Opening Day is lower than 4 weeks away and six of our high 50 free brokers stay unsigned, together with two of the highest 10: Jordan Montgomery and Blake Snell. If they do not signal within the subsequent week or so, it will be honest to marvel how prepared they are going to be for Opening Day. Right here now are Sunday’s scorching range rumors.
Giants centered on younger pitchers
After signing Matt Chapman, the Giants are centered on their younger pitchers relatively than including an arm from exterior the group, president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi mentioned Sunday. He didn’t utterly shut the door on bringing in additional pitching, nonetheless. This is what Zaidi informed reporters, together with the San Francisco Chronicle and NBC Sports Bay Area:
“Now we have talked all offseason and been very constant that our plan was to proceed to graduate a few of our younger pitchers we’re actually excessive on, significantly within the rotation. The plan all alongside has been to provide our younger pitchers alternatives … The offseason’s actually over so far as we’re involved. We’re extra in in-season mode, which does not imply you may’t make additions. However it’s a unique dynamic as a result of we’re actually centered on the gamers we have now and the way they’re going to match collectively.”
San Francisco is brief on starters in the mean time. Tristan Beck (aneurysm), Alex Cobb (hip surgical procedure), and Robbie Ray (Tommy John surgical procedure) will all miss the beginning of 2024, which means ace Logan Webb can be adopted by transformed reliever Jordan Hicks and prospects Kyle Harrison and Keaton Winn within the rotation. The No. 5 spot is up for grabs with Snell and Montgomery nonetheless unsigned.
D-backs signal Andrus
The defending NL champion Diamondbacks have signed veteran infielder Elvis Andrus to a minor league contract, the staff introduced. High prospect Jordan Lawlar is predicted to start the season in Triple-A, giving Andrus an opportunity to make the Opening Day roster as a bench participant. In the intervening time, Jace Peterson is penciled in because the backup shortstop behind Geraldo Perdomo. Andrus, 35, had a .662 OPS in 112 video games with the White Sox final yr.
Phillies serious about Snell
The Phillies have curiosity in Blake Snell on a short-term contract. They’ve 5 starters for 5 rotation spots — Zack Wheeler, Aaron Nola, Ranger Suárez, Taijuan Walker, Cristopher Sánchez — although Sánchez might transfer to the bullpen to make room for Snell. The bigger concern is cash. Philadelphia’s payroll is already within the $260 million vary, which might be a franchise document, and signing Snell would push them near $300 million. That will set off a major aggressive stability tax cost.
