On the heels of an early-morning deal, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:
1. Position Players arrive in camp:
While many hitters report to camp early, today marks the date position players are meant to report to camp for roughly a third of the league, along with the first full-squad workouts for many teams. It’s the final reporting date of the spring, after which point all players are expected to be at Spring Training (with some exceptions such as those for players dealing with visa issues or that have yet to sign). Teams reporting today include a 101-win Orioles club that added ace right-hander Corbin Burnes just before camp began but announced a UCL sprain for last year’s ace right-hander, Kyle Bradish, shortly thereafter, as well as a Mariners club that completely retooled its starting lineup this winter after missing the postseason by just one game last year.
2. When will Anderson sign?
Reporting over the weekend indicated that the Marlins recently extended an offer to longtime White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson. The Marlins have long been considered an obvious fit for the 30-year-old, who flashed star potential at times from 2019-22 as he hit .318/.347/.474 while earning two All Star appearances, a Silver Slugger award, and an AL batting title. All that came crashing down in 2023, however, as Anderson posted the lowest wRC+ among all major league regulars last year while turning in characteristically average defense at shortstop. In spite of Anderson’s struggles, however, a weak market for shortstops leaves him as one of the best available, and few teams have a bigger need at the position than Miami.
Though the Marlins have been connected to Anderson most frequently throughout the winter, they aren’t the only team for whom the shortstop could make some sense. The A’s have a clear hole at shortstop and have added other bounceback candidates such as Alex Wood and Ross Stripling this winter, while the Angels or Giants could use Anderson as a veteran complement to youngsters Zack Neto and Marco Luciano, respectively. With position players now reporting to Spring Training, will Anderson get a deal done in the coming days?
3. What does the Hendriks deal mean for Woodruff?
As previously mentioned, right-hander Liam Hendriks agreed to a two-year guarantee with the Red Sox earlier this morning. The relief ace is coming off an injury-marred 2023 campaign and is set to miss most of the 2024 season, though has been among the very best arms in the game when healthy in recent years. In many ways, his free agency greatly resembled that of right-hander Brandon Woodruff, who dominated to a 2.28 ERA in 11 starts last year but struggled with shoulder issues before eventually going under the knife back in October. Like Hendriks, Woodruff isn’t expected to return to the mound until the mid-summer at the earliest but has been an elite arm in the past.
Could Woodruff’s market begin to pick up with Hendriks off the board? Early indications were that Woodruff could pursue a two-year guarantee of his own this winter, though there hasn’t been much buzz regarding his free agency this winter outside a loose connection to the Mets earlier in the offseason.
Dodgers sign Woodruff challenge
Roberto Osuna should get another shot in the majors, even if it’s a minor league deal
Why would Hendriks’ market impact Woodruff’s when one’s a RP and one’s a potential ace. Seems like Mahle, Kershaw or another starting pitcher in that particular situation would be more comparable.
It’s not so much about them having a similar market but about the fact that another injured piycher signed a two-year deal just yesterday, so that type of contract is fresh in everyone’s mind. Mahle probably is a better comp as an SP, but he signed months ago.
D-Nice: It’s not exactly the same situation, but a lot of people thought that Ohtani’s TJS would lower his contract. The Dodgers didn’t take much of a gamble by signing him because, unlike Hendricks and Woodruff, Ohtani will play this year. And he’ll be back pitching in 2025, hopefully just like Hendriks and Woodruff, both of whom are top level pitchers.
Cubs better Sign Belli, Woodruff?
murphy8: Woodruff is off the table. Of the Boras Four+, I think Bellinger is asking way too much based on the fact he can hit in the Wrigley band box but not in Dodgers stadium. He might come crawling back to the cubs at their offer, not bellinger’s.
Bellinger and Chapman both came up in 2017. Chapman’s career WAR is 31 compared to 22 for Bellinger. Chapman is way more consistent with a ton less downside. I suspect it could be buyer’s remorse for whoever signs Bellinger. I’d much rather have Chapman for the Cubs, personally. Gold gloves at SS/3b sets up your team defense nicely.
Teams should be all over Woodruff. I think that dude will be great upon return… he’s certainly a worthy investment, with more upside than anybody else who is available other than Snell, apart from 2024.
Talk about a comment aging quickly.
Anderson’s request for a statue probably is impacting his potential signing.
Dude, I did just lose my coffee.
I’d rather have Acuna or So-so or Carrol.
“Request for a statue”…Bro, you almost made me lose my coffee on that one. Lol.
Am I blind or is there still 0 updates about the Boras Five? Like I haven’t even seen rumors of teams having interest or making contact. What is going on lmao
The Bally’s fiasco is what is going on. Most of the teams in baseball have local TV income uncertainty which is keeping them from long term commitments or even short term for some.
“The Bally’s fiasco”…Dead on. Apparently Scott Boras doesn’t read the baseball news or understand the market, because this was probably a bad year to promise clients the moon. A few guys opted out to later sign lesser contracts, so Boras isn’t the only one who misread the market.
Boras took the winter off. His clients are the worse off for it.
The Hendricks signing makes sick. The White Sox (Reinsdorf) marketed his return to the field in 2023 as if he was the most important piece of their puzzle. Smoke and mirrors, all Reinsdorf cared about with his return was an increase of ticket sales. What a dump of an organization, that I supported over 60 years. They can lose every game this year and it won’t bother me one bit! Benitteni
What is Anderson waiting for? How many offers could he possible have after being one of, if not, the worst player in baseball last year?
CTE maybe? He did take a pretty good shot of melatonin last year.
Anderson’s ego won’t allow him to accept the currently low market value for him. Unfortunately, if he doesn’t play, his value will never rise. As I never really thought he was a capable SS, I take exception to the summary’s statement that he is one of the best available at the position. Ahmed is much better defensively, and Rosario is much more reliable.