Great agent there, turning down a 7 year/$158 million dollar deal for this ‘payday.’
Alonso had a different agent when he turned down the offer.
Pete switched to Boras – who got the big Juan Soto contract – to try to get more, but the thinking about his value had changed and teams were wary of spending big money for a 30-year-old power hitting first baseman coming off a down year (and who shows hints of decline).
The Dodgers have apparently reached a deal with Kiké Hernandez pending a physical.
About time.
Interesting observation from a Las Vegas blogger. It’s been over 600 days and still no signs of a Las Vegas ballpark for the A’s.
That’s a bit misleading. It’s been about 125 days since they imploded the Tropicana. Before everything is cleared out it’s not like they could do anything.
I have no idea if any of the thousand things needed to be done before the stadium is built have been done but it’s not like they could have started building 600 days ago.
Indeed. One difference, as far as I can tell, between the A’s situation and the Raiders is that the Raiders’ new stadium was built on a parcel of land that did not have buildings on it which needed to be razed.
The A’s stadium funding bill was signed on June 15, 2023. The old Tropicana hotel wasn’t imploded until October 9, 2024 – almost 16 months after the funding bill.
Mike Trout moving to right field for this season.
I plan to visit California this season and definitely want to finally see Trout play.
I’m kind of surprised they haven’t decided to make him a DH. Moving to DH has saved the careers of great hitters before. Paul Molitor, for example.
Up until last season, that was where they were playing Ohtani, of course. But, I agree, it would make a lot of sense for Trout, though I get the sense that he might be resistant to the idea.
OTOH, Molitor is a great example. Early in his career, he was injury-prone, and the knock on him was that he was “brittle.” Getting him out of the infield kept his bat in the line-up, and absolutely extended his career – he had most of his best seasons, hitting-wise, when he wasn’t playing in the field often.
Speaking of the Angels, I just saw that Anthony Rendon is injured again.
Looks like Jorge Soler is the projected Angels DH, could easily see Trout spending time at DH as well this season. At least fantasy owners won’t be stuck with him as Utility only for at least another year.
The Athletics (none dare call them Sacramento) have given Mark Kotsay a 3 year extension. Ok, I guess, it’s stability.
In the annals of bad free agent signings, Anthony Rendon is right up there.
Are you referring to RF or DH?
Sorry, that wasn’t clear, but I was replying to @RickJay ‘s comment about making Trout their DH. Up through 2023, Ohtani was the Angels’ usual DH, on days when he wasn’t pitching.
The Chicago Cubs have signