One the heels of all but 22 arbitration-eligible players around the league agreeing to deals yesterday, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:
1. Cubs to introduce Imanaga:
The Cubs are expected to introduce newly-signed lefty Shota Imanaga in a press conference at 2pm CT this afternoon (h/t to Yuki Yamada of Sankei Sports) just hours before the team’s annual Cubs Convention kicks off this weekend. Imanaga signed in Chicago earlier this week on a four-year, $53MM deal with opt-outs after the second and third years that can be voided if the club exercises a fifth year club option that would take the total commitment to $80MM. Adding the lefty isn’t the only move the Cubs have made in recent days, and president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer will surely be asked about the prospect-for-prospect swap that brought infielder Michael Busch to the Cubs from the Dodgers yesterday in addition to the signing of Imanaga. To acquire Busch and right-handed reliever Yency Almonte, the Cubs surrendered a pair of recent draftees: left-hander Jackson Ferris (2022 second round) and outfielder Zyhir Hope (a 2023 11th-rounder who signed an over-slot $400K bonus, the equivalent of fifth-round money).
2. Yankees roster moves incoming:
The Yankees deepened their pitching staff yesterday, adding right-hander Luke Weaver on a major league deal in the afternoon before signing veteran righty Marcus Stroman to a two-year pact last night. Stroman, in particular, is a significant boost to the rotation behind Gerrit Cole, filling out a staf that also includes Carlos Rodon, Nestor Cortes, and Clarke Schmidt. Deepening the rotation mix has left something of a roster crunch in the Bronx. The club already had a full 40-man roster, so they’ll need to clear two spots for Weaver and Stroman in the coming days. The club could accomplish this simply by designating two players for assignment, though an alternative solution could be working out a minor trade with another club to acquire non-roster talent in exchange for players towards the back of the club’s 40-man.
3. Kranick in DFA Limbo:
In order to make room for newly-signed lefty Martin Perez on the 40-man roster, the Pirates designated right-hander Max Kranick for assignment last week. The seven-day period during which Kranick can be left in DFA limbo expires this afternoon, meaning a conclusion is expected sometime today. Kranick, 26, was an 11th-round pick in the 2016 draft by Pittsburgh and came up to the majors with the club back in 2021. The righty pitched to a 5.56 ERA in 43 2/3 innings of work across 11 appearances for the Pirates between 2021 and 2022 before he underwent Tommy John surgery in June of the latter year.
The righty didn’t appear in the majors 2023 due to a lengthy rehab but returned to action in the minor leagues toward the end of the season, posting a strong 2.76 ERA in 16 1/3 innings of work at the Triple-A level. Kranick has a very solid Triple-A track record (3.72 ERA, 19% strikeout rate, 7.2% walk rate), but he’s also out of minor league options and therefore would need to be carried on any club’s active roster or else exposed to waivers again. If Kranick goes unclaimed, the righty figures to be outrighted to the minors by the Pirates, where he’ll serve as depth at the Triple-A level entering the season.
It isn’t often a top 100 prospect just gets dumped off in a low return trade like this.
Top-50, at that. That was the best offer on the table?
I don’t know about “low return.” Second highest regarded arm in the Cubs system, only 19. Could possibly be the Dodgers’ best pitching prospect 1 year from now. The poor defensive Busch was rotting away on the Dodgers’ 40-man roster.
The guys they got are teenagers who have potential to be elite prospects 1-2 years from now.
They also have the potential to be nobodies. That’s the risk with young pitchers. Busch has his flaws but is ready to help now. If Jake Burger, and Bohm can play 3B, don’t see why Busch can’t handle the position.
Ferris is definitely not a low return. Out of all the prospects in the Cubs, highly regarded, farm system, Ferris and Horton were the only two I would not have dealt. Odds are Ferris will be catapulted into the top 100 by mid-season.
I’m hoping Busch will catch on with Kelly. I’m curious if Kelly worked with Busch after he was drafted at all.
