As the 2023 season nears its conclusion, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:
1. Rays Stadium Announcement Incoming:
Yesterday, it was reported that the Rays are poised to announce an agreement to build a new stadium in St. Petersburg. That announcement is expected to come today, and with it more details on the coming ballpark can be expected. The stadium is expected to be ready in 2028, the year after Tampa Bay’s lease at Tropicana Field expires. The off-the-field victory for the club comes as the team on the field is enjoying an unprecedented run of success, with a 92-59 record so far this season and a fifth consecutive postseason berth clinched. With the Rays on the verge of settling their stadium situation and the A’s putting the finishing touches on a bid to move from Oakland to Las Vegas, the biggest hurdle for league expansion that commissioner Rob Manfred has publicly mentioned in the past has been cleared. Of course, expansion must be collectively bargained with the MLBPA, meaning there are still hurdles to clear before MLB welcomes its thirty-first and thirty-second teams.
2. Correa Exits:
Twins shortstop Carlos Correa exited yesterday’s game in the first inning after feeling a “pop” in his left heel, as relayed by The Athletic’s Dan Hayes. Correa, of course, has been playing through plantar fasciitis during most of the 2023 campaign. The injury has seemingly impacted the 28-year-old star at the plate, as he’s slashed just .230/.312/.399 in 135 games while leading the majors with 30 double plays grounded into. As Hayes notes, the Twins and Correa have opted against a trip to the injured list throughout the season because a full recovery would require several months of downtime.
That sort of lengthy absence would have been imprudent with the Twins in the midst of a tight race for the AL Central crown throughout most of the season. Though the club hasn’t yet mathematically clinched the division title, Minnesota enjoys a comfortable seven-game lead over the Guardians in the division with just 11 games left to play and none of them being head-to-head. That healthy lead in the division race could lead the club to contemplate a trip to the IL for Correa or, at the very least, resting their marquee shortstop more aggressively in the days ahead in order to help him stay reasonably fresh for the coming postseason push.
3. Rodriguez to undergo testing:
Tigers left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez exited yesterday’s 8-3 loss against the Dodgers in the fourth inning due to what the club has termed a scapula spasm. Over three innings of work last night, Rodriguez surrendered five runs on five hits and a walk while striking out just one. As noted by Chris McCosky of The Detroit News, the lefty is expected to undergo further testing before being re-evaluated today. While the coming update won’t have much impact on Tigers club that’s on the verge of being mathematically eliminated from the postseason, Rodriguez’s health could impact him as he looks ahead toward a likely return to free agency this coming November, having the ability to opt out of the three years left on his contract. With a strong 3.57 ERA and 3.65 FIP across 24 starts this season, the 30-year-old Rodriguez figures to rank fairly highly among starting options on the market this offseason, though it’s possible an injury that runs the risk of impacting him headed into 2024 could alter that perception.
Maybe those doctors who looked at Correa’s medical and advised against those long contracts weren’t so dumb after all.
Plantar fasciitis can happen to anyone. It sucks and it is debilitating. However it is 100% repairable. Usually it is rest and cortisone shots. Sometimes surgery is required but that’s rare. That has nothing to do with when the medicals they were looking at in the off season.
It’s pretty much always something with the Uber brittle Carlos Correa.
So now Correa’s left foot is a concern as well… I dont see him aging well, at all. Kudos to the Giants and Mets medical staff, so far it seems both clubs dodged a bullet.
The issue that’s caused him problems this year has nothing to do with why the Giants and Mets passed on him. He likely still has good years in front of him. That said, I also think both teams dodged a bullet long term based on the contract lengths discussed.
The point I was making was, if Correa is having all these issues already (back, left ankle, right foot etc etc) this early into his contract, I don’t necessarily see him being a spring chicken later down the road.
Do you realize how common that foot injury is? I got it from going up and down a ladder at 28 years old.
Well aware. Had it when I was younger, ironically when playing baseball was when I realized I had it. Regardless of how “common” it is, it still is debilitating. To the point when you have a serious flare up you can hardly walk. So common or not, fact remains Correa has it, and thats still an issue.
Correa has quite a bit of injury history, but he’s been essentially at or over 600 PA the last 3 years. He ranks 33 in all MLB in plate appearances over that time. A non-serious foot injury isn’t a cause for concern IMHO.
Fair enough. I will however point out that from my professional experiences there are bodies that can handle wear and tear and others which can not. Its still a little early but imo Correa’s injuries are pointing to a road that his body wont be able to handle wear and tear well. Only time will tell, and I truly wish him the best and hope that I am wrong.
Hey DugoutJester, looks like you aren’t (weren’t) the only one concerned with Correa’s longevity. After his highly productive 2021 season, you’d think the Astros would’ve backed up the Brinks truck to his front door and hit the dump button. Hmm.
I don’t know if I’d say “kudos”, as the idea of giving Carlos Correa a 12 to 13 year deal was kind of asinine to begin with. And those clubs, specifically the Mets – who really didn’t need that kind of signing at the time, should be ashamed of themselves for even having thought of it. It was more like lucking out by finding something sufficiently wrong to pull back the contract offer.
