In the world of baseball, the preseason is starting up and there are three key things that we will be closely monitoring throughout the day today:
1. The return of baseball!
Pitchers and catchers are arriving at training camp today for 18 of the league’s 30 teams. By the end of the day, two-thirds of the league will have their camp underway, including the Dodgers and Padres who reported early. As teams prepare for the upcoming season, four of the top 10 free agents from the offseason are still available, and there are rumors of more deals in both free agency and the trade market.
Today, the Rangers, Diamondbacks, and Twins are among the teams reporting to camp. The Rangers are looking to defend their first-ever World Series title in franchise history, while the Diamondbacks hope to carry the momentum from last year’s surprise run to the Fall Classic into the new season. The Twins aim to return to the postseason after breaking their 18-game postseason losing streak and winning a playoff series for the first time since 2003.
Second baseman Luis Arraez is scheduled to have a hearing against the Marlins today after failing to reach an arbitration agreement. Arraez requested a salary of $12MM for the 2024 season, while the Marlins offered $10.6MM. Arraez won his case against Miami last year, and with five undecided cases this year, players have won in seven hearings while teams have won in four.
The Red Sox’s offseason has been unusual. After a lengthy search, the club hired Craig Breslow as their chief baseball officer and focused on bolstering their starting rotation. However, they traded Chris Sale and acquired Vaughn Grissom and Lucas Giolito, which left them with a lack of rotation depth and a volatile top veteran starter. Club officials have backtracked on their previous comments about a “full-throttle” approach and expect a lower payroll in 2024. As pitchers and catchers report to camp, there is uncertainty surrounding the Red Sox’s direction. They are pursuing outfield additions in free agency, receiving trade interest in Jarren Duran, and listening to offers on bullpen pieces like Kenley Jansen and Chris Martin. The arrival of Spring Training may provide more clarity on the club’s plans for the 2024 season.
According to the Source mlbtraderumors.com