The Weekly Rundown: 1/29/23 - 2/4/23
MLB The Show 23 cover athlete(s), Red Sox and Marlins swap relievers, and more.
Good morning!
We’ve made it. Baseball finally returns this month with spring training starting just over a week from today. Most pitchers and catchers are set to report either Feb. 15 or 16. Players participating in next month’s World Baseball Classic will report a couple of days earlier than their teammates.
Last week, I promised you some dates to look forward to for baseball content delivered straight to your inbox (if you subscribe below). Here they are…
Feb. 13 - Early MLB Power Rankings
Feb. 20 - World Baseball Classic Preview
Feb. 22 - Under-the-radar players to watch in 2023
Feb. 24 - Teams that will outperform expectations
Feb. 26 - Dark-horse candidates for awards
March 1 - Bold predictions for the 2023 season
March 13 - AL East standings predictions
March 15 - AL Central standings predictions
March 17 - AL West standings predictions
March 20 - NL East standings predictions
March 22 - NL Central standings predictions
March 24 - NL West standings predictions
March 29 - MLB awards + playoff predictions
There will be some other content mixed in, but those are some firm dates for the season preview pieces I’m planning to lead into Opening Day on March 30. If you know a baseball fan who might be interested in reading, just a friendly reminder that you can gift a subscription.
Thanks as always for reading. Now let’s jump into the rundown.
The Jazz Chisholm Show
If MLB The Show’s goal was to spark discussion about the game with its cover athlete, mission accomplished. The announcement of Miami Marlins phenom Jazz Chisholm Jr. as the 2023 cover athlete was polarizing, to say the least.
Those who reacted negatively to Chisholm gracing the cover have a reasonable gripe. As flashy and exciting as he is, Chisholm isn’t on the same level as the other top candidates — *cough* Julio Rodriguez *cough*.
Three years into his promising MLB career, Chisholm has amassed a .243 batting average with 34 homers, 104 RBI, and a .754 OPS in 205 games. While he was an All-Star in 2022, he played in only 60 games due to injury.
That doesn’t sound like your typical video game cover athlete. Usually, that honor is reserved for bonafide stars. Aaron Judge. Shohei Ohtani. Fernando Tatis Jr… *cough* Julio Rodriguez *cough*
But you know what? I get it. I don’t think the cover athlete for a video game — which is meant to be fun, right? — necessarily has to be an MVP candidate or a breakout superstar. Major League Baseball needs to also showcase its lesser-known players in smaller markets who can appeal to a younger audience. Chisholm fits that description to a T and has shown flashes of talent that can match his undeniable swagger.
I guess what it boils down to is, yes, Julio Rodriguez is more “deserving.” If we’re going by numbers, the 2022 AL Rookie of the Year is the obvious choice. But I understand the thought process behind picking Chisholm. He represents everything this stale sport desperately needs. And if he stays healthy in 2023, he’ll prove that the folks at San Diego Studios made the right choice.
But wait, there’s more!
For years, MLB The Show fans have been clamoring for New York Yankees legend Derek Jeter to be in the game. Not only will he be in the 2023 edition, but he’ll also be on the cover of the collector’s edition. He made the announcement on The Tonight Show.
About time. Now let’s hope the game takes a step forward this year. Can we please just get an updated franchise mode?!
Barnes For Bleier
The Red Sox designated veteran reliever Matt Barnes for assignment last week. A couple of days later, they found a trade partner for the 2018 World Series champion.
Barnes was shipped to the Marlins in exchange for left-handed reliever Richard Bleier. Boston also sent $5 million to Miami to cover most of his $7.5 million salary for 2023.
The deal makes sense for both sides. The Red Sox needed to balance out their bullpen with a left-hander. After trading Josh Taylor to Kansas City, Joely Rodriguez was their only southpaw reliever. Bleier solves that problem.
Barnes brings a needed veteran presence to the Marlins’ pitching staff. A change of scenery could do wonders for him as there’s no doubt he was overworked by the Red Sox in recent years.
Richard Bleier definitely isn’t a household name. But if it sounds familiar, that’s because he’s the guy who infamously was called for three balks in one at-bat last season. It was one of the funniest moments of the 2022 campaign. Jomboy broke it down perfectly below.
Despite an unflattering reputation as the “balk guy,” Bleier actually has been pretty effective in his big-league career. He had never been called for a balk before that bizarre inning. The 35-year-old has a 3.06 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP in 308 big-league appearances (299.2 innings). That’ll play.
Baseball Royalty
Zack Greinke’s days in MLB are numbered as the 39-year-old right-hander is entering his 20th season. If 2023 indeed is his final year, he’ll spend it where his illustrious career began.
Greinke will run it back for at least one more season with the Kansas City Royals after signing a one-year, $8.5 million contract. He originally returned to Kansas City last offseason, then went on to produce a 3.68 ERA while allowing two runs or fewer in 17 of his 26 starts. His days as a workhorse are behind him, but those numbers show there’s still something left in the tank for the six-time All-Star and former Cy Young winner.
Enjoy Greinke on the mound while you can because before we know it, he’ll be headed to Cooperstown.
Rapid Fire
Longtime reliever Darren O’Day announced his retirement after 15 seasons. An All-Star in 2015, O’Day finishes his career with a 2.59 ERA and 1.03 WHIP to go with 637 strikeouts in 644 appearances (609 innings). He played seven seasons with the Baltimore Orioles, three with the Texas Rangers, three with the Atlanta Braves, and one with the New York Mets, Yankees, and Los Angeles Angels.
The Mariners signed utilityman Dylan Moore to a three-year contract extension worth $8.875 million. The 30-year-old doesn’t offer much at the plate but he’s got some speed and has played every position except catcher since debuting in 2019. Versatility pays.
In other utility player news, Josh Harrison is joining the Philadelphia Phillies on a one-year contract worth $2 million. Harrison, 35, brings Philly some much-needed versatility off the bench. He battled .256 with seven homers, 27 RBI, and a .687 OPS last season with the Chicago White Sox.
Former Yankees reliever Chad Green is headed to the Toronto Blue Jays on a two-year, $8.5 million deal. The 31-year-old is still recovering from the Tommy John surgery he underwent in May but should bring a significant boost to the Jays bullpen when he returns. Over his past three seasons, Green has posted a 3.18 ERA with 10.6 strikeouts per nine innings.
The Dodgers signed infielder Miguel Rojas — acquired earlier in the offseason in a deal with the Marlins — to a contract extension that will keep him in L.A. through 2024. The soon-to-be 34-year-old is a stellar defender who has shown flashes at the plate, but had a down season offensively in 2022. He hit just .236 with six homers and a 605 OPS in 140 games.
The Rumor Mill
We’re short on MLB rumors this week. It’s the dead time of the offseason, so bear with me. But this story made me laugh, so I just had to mention it.
With all the talk about Carlos Correa’s ankle this offseason, you would think the man was playing on a peg leg. He failed two physicals before ultimately returning to the Minnesota Twins on a six-year deal worth $200 million.
The New York Post’s Jon Heyman claims that “one doctor suggested Correa has the worst ankle he’s seen.” He writes that the doctor called it a “Houdini job" by Correa to get that much money after a “collapsed market.”
At this point, I’m convinced the Twins made a massive mistake signing Correa for $33.3M per year. There’s just no way both the Giants and Mets bail on signing him unless there’s something seriously wrong. I have a feeling it won’t be long before we see exactly why Correa had such a hard time finding a team this offseason.
Update: still laughing at “worst ankle he’s seen.” What a shitshow.
Thanks for reading! Let’s hope this is the final slow week of the offseason.