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2022-23 MLB Free Agent Power Rankings

Steve Adams — Thu, 26 May 2022 03:58:36 +0000

We’re more than a quarter of the way through the 2022 season, which makes a look ahead to the forthcoming offseason and free agent class overdue. The 2022-23 free agent market can’t match this past winter’s market in terms of the sheer volume of available star power, but it’s a strong group nevertheless, with a few MVP candidates slated to reach free agency for the first time.

MLBTR will take periodic looks at the top of the class from now through the remainder of the season, and it’s of course worth noting that with about 75% of games left to be played, a lot can change. Our power rankings, compiled collaboratively by myself, Anthony Franco and MLBTR owner Tim Dierkes, are based on what we believe to be a player’s total earning power in free agency. As such, age plays a prominent factor in that equation. Players with opt-out clauses and player options are included, even if they’ve previously given strong indications they’ll forgo any such opportunity to return to the market (as Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado has in the past). Current performance is also, obviously, crucial. A strong platform year can elevate any player’s status in free agency, just as a poor walk year can tank their stock.

Here’s a look at our current top ten, as well as a handful of honorable mentions who could see themselves climb into the top ten by season’s end…

1. Aaron Judge, RF, Yankees: When Yankees general manager Brian Cashman made the surprising decision to announce the terms of the contract that was offered to (and rejected by) Judge — a seven-year, $213.5MM extension — there were plenty of onlookers convinced Judge had made a sizable misstep. A $30.5MM annual salary over seven years would place him among the game’s top earners but not quite in the elite tier.

A slow start might’ve made the decision look questionable, but Judge has gone the opposite route. He’s been the best qualified hitter in baseball aside from Mike Trout, by measure of wRC+, leading the Majors in homers and trailing only Trout in slugging percentage by the narrowest of margins (.693 to .692). Judge is walking at a 10.7% clip, his strikeouts (26.6%) are down a good bit from his earlier seasons when rates around 31% were his norm, and his batted-ball profile has practically broken Statcast. Judge is averaging a comical 96.9 mph off the bat this season, and he’s ripped 64% of his batted balls at greater than 95 mph.

Judge’s free-agent contract will begin with his age-31 season, and that’s one distinct disadvantage to him — particularly relative to younger free agents like the trio of shortstops who directly follow him on this ranking. That said, there’s simply no discounting the fact that Judge’s offense is on a new level this season, which is saying something given the high bar he’s previously established. If he maintains even 75% of this pace for the remainder of the season, that seven-year term and $30.5MM AAV are both going to feel light. Right now, an eight-year deal at a heartier AAV is easy to imagine, and the longer Judge keeps hitting like this, the more those numbers will increase.

2. Carlos Correa, SS, Twins: Correa was fortunate to dodge a broken finger when he was plunked on the hand recently, instead only sitting out a minimal 10-day stint due to a bone bruise. The former No. 1 overall pick shocked the baseball world by signing the fourth-largest AAV ever with the Twins ($35.1MM) — albeit on a three-year deal laden with opt-out provisions. The commonly held belief is that Correa will opt out after the 2022 season and return to the market in search of the long-term mega-deal that eluded him this past offseason.

Whether that contract is there will hinge both on how many games Correa plays and on how well he performs in his new environs. He got out to a slow start in Minnesota but repeatedly insisted that he wasn’t worried, and his confidence has begun to manifest into production. Correa is hitting .382/.443/.545 over his past 61 plate appearances, and even when he was struggling through poor results before that, he was making loads of hard contact. He’s not on pace to match last year’s career-best defensive numbers, but no one is disputing that the 2021 Platinum Glover is anything less than a top-notch defensive player.

It’s fair to wonder whether Correa will be able to secure a 10-year contract with a premium annual value after the closest he came this past offseason was a reported 10-year, $275MM offer from the Tigers prior to the lockout. Even if Correa “settles” for a seven- or eight-year contract, though, the fact that he’ll play nearly all of the 2023 season at age 28 is a huge point in his favor. An eight-year deal would only run through Correa’s age-35 season, and a lengthier pact can’t be ruled out if he continues to pick up the pace at the plate.

3. Trea Turner, SS, Dodgers: Turner and Correa could arguably be flipped in ordering here, but I’m listing him third due to the fact that he’s more than a year older. While he may be a lesser defender and possess less power than Correa, he’s still a good defensive shortstop with above-average pop. He’s also been more durable in recent years with better contact skills and more value on the basepaths. Some teams will prefer Correa. Some will prefer Turner. Both will be in demand. Both will get paid — a lot.

Broadly speaking, there are very, very few players who present as much all-around value as Turner. He’s unlikely to rip 30 home runs or lead the league in on-base percentage, but Turner is a perennial 20-homer, 40-steal threat with a track record of above-average defensive marks, a lower-than-average strikeout rate and a lifetime .302/.358/.488 batting line. He slugged a career-high 28 home runs in 2021 and was hitting at a similar pace in 2020’s shortened season, but he’s only left the yard thrice in 184 plate appearances this year.

Even if Turner reverts to his prior levels of power, there’s no real weakness in his game. He’s a dependable four- to five-WAR player who showed in 2021 that he has six- to seven-WAR upside when at his absolute best. Turner will turn 30 on June 30 in the first year of his new contract, and it’s reasonable to expect that he could find a lucrative eight-year deal in free agency. One thing worth keeping an eye on: defensive metrics are quite down on his early work (-3 DRS, -6 OAA).

4. Xander Bogaerts, SS, Red Sox: The most consistent hitter among this trio of shortstops, Bogaerts would top Correa and Turner were he even viewed as an average defender at the position. Instead, his glovework has struggled so much that there was a good bit of drama surrounding whether he’d move off the position upon Boston’s signing of Trevor Story.

Bogaerts can opt out of the final three years and $60MM on his contract, and he’s a lock to do so even with the shaky defensive skill set at shortstop. He’s hitting .323/.385/.458 as of this writing and carries a gaudy .300/.372/.518 slash (135 wRC+) dating back to 2018. Bogaerts’ career-high 33 home runs came during the juiced ball season, and he’s otherwise been more of a 20- to 25-homer bat. He’s been remarkably consistent in terms of his solid walk rates, lower-than-average strikeout rates and batting averages, though, and any team that signs him can feel confident it’s getting a true middle-of-the-order threat.

The question will be just what position he plays, as there won’t be many (if any) teams comfortable with the idea of playing Bogaerts at shortstop for the next six-plus years. A team could play him there in the early stages of a new contract, but Bogaerts will likely be viewed by some teams as a second baseman or third baseman only. He’s never posted a positive total in Defensive Runs Saved and only has once in Outs Above Average (back in 2017). For his career, he’s at -58 DRS and -42 OAA. His bat might still carry him to an eight-year deal, but Bogaerts’ days as a shortstop are likely dwindling — and the market could well reflect that reality.

5. Joe Musgrove, RHP, Padres: Musgrove, 30 in December, has improved his stock every year since 2017, either by improving his rate stats or his innings count. It’s been a steady march toward his current top-of-the-rotation status, and he’s now poised to cash in next winter with a blend of youth and general excellence that currently has him as MLBTR’s top-earning starter.

