With Opening Day just a couple of days away, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:
1. Red Sox in Monterrey:
The Red Sox began a two-game exhibition set in Monterrey, Mexico against los Sultanes de Monterrey yesterday. The Red Sox won 10-1 as right-hander Richard Fitts tossed six shutout innings while top prospects Kristian Campbell (3-for-5, 2B, 2 RBI) and Marcelo Mayer (2-for-4, 2B, HR, 5 RBI) both enjoyed big games. Game 2 of the exhibition series is scheduled for 6:10pm local time (7:10pm for fans in Boston), and the Red Sox announced yesterday that the club will be hosting a free watch party for the community in East Boston for this evening’s game, which will also feature a photo opportunity with a World Series trophy among other festivities. Click here for more information on the event via MLB.com.
2. Cubs weighing fifth starter job:
The Cubs play their final Spring Training game today, and young right-hander Ben Brown is scheduled to take the mound opposite Atlanta righty Zach Thompson. Brown’s start today is particularly notable as he remains in competition with veteran swingman Colin Rea for the fifth starter job in the Chicago rotation. Rea, 34, signed a big league deal with the Cubs during the offseason and is guaranteed a spot on the roster whether that be in the rotation or the bullpen. He’s struggled to a 7.36 ERA in three appearances this spring.
Brown, by contrast, has options remaining and could be sent down to Triple-A to open the season if he does not begin 2025 in the rotation. Chicago leaned on Brown for 2 2/3 innings of relief following Shota Imanaga’s start against the Dodgers during the Japan Series last week. He surrendered two earned runs but also managed to punch out five of the 15 Dodgers he faced, including Shohei Ohtani. The 25-year-old threw 55 1/3 innings for the Cubs last year, posting a 3.58 ERA and 3.11 FIP before being sidelined by a neck injury that ultimately ended his season.
3. MLBTR chat today:
Opening Day 2025 is just a few days away, and teams have already begun to finalize their rosters in preparation for the start of the season. Whether you have questions about one of the final remaining roster battles, how your favorite team stacks up in their division ahead of the regular season, or a look back at the offseason, MLBTR’s Steve Adams will be here to answer your questions during a live chat scheduled for 1pm CT. You can click here to ask a question in advance, join in live once the chat begins, or read the transcript once the chat is complete.
That Verdugo trade looking great for nyy
It’s about the only trade/acquisition Breslow has done well on.
If Dick Fitts wins a CYA I will excuse the Sale trade
Quite a random mash of words.
Troy – If I didn’t expect his number to change, I’d buy Dick’s jersey right now!
I was worried if they could squeeze him in…But, looks like This Dick Fitts Nicely in the rotation.
I dont think its fair to say the deal for crochet has not worked out and none of the players shipped out are doing anything spectacular aside from sale.so..while nothing has been a huge win aside from the verdugo deal…no glaring losses either since nobody predicted sale staying healthy for the first time in years
The Verdugo trade is too soon to assess without seeing how Fitts pitches. The Yankees had a clear need trading for him and he was part of their World Series run last season. No regrets. Same with the Soto trade. Hope Fitts has a terrific year!
Pool – I think we won’t know if the Sox got a good deal for Crochet until mid next year. If he pitches two seasons like an ace, then sure the price is justified. But I am very concerned about his ability to stay healthy and be effective over a full season. Can he do it? Sure. Based on his history, is it likely? I’d argue it’s not. But that discussion has been had many times over.
Looking at other Breslow trades:
– Urias for Campbell has been a disaster in both sides. I would have expected more from Campbell given his 2023.
– Paxton trade was a disaster. Should have never fallen for that trap again. Fool me once shame on you…
– Sims was a disaster. Even if the prospect amounts to nothing, Sims provided no value.
– Garcia trade was worse. Zeferjahn actually contributed to the angels more than Garcia did for the Sox. Then there’s the 3 other prospects. Lugo adds a ton of value.
– Jansen was another bust. The Sox needed a RHB and their solution was a guy with a 91 Ops+ who regressed and only had a 75 OPE+ with the Sox.
– Sale for Grissom. Why trade for another middle infielders when your farm is chocked full of them. Grissom has been a bigger bust with the Sox than Verdugo. Kind of fitting how Bloom and Breslow both botched major trades shortly after taking the role.
The Sox need actual help from those guys, who were 2nd or 3rd tier answers to their problems, and none of them contributed.
Pool – True you can never predict health, but it’s unreasonable to think a player will always be injured just because he’s been injured a few years in a row.
I’ve got money on Trout because he’s due for a healthy season, and I think Story is too.
The book won’t be closed on the Sale/Grissom trade until we see what the Red Sox receive when they trade Grissom, which seems to be inevitable.
Fever, you’d need pure luck, not skill, related to a return to make any grissom trade even out for sale.
Just my opinion, of course, but is what it is. Now, if a team would take Yoshida and Grissom for cash considerations that’d maybe be a win, but, there’s no gm stupid enough to do that.
Pool, I think it’s fair to judge the s*** out of the Sale trade. He never lost a single MPH on his fastball being hurt, and was still slightly above average during his time hurt. All he had to do was stay healthy, which he was long overdue to do.
His direct replacement was Lucas Giolito, who still hasn’t thrown a pitch for the Sox.
I hated the trade when it happened and it’s only gotten worse, to the extent that there isn’t a single thing that Breslow has done that I couldn’t have done myself, and quite a laundry list of things I could have done much better. The top of that list is not trading Sale for…. Vaughn Grissom.
All he had to do was stay healthy
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….which Sale couldn’t do from 2019-2023. I was happy to get anything back for Sale.
You don’t trade a guy like Yoshida. This is the type of bat good big market teams have coming off the bench. You would have to eat most of his money and any ML player you got in return wouldn’t be a better hitter, and why trade for prospects when this team can win NOW with him?
Because a guy like Roman Anthony brings much more value to the team?
GaSox – Anything is possible my friend, I’m trying to be optimistic here!!!
But yeah it’s gonna be tough to get much for Grissom after Cora basically said he sucks on defense.
Troy – Awesome post!!
People forget (or don’t want to remember) Sale finished the 2023 season healthy and with a 1.13 ERA and 19 K’s in 16 IP. He was absolutely showing signs of a great 2024 season.
As bad as it was to replace Sale with Giolito, what really pissed me off was:
1) They paid Sale $17M to pitch for another team
2) After waiting all that time for him to finally get healthy, they didn’t want to take a ONE YEAR RISK with him. They’ve taken huge financial risks on so many other pitchers, but didn’t want to do the same for a future HOF pitcher that was their own for 7 years.
3) They also pissed away a $20M team option on him for this season …. AAARRRGGGHHH!!!
As disapppointing as Verdugo was for the Yankees, he did play 149 games for a World Series club. And let’s not get too excited over FItts’ performance against a Mexican League team. The Sox have four carryover starters (three on the DL), plus three added this off-season, plus at least three prospects all ranked ahead of Fitts.
Lou – It’s hard to claim Dugie was a key contributor to a WS run when the guy had a pathetic 83 OPS+ and only a 0.8 WAR. He’s a solid fielder, that’s about it.
As for Fitts, he was great with the Sox last year and he was great in ST this year. There’s things I see in him that I really, really like.
BTW – Last night I could see why Cessa was dumped by the Yanks, my God he was brutal.
You don’t put a young player on the bench to be a pinch-hitter or part timer. Cora already said weeks ago none of those young players are going to be on the team unless they were going to be everyday starters, which neither Anthony or Mayer is going to be yet. I think people forget, look at the Yankees teams of the 90s you had Daryl strawberry coming off the bench as a pinch-hitter for the Yankees. Big time big market teams have guys that start once or twice a week but can come off the bench when you need a professional big league at bat.
Braves traveling from FL to AZ for spring training? Do teams regularly do that? I thought they just stay in their respective sides of the country playing teams. I guess since their opening series is in SD & LAD it made sense for them to gradually go out there and take the scenic tour.
They probably open on the West Coast. It happens all the time.
I seem to recall years where the Red Sox would open the season on the west coast and would have the last few games of spring training in AZ for that reason. Come to think of it they open this season in Texas, so these Mexico exhibitions have them in the area.
If they don’t get deported and have to stay.
Mike – No worries, the Red Sox are law abiding citizens so they will make it to Texas just fine.
FPG- You think the Big Orange Blowhole cares about any of that? LMAO
Mike – What does Carrot Top have to do with anything? He’s just a lame standup comic.
Not a thing. LOL
Speaking of the BoSox, their exhibition in Monterrey is at 5:10 PM local time/7:10 PM Boston time. Mexico does not observe daylight saving time.
Chucky – Speaking of the Monterrey team … if MLB ever gets to a point where their uniforms are completely covered with hideous advertising, I will never watch another televised game of theirs.
Yea not super common but sometimes logistically it makes sense as others have mentioned. Season opens with @ SD for 4 games and then @LADfor 3.
@Run: Don’t think teams do this on any kind of regular basis. Read something yesterday that said the Braves hadn’t played the Cubs in ST since 1962. Think the Braves are just getting these two games in because of the convenience due to the travel to SD for Opening Day. Atlanta has often played their minor leaguers in an organizational tune up game at the end of ST—especially when they open at home.
