With the Winter Meetings now in the rear view mirror, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:
1. Will the Orioles change hands?
The Orioles are coming off a sensational season that saw them post an AL-best record of 101-61 as the core of young talent cultivated by GM Mike Elias and his front office in recent years finally came to fruition. While the club seems sure to once again be a force to be reckoned with in 2024, recent news created some off-the-field uncertainty for the Orioles’ regarding their future. Reporting indicated yesterday afternoon that David Rubenstein, co-founder of the Carlyle Group, was in talks to acquire the Orioles from the Angelos family. It’s unknown at what level those talks are occurring, but a change in ownership as the Orioles enter their competitive window could be a game changer for a club that (according to Cot’s Baseball Contracts) has posted a bottom-five payroll in the majors each of the past five seasons.
2. How much do the Diamondbacks have left to spend?
After reportedly agreeing to a four-year, $80MM contract with left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez to shore up the club’s rotation, the Diamondbacks have dipped their toes into uncharted territory with regards to their payroll. The reigning NL champions have never posted a payroll higher than $131MM (per Cot’s) and yet RosterResource now projects the club for a $133MM payroll in 2023 as things currently stand. Will GM Mike Hazen and his front office have more room to spend as they follow up on last year’s deep postseason run? If there is additional payroll space in Arizona, the club is reportedly interested in offensive additions, including at DH.
3. Contracts waiting to be finalized:
Several contracts from the winter meetings have not yet been finalized and formally announced by their clubs at this point. Of particular noted are the pending one-year deal between utilityman Nick Senzel and the Nationals as well as the reported three-year agreement between infielder Jeimer Candelario and the Reds, as the deals would leave Washington and Cincinnati without any remaining space on their 40-man roster. That’ll force them to make corresponding moves for future additions to the 40-man this offseason. Other deals that have not yet been made official include the one between Arizona and Rodriguez as well as yesterday’s pact between the Mets and right-hander Jorge Lopez.
DBacks have more to spend after their WS run. Owner saw how much he made from that and wants to keep doing it so willing to spend
Those figures seemed underwhelming to me in the grand scheme of things. I do hope they keep spending thou ! They are fun to root for. And ERod might be my fav signing of the offseason. Great mid rotation piece to compliment top 2 guys
Either go all out and spend or follow the Rays system and be cheap but competitive. Tired of some of the teams like Pittsburgh and Jokeland using the CBT system to pocket extra money.
Dbacks will get JD or trade for Eloy
No please on Jiminez, and Martinez may wind up being a bit too prohibitive. Since we’re in uncharted territory it’s important to not forget to set aside money for mid-season acquisitions.
The Diamondbacks had almost $48 come off the books with Bumgarner/Ahmed/Melancon/Longoria/Gurriel all becoming free agents so it would seem even after the additions of Eduardo Rodriguez and Eugenio Suarez there is still money to spend from that pool, let alone whatever increases ownership decides to make
DBacks have Bumgarner ‘s contract on the books this season then he is off the books.
Thank God!
Who hurt you?
Great to sell a franchise at peak value ! After all these terrible years selling the franchise would be like icing on the sweetest cake ever for Os fans. Unless of course….well, jbh, how doesn’t the Nashville Orioles sound ??
It’ll never happen. $600m earmarked for improving Camden, and a sleeping giant of a fan base.
I thought Baltimore fans accepted that their teams will move to a new city in the middle of the night.
You thought wrong. That happened 40 years ago and lots of Marylanders still angry.
As I recall, the last time a team moving where Baltimore was involved got them a team, though it did happen in the middle of the night.
The last time a team moving where Baltimore was involved was the Ravens so idk about that one chief.
Should be over it now. The ravens are a much better franchise and we have a significantly better owner than drunk Irsay.
And that’s how the Maryland Stadium Authority was born. The sweetheart deals we give the Ravens and O’s ensures long-term stability. It’s almost the price of doing business with smaller markets.
Sleeping giant fanbase AKA Fairweather fanbase. I hope Angelos keeps them and in 4-6 years they suck ass again and the “great” fanbase disappears again.
The guy trying to buy them is from Baltimore so that’s a good sign as far as them moving to Nashville and I won’t say it will never happen but it will never happen lol
Not happening
Orioles & Guardians match up perfect for a trade
Bieber to the O’s for Santandar maybe throw in a couple prospects on both sides but both of them are Free Agents after next year and they both fill a need for the other
Os fan says yes to that trade!
As an Orioles fan, I’ll pass. Would rather get a higher upside pitcher. Preferably with control. And ironically I’d rather deal prospects. Santander helps us get a WS this year.
You have better higher upside guys ready to take Santandar’s spot. He is only signed for one more year as is Bieber.
Please sell the team. Please please please. The sleazebag John Angelos trying to steal more from the taxpayers in order to sign a new stadium lease. Please go away Angelos family
Perhaps these talks have been ongoing, running parallel to a rapidly declining Peter Angelos, and John jockeying to grasp at control of land to increase the value of the franchise or hand new ownership a blank area for development around the stadium is all just part of the plan or negotiations. When Peter goes down, so does the tax liability incurred on profits made from the sale of the club.
If Hazen can manage to swing something like JD Martinez and Trevor Bauer both signed, that would probably put the team in a extremely good spot. Not only would those two shore up the line up and rotation respectively, a rotation of Gallen, Kelly, Rodriguez, Bauer, and Pfaadt would allow the team to use their wide range of pitching prospects to shore up the pen.
I would love for them to sign Bauer again.
Bauer? You want that scumbag on your team? Most—if not all—teams will avoid him like the plague. And rightly so.
Someone hasn’t been paying attention.
Found not guilty
J leathal86 — No,the LAPD declined to press charges b/c they felt it was too much he said/she said and not enough evidence. Very different than “not guilty.” Bauer’s history—including statements he made—suggest a very unsavory and potentially dangerous guy.
Did you see the evidence that actually came out.? Lindsay Hill is a POS.
Bauer shouldn’t be blackballed for that situation.
Can’t see D’Back Management offering Bauer a contract, DBack Management is really a standup franchise with the community, and Bauer’s past I would really be shocked if the D’Backs even answer the phone call if he called.
They would if they could get him for cheap. He is a redemption story waiting to happen. The guy deserves another chance after that succubus tried to ruin his life.
I’ve read recently that the D’Backs have had discussions with Tampa Bay concerning Arozarena, said Tampa Bay may ask for Perdomo or Lawler plus prospects. Said that the Rays are looking for a shortstop and want to reduce payroll. Has anybody else heard about this story.?
If the Rays are looking for a SS it means they know that Franco is done and his contract will inevitably be voided and also seems that they don’t think Basabe is ready for an everyday role. Whether any of that is true remains to be seen but we’ve also heard the Braves have inquired about Arozarena so who knows…
Doubt the Braves have any interest in Arozarena after trading for Kelenic.
The best thing that could happen to the Orioles, especially now that they are relevant again would be to be rid of all ties to the Angelos family once and for all
The D-Backs will fall back to earth in 2024. You’d think The FO would know this. Teams have a breakout year that wasn’t expected this soon and they don’t stay with their plans and start trading and spending like crazy.
Man oh man what a dream first the commanders get rid of Dan Snyder then possibly the orioles get a new owner also. My wishes for years and years may finally come true.
Arozarina would make our new uni’s look even better. I’ll believe it when I see it. Would be Amazing!