The Weekly Rundown: 1/8/23 - 1/14/23
Catch up on all of the top stories and rumors from the week in baseball.
Good morning, everyone!
We’re another week closer to pitchers and catchers reporting to spring training. In fact, we’re exactly one month away. Baseball will be back before we know it.
Until then, we’ll just have to power through the slow point in the offseason. Pretty much all of the intriguing free agents are off the market, trades are few and far between, and most of the rumors that have surfaced over the last month haven’t turned into anything. But that won’t stop the Weekly Rundown from covering it all anyway!
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Let’s jump in to the rundown…
Third Time’s The Charm
The Carlos Correa saga mercifully came to an end on Tuesday as he returned to the Minnesota Twins on a six-year, $200 million deal. The contract includes a vesting option that can max out at $270 million. Yes, he passed his physical this time and the deal is official.
Correa’s failed physical with the San Francisco Giants feels like it was a year ago. We all laughed the Giants front office when Correa landed with the New York Mets instead, but another failed physical showed there’s a valid reason why teams are unwilling to commit so many years to the 28-year-old shortstop. There’s a real long-term risk with that ankle. When the Mets deal fell through, his return to Minnesota seemed like a foregone conclusion.
With Correa back in the fold, the Twins’ offseason has gone from disappointment to moderate success. He’s that much of a difference-maker. Their infield has the potential to be one of the best in baseball with Correa, newly-acquired catcher Christian Vazquez, Jose Miranda, Luis Arraez, and Jorge Polanco. They probably won’t dominate the American League Central, but it’s definitely a winnable division.
Anyway, I’m just glad I no longer have to cover the “where will Correa land?” storyline. I thought it’d never end. Thank God that’s over with.
Horror Story
It’s been a frustrating offseason for Red Sox fans. Losing Xander Bogaerts was the major blow as it created a giant question mark at the shortstop position. Sure, Trevor Story could move over from second base, but can he still play the position with a bum elbow?
We got a clear answer to that question on Monday.
The Red Sox announced Story underwent an internal bracing procedure of the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow. There is no clear timetable for his recovery, but chief baseball officer Cham Bloom said the team “isn’t banking on” his return this season.
So no Bogaerts, no Story… what will Boston’s middle infield look like on Opening Day? As of now, it looks like utility man Kiké Hernandez will move from center field to shortstop with Christian Arroyo as the full-time second baseman. Of course, there’s still plenty of time for a move or two to be made.
If Hernandez is the primary shortstop, the Red Sox need to find a new center fielder. Jarren Duran projects as the Opening Day center fielder if no further moves are made. That isn’t a smart plan.
Pay Day For Trey
The Chicago Cubs landed one of the bigger bats left on the free-agent market as they signed first baseman/outfielder Trey Mancini on Saturday.
It’s a two-year, $14 million contract for Mancini that includes an opt out. The 30-year-old is the second veteran first baseman the Cubs have added in the last two weeks.
Mancini is expected to form a platoon with Eric Hosmer. He’ll presumably play against left-handed pitching while Hosmer hits against righties.
The 2022 season was a down year for Mancini, who was traded from Baltimore to Houston before the trade deadline. He slashed .239./.319/.301 with 18 homers and 63 RBI. Still, he should provide some needed pop in the Cubs lineup along with veteran leadership in a young clubhouse.
Homecoming King
Cutch is coming home.
The Pittsburgh Pirates signed their former MVP, Andrew McCutchen, to a one-year deal worth $5 million on Friday. Last year it was Albert Pujols' returning to St. Louis, this year it’s Cutch back with the Bucs.
If this is it for McCutchen, it’s a storybook ending to his career. The 36-year-old had four consecutive top-five MVP finishes in Pittsburgh including his win in 2013. He also won four straight Silver Slugger awards and was an All-Star from 2011-15.
Johnny On The Spot
The Miami Marlins added some experience to their rotation with the signing of veteran right-hander Johnny Cueto to a one-year, $8.5 million deal. The contract includes a team option for 2024.
Cueto, who turns 37 next month, was surprisingly effective with the Chicago White Sox last season. He finished with a 3.35 ERA and a 1.23 WHIP in 25 outings (158.1 innings). Miami would gladly take that kind of production from the back end of its solid rotation.
