The 2023 MLB Winter Conferences could have befell this week, however Main League Baseball’s offseason nonetheless has a ton of intrigue to supply. Whereas Juan Soto discovered a brand new house, having been shipped to the New York Yankees in a seven-player deal, Shohei Ohtani hasn’t but made his choice and Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s market is about to warmth up. The rumor mill, then, ought to stay in full operation. Under, you could find all the most recent information, notes, and rumors from Saturday.
Twins getting hits on Polanco, Kepler
Minnesota infielder Jorge Polanco and outfielder Max Kepler are each drawing curiosity from different groups, based on Bobby Nightengale of the Minneapolis Star Tribune. Neither participant appears to be concerned in an imminent commerce.
Kepler is getting into his stroll yr whereas Polanco may stay beneath staff management by way of an extra season because of a membership possibility. The Twins have an overbrimming depth chart; a want to cut back payroll; and a necessity so as to add pitching. That mixture makes each Polanco and Kepler seem extra seemingly than to not transfer in some unspecified time in the future between now and Opening Day, in our eyes.
Polanco has posted an above-average OPS+ in 5 of his final six seasons. Kepler, for his half, is coming off the second-best yr of his profession.
At some point after buying Max Stassi from the Angels, the Braves flipped the veteran backstop to the White Sox. Chicago acquired Stassi and money from Atlanta for a participant to be named later, the staff introduced Saturday. Stassi is owed $7 million in 2024, plus a $500,000 buyout of his 2025 possibility.
Stassi, 32, didn’t play in 2023, first due to damage after which resulting from a medical difficulty together with his household. The Braves picked up Stassi in a commerce that additionally netted utility infielder David Fletcher. With the ChiSox, Stassi figures to again up rookie Korey Lee, and likewise function a veteran mentor. He is a profession .212/.295/.361 hitter.
Prospects to compete for Opening Day jobs
What do Jackson Holliday, Wyatt Langford, and Jackson Chourio all have in frequent? Nicely, they’re all prime prospects. Oh, they usually all may have the chance to make their groups’ Opening Day rosters, based on what their managers and normal managers mentioned this week.