From what I hear from local Chicago Sports talk radio. Take that for what it’s worth. Ferris is a pretty good prospect. Only 19 so a young prospect. He’s like 6’ 4” and a lefty and shows off very good pitching mechanics. One host mentioned that in 3-4 years especially with a team like the Dodgers he’s likely to be the next Clayton Keyshawn. We’ll see.
Top 50 prospect? Seriously? He is 26 years old
Josh Jung made his debut at 25. He had similar offensive numbers as Michael Busch at AAA and had similar questions about the defense. I think the dominance at AAA warrants Busch to be a top 50 prospect despite the age and glove questions.
Hey Nick, Ferris was a 2022 draftee.
The Yankees are just scraping the bottom of the barrel. Bargain basement shoppers lol let’s see if they make a deal with snell. They need a 1 , 2 punch in the rotation. Cole, Stroman is not it. Cole, Snell could work.
How about Rodon??? He simply wasn’t healthy last year. Don’t forget how great he was in 21 and 22, an absolutely ace.
Counting on Rodon to be healthy is wishful thinking as this has Pavano written all over it. The AL East will tear him up so don’t expect anything worthy from this clown.
You can make that argument also for Buehler, Glasnow, Kershaw, deGrom, Scherzer etc. Rodon was at least healthy in 21 and 22….
He had a career year with the Giants and the Yanks fell for him. In the Yankee stadium he may be good for a game but no more.
Couldn’t agree more!
Rodon has had 2 good, healthy seasons out of 7 in his career.
Bustometer high here.
Was an ace for first half of 22. Last two months was pretty much washed up. Will go down as one of the worst contracts given by NYY.
I still haven’t given up on Monty signing with the Yankees, starting to think the Yankees will make a trade for Jesus Lazardo or Edward Cabrera or both instead. The Yankees definitely have the pieces the Marlins would want. I can definitely see Everson Pereira, George Lombard, Ben Rice and Will Warren/Clayton Beeter going to the Marlins. It definitely looks like Jasson Dominguez, Spencer Jones, and Chase Hampton are untouchable right now.
Monty doesn’t want to come back, so there’s your hurdle. A trade is more likely.
I bet if the Yankees threw about $200 million over 7 years he’d sign right now & all would be forgiven. I get it, he was disrespected being traded for an outfielder still in a “walking boot” Monty could be that #2 in the rotation that the Yankees desperately need. Why pay Snell more? When you could sign Jordan Hicks or Josh Hader also.
I would NOT give him 200 million. Monty is good, but at most he’s a #3, and we just got Stroman for a heck of a lot less to fill that type of role in the rotation.
“#3” What?
4.2 WAR last year, and averaging 3.1 WAR over the past 3 years. What 3rd Starters are you hanging out with?
@Salzilla- $192 million for 6 years and a team option for Monty is definitely worth it, he’s definitely proven he can be a #2 in any pitching rotation after how he pitched in the postseason in 2023 beating teams like the Orioles & the Astros. Get it done Cashman!
1.Cole
2.Monty
3.Stroman
4.Rodon
5.Cortés/Schmidt/Weaver/Gil.
Because Snell is better than Monty?
That’s a pretty sick rotation
Personally I’d have to see him repeat it to be anointed a number 2, but that’s just me. I just think that valuation is too high. I liked him, but i never felt like he was that. Even last year’s performance…it wasnt done here which is indeed a thing. You can be a #2 anywhere, but here it comes with a whole different set of baggage.
Snell has won 2 Cy Youngs, that’s a dude I slot in there at #2 and give that same money to even though I’m not he could take NY either, but at least we’ve heard he wants to!
@DrCox- yeah Maybe, but Monty is cheaper then Snell. I want Monty and Jordan Hicks instead of just Snell.
A little bit cheaper, yes, but it’s not a huge difference. And it’s not our money Snell could defer some money
Snell was reportedly offered $150 million for 5 years by the Yankees, and he turned it down. I would of offered Snell $192 million for 6 years and a club option for a 7th season, and seen if he would of taken it. The Yankees should offer that contract to Monty right now.
6 years and a club option for a 7th year sounds good to me. If he doesn’t accept, move quickly on. My only concern with him is his high walk%. I usually don’t like pitchers with high walk%…..
You guys do realize that from a players perspective (generally speaking), a club option adds negative value to a deal right?
Players will take a 6 Yr deal over a 6 Yr deal with a team option almost every time. Unless the option is for some crazy high amount.
That’s true, but a lot of players still accept that
@99CaptainJudge99 You claim that Monty will be cheaper in one post, in a tone that suggests noticeably so, before your following post suggests offering them the same contract. Which is it?
True, but too often Im seeing people throw in the ‘and Team option at the end of the contract’ as if they’re sweetening the deal. Which it kinda sounds like theyre doing here.
Snell will want a 6 or 7 year deal, with an Opt Out in the middle, not a
Team Option at the end. This is what most of the big pitchers are asking for these days.
JMO
Cap – You know signing Monty would cost more than double the value of the contract, right? Assuming they don’t get back below the CBT threshold.
So this year alone, that $200M contract you suggest would cost the Yankees $60M. No player in MLB is worth that kind of money.
Cap99: That’s exactly the problem with the Yankees, imho. It’s exactly what has put them in the position to need Stroman and got them to be a non-playoff team last season. Cashman is past his best years and he wasn’t good at building a complete roster to begin with.
Nonetheless, if they want to maximize this season, they *need* to pay whatever the market bares for Snell or Monty. They simply don’t have a choice; but it seems that ever since the Harper offseason they have really been out of touch with true market value, thereby continuing to miss on FA targets that they need in order to win.
Cashman is a dinosaur. He’s slowing down and wasn’t great to begin with (although he will be a HOF GM, imo). His strengths cannot overcome his weaknesses and whether it’s Cashman or Hal, if he cannot simply outspend everyone he can’t put a winning playoff team on the field.
Jonathan Paplebon made an excellent point during his FT interview: he said, “Culture eats analytics for breakfast.” Cashman doesn’t seem to understand that it’s not just about money for Snell over Stroman, but the clubhouse impact as well.
Fever-the Yankees should of never signed Stroman. Monty or Snell were the pitchers to sign. I would of apologized to Monty for disrespecting him, and trading him for a player in a walking boot, but there is no humility on the Yankees part ever. They continue to do this to themselves. We know Monty can pitch in NY already. Let’s face it a lot of pitchers just can’t.
Clipper- I’ve had it with this penny pinching from the Yankees. I agree with your comments 100%. Stroman wasn’t a good signing at all. Monty or Snell were the pitchers to sign. The Yankees will definitely regret this later on. $180-185 for 5 seasons for Snell seems fair. If he hates NY, then give him an opt out after 2 or 3 years. If you have to kiss Monty’s fanny, and tell him how sorry you were that you traded him for a player in a walking boot, and then take him out for a seafood dinner. Smh. Hang in there, Clipper.
Yankees are finished with rotation and likely try to add a high level bullpen arm such as Hicks
Too many questions there and not enough depth, so I don’t think they are. I think one more is coming via trade.
Trade with the Marlins isn’t happening without Jones. They have made that clear. I wish Monty would come back too but I doubt he wants to return. Rodon had a great year in 22 and the talent has always been there. His problem has always been he is made of glass. That’s why the White Sox cut him loose after 21 instead of paying his arb price. He is basically Carl Pavano 2.0 and you should come to terms with that. Don’t expect to see 2022 Rodon until 2028 when his contract is about to expire. Yankees probably should have given him some opt outs so he would stop sitting on the IL for 3 months every time he gets a boo boo. He doesn’t seem to enjoy the game and since Cashman gave him his fat contract I’m sure his only concern now is retiring without a major surgery.
Yankees shouldn’t trade Jasson or Jones, both have superstar potential. Both left handed, both are OF…. they would not need Soto anymore. At least if he’s not moving to 1B
If I were the Marlins, I’d make that deal for Cabrera, but it doesn’t clear enough room on the Yankee 40 man since they already need two spots for Weaver and Stroman.
Might need to be Peraza, Pereira, Warren and Lombard.
Bubba Thompson will soon be seeking new lodging as well.
Monty not going back. Waiting on Rangers to get their budget in order- broadcasting. Otherwise he probably has half a dozen other suitors. It’s a real shame probably 20 plus teams have no hope of signing him. Id like to see him in Baltimore. Probably not a chance of it though with their arb class. This is the year they should break the bank open.
The rotation is done. They might add another depth option, but they won’t be going for a fantasy five. What you see is what you get.
A $300M payroll team are “bargain basement shoppers” ?!? Cool story bro.
Shota coming to Chicago on the first big snow of the year lol. Poor guy. Someone please tell him it won’t be like this during the season.
He will be begging to be traded to San Diego for the weather alone…..
@Catuli Carl- Hey in Chicago, you really never know. Lol.
FA right!
It snows more in Japan, and is colder for longer… it’s the crap team around him that will make him think again. I can’t believe the Yankees didn’t even make an offer, seems nonitger teams made an offer..
Just keep in mind a fly ball pitcher doesn’t work out at Yankee Stadium, nobody keeps the ball on the ground as good as Stroman.
I suppose thru that lens, it makes sense. I just hope he’s not drama, he doesn’t seem wanted by places he’s pitched prior. I’ll be rooting for him this year.
I mean it’s put up or shut up time for Stroman, he’s got to just stop being obnoxious everywhere he goes. He’s back home so hopefully he’s chill now. It might be a good match at Yankee Stadium if he can behave himself.
Captain you’d think that someone with a 178iq would have known why Imanaga wasn’t a good fit for the Yankees. I question if he really has a 178iq.
Yeah Joe definitely an excellent point. You think Monty or Snell? Or are we done with the rotation? The White Sox want Jones back in a Cease deal, so that’s not happening. Edward Cabrera or Jesus Lazardo could be had in a trade also with the Marlins. Lmk. Pereira, Lombard, Schmidt and Warren for Lazardo.
Shota is not a flyball pitcher. He is a command pitcher. If he pitched in Seattle he would pitch higher for flyballs. If he pitched in New York he would pitch low for contact. He is a pitcher in the Kuroda mold.
I think we’re out on Snell. I do wonder if a trade involving Torres and Cortez (plus prospects not named Smith or Dominguez) to Miami for one of their pitchers may happen.
Imanaga is hands down healthier and better pitcher than Stroman. Stroman is a gamble. Imanaga’s fly balls are ONLY a worry if the Yankees can’t score again this season. Seems they are worried that they can’t out slug teams again so they are going with Stroman BECAUSE NONEONE WANTS HIM. The only player the Yankees have signed is someone with NO OTHER OPTIONS. some of you guys are so 2 dimensional. You can see past your nose.
The only way a starter gets to you before the deadline is a trade.
That “crap team” was a game away from the playoffs last year and will be better this season. Your ‘hater’ is showing.
Barely over .500 crap teams don’t win in the playoffs. Look at records of all the playoff teams last year. Should do your research before opening your big mouth. There wasn’t 1 team the cubs with their 4 games over .500 season were beating in the playoffs last season. and there are in the weakest division in MLB
That why Arizona won the pennant. They had the best record in the NL correct? Ask Tony LaRussa how he won a World Series winning what I believe was 86 games. Also why not ask Pinella why his Mariners did not win a WS when winning over 110 games during the regular season. You know less than nothing.
Hey, no fair. You looked farther back than just last year!
Agreed!! I am surprised more MLB teams didn’t beat that contract. Seems cheap for a very solid #3 pitcher that won’t get injured often. I am equally surprised to see the Yankees prefer Stroman at more money. They are pretty much the same pitcher.
Just curious about everyone else’s opinion, I know Boras does this every year, but I have to believe that dragging the major FAs out has to backfire at times. I would imagine that most of these FAs want a home this close to Spring Training and Teams are feeling the same about roster construction.
Clubberlang: Jurickson Profar is a past (and present) example of your stated free agent “backfiring” as brought forth by the hair slicked back, greasy, pinky ring fingered Scott Boras.
Michael Conforto too
Conforto got hurt in the offseason did he not?