The Cueto acquisition makes it even more likely the Marlins will part ways with one of their arms in a trade before Opening Day. They could move on from Pablo Lopez, Trevor Rogers, Jesus Luzardo or Edward Cabrera. More on that in the “Rumor Mill” section below.
Getting Defensive
More Marlins news: they traded infielder Miguel Rojas to the Los Angeles Dodgers for infield prospect Jacob Amaya (ranked 15th in Dodgers system).
Rojas returns to where his big-league career began in 2014. A stellar defensive shortstop, the soon-to-be 34-year-old brings versatility to L.A.’s infield following the departure of Trea Turner. Not saying Rojas is even on the same planet as Turner talent-wise, but the Dodgers needed to address their infield depth. They did so by bringing Rojas back into the fold.
Rojas hit .236 with six homers and 36 RBI in 140 games with Miami in 2022.
Love For Liam
Chicago White Sox star reliever Liam Hendricks announced he has been diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. Obviously, this is where baseball becomes a complete afterthought. It’s horrible news for one of the game’s best personalities and biggest talents.
"Hearing the word "Cancer" came as a shock to my wife and I, as it does to millions of families each year. However, I am resolved to embrace the fight and overcome this new challenge with the same determination I have used when facing other obstacles in my life," Hendriks wrote in an Instagram post.
“I am confident that I will make a full recovery and be back on the mound as soon as possible. I know with the support of my wife, my family, my teammates and the Chicago White Sox organization, along with the treatment and care from my doctors, I will get through this."
Former Red Sox southpaw Jon Lester was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma back in 2006. He went on to kick cancer’s ass and enjoy a sensational 16-year MLB career. Hendriks will be back on the bump in no time.
To brighten the mood a bit, watch this Hendriks highlight from his hilarious All-Star Game appearance:
Surely this will be a minor setback for a major comeback.
Rapid Fire
The Los Angeles Angels signed outfielder Brett Phillips to a one-year, $1.2 million deal. He’ll serve as a fourth outfielder and join Shohei Ohtani as another two-way threat (kidding… sort of).
Nelson Cruz just keeps chugging along. The 42-year-old DH joined the San Diego Padres on a one-year deal worth $1 million and while he’s no longer the threat he once was at the plate, he’s at least another serviceable bat for a team that should compete for the division crown in 2023.
The Giants signed former Atlanta Braves reliever Luke Jackson to a two-year contract worth $11.5 million. Jackson missed all of 2022 due to Tommy John surgery but was stellar when he last pitched, posting a 1.98 ERA and 1.16 WHIP in 71 games with Atlanta in 2021.
Japanese right-hander Shintaro Fujinami signed a one-year, $3.25 million deal with the Oakland A’s. Fujinami projects as a reliever in MLB and throws a 99 mph fastball with a filthy splitter. The A’s could try him as a starter, but it seems he’ll be best as a bullpen option.
Veteran first baseman Brandon Belt is headed to Toronto on a one-year, $9.3 million deal. It’ll be jarring to see him in a uniform other than the Giants’. The soon-to-be 35-year-old might not get the chance to wear the Blue Jays uniform too often as a chronic knee injury has nagged him the last couple of years. If he’s healthy, he could be a steal.
The Rumor Mill
Former Braves, Marlins and Reds outfielder Adam Duvall is garnering interest from several teams in free agency, namely the Mets and Red Sox, according to reports. The Mets also were rumored to be interested in Mancini so since he’s off the table, Duvall could be the guy for Stevey Cohen.
It seems like a matter of when, not if, Marlins right-hander Pablo Lopez will be traded. The addition of Cueto only increases the chances of a deal for one of Miami’s starters. Lopez has been linked to the Red Sox, Twins, Padres over the last month or so.
The New York Yankees expect to be without starter Frankie Montas for the first month of the 2023 season due to shoulder inflammation. That trade continues to look bad for the Bronx Bombers, who sent pitching prospects JP Sears and Ken Waldichuk to Oakland in the swap.
Thanks for reading and see ya next Sunday.