With MLB’s Seoul Series now in the books, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world heading into the weekend:
1. Article XX(B) Opt-Outs are today:
As a provision of the current collective bargaining agreement, uniform opt-out opportunities are provided to Article XX(B) free agents who are in camp with clubs on minor league deals. An Article XX(B) free agent is a player with at least six years of MLB service time who finished the prior season on a big league roster or injured list. The first of those aforementioned uniform opt-out opportunities is set for today at 1pm CT. At that point, any XX(B) eligible player can exercise their opt-out, which would leave their current club with a 48-hour window to either add them to the 40-man roster or release them. Players who remain in their current organization and are not added to the 40-man will have additional opt-out opportunities on May 1 and June 1.
Today’s opt-outs could be particularly impactful for clubs that have been ravaged by injuries in recent weeks. Teams looking for help on the positional side, such as the Reds and Rays, figure to benefit the most from today’s opt-outs, as sixteen of the 31 players with opt-out opportunities are hitters. Included amongst the names on that list are up-the-middle options such as Kolten Wong, Elvis Andrus, and Jake Marisnick as well as corner bats like Mike Moustakas and Garrett Cooper. By contrast, just five of them are starting pitchers, meaning teams facing pitching injuries such as the Marlins, Astros, and Yankees are far less likely to benefit from today’s opt-outs, though it’s at least feasible that a back-end arm or two such as Carlos Carrasco or Brad Keller could return to the open market.
2. Martinez deal to be made official:
The Mets and veteran slugger J.D. Martinez reached an agreement on a one-year deal yesterday that guarantees the 36-year-old a $12MM salary, though the majority of that money is deferred to reduce the net present value of the deal to just under $9MM per RosterResource. The Mets will need to clear space for Martinez on their 40-man roster assuming the deal, which is pending a physical, becomes official in the coming days. New York has no obvious candidates for a trip to the 60-day injured list, as right-hander Kodai Senga is on the verge of beginning a throwing program as he looks to return for a shoulder issue that has sidelined him this spring while fellow righty Max Kranick’s hamstring strain appears unlikely to sideline him for that long either. Barring a surprise injury or a setback for one of the two aforementioned players, that leaves the Mets in position to either designate a player for assignment or attempt to work out a trade of some sort that clears roster space.
3. Will the trade market heat up in the coming days?
The Mets are unlikely to be the only club looking to do 40-man roster maneuvering in the coming days, however. Between the impending opt-out opportunity for Article XX(B) veterans and the fact that Opening Day is fast approaching, teams have already begun to finalize their roster decisions ahead of the 2024 season. Clubs with full 40-man rosters hoping to add non-roster players to the Opening Day squad, whether they be veterans on minor league deals or top prospects who have yet to debut in the big leagues, will need to make room on their rosters in the coming days. That could lead to trades involving players already on the 40-man roster being moved elsewhere for non-roster pieces, allowing teams in need of 40-man space to recoup some value for a player rather than simply designating them for assignment.
Many trades of this caliber, such as the deal that sent outfielder Greg Jones from the Rays to the Rockies yesterday, are fairly minor. Others can be more significant, such as the deal between the Cubs and the Dodgers this offseason that saw the clubs swap top prospects, with Michael Busch headed to Chicago alongside reliever Yency Almonte. In return, the Dodgers cleared two spots on their 40-man roster while bringing back non-roster youngsters in left-hander Jackson Ferris and outfielder Zyhir Hope. Of course, it’s not always feasible for a team to work out a trade when they need 40-man roster space, though the flurry of transactions typically associated with Opening Day roster construction could help to spark a deal or two that might not otherwise get done.
Yup, definitely the three things to be keeping an eye on today in baseball.
Action!Action!Action! We want…well you get it.
Most of these guys are of minimal value–does anyone think of Moose as a “corner bat”? But if you are looking to plug a hole and have nothing to plug it with, maybe. The problem is who you are giving up on the 40. I’d wonder why a team wouldn’t have the depth to promote within for a few weeks.
Top story should be Ohtani being investigated for gambling by MLB. Shame on MLB Trade Rumors!
MLBTR doesn’t do ‘reporting’. They repost, discuss, and analyze the news reported by news organizations and sports reporters.
There are currently no articles or reports that I can find suggesting the MLB is investigating Ohtani, at the moment. Maybe they will, but it hasn’t happened yet.
MLBTR doesn’t and shouldn’t be making things up.
MLB doesn’t care that he gambled he makes too much money
How is Ohtani not being investigated for this at all? – I’m not saying he’s even remotely guilty but to not investigate him after 4.5 million was wired from his own bank account for gambling debts is crazy and completely biased.
What’s so wrong with paying off one’s gambling debts? Isn’t it usually a good thing to pay off your debts??
It is when The Mob is the lien holder.
Why would MLB comment on a likely investigation? As for wrong? Wire transfers to an illegal bookmaker or to another site to cover it up is certainly “wrong”. Then, if he did, there could be state and federal tax implications.
