With Spring Training practices in full swing, here are three things to keep an eye on in baseball today:
1. Waiting for financial details for Brandon Woodruff and Hyun Jin Ryu
Two experienced starting pitchers reportedly agreed to new contracts last week, but the specific financial terms of these deals have not been disclosed yet. News broke on Monday morning that Brandon Woodruff will be returning to the Brewers, but the length and value of his new agreement remain unknown. Hyun Jin Ryu is also making a comeback to his former team, the Hanwha Tigers of the KBO. While the complete details of his contract have not been revealed, Jeeho Yoo of Yonhap News suggests that the Eagles will likely announce the deal on Thursday. Considering the time difference, Ryu’s contract could be announced later today; 6:00 pm CT will be 9:00 am in South Korea.
2. Are the Rays considering trading an infielder?
The Rays recently reached an agreement with infielder Amed Rosario on a one-year, $1.5 million contract. While this amount may not be significant for some teams, it’s unlikely that the Rays would sign Rosario to such a deal if they did not plan on giving him regular playing time. However, with Brandon Lowe firmly established at second base and José Caballero expected to start at shortstop, Rosario will likely serve as a utility player off the bench. This leaves infielders Junior Caminero and Osleivis Basabe without a clear path to playing time. Caminero, a highly regarded prospect, could earn a spot on the roster with an impressive performance in the minor leagues. On the other hand, it’s unclear how Basabe fits into the Rays’ plans for 2024. Additionally, the team already has veteran infielder Yu Chang on a minor league contract and Taylor Walls is set to return from hip surgery soon. With this surplus of infielders, it’s possible that the Rays are considering making a trade.
3. Full-squad workouts have commenced, but teams are still in progress
As of Tuesday, all 30 clubs have conducted their first full-squad workouts, officially marking the start of Spring Training. Games are scheduled to begin later this week, with the Dodgers and Padres kicking off the Cactus League on Thursday afternoon and the Grapefruit League starting a couple of days later. However, despite the term “full-squad workout,” many teams are still working on improving their rosters. Ten of MLBTR’s Top 50 Free Agents remain unsigned, including notable players like Cody Bellinger, Blake Snell, Jordan Montgomery, Matt Chapman, and J.D. Martinez. This means that many teams have the potential to significantly enhance their lineups before Opening Day. Although the free agent market has been slow recently, as Spring Training progresses, more signings are likely to occur.
According to the Source mlbtraderumors.com