Since Musgrove ramped up his curveball usage in 2020, he’s pitched to a combined 3.03 ERA with a 27.7% strikeout rate and 7.1% walk rate in 273 innings. He’s not missing as many bats in 2022 as he did in 2020-21, but strikeouts are down leaguewide and he’s offsetting that with a career-best 4.4% walk rate in 52 innings so far. Musgrove currently boasts a microscopic 1.90 ERA in 52 innings. He ranks in the 82nd percentile or better in fastball spin rate (97th), curveball spin rate (82nd), opponents’ chase rate (93rd), walk percentage (89th), average exit velocity (84th), expected ERA (87th), expected wOBA (87th) and expected slugging percentage (83rd), per Statcast.

Musgrove might not be a household name whose track record is littered with All-Star appearances and Cy Young votes, but his current trajectory should change that. A five-year deal feels like the floor, and a healthier six-year pact seems likely.

6. Nolan Arenado, 3B, Cardinals: Arenado has said in the past that he plans to remain in St. Louis for the long haul after being traded over from the Rockies, so this could very well be a moot point. He made good on those promises by forgoing the first opt-out opportunity in his contract this past offseason, but the Cardinals tacked an extra year (at $15MM) and an extra opt-out provision onto his contract upon acquiring him.

If Arenado continues anywhere near his current pace, it’ll at least be more tempting to see what the market might bear. Shedding the “product of Coors Field” narrative in full this year, Arenado is raking at a .288/.351/.545 pace — all with his typical brand of elite defense (5 Defensive Runs Saved, 4 Outs Above Average, 3.5 Ultimate Zone Rating in just 324 innings).

Arenado has five years and $144MM remaining on his contract following the 2022 season and will turn 32 next April. The remaining five years will carry Arenado through his age-36 season at a rate that’s lighter than many of the game’s top-end stars. We’ve seen infielders Freddie Freeman, Corey Seager, Marcus Semien and Josh Donaldson all sign free-agent deals that run through their age-37 seasons in recent years. Again, the likeliest outcome is that Arenado stays put — based on the infielder’s own wording — but if he does choose to test the market, the earning power will be there.

7. Jacob deGrom, RHP, Mets: If deGrom were healthier, he’d be higher on this list, age be damned. However, deGrom hasn’t pitched since July 7, 2021 due to a forearm strain that ended his 2021 season and a stress reaction in his scapula (shoulder blade) that has prevented him from pitching so far in 2022.

No one needs much of a primer on just how dominant deGrom is when he’s healthy. He’s a two-time Cy Young winner and probably would’ve won a third in 2021 with better health. He posted a superhuman 1.08 ERA, 45.1% strikeout rate and 3.4% walk rate in 92 innings while averaging 99.1 mph on his fastball last year. A healthy deGrom is very arguably the best pitcher on the planet — evidenced by the 1.94 ERA he’s compiled over his past 581 innings.

DeGrom is signed through 2023 (plus a 2024 club option) but has said, even with his injury, that he’ll opt out of the contract and forgo the $30.5MM he’s guaranteed next year. If he can return in late June or early July and dominate down the stretch, a multi-year deal in the neighborhood of teammate Max Scherzer’s record-setting $43.33MM annual salary is in play. Even if deGrom struggles or doesn’t throw a pitch in 2022, a team would likely top that $30.5MM salary to bring him in on a short-term, ultra-high-risk gamble.

8. Carlos Rodon, LHP, Giants: Drafted with the No. 3 overall pick back in 2014, Rodon was heralded as a potential top-of-the-rotation arm for the White Sox He eventually achieved that status, but not until the seventh year of his Major League career. For Rodon’s first six years, he was an oft-injured power arm who’d flash ace potential but lacked both the consistency and the durability to get there.

Durability remains a concern after Rodon pitched just 36 innings over the 2021 season’s final 10 weeks due to shoulder fatigue. He remained effective during that time but worked with a diminished fastball and was not given a qualifying offer by the White Sox — despite his elite production (on a per-inning basis). But what Rodon has done since that 2021 breakout is prove that he is, when healthy, a bona fide No. 1 starter.

Over his past 177 1/3 innings, Rodon has a 2.64 ERA with a dominant 34.5% strikeout rate against just a 7.4% walk rate. Since Opening Day 2021, Rodon leads all Major League pitchers (min. 100 innings) in strikeout percentage. He ranks 10th in swinging-strike rate and owns the eighth-lowest opponents’ contact rate on pitches inside the strike zone. Rodon can opt out of the second year and $22.5MM on his current contract if he pitches 110 innings this season. If he can make 30 starts this year, there’s probably a five-year deal waiting for him in free agency — especially when considering the fact that he won’t turn 30 until December.

9. Willson Contreras, C, Cubs: Clearly the top catcher on next winter’s market, Contreras has gotten out to a strong start in 2022, hitting at a .258/.382/.458 clip with five homers through his first 144 plate appearances. That puts him roughly on pace for what would be the fourth 20-homer season of his career. Contreras, a two-time All-Star, ranks fourth among all catchers (min. 500 plate appearances) in fWAR and fifth in wRC+ dating back to the 2019 season. He just turned 30 earlier this month, making the first season of a new contract his age-31 campaign.

Contreras’ reps will surely be looking to topple Yasmani Grandal’s four-year, $73MM deal with the White Sox. With a strong enough finish, Contreras could reasonably push to join the likes of J.T. Realmuto, Yadier Molina and Buster Posey as catchers who earned $20MM-plus annually during their prime.

10. Brandon Nimmo, CF, Mets: Perennially underrated, Nimmo doesn’t get the love he deserves when looking at his career production. There’s no skirting the huge injury risk associated with him, but when he’s been healthy enough to take the field, Nimmo’s elite plate discipline and above-average power have resulted in production that’s 35% better than that of a league-average hitter, by measure of wRC+. Nimmo has walked in 14.6% of his career plate appearances en route to a .269/.392/.445 batting line. He’s only reached double-digit homers once in his career, though that’s due to injuries and to the shortened 2020 season (when he played in 55 of 60 games and popped eight homers). On a rate basis, however, Nimmo’s career .176 ISO (slugging minus average) is comfortably north of league average.

Like Contreras, Nimmo is the best player at his position and arguably the only free-agent option for a team seeking an everyday center fielder. He hasn’t graded out as an elite defensive center fielder, but Defensive Runs Saved, Ultimate Zone Rating and Outs Above Average all think he’s been an above-average defender there over the past two seasons. He’s not a huge stol

Injury Notes: Civale, Ross, Odorizzi, Canning

Anthony Franco — Thu, 26 May 2022 03:10:35 +0000

The Guardians are placing starter Aaron Civale on the 15-day injured list because of left glute tightness, writes Joe Noga of Cleveland.com. It’s not expected to be a long-term absence, with manager Terry Francona telling reporters the organization was debating whether he would even need to spend two weeks on the shelf. The skipper suggested Civale is likely to continue throwing bullpen sessions during his absence, and the hope is that “the next time he pitches he won’t have to be worried about this.”

Civale has had a rough go of things this season. The right-hander has been tagged for a 7.84 ERA through seven starts, allowing six home runs in 31 innings. His strikeout and walk rates are right in line with last season’s marks, and Civale posted a 3.84 ERA in 124 1/3 frames in 2021. His ground-ball rate has plummeted this year, however, and he’s seen a spike in opponents’ average exit velocity and barrel rate. Civale will try to get his results back on track once he’s eligible to return a couple weeks from now. Konnor Pilkington is set to be recalled to start tomorrow’s game against the Tigers in his place.

The latest on some other injured pitchers around the game:

Nationals starter Joe Ross was pulled after three innings during yesterday’s rehab outing with Double-A Harrisburg, manager Dave Martinez told reporters (including Mark Zuckerman of MASNsports.com). The 29-year-old experienced renewed tightness in his elbow and is headed for an MRI. That’s obviously a worrisome development, as the outing marked Ross’ first game action since he was diagnosed with a partial UCL tear in his elbow last August. That ended his season, and he also underwent surgery to remove bone chips from the joint this spring. Ross, who threw 108 innings of 4.17 ERA ball last year, is in his final season of club control via arbitration.
Jake Odorizzi returned to the mound yesterday, throwing a bullpen session before the team’s game against the Guardians (video provided by Mark Berman of FOX 26). It’s fairly remarkable the Astros right-hander was back throwing that quickly, as we’re just nine days removed from him being carted off the field at Fenway Park. Odorizzi suffered a left leg injury that kept him from walking off, but an MRI later revealed that his Achilles tendon remained intact. The 32-year-old suffered some ligament and tendon issues and was placed on the 15-day injured list, but it doesn’t appear he’s in for a particularly long-term absence.
Angels starter Griffin Canning hasn’t pitched in the majors since last July 2. Optioned to the minor leagues, he made just one start with Triple-A Salt Lake before being diagnosed with a stress fracture in his lower back that ended his 2021 season. The righty opened this year on the 60-day injured list, and while there’d been some hope he could return by June, he suffered another stress reaction recently that’ll push his timeline back further. Canning told reporters (including Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times) that after meeting with a specialist, he’s elected not to undergo a surgical procedure. There’s no timetable for him to resume throwing, but Canning still hopes to make it back at some point this season. The former second-round pick has had myriad health issues over the past couple years, keeping him to 43 MLB appearances since the start of the 2019 campaign.

Yankees Place Giancarlo Stanton On Injured List

Anthony Franco — Thu, 26 May 2022 02:30:14 +0000

9:30pm: While the team announced Stanton’s injury as a calf strain, Boone told reporters tonight that the former NL MVP is actually dealing with ankle inflammation (via Lindsey Adler of the Athletic). The hope is that Stanton can return after a minimal IL stay.

5:47pm: The Yankees announced a series of moves before tonight’s matchup with the Orioles. Most notably, designated hitter/right fielder Giancarlo Stanton is headed to the 10-day injured list because of a right calf strain. New York also placed reliever Jonathan Loáisiga on the 15-day IL and designated catcher Rob Brantly for assignment. In corresponding moves, the Yankees welcomed Joey Gallo back from the COVID-19 injured list. They also recalled relievers JP Sears and David McKay from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

Stanton has been one of the best hitters for the AL-leading Yankees. He’s mashing at a .285/.339/.523 clip, and his 11 home runs tie him for fifth in MLB. The big slugger has a personal-low 8.3% walk rate, but he’s doing more than enough damage on contact to offset the corresponding drop in his on-base percentage. Stanton has been an instrumental piece of a lineup that has been among the league’s best. Aaron Judge is playing at an MVP-type pace through the season’s first month and a half, with Stanton and Anthony Rizzo also offering middle-of-the-order caliber production.

Unfortunately, Stanton is also no stranger to the injured list. He’s landed on the IL because of leg issues in each of the past four years. Stanton missed a significant chunk of the 2019 campaign because of a right knee sprain, then lost more than half of the shortened 2020 season with a left hamstring strain. The 32-year-old had a more minor IL stint due to a left quad strain last year, and he’ll obviously miss some time with his current malady. A timetable remains unclear, but manager Aaron Boone informed reporters last night (via Joel Sherman of the New York Post) that he was headed for an MRI after leaving yesterday’s game with calf tightness.

The Yankees have been hit hard by injuries in recent days. New York lost pitchers Chad Green and Luis Gil to Tommy John procedures over the weekend. Closer Aroldis Chapman hit the IL with Achilles tendinitis yesterday, and Boone told reporters this afternoon that Loáisiga was going on the IL with shoulder discomfort. The team’s official diagnosis for Loáisiga is shoulder inflammation.

New York welcomes Gallo back to the lineup a few days after he landed on the virus list. The power-hitting outfielder hit the IL on Sunday as part of a trio of Yankees suffering flu-like symptoms, but he and Kyle Higashioka have returned quickly. Gallo is capable of suiting up in either corner outfield spot but is struggling this season, owning just a .176/.294/.333 line through 119 plate appearances.

Brantly was selected onto the 40-man roster once Higashioka went out to offer some catching depth behind Jose Trevino. With Higahioka now back, Brantly loses his roster spot after appearing in one game. The 32-year-old has seen brief action at the big league level in each of the last four years, but he’s not tallied more than 40 MLB plate appearances in a season since 2013. He’ll have the right to refuse an outright assignment in favor of minor league free agency if he passes through waivers unclaimed.

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Tim Dierkes — Thu, 26 May 2022 01:38:29 +0000

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Cubs Outright Ildemaro Vargas

Anthony Franco — Thu, 26 May 2022 01:33:30 +0000

Cubs infielder Ildemaro Vargas has cleared waivers and been sent outright to Triple-A Iowa, the team informed reporters (including Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune). Chicago had designated the utilityman for assignment over the weekend.

Vargas signed a minor league deal with the Cubs over the winter. He opened the season in Iowa, hitting .279/.321/.413 through 25 games. Vargas didn’t walk much or hit for a ton of extra-base power, but he only punched out in 10.7% of his plate appearances. That earned him a big league call a couple weeks ago after Nick Madrigal was placed on the injured list. That marked Vargas’ sixth straight season logging some MLB time, although it proved another fairly short stint.

The switch-hitting infielder tallied 211 plate appearances with the Diamondbacks in 2019, but he’s otherwise tallied fewer than 100 trips to the dish in every season. He hit 26 times during his recent ten-game stint with the Cubs, drawing three walks against two strikeouts but collecting just one hit.

Vargas has been outrighted before in his career, so he has the right to refuse the assignment to Iowa in favor of minor league free agency. Should he choose to remain in the organization, he’d try to play his way back onto a big league roster that has welcomed back Andrelton Simmons and Nico Hoerner from the injured list within the past two weeks.

Mets Notes: deGrom, Megill, McNeil

Anthony Franco — Thu, 26 May 2022 00:13:42 +0000

The Mets have been without Jacob deGrom all season, although the club has maintained he’s progressing well in his recovery from a Spring Training stress reaction in his scapula. deGrom has been throwing off flat ground for a couple weeks, and Deesha Thosar of the New York Daily News tweeted yesterday that he’s lengthened out to throwing from 95-100 feet.

More encouragingly, Thosar suggests the star right-hander could progress to throwing a bullpen session by this weekend. That’d mark a notable step in his recovery, although he’ll presumably need multiple mound sessions before he progresses to facing live hitters. Anthony DiComo of MLB.com wrote last week that deGrom is also expected to require three-to-five rehab starts in the minor leagues before returning to the majors.