That’s what I thought when I saw footage of it and remembered CHC is based in Mesa, AZ. Towards the beginning of ST, regulars would rarely travel with the team on away games, so this seemed like an anomaly, though we’re towards the end of ST and guys are mostly primed at this point.
I’ll say one thing Cubs fans need to hear. Gage Workman has not only made the team, He should be the STARTING 3B. He’s earned that too.
He looks promising!
Yeah, nice move Scott. Its not like the Tigers could use a 3B with speed, glove and pop. I think he is just determined to leave the position unfilled.
Random but just a heads up that if you have T-Mobile as your phone carrier that starting today you can get mlb tv free for this season
do tell 👀
First year I’m not with them. They got too expensive even factoring in me paying $150 which I have not yet done. You have to I believe have a Magnenta plan. Download their Tuesday offers app as that’s typically where the info is.
Meow – If you have T-Mobile, get their app and sign up for free MLB.TV ….. you’ve got until Monday night to do it.
T-Mobile rocks, every week they’ve got great new perks. This week includes a Crispy Tender Combo Meal for just a penny.
Buckle up Cubs nation gonna be a fun summer and October. Welcome back Mr.Sosa #21.
A franchise working on a 10 yr rebuild that’s brainwashed a fan base how great the farm system is, deciding over a 34yr old washout over a 25 yr old prospect that’s pitched pretty well. Top to bottom a complete failure. Marketing and merchandise is all that matters to ownership, not winning.
That sounds like the Dallas Cowboys!
This ain’t an NFL blog!
Yeah but he ain’t lyin.
The Cubs are 1 or 2 players away from being 1 or 2 players away.
lol enjoy Wrigley North you troll
Question, does the world series championship that took place in that 10 year window you had mentioned count as one of those rebuilding years?
Yes, after the first 108 yr rebuild, they are almost always going to be a non serious club.
There isn’t a star on the roster yet optimism reigns. It’s the same old story for the Cubbies as every year and W-L doesn’t matter. They sell the Wrigley Experience (see Boston) and just count the money.
And the first time I walked around the corner on Addison and saw that sports book monstrosity they built onto the right field side, I knew the days of serious roster building were over. I wish it wasn’t true, but the Cubs are a joke.
White Sox fan?
Kyle Tucker is a top 10 hitter in baseball and pretty good overall. If he’s not a star, then baseball really only has a few guys that fit the part.
I would concede Tucker has been a stud for a few years, but he will have no protection in that lineup. Add in the fact that he’ll be playing for a nice payday in free agency and I see a player pressing all year long.
I don’t like being a pessimist, but I’ve seen this franchise do all the wrong things for 40+ years and I’m just conditioned to cast doubt and expect the worst. It’s how I became a Red Sox fan in the mid-80s and suffered with that franchise until they got over the hump. I pull for the Cubbies for sure, but I can’t get excited about this years version.
Brown will have some rough innings, but his stuff is excellent. They might as well let him work through it. There are no shortcuts.
Nobody asked me but:
1. If Kyle Tucker hits like he did this spring, That trade may go down as worse than Lou Brock for Ernie Broglio.
2. Glad Counsell dropped Imanaga back to #3 because sending him out against #1’s wasn’t going to turn out well IMO.
3. Caleb Thielbar was a waste of money.
4. Ben Brown needs to stay in the rotation as long as he’s able no matter what. His ceiling might be the best on the team.
5. Jordan Wicks will prove Matt Boyd was a waste of 30 million bucks.
6. Most of the Cubs new ” Old” Bullpen will be DFA’d before the season is over and all the people Hoyer doesn’t want to see here will be anyway. Little, Martin, Palencia, Neely and Scalzo.
7. Workman should be kept all year at all costs no matter what. Might take a little sting out of losing Cam Smith. Another point for the Cubs scouting dept. Another black mark for Hoyer for throwing players away.
8. Hoyer is the worst GM in baseball. And make no mistake about it, Hawkins is as much the GM of the Cubs as I am.
9. Anybody else notice the closer the regular season got the worse Hoyers bullpen looked? And they got pounded.
10. I was wrong about the bench. Berti makes it better all by himself without Workman, Turner and or Brujan.
Play Ball! Should be interesting, Hopefully not disappointing.
I should go back over the years and count the number of prospects who flamed out that you proclaimed to be the next superheroes of the North side.
None. Because they got traded or released by an idiot before they got here. Like Rosario. They traded him for Eli Morgan so he could….. Pitch in Des Moines? Sweet
Future home of Los Medias Rojas del Monterrey Boston had a good run but time to move…