It’s ok for Snell/Montgomery-a mix of old/struggling and even a PED cheat starter are landing 1-2yr deals in the 15 to 20mil per year range. They’ll both do very well.
Bellinger/Chapman will get 9 figure deals even if he stalls, but no one seems desperate to pay an inconsistent guy or the 30yo regressing guy like superstars.
Cws….what about Matt Carpenter?
Yeah…..for players well past their prime, hope the phone rings after teams lose out on better players. That’s not on the agent so much.
His tactics are dicey for the players who have just modest demand. Someone makes a legit good offer early & then that club moves on from the games while he fails at squeezing/finding motivated bidders for an okay client.
I’m sure he has been good for more than half his athletes. However, for a decent minority, it has probably done more harm. It I were an owner, and this agent put together a notebook about how my 2 war player was the next Griffey, I would end all conversations
Players have a choice to switch representation at any time. They know what they’re signing up for with Boras and the associated risks of getting burnt. A-Rod dumped Boras after opting-out of his contract in favor of using Goldman Sachs during his last contract negotiations with the Yankees. Every responsible free agent has a pitch deck and updated medicals.
Jake Arrieta was first offered same deal Darvish took from Cubs. 127m. Refused. Cubs pivoted to Darvish. Ended up taking 75 during spring training from Philly. Never earned another dollar. 52 million difference was probably the tax and agents commission on the 127. Was a big loss for Jake. Boras needs to learn from Kenny Rogers. Know when to hold ‘em know when to fold em.
Max kranik being DFA’d is one of the big stories today?
the day just started, Fraham_ give it time for other articles to come
SMH
Definitely a pickup for Chaim Breslow. Young, Controllable Pitcher – Could be our ACE of the future. 🙂
I couldn’t really think clearly on the late Stroman signing last night as I was dealing with something, but looking at it, the Yanks will need to trade or DFA more than a few pieces if they’re bringing someone else aboard. To me, that points to them moving away from Snell whereas last night I thought it still possible. Trading off a few guys for Luzardo makes more sense. If that’s 3-4 pieces, great. Then I’d pivot to possibly getting Hader at this point and make that pen a better weapon at the end of games. I’d feel like then NYY had done enough to be a playoff team, but right now not so much.
I’m not sure Stroman and Hader in the same locker room would be wise.
I’m not sure how much the Yankees are willing to spend but they need another pitcher and bullpen help. Truth be told I don’t love the offense either, too much station to station waiting on a home run type guys which isn’t translating well to those era.
To me, it looks like the Yankees will have to operate well above the luxury tax for several seasons. When GT leaves next year, they should really go hard after Arraez or someone other dynamic runner with elite contact skills.
Probably right on that first part, but roster wise it would be the most effective move they could make. For chemistry and money, I’d say probably Hicks would be better. Then again adding another guy with a bit of injury history makes me leary.
3yrs of Luzardo control is the highest price starter now in terms of trade capital. Marlins probably won’t deal him either. Would involve anyone’s elite prospects (minimum 2). No one can pull their perceived studs off the table and say “pick a few from our next tier” or include a vet player with limited contract control.
If they want another starter it’s thru a trade. Hader not going to NYC. He’s looking for 100 plus. Maybe is depends on how much Hader is willing to defer? He will need to defer
almost everything to end up in Dodger Blue. Roberts 110 wins second round exit to 88 win team!
As many health concerns as a rotation consisting of Cole, Rodon, Stro and Cortes has, it’s still a very good one. Those four plus that offense will put them in a solid playoff position come the deadline where they can add as needed.
I don’t expect the Yankees call it good with their current rotation. You don’t trade all the pitching they did for one year of Soto, have the reigning Cy young winner and ride out with 4 additional question marks.
I don’t love the Soto trade but the Yankees made their bed.
Yankees solution is not pitching,,,it is Soto, Judge and Domínguez healfty,,,it should be a explosive Bomb
I think it’s a dated philosophy in todays baseball but we will see.
Cubbies may have given up a couple future pitching stars to dodgers but so difficult to predict what will happen to pitchers 3-4-5 years from now.
Cashman is delirious