There are still significant hurdles before deGrom will be back in a game at Citi Field, but he continues to make incremental strides. Jon Heyman of the New York Post said on yesterday’s The Show podcast with colleague Joel Sherman that he’d heard a “late June” potential timetable for deGrom’s return to the big leagues from a team source (Mets’ talk around 34:00 mark). Even if his rehab lingers a bit beyond then, the organization is surely hopeful the two-time Cy Young winner will be healthy for the second half of the season.

The Mets are also down Max Scherzer and Tylor Megill, leaving them to rely on their rotation depth. Scherzer isn’t likely to be back before the All-Star Break, while Megill has been out since May 15 because of biceps inflammation. Pitching coach Jeremy Hefner suggested Megill’s further along in his recovery than deGrom (Thosar link), but he’s not yet thrown a bullpen session and certainly won’t be ready to return when first eligible on Friday.

While the rotation has taken some key hits, the position player group has been healthy aside from catcher James McCann (out through late June because of a hand fracture). Second baseman/left fielder Jeff McNeil is now day-to-day after crashing into the wall chasing a fly ball this afternoon. Mike Puma of the Post was among those to relay (on Twitter) that he’s been diagnosed with a left knee contusion.

The subject of some trade speculation over the winter, the lefty-hitting McNeil is rewarding the organization’s decision to keep him in Flushing. Across 170 plate appearances, he’s hitting .323/.376/.458 with a minuscule 10% strikeout rate. McNeil only has two home runs, but he’s among the top 25 qualified hitters in both batting average and on-base percentage.

Mets Acquire Daniel Johnson From Guardians

Mark Polishuk — Wed, 25 May 2022 21:28:18 +0000

The Guardians announced that outfielder Daniel Johnson has been dealt to the Mets for cash considerations. Johnson will be assigned to Triple-A Syracuse.

More to come….

Marlins Place Anthony Bender On 15-Day IL, Select Willians Astudillo

Mark Polishuk — Wed, 25 May 2022 21:05:05 +0000

The Marlins have placed right Anthony Bender on the 15-day injured list due to back stiffness, with the placement retroactive to May 23. In the corresponding move, utilityman Willians Astudillo has joined the active roster after his contract was selected from Triple-A.

Bender has recorded six of Miami’s nine total saves this year, getting the bulk of ninth-inning work while Dylan Floro was on the injured list. While Floro has struggled since returning to action, Bender also hasn’t done much to fully cement his hold on the closer’s job. Over 14 innings, Bender has a 4.50 ERA and strikeout/walk rates that are slightly below league average, and he has given up three home runs. However, Bender has has also been hurt by a .359 BABIP, which is particularly damaging for a pitcher who relies so much on grounders.

The Marlins could turn to any or all of Cole Sulser, Tanner Scott, Louis Head, or Anthony Bass for saves while Bender is out. Manager Don Mattingly said during Spring Training that the team was more likely to adopt a committee approach unless a pitcher emerged as the clear best choice for save situations, so it could be that the Marlins simply keep rolling without a true closer.

More to come….

Orioles Claim Chris Vallimont From Twins

Mark Polishuk — Wed, 25 May 2022 20:56:04 +0000

The Orioles announced that right-hander Chris Vallimont has been claimed off waivers from the Twins. Vallimont was designated for assignment by Minnesota earlier this week. To open up a 40-man roster spot, Baltimore moved Alexander Wells (who is recovering from a UCL strain) to the 60-day injured list.

Vallimont was assigned to the Orioles’ Double-A affiliate, and the righty has a 6.71 ERA over 110 innings at the Double-A level in the Twins organization. The Marlins selected Vallimont in the fifth round of the 2018 draft, then swapped him along with Sergio Romo in the July 2019 trade that sent Lewin Diaz to Miami.

More to come…

Yankees To Place Jonathan Loaisiga On IL Due To Shoulder Discomfort

Mark Polishuk — Wed, 25 May 2022 20:37:17 +0000

Yankees right-hander Jonathan Loaisiga is being placed on the injured list due to shoulder discomfort, manager Aaron Boone told reporters (including The Athletic’s Lindsey Adler). A corresponding roster move hasn’t yet been announced in advance of New York’s game with the Orioles tonight.

It has been a tough year for Loaisiga, who has a 7.02 ERA through 16 2/3 innings out of New York’s bullpen. While his SIERA (3.91) and xFIP (3.86) are a lot more favorable, Loaisiga hasn’t helped his cause with a 13.7% walk rate or three home runs allowed in his small sample size of playing time.

Homers and walks also hampered Loaisiga earlier in his Major League career, but the reliever got it all together during a superb 2021 season. The righty posted a 2.17 ERA over 70 2/3 innings last year, standing out as arguably the best pitcher of an overall strong Yankees relief corps. While his 24.4% strikeout rate in 2021 was nothing special, Loaisiga displayed excellent control (5.7% walk rate), a 60.9% grounder rate, and he surrendered only three home runs during the entirety of the season.

More to come…

Cubs Place Yan Gomes On 10-Day IL, Activate Nico Hoerner

Mark Polishuk — Wed, 25 May 2022 20:29:58 +0000

The Cubs announced that catcher Yan Gomes has been placed on the 10-day injured list due to a left oblique strain. Nico Hoerner will be taking Gomes’ spot on the active roster, as Hoerner has been activated from his own IL stint after being sidelined with a sprained right ankle.

Gomes’ absence leaves Chicago thin at catcher, as Willson Contreras has missed the team’s last four games with a strained right hamstring. The Cubs haven’t yet placed Contreras on the injured list, and he is available off the bench for tonight’s game against the Reds, though one would imagine the Cubs would love to get through the game without having to test Contreras’ health.

P.J. Higgins is in tonight’s starting lineup at catcher, and could end up getting an unexpected amount of playing time if Contreras does eventually need an IL visit, or if Gomes is absent for an extended amount of time. Gomes also missed time last year with an oblique injury, though it was a relatively mild strain that cost him just shy of three weeks.

After signing a two-year, $13MM free agent deal with the Cubs over the winter, Gomes has hit .247/.267/.384 in his first 75 plate appearances for the Wrigleyville club. Gomes’ role is somewhere between backup and platoon partner, as Gomes has gotten some extra looks behind the plate while Contreras has been used as a DH on partial rest days. The plan certainly seems to be working from Contreras’ perspective, as he has posted some strong hitting numbers early in the season.

Hoerner was playing as Chicago’s everyday shortstop due to Andrelton Simmons’ injury absence, but Hoerner had be sidelined after spraining his ankle in a collision with umpire Dan Iassogna. Fortunately, it was a relatively minor spain, and Hoerner will now return just a few days beyond the 10-day minimum. The Cubs have a pair of youngsters (Hoerner and Christopher Morel) and two veterans (Simmons, Jonathan Villar) in their middle infield mix, with Nick Madrigal on the injured list recovering from some lower back tightness.

Mariners Activate Kyle Lewis, Release Steven Souza

Anthony Franco — Wed, 25 May 2022 20:26:33 +0000

TODAY: Sampson declined his outright assignment and elected to become a free agent, the team announced.

