrow players like Yuli Gurriel and Hanser Alberto could join the free agent market as XX(B) veterans with opt outs, providing the Phillies with additional options. Perhaps the most interesting potential addition the Phillies could make, however, would be Luke Voit, the slugging first baseman who’s been in camp with the Brewers on a non-roster invite. Voit had an out clause in his contract originally scheduled for last week but agreed to push that date back until today. If the Brewers don’t add him to the 40-man roster by the end of the day, he’ll have the opportunity to opt out and could be a fit for the Phillies if he does.
3. Lynch undergoing tests:
Royals lefty Daniel Lynch exited yesterday’s game with discomfort in his left shoulder, and manager Matt Quatraro told reporters, including MLB.com’s Anne Rogers, that Lynch would undergo testing to determine the nature of the discomfort. Lynch made 27 starts for the Royals last year, posting a 5.13 ERA in 131 2/3 innings of work. With the offseason additions of Jordan Lyles and Ryan Yarbrough, Lynch did not figure to be a member of the Opening Day rotation. However, an early-spring injury to Yarbrough opened the door for Lynch to recapture a rotation spot, with Yarbrough seemingly ticketed for multi-inning relief. Should Lynch be forced to miss time, that could open the door for Yarbrough to return to the rotation, or allow fellow southpaw Kris Bubic to claim the spot rather than head to Triple-A to open the season.
Bobby Dalbec could be an interesting fit for the Phillies if he doesn’t make the Sox roster. Of course he can still be sent down but I think DD drafted him so there could be a connection. He just needs to make consistent contact (can be said for many).
I was thinking the same thing. Perfect fit of one team with a need, and the other team with a surplus. But, Im not sure the two teams have buried the hatchet yet. It was only last October, DD and Phillies owner were bad mouthing the Red Sox. Rightfully or not, actions have consequences.
Great name Jimmy!!
Dalbec is not an option for the Phillies. He is a strike-out machine.
Having a good spring and I actually think he still can be useful. Unlike Duran who has looked like the worst outfielder to wear a Sox uniform. He has looked lost in the OF and has a worse arm than Mickey Rivers.
Why would you take ABs away from Darick Hall with Dalbec? Hall is having a better ST than Dalbec — and he’s on the team already.
You wouldnt take ABs from Hall. They would rotate. Hall (L), Dalbec (R). Both are part time players, combined it would make a decent platoon.
The thing about Dalbec is he’s learned to play first and is decent at third. Not bad to have a right bench piece for the corners who can hit the long ball…if only he could consistently make contact…
Maybe the LOLPhills can put a cardboard cutout of Ryan Howard at first.
He couldn’t be any worse than what Bohm has shown, albeit in limited reps.
Good luck!
At least he didn’t get hurt celebrating.
This dude changes his username weekly just to troll. I admire his dedication.
Huh? Your comment makes zero sense.
i think Keston Hiura is more likely than Voit…
I think the Brewers would be better off just going without Huira and Voit to be honest, that opens up Yellich moving to back up first base when the young guys take over in the outfield. Huira may stick around because he is a favorite of Mark A. . Mark tries to stay out of the decision making but once last year he almost demanded that CC play him more.
Bohm to 1st, Sosa to 3rd.
Make that bomb and so so.
Hall at 1st primarily as stated by DD today.
Unless the Phillies make a play for Luke Voit, that seems like the most probable course of action. As bad as Hoskins is at first defensively, Hall is a fair bit worse. Bohm will have to learn the position,” on the job”. It’s really a shame, because Bohm has improved so much at third base, now he will have to play a position he is very inexperienced at. The other possibility is Castallanos, moves in from rf, to play first.
That is a position that Castellanos has never played professionally. Let’s ask Washington how easy it is to play first. “It’s extremely difficult.” Thank you, Ron!
Unfortunate that Segura isn’t still around, instead of playing 3B for the Marlins he could have slid to 3B for the Phil’s with Bohm moving to 1B.
Aw, bummer 😉
Would be surprised if Hanser Alberto didn’t make the WSox roster. Good spring and they need the infield depth.
A question for Von and other Phillies fans, would it make more sense to go after another 3B in trade or FA and move Bohm to 1B?
Or if Gurriel makes the Marlins squad, would a trade for Cooper make sense?
I think they’re stick with their internal options. I don’t forsee a trade unless they drastically need more offense at the deadline. They have decent IF and OF depth, and Hoskins glove isn’t too tough to replace. His bat is another story. To your point though, it’s not necessarily a 1B they need. They have plenty of 1B/DH types.
Even though he was streaky, Hoskins had a great bat. Hard to see players go down like that. Especially this close to the regular season starting.
Just because Gurriel makes the teams bench, it doesn’t mean Cooper is automatically getting traded. But by all means, blow them away with an offer.
When the Marlins signed him, Ng said that she expected Gurriel to compete for the starting job. Meaning if he made the team, it would be because he was the starter.
Blowing them away for the often injured Cooper would be a prospect somewhere in the 20-30 range on the Phillies farm.
If health & opportunity allow it I think this is the year that Kris Bubic turns the corner & becomes a solid part of the Royals rotation.
Royals… Worst staff in baseball
Just go full circle and go trade for RUF