The Weekly Rundown: 2/11/23 - 2/17/23
Jorge Soler to San Francisco, injury bug bites Baltimore, and more from the last week in baseball.
Good morning and happy Sunday!
Spring training has officially arrived. Pitchers and catchers reported to camp and full squad workouts are scheduled to begin tomorrow. It may not feel like baseball season just yet, but it’s here.
Well, at least it is for most of the league. It’s the same story in a different week: Blake Snell, Jordan Montgomery, and other top free agents have yet to sign. If you ask me, the slow pace of the MLB offseason is ruining what was once one of the most fun parts of following the sport. Commissioner Rob Manfred agrees, stating that the league wants to implement a free-agent signing deadline.
For now, though, we’re stuck waiting. We at least had a few notable moves and rumors over the last week to discuss, so grab your morning coffee and let’s jump into those…
Important note: No rundowns for the next two Sundays as I’ll be on vacation. The next rundown will hit your e-mail inbox on March 9.
Soler to San Francisco
The Jorge Soler sweepstakes finally came to an end with the San Francisco Giants signing the slugging outfielder to a three-year contract worth $42 million.
Soler, who turns 32 later this month, was among the top hitters remaining on the free-agent market. With him off the board, the best options left are Cody Bellinger, J.D. Martinez, Matt Chapman, Adam Duvall, Brandon Belt, and Tommy Pham.
A two-time World Series champion, Soler spent the last two seasons with the Miami Marlins. Last year, he slashed .250/.341/.512, 36 homers, and 75 RBIs in 137 games. He earned the first All-Star selection of his 10-year MLB career.
The Giants needed a right-handed bat after sending outfielder Mitch Haniger to Seattle for left-hander Robbie Ray. Soler will likely slot in as San Francisco’s designated hitter with fellow offseason addition Jung Hoo Lee manning the outfield.
Soler has a chance to become the first Giants player to notch a 30-homer season since Barry Bonds in 2004.
Injury Bug Bites Baltimore
The Orioles were riding high after acquiring ace Corbin Burnes from the Brewers, but they got some bad news ahead of spring training.
Kyle Bradish, who’s coming off a breakout 2023 campaign and was poised to form a scary 1-2 punch with Burnes, has a sprained UCL in his pitching elbow. The injury will force Bradish to start the 2024 season on the injured list. No estimated timeline has been announced for his return to the rotation.
That wasn’t the only O’s injury. Last season’s AL Rookie of the Year Gunnar Henderson is dealing with an oblique injury and left-hander John Means is a month behind Baltimore’s starters. Henderson is expected to be ready in time for Opening Day, but Means is far less of a sure thing. Orioles manager Brandon Hyde expects Means to begin the season on the IL, putting Baltimore down two of its top starters.
Bradish went 12-7 with a 2.83 ERA over 30 starts last season. Without both Bradish and Means, the top of the Orioles rotation to begin the year will likely consist of Burnes, Grayson Rodriguez, and Dean Kremer. We should expect them to make an addition or two to the staff before Opening Day. Keep an eye out for another blockbuster trade or a free-agency splash like Blake Snell or Jordan Montgomery.
Phillies Add Merrifield
The Philadelphia Phillies signed utility man Whit Merrifield to a one-year, $8 million contract. The 35-year-old gives the Phils some defensive versatility and a solid contributor off the bench.
Merrifield was the top second baseman on the free-agent market this offseason. He isn’t the All-Star talent he once was with the Kansas City Royals, but he can still be a difference-maker in multiple ways for Philadelphia. He’ll likely split time with Bryson Stott at second base and could fill in as a left fielder if Brandon Marsh (arthroscopic knee surgery) isn’t ready for Opening Day.
Merrifield is far past his prime offensively. Last season in Toronto, he hit .272 with 11 homers and a .700 OPS in 145 games.
The Phillies also added depth to their pitching staff by signing ex-Tigers righty Spencer Turnbull to a one-year deal.
Rapid Fire
Colorado Rockies closer Daniel Bard underwent an arthroscopy/cleanup on his left knee but did not need a meniscus repair as was originally anticipated. He is expected to recover in a month.
The San Diego Padres signed outfielder Jurickson Profar to a one-year deal.
The Padres will move Xander Bogaerts, who they signed to an 11-year deal worth $280 million last year, from shortstop to second base this season. Ha-Seong Kim will take over as the starting shortstop.
The Arizona Diamondbacks signed outfielder Randal Grichuk to a one-year contract worth $2 million.
The Boston Red Sox traded righty reliever John Schreiber to the Royals for right-handed pitching prospect David Sandlin.
The Panda making a comeback? Pablo Sandoval, 37, is a non-roster invitee to Giants spring training.
The Rumor Mill
With Bradish hurt, the Orioles have expressed interest in trading for Marlins southpaw Jesus Luzardo, according to Barry Jackson and Craig Mish of the Miami Herald.
In addition to Schreiber, the Red Sox are open to trade offers for closer Kenley Jansen, per Alex Speier of the Boston Globe. They also will entertain offers for reliever Chris Martin, according to MassLive.com’s Christopher Smith.
The Phillies have opened contract extension talks with ace Zack Wheeler, he confirmed to reporters.
Astros GM Dana Brown said on MLB Network Radio the club plans to discuss long-term extensions with outfielder Kyle Tucker and third baseman Alex Bregman.
The Marlins made an offer to free-agent infielder Tim Anderson, per The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal.
Thanks for reading! Reminder: No rundowns for the next two Sundays, so our next rundown will be on March 9.