MAY 24: The Mariners have reinstated Kyle Lewis from the injured list. He’s in the starting lineup this evening as the designated hitter, batting seventh against A’s starter James Kaprielian. Seattle also announced they’ve released veteran outfielder Steven Souza Jr. and outrighted right-hander Adrian Sampson to Triple-A Tacoma.

It’ll be Lewis’ first big league appearance since last May 31. The former first-round pick suffered a meniscus tear in his right knee at the time. That marked the latest in a series of knee injuries for Lewis, who also tore his ACL as a minor leaguer and suffered a bone bruise in the joint in Spring Training. Lewis was shut down for a few months, and his attempt at a late-season rehab was scrapped after he suffered another bone bruise in September.

With that injury history in mind, the Mariners proceeded extremely cautiously with Lewis this spring. The club announced that he wouldn’t be available for the start of the season in March, and he continued to make slow progress over the season’s first few weeks. He headed out on a rehab assignment in early May, and his allotted 20-day window wrapped up yesterday. He’s now back and hoping to approximate the .262/.364/.437 showing he managed in 2020 to claim the American League’s Rookie of the Year award.

Seattle has gotten very little from their corner outfielders thus far, a big reason for the team’s disappointing 18-25 start. Nevertheless, they’re not about to thrust the 26-year-old Lewis back into an everyday role on the grass. Manager Scott Servais told reporters (including Ryan Divish of the Seattle Times) the plan is to use Lewis exclusively as a DH for now as they ease him back to action. They’ll presumably mix in a heavy dose of off days as well, leaving the outfield to Jesse Winker, Julio Rodríguez and Taylor Trammell as the club awaits the arrival of the newly-signed Justin Upton.

Souza briefly factored into that mix, heading to the majors when the M’s optioned Jarred Kelenic. The veteran had earned the call with a monster .267/.417/.533 showing in 96 plate appearances in Tacoma, but Seattle didn’t give him much leash at the big league level. After Souza collected just three hits (all singles) and punched out eight times in his first six games, the M’s designated him for assignment over the weekend. Presuming he clears release waivers, the 33-year-old will hit free agency and likely search for another minor league opportunity elsewhere.

Sampson has the right to do the same, having previously been outrighted in his career. The team didn’t specify whether he’s elected free agency, however, and Sampson does have Pacific Northwest roots as a Washington native.

Seattle grabbed the 30-year-old righty off waivers from the Cubs earlier this month, but he was designated for assignment before making an appearance. Sampson has pitched in 11 MLB games with Chicago over the past two seasons, tossing 36 1/3 innings of 2.72 ERA ball. His modest 18.7% strikeout rate hasn’t supported that excellent run prevention mark, though, and he’s now passed through waivers unclaimed.

Anaheim City Council Votes Against Sale Of Angel Stadium

Mark Polishuk — Wed, 25 May 2022 19:30:03 +0000

In a unanimous vote on Tuesday, the Anaheim City Council ruled against selling the 150-acre Angel Stadium site to a management company created by Angels owner Arte Moreno. Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times and Alicia Robinson of the Orange County Register each had details of last night’s ruling, as well as a summary of what has become a major political story in southern California.

It was almost two and a half years ago that the city of Anaheim reached tentative agreement on a deal that would have sold the Angel Stadium property to Moreno’s SRB Management group for $320MM. Beyond just the ballpark itself, Moreno’s group was looking to heavily develop the area surrounding the stadium, building everything from commercial and retail space to housing and restaurants.

However, the agreement has long been the target of criticism from Anaheim residents and civic officials, and a federal investigation is currently being conducted into alleged corruption, violations of state laws, and insider information being shared as part of the stadium deal. Anaheim mayor Harry Sidhu was personally cited in the investigation, and he resigned his position earlier this week.

Moreno (or representatives from the Angels or SRB) have yet to comment on the council’s ruling. It isn’t clear what the immediate next step could be, though as Shaikin writes, “a long and nasty legal battle” could take place between Moreno and the city of Anaheim over the collapsed deal.

As the situation relates to the Angels, their lease at Angel Stadium runs through the end of the 2029 season, with a club option to extend that lease through 2038. (The land deal included a clause that would have kept the Angels in Anaheim until at least the 2050 season.) Given the issues at play and the chance that Moreno’s group could be battling the city in court for years to come, it remains to be seen if Anaheim will remain the Angels’ long-term home, or if Moreno will start exploring new sites elsewhere in SoCal or the greater Los Angeles area.

Prospect News: Morel and Flores in Bloom or Brayan Bello the Ball

The Itch — Wed, 25 May 2022 19:00:16 +0000

Today we continue highlighting prospects making the biggest jumps on the upcoming updated Top 100, soft-scheduled to hit newsstands on Sunday June 5. Cubs 2B SS 3B OF Christopher Morel has looked great so far, like a mushroom blooming in the damp baseball darkness of North Chicago, reaching base in all seven games he’s played, playing all the positions listed here and batting leadoff on Tuesday night. He’s got two home runs and a stolen base along with his .304/.407/.565 slash line. What initially seemed like some injury cover as Morel came up from AA has become a long-term appointment, as far as I can tell. He’s not quite the dynamo Royce Lewis can be, but it’s not totally insane to mention them in the same sentence, or at least I hope it’s not because I just did. I offered Tanner Houck for Morel in the Razz30, and Baseball America’s Geoff Pontes, a razor-sharp baseball mind and a Red Sox fan, rejected it, which offers some idea of how people might be feeling about Morel today.

Twins Place Joe Ryan On COVID Injury List

Mark Polishuk — Wed, 25 May 2022 18:42:55 +0000

The Twins have placed right-hander Joe Ryan on their COVID-related injury list. Left-hander Devin Smeltzer was called up to take Ryan’s spot on the active roster, and Smeltzer will start for Minnesota against the Royals on Thursday (Ryan’s next scheduled outing).

Manager Rocco Baldelli told the Associated Press and other reporters that Ryan was “doing okay,” but didn’t provide any details about Ryan’s health. If Ryan has only been sidelined due to symptoms or due to being a close contact, he could be activated from the COVID list as soon as tomorrow, though obviously that would be cutting it too close to make his scheduled start. If Ryan has indeed tested positive, he’ll miss at least the next 10 days, unless he meets the three criteria for early activation — 24 hours without a fever, two negative tests, and clearance from a panel of the team doctor, a league-appointed physician, and a union-appointed physician.

Acquired from the Rays as part of the Nelson Cruz trade last July, Ryan has emerged as a force in his rookie season. The righty has a 2.28 ERA and an above-average 24.3% strikeout rate, thanks in large part to a four-seam fastball that has been one of the most devastating pitches in baseball this season. Some secondary metrics (4.30 xFIP, 3.93 SIERA, .234 BABIP, 83.7% strand rate) indicate some good fortune, but Ryan has also done well to limit damage by allowing very little hard contact.

Minnesota had plenty of questions about its rotation heading into the season, but the starters have generally performed quite well, despite some injuries. Ryan and Josh Winder (shoulder impingement) are on the IL, while Chris Paddack has already been lost for the year due to Tommy John surgery.

MLB Farm Power Rankings: Week 7

LaMar Gibson — Wed, 25 May 2022 18:30:37 +0000

A week-to-week ranking and review of each MLB team's farm systems.

The post MLB Farm Power Rankings: Week 7 appeared first on Pitcher List.