@dewey Ippei/Shohei wouldn’t have had to use an illegal bookmaker to transfer funds if they happened to live in one of the 40 states where sports betting is legal. I don’t see the long arm of the law being too concerned about the wire transfer and certainly MLB will just throw out a fine, if anything. (That’s been a precedent.) The only thing of pertinence in this entire brouhaha is if any of the bets went towards baseball. Other than that, it’s a much ado about nothing.
Sometimes wire transfers are used to save fees. There’s is little doubt both shoehi and his interpreter both understand Japanese and the word gambling. Sorry charlie Chan isn’t needed. It is sayonara ohtani and sorry charlie in my opinion.
From what I read, this is a FEDERAL INVESTIGATION. Interfering in a federal investigation is a crime. MLB, the Dodgers, Ohtani or anyone else should be commenting on things they know nothing about. Ohtani will speak when his lawyers let him.
Ignorant, money transfers $10k or more have to be reported to the IRS. Was this a loan, gift, etc? That could be why his attorney quickly changed what what was said.
Machine, we can all guess which can explain me sometimes being right. Let the investigations play out but if there were bets on baseball, a class action suit could come later from individuals who lost on draft kings, etc. This could be a nightmare far bigger than it presently is. Hopefully not but all sports by marrying the bookmaker (legal or otherwise) face this. If not a player, an umpire, a medical person or it could be a back room person with access. It’s why historically all betting was off limits.
Ignorant – That’s the old explanation from Ohtani.
The most recent explanation from Ohtani is the money was stolen from him.
Even if Ohtani switches back to the first explanation, it’s never a good idea to bail out an addicted gambler unless their life is in jeopardy. At the very least, okay pay off the debt but then require the gambler to pay back at least half the amount. Reduce his salary from $300K to $100K.
The addicted gambler is ohtani and his poor interpreter buddy is getting the chop Stix up the …. Poor guy spits out a made up story then gets accused of a made up story about his made up story. Confuscious say if it stinks its crap.
That’s what they said happened doesn’t mean that’s what actually happened. People lie everyday
I think we all know why.
Robby the robot got his marching orders from his masters to defer this as long as possible.
Why?
“How is Ohtani not being investigated”…This is perhaps a bit bigger than just MLB..Laws, such as racketeering, money laundering and wire fraud may have been broken and the Feds already have an active investigation. It’s smart for MLB to stand to the side and let the pros investigate first. After all, MLB is not a police agency and has no subpoena or real investigative power. Many times sports leagues let the authorities investigate(Wander Franco) and just accept the results of a through, authorized police investigation. There will be time for a through Ohtani investigation in the future if it’s necessary or warranted.
If the feds are involved, they may have told mlb not to interfere.
Who’s to say that the situation isn’t being investigated by law enforcement? That is likely occurring, and if the authorities find something indicating Ohtani had more involvement than just paying off debts (or, ahem, the interpreter stealing $4.5 million from Ohtani’s account), then MLB will likely take up the matter.
Well, this is a trade RUMORS site.
I suppose, like Moses supposes his toesez are a roses….
You could have a lot of fun….just making stuff up….
But then there’s that pesky integrity concept…doesn’t bother 90% of the population.
Let’s see how breathlessly MLBTR reports on Ohtani being “connected” to the Yakuza, “linked” to the Gambinos and “talking” to the Gottis.
In all seriousness, though, this site cannot ignore this story and still considered themselves unbiased third party analysts and experts. And before anyone says, “It’s a baseball trade rumors site,” just this week there will multiple reports about a potential mutiny within the MLBPA. The Ohtani story has seen several updates in the media since it was first reported, and those updates are not being featured here.
You could always stop complaining and pay for a subscription? Or stop using the site that you are complaining about.
Pay for a subscription to what? For what purpose?
I use this site for the same reasons you do; baseball news. MLBTR has proven they are willing to publish reports on baseball news and rumors outside of free agent/trade rumors. A story involving 4.5 million dollars, gambling and the highest paid baseball player of all time fits that category.
Is someone trading for Bart? Or is he getting DFA’d?
With the amount of roster talent and Minor League talent on the Oriole depth charts, I could see a trade or two happening if they and other clubs can match up. But the Orioles don’t have to do anything at this moment. But with younger talent in Baltimore pushing for playing time, that moment is coming soon.
Uniform opt-out opportunities? I bet most players would like to opt of those new uniforms, amirite
The latest Ohtani report I’ve found is the IRS is involved. MLBTR: Will you post this factual update?
wqkt.com/ohtanis-interpreter-and-another-man-under…
You are missing one important point, what is or isn’t published on here is none of your business. Literally. Not your business.
You found info elsewhere. Awesome. Now go comment on it there and let the people here do what they want to do.
One important point you are missing. Our specialty is btching and moaning…..
Lol….
Chalk one up for integrity!
Ohtanis new balance commercial is so weird.
Could it be his last?
In the same week we got the 2 biggest franchises playing in korea then mexico
Jeez mlb is suffering when they desperately go to other countries trying to gain new fans
Maybe if manfred didnt ruin the sport & change all the rules the old fans would still be around
Carrasco has apparently made the CLE roster, so he won’t be going anywhere.