As a fan of mlb and not of any team per se, it’s disappointing to see injuries ruin Carlos’ career. The back , feet etc. Like him or not , first five years looked like a hof in the making. Great bat and defence. Fun to watch. Electric. Despite public persona his teammates love him always.
Such is baseball.
This Tiger fan is hoping for a opt by E-rod, but if he is too afraid to do so then its not that big of deal as the Tigers could then trade someone else. The Tigers could re film the movie failure to launch with all of it’s pitching that still has not established itself for years now. Sure it’s because of injuries, but they have new pitchers waiting to come up full time, and now it’s creating a log jam of sorts.
E-rod staying would only add to the jam. The big watch for the Tigers is can Miggy surpass Ripken in hits ? He needs 19 with 12 games left. Can he do it, or does he even care about doing it ? Obviously he’s going to go for it as it does represent a challenge of sorts. Now if his only one desire is passing Beltre, then we can all believe that. The Ripken goal is something fans or his teammates would love to see him do as it’s like a possibility to do so. Something to root for anyways ending the season. I hope he makes it.
I don’t see ERod leaving. Between his unwillingness to go to LA and his injury history, the guaranteed money to stay where he is likely his safety choice.
Are you really advocating ditching your only proven good and reliable starter so your prospects can flourish? No teams do this. Every team wants a bare minimum of at least 2 proven rotation arms on the roster, but preferably 4. People get hurt throughout the season, and there are plenty of opportunities for Tigers prospects.
I think E Rod is just what what the Bengals need with that young staff. Not only is he a veteran innings eater. He’s also pretty good.
Miggy isn’t getting 19 hits in 12 games. He’ll be lucky to play in 8 of them. The last 6 are home games, so he might play in 5-6 of those.
ERod? He’s probably done for the season. My guess? He does not opt out.
Congratulations to Adam Wainwright for his 200th career win. As awful as he has been at times this year, there was a time I didn’t think he’d make it. But he turned back the clock against two first place teams to win #s 199 and 200 and got it done! A great professional!
The baseball gods spared him—barely.
He wouldn’t be able to sleep at night knowing he was stuck at 199. One thing you could never question was Waino’s effort, and that’s why he ultimately reached 200.
“If you talked to him right before the game, and if he’s being really honest, he was being held up by duct tape before the game started, and for him to go out there and do what he did is highly impressive.” – Manager Oliver Marmol
briar-patch, Yankees bleacher Creature: Thank you for doing a very good job of completing The Opener. I realize Correa’s and Rodriquez’ boo-boos are of the utmost importance to fans of teams that will likely not make it far in the PO and one that is about to be officially eliminated from the PO, but players like Wainwright and the struggles he went through to reach such a lofty goal is also worth a mention. I’m sure MLBTR will have an article about it later today. And I can’t help think that if Miggy played in NY or for the LAD that he’d get more press outside of Detroit. We aren’t going to see a player who has accomplished what he has come along very often.
I am just glad he achieved this because I feel like if he hadn’t Sliderwithcheese would have had a little satisfaction in his miserable life.
I am very happy for him and it’s good for baseball. 200 is nothing to trifle with and makes one appreciate the career he put together. And I hear it couldn’t happen to a nicer guy, does massive charity work and gives back to the community in droves.
The league doesn’t need to expand, it needs to contract. Too many players in MLB that shouldn’t be there now, nevermind adding two more teams. The product is awful because the talent is way too thin.
BaseballClassic: 100% agree. Look at the selection teams have when one of their players goes down. DFAs, washed up players who signed minor league contracts to try to hang onto their careers, etc. ERAs in the 4s are now considered acceptable. Before expansion that would get you a one-way ticket home. The standards have definitely dropped each time there is expansion. I can’t wait for a pitcher with a 12-10 record and an ERA in the 5s win a Cy Young award and the MVP given to a player with 80 HRs and 200 RBIs against the diluted pitching throughout the game.
I am not too sure about this. Can you give me some specific examples of guys who don’t belong in the majors
and are only playing because the talent level is so diluted ? If the talent level was so diluted wouldn’t we be seeing huge astronomical offensive stats from some of the greatest players??
I just can’t believe MLB is looking to expand. The talent as it is now is spread so thin, and with the epidemic of injuries we have players on major league rosters who have no business there. Two more teams give about 30 .200 hitters more life.
I don’t think it would be as watered down as everyone says it would be. 30 .200 hitters now have starting jobs would come with 30 pitchers with 5.50 ERAs and they would cancel out
Best post of the day!
You can say the same about pitching. It evens out. If you build it, they will come. The numbers are there for MLB to make more money.
YankeesBleacherCreature: And that, in itself, is a shame. People who have no knowledge of the past – including this year – will think the elevated numbers are normal. Hopefully they’ll look up the greats of the game and see what used to be considered good.
@Avengers Sports evolve and playing styles change. It’s not exclusive to baseball. I always find the debates of Jordan/Lebron/Kobe as being GOAT in the NBA futile. 300 career wins, and Ripken’s
consecutive games streak, and Rickey’s SB record are things of the past. The current system of play doesn’t allow players to achieve those things anymore.
$$$ It’s always about money. They ruined college football, and this dingaling in charge of baseball is doing all he can to ruin MLB as well.
There should be no commas around “at the very least” in the second Correa paragraph.