Paul Sporer’s Chat – May 25th, 2022

Paul Sporer — Wed, 25 May 2022 18:29:10 +0000

I’m late, but still here!

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The Sleeper and the Bust Episode: 1056 – Fixing Your WHIP

Paul Sporer — Wed, 25 May 2022 18:20:37 +0000

25/22 The latest episode of “The Sleeper and the Bust” is live. Support the show by subscribing to our Patreon!! Follow us on Twitter @sporer – Host @justinmasonfwfb – Co-Host/Producer PATREON Join our Patreon for live video feeds of each show Watch the video feed replay on YouTube INJURIES/TRANSACTION NEWS Giants defense Justin gets Nolan Gorman WHIP FIXERS Pickups Tyler Anderson (50% Y!, 37%

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Third Baseman Rankings: May 2022 Bull And Bear Edition

JTells — Wed, 25 May 2022 18:00:53 +0000

I don’t know about you but wow what a week of some exciting finishes lately in these games. If you were fortunate enough to be able to stay awake for last night’s game between the Mets and Giants I mean it can’t get much more exciting than that right…Have a day Joc Pederson! Please, blog, may I have some more?

Is there a Shortstop Battle Looming in San Diego?

Randy Holt — Wed, 25 May 2022 18:00:34 +0000

Ha-Seong Kim could remain at short, even after Tatis returns

The post Is there a Shortstop Battle Looming in San Diego? appeared first on Pitcher List.

Roansy Contreras Full Start Breakdown

Nick Pollack — Wed, 25 May 2022 17:53:44 +0000

Nick analyzes Roansy Contreras for his daily breakdown

The post Roansy Contreras Full Start Breakdown appeared first on Pitcher List.

Calm, Cool, and Kelenic

Cristian Crespo — Wed, 25 May 2022 17:30:54 +0000

Don't give up on the young kid.

The post Calm, Cool, and Kelenic appeared first on Pitcher List.

SAGNOF: Caught Lacking

Paul Mammino — Wed, 25 May 2022 17:00:29 +0000

As fantasy baseball players and analysts it is often way more fun to talk about the positive side of the game. We talk about players who are excelling and our successful teams while often ignoring those who may be struggling. We hide behind the idea of “it’s still early” and allow ourselves to believe our players will turn it around. Please, blog, may I have some more?

Newly Elite Pitches in 2022

Sean Roberts — Wed, 25 May 2022 17:00:18 +0000

Let's get excited about some new and improved pitches

The post Newly Elite Pitches in 2022 appeared first on Pitcher List.

DFS : Will Otto Get Blotto’ed By The Angels?

MarmosDad — Wed, 25 May 2022 16:30:59 +0000

Mid-Week MarmosDad is BACK to give you all a boost in your DFS lineup setups today! I’ve done some deeper delving into the den of data so that you don’t have to do it yourself!

Wednesday seems like it’s always a full slate, and today is no different than the rest we’ve peeked in at since early May. Please, blog, may I have some more?

xStats Weekly: Hitter AVG

Dan Thompson — Wed, 25 May 2022 16:30:57 +0000

Ten names to know who should soon see their AVG on the rise

The post xStats Weekly: Hitter AVG appeared first on Pitcher List.

Making Sense of the Confusing Bullpens

Callen Elslager — Wed, 25 May 2022 16:00:17 +0000

Breaking down the tough bullpens throughout the MLB

The post Making Sense of the Confusing Bullpens appeared first on Pitcher List.

Ep 63 – SP Buy & Sell

Nick Pollack — Wed, 25 May 2022 15:41:50 +0000

Nick Pollack's latest episode of the PL+ exclusive Plus Pitch Podcast.

The post Ep 63 – SP Buy & Sell appeared first on Pitcher List.

Best Bets of the Day – May 25th

Tim Speros — Wed, 25 May 2022 15:30:39 +0000

Tim Speros reveals his best bets for Wednesday!

The post Best Bets of the Day – May 25th appeared first on Pitcher List.

Analyzing Player Performance in Their First Year of a New Contract

Jake Maish — Wed, 25 May 2022 15:00:03 +0000

Be wary of paying premiums on the offseason's biggest names.

The post Analyzing Player Performance in Their First Year of a New Contract appeared first on Pitcher List.

Starting Pitcher Streamer Rankings – 5/25 & 5/26

Nick Pollack — Wed, 25 May 2022 14:28:36 +0000

Nick Pollack ranks the starting pitcher streamers for today & tomorrow.

The post Starting Pitcher Streamer Rankings – 5/25 & 5/26 appeared first on Pitcher List.

DFS Daily Breakdown – May 25

Dave Swan — Wed, 25 May 2022 14:15:00 +0000

Dave Swan breaks down the DFS slate for Wednesday.

The post DFS Daily Breakdown – May 25 appeared first on Pitcher List.

Reliever Ranks – 5/25

Jake Crumpler — Wed, 25 May 2022 13:45:39 +0000

Which relievers might be in line to vulture a save or win today?

The post Reliever Ranks – 5/25 appeared first on Pitcher List.

Rockies Place Kris Bryant On Injured List

Steve Adams — Wed, 25 May 2022 13:34:18 +0000

The Rockies announced Wednesday that left fielder Kris Bryant has once again been placed on the 10-day injured list due to a lower back strain. The IL placement is retroactive to March 23. Bryant missed nearly a month after being placed on the IL with this same injury in late April. He’d only been active for two games before being scratched from Monday’s contest and will now be out until at least June 2. Right-hander Ryan Feltner is up from Triple-A Albuquerque to take Bryant’s spot on the active roster.

More to come.

MLB News & Moments You Should Know – 5/25

Noah Bortle — Wed, 25 May 2022 13:30:00 +0000

The MLB news you need to know every morning.

The post MLB News & Moments You Should Know – 5/25 appeared first on Pitcher List.

Starts & Sits for Week 7 - All Starting Pitcher Matchups for Fantasy Baseball

Jon Anderson — Wed, 25 May 2022 13:28:42 +0000

Six full fantasy weeks are in the book and we're rolling right along! Welcome back to RotoBaller! We're getting you ready for everything week seven. I'm Jon Anderson back with the starts and sits chart! This looks like another pretty nice week for weather, and right now we don't have any scheduled double-headers, so this... Read More

The 10 Nastiest Pitches From Tuesday

Kyle Kishimoto — Wed, 25 May 2022 13:15:38 +0000

Some of these pitches shouldn't be possible.

The post The 10 Nastiest Pitches From Tuesday appeared first on Pitcher List.

Tinder Schwindeler

Jim Chatterton — Wed, 25 May 2022 13:00:01 +0000

Breaking down the best hitting performances from yesterday's games.

The post Tinder Schwindeler appeared first on Pitcher List.

Is Martín Pérez Really This Good?

Ben Palmer — Wed, 25 May 2022 12:45:03 +0000

Martín Pérez has been really good this year, but how real is it?

The post Is Martín Pérez Really This Good? appeared first on Pitcher List.

Hitter xBA Underperformers — May 25, 2022

Mike Podhorzer — Wed, 25 May 2022 12:15:31 +0000

While we have all acknowledged that Statcast’s xBA (expected batting average) isn’t perfect, and the reason I created my hitter xBABIP equation, it’s far better than taking a hitter’s current batting average or BABIP at face value. It’s also easy to use — no calculations required, just open the Statcast leaderboard on Fangraphs and you’ll see a bevy of Statcast metrics, including xBA. So as we’re...

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Roto Riteup: May 25, 2022

Justin Mason — Wed, 25 May 2022 11:15:25 +0000

This made me laugh way too hard: I see that the MLB At Bat app has personalized the experience for Phillies fans pic.twitter.com/gy2YFhYWRw — Ellen Adair (@ellen_adair) May 25, 2022 On the Agenda: 1. Sleeper and the Bust DK Contest 2. COVID Issues 3. Closer Chaos 4. Quick Hits 5. Various News and Notes 6. Streaming Pitchers COVID Issues Luis Robert was placed on the COVID IL.

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First Pitch Podcast – 5-25-22

James Schiano — Wed, 25 May 2022 07:42:19 +0000

Chaos in SF, Roansy Impressed, Mookie Stayed Hot

The post First Pitch Podcast – 5-25-22 appeared first on Pitcher List.

Jocularity, the State of Being Joc

Grey — Wed, 25 May 2022 07:00:23 +0000

"Only thing better than three homers in a game is three World Championships in three years for three different teams." -- Joc Pederson probably. Joc Pederson is 80-grade fun. Maybe it's the goofy paunchy body, maybe it's the frosted hair that seems done by himself on a whim. I don't know; he's just so much fun. Yesterday, him and his fantasy owners had a whole lotta fun -- 4-for-6, 8 RBIs and his 8th, 9th and 10th homers and his first career three-homer game. I know it's inaccurate, but it feels like Joc Pederson hits 30 homers every year, and they're all hit in the matter of 10 games. Think the only thing you need to know about Joc Pederson is this picture: Joc Pederson has ice in his veins and NFTs in his crypto wallet. Anyway, here's what else I saw yesterday in fantasy baseball:

Sonny and Flair

Nick Pollack — Wed, 25 May 2022 06:18:32 +0000

Nick Pollack reviews every starting pitcher performance from Tuesday.

The post Sonny and Flair appeared first on Pitcher List.

Red Sox Notes: Winckowski, Sale, Paxton

Darragh McDonald — Wed, 25 May 2022 03:19:24 +0000

Tthe Red Sox are amidst a stretch of ten games in nine days, thanks to a doubleheader against the Orioles on Saturday. That could necessitate the club using a spot starter, with manager Alex Cora suggesting Josh Winckowski as a possible candidate, per Chris Cotillo of MassLive.

The right-hander was a 15th round selection of the Blue Jays in 2016, but went to the Mets as part of the Steven Matz trade, about two weeks before the Mets sent him to Boston in the three-team Andrew Benintendi deal. Last year, his first in the Red Sox organization, he split his time between Double-A and Triple-A, throwing 112 total innings with a 3.94 ERA, 21.3% strikeout rate and 6.9% walk rate, earning himself a spot on the 40-man roster.

This year, the 23-year-old seems to have taken things forward a notch over his first seven starts and 31 2/3 innings for Triple-A Worcester. His ERA is at 3.13 with a 27.9% strikeout rate, 4.9% walk rate and 57% grounder rate. He last started for the WooSox Sunday, which would line up as the team’s 27th man for Saturday’s doubleheader on five days’ rest.

Further down the road, the rotation should get a boost from the return of Chris Sale, who threw a 15-pitch bullpen session today. Alex Speier of the Boston Globe writes that Sale is scheduled for another bullpen on Friday and is likely to throw another next week. Cora suggested that Sale could be in line to throw live batting practice following next week’s session if all goes well. That’d mark his first time throwing to hitters since he was diagnosed with a stress fracture in his rib cage in March.

There’s still a long road ahead before Sale can contribute to the big league team, though it’s encouraging that he’s at least making progress. The lefty threw 42 2/3 innings last year in his return from Tommy John surgery and was effective, though not quite at the ace level of previous years. His 3.16 ERA was over a run higher than his 2018 mark, with his 28.4% strikeout rate coming in about 10 points below the same number from three years earlier.

Boston is also awaiting the season debut of James Paxton, who is rehabbing from last April’s Tommy John surgery. The southpaw is a bit behind Sale in his recovery after being sidelined by continued elbow soreness this month, but he tells Rob Bradford of WEEI (audio link) he’s feeling better and has again started throwing. Paxton suggested he’s looking to gradually progress from 60 to 120 feet during his work from flat ground before he could begin throwing bullpen sessions of his own.

The 33-year-old Paxton signed a convoluted free agent deal over the offseason. He’s making $6MM this year, and the Sox will have to decide whether to trigger matching $13MM options for 2023-24 at the end of the season. If the team declines their end, Paxton can exercise a $4MM player option for 2023 only or test free agency. How long Paxton’s stay in Boston lasts will certainly be determined by his progress in his ongoing recovery and his form whenever he makes his return.

Diamondbacks Activate Jose Herrera

Anthony Franco — Wed, 25 May 2022 01:35:45 +0000

MAY 24: Herrera has been reinstated from the injured list. Greiner, who’d apparently been selected as a designated COVID substitute, has been returned to Reno and removed from the 40-man roster.

MAY 19: The D-Backs have selected catcher Grayson Greiner onto the major league roster. Fellow backstop José Herrera has been placed on the COVID-19 injured list in a corresponding move.

Greiner signed a minor league deal with the Snakes during Spring Training. That marked his first experience outside the Tigers’ organization, as he’d spent seven-plus seasons with Detroit since they nabbed him in the third round of the 2014 draft. Greiner tallied 477 big league plate appearances between 2018-21, hitting .201/.274/.309 with nine home runs.

The righty-hitting backstop has spent this season with Triple-A Reno. He’s mashed at a .351/.429/.514 clip through ten games, and he’s now in line for his first MLB action of the season. The Diamondbacks are without Carson Kelly because of an oblique strain, leaving Daulton Varsho as the primary backstop.

Herrera had been Varsho’s backup, but he’ll be out for an indeterminate amount of time. Arizona has also lost Kyle Nelson, Cooper Hummel and Nick Ahmed to the virus list in recent days. Herrera, 25, is hitting .125/.222/.150 through his first 18 MLB games.

Phillies, Zach Eflin Avoid Arbitration

Anthony Franco — Wed, 25 May 2022 01:21:51 +0000

8:21pm: Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports the financial breakdown (on Twitter): a $5.5MM base salary with a $150K buyout on next season’s mutual option. Eflin would receive an additional $50K apiece for reaching 100 and 125 innings pitched, $75K for 150 innings, and a final $125K at 175 innings.

4:37pm: The Phillies and starter Zach Eflin have reached agreement on a contract to avoid arbitration, reports Jim Salisbury of NBC Sports Philadelphia (on Twitter). Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports (Twitter link) that Eflin will be guaranteed $5.7MM, and the deal contains an additional $300K in possible performance bonuses. The contract also contains a mutual option for 2023 valued at $15MM, per Nightengale. Eflin is a client of O’Connell Sports Management.

Agreeing to terms avoids the necessity of a hearing for Eflin, who was eligible for arbitration for a final time. His camp had filed for a $6.9MM salary, while the team was seeking a $5.15MM figure. Eflin’s guarantee comes in a bit shy of the $6.025MM midpoint, but he could more or less reach that mark were he to trigger all the performance bonuses.

Arbitration salaries are typically determined over the offseason, with whatever hearings prove necessary commonly occurring in February. This past offseason’s lockout froze league business for 99 days, however, pushing some hearings into the regular season. That’s not a desirable setup for anyone, and the Phils and Eflin are both surely happy to avoid that process. Philadelphia’s arbitration class is now wrapped up.

Eflin, 28, is set to hit free agency for the first time next season. The sinkerballer will be one of the younger arms available, and he’s settled in as a reliably effective mid-rotation arm. Eflin posted an ERA between 3.97 and 4.36 each season from 2018-21. He consistently posted walk rates a few points lower than the league average while inducing strikeouts and grounders at slightly above-average marks. On a rate basis, that’s quality annual production.

Coupled with his youth, that kind of steadiness should make Eflin one of the better arms in next winter’s free agent class. The only real concern would seem to be his health history, as he’s dealt with chronic issues in both knees throughout his career. 2016 surgery on both joints alleviated the problems for a while, but Eflin dealt with renewed patellar troubles in his right knee late last season. That culminated in another procedure last September, one that cut his season short.

Eflin has stayed healthy (aside from a brief stay on the COVID-19 injured list) thus far in 2022. He’s off to a typically solid start, posting a 3.65 ERA through 37 innings. The right-hander has a roughly league average 23% strikeout rate and 45.9% ground-ball percentage, while his 4.6% walk rate is among the league’s best. He has joined Zack Wheeler, Aaron Nola, Kyle Gibson and Ranger Suárez to comprise one of baseball’s top starting staffs.

The inclusion of the mutual option theoretically raises the possibility of Eflin avoiding the open market altogether, but those are rarely exercised by both parties. Rather, they’re typically an accounting measure designed to push the payment of some salary back a few months — in the form of a postseason buyout on the option, rather than as salary to be dispersed regularly throughout the season. If Eflin stays healthy and productive all season, he’s likely to decline his end of the option in search of a multi-year deal on the open market.

Brewers Place Hunter Renfroe On Injured List, Select Mark Mathias

Anthony Franco — Tue, 24 May 2022 23:50:18 +0000

The Brewers have placed corner outfielder Hunter Renfroe on the 10-day injured list due to a right hamstring strain. Milwaukee selected infielder Mark Mathias onto the big league roster in a corresponding move. The Brewers’ 40-man roster tally now sits at 38.

Milwaukee acquired Renfroe from the Red Sox over the winter, attaching prospects David Hamilton and Alex Binelas to the contract of Jackie Bradley Jr. in order to bring in Renfroe. The power-hitting outfielder had made a favorable impression on his new club, hitting .266/.303/.503 with nine home runs through 155 plate appearances. That’s been a marked upgrade over Bradley’s .163/.236/.261 production as the primary right fielder last season, a much-needed boost for a Milwaukee team that was middle-of-the-pack offensively in 2021. The team hasn’t provided a specific timetable for Renfroe’s return.

Mathias is back in the majors for the first time this season. The Brew Crew had outrighted the right-handed hitter off their 40-man roster last November on the heels of a campaign lost to shoulder surgery. Mathias returned to health this year and has earned his way back with an incredible showing at Triple-A Nashville. Over 106 plate appearances, he’s hitting .341/.425/.549 with four home runs. Mathias has also walked in an impressive 11.3% of his trips to the dish while only striking out 19.8% of the time.

That work earns the 27-year-old his first MLB call in two years. A former Cleveland prospect, Mathias tallied 36 plate appearances over 16 games for the Brewers in 2020. That marks the entirety of his big league experience to date, but he’s a .262/.356/.406 hitter in parts of six minor league seasons. Mathias has experience at each of second base, third base and shortstop. The bulk of that playing time has come at the keystone.

Boxscore Bits: May 24th, 2022

Paul Sporer — Tue, 24 May 2022 22:54:02 +0000

A few thoughts on the games from Monday’s games: (lighter edition due to some unforeseen schedule changes on my end) FOR STARTERS Monday’s Starters # Name Team IP H R ER HR BB SO TBF ERA WHIP W vFA (pi) vSI (pi) SwStr% 1 Tyler Anderson LAD 8 5 0 0 0 0 8 28 0.00 0.63 1 90.1 88.8 21% 2 JT Brubaker PIT 6.2 5 1 0 0 2 4 27 0.00 1.05 0 92.7 92.7 7% 3 Triston McKenzie CLE 7 3 1 1 1 1 3 24 1.29 0.

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Pirates Designate Cam Alldred For Assignment

Anthony Franco — Tue, 24 May 2022 22:35:51 +0000

The Pirates announced they’ve designated reliever Cam Alldred for assignment. Pittsburgh also placed first baseman Daniel Vogelbach on the 10-day injured list and put reliever Heath Hembree on the 15-day IL. The moves clear roster space for the previously-reported promotions of right-hander Roansy Contreras and outfielder Calvin Mitchell.

Alldred just earned his first major league call a couple weeks ago. The 25-year-old made one appearance, tossing a scoreless inning against the Reds before being optioned back to Triple-A Indianapolis. He’s spent the rest of the season there, working 20 1/3 innings across ten appearances. Alldred has a sterling 1.33 ERA, inducing grounders on three-fifths of the batted balls he’s allowed.

The University of Cincinnati product hasn’t missed many bats in the minors. He has a below-average 21.3% strikeout rate in Triple-A, unsurprising for a pitcher who averaged 86.7 MPH on his sinker during his lone big league outing. Alldred has performed throughout his time in the minors, however, and he’s seen marked improvements in both his walk and ground-ball numbers thus far in 2022.

Vogelbach hits the IL due to a left hamstring strain. The team hasn’t provided a timetable for a return for the 29-year-old, who has been the club’s primary designated hitter this season. The lefty-swinging Vogelbach signed a $1MM deal over the offseason and had been off to a nice start to his Pittsburgh tenure. He’s hitting .241/.321/.457 while popping six home runs through his first 131 plate appearances.

Hembree also signed a one-year deal with the Bucs as a free agent, though he’s gotten off to a more inauspicious start. The right-hander has an 8.10 ERA through 17 appearances, walking 14.5% of batters faced. Hembree profiled as an interesting buy-low flier after striking out 34.2% of opponents between the Reds and Mets last season. He hasn’t come close to replicating that thus far, owning just a 16.1% strikeout rate in the early going.

In other Bucs’ injury news, the club transferred shortstop Kevin Newman to the 60-day IL yesterday. (The move was necessary to accommodate the promotion of Yerry de los Santos). General manager Ben Cherington announced over the weekend that Newman had suffered a hamstring injury while on a minor league rehab assignment (link via Jerry Dipaola of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review). That’s a separate issue than the left groin strain that originally landed him on the IL last month.

Cherington indicated Newman’s new injury isn’t likely to be serious, though it has halted his rehab stint. He won’t be eligible to return to the majors for sixty days from the time of his initial IL placement on April 27. A late-June return is now the best possible outcome for the 28-year-old, who hit .250/.308/.375 in 14 games before suffering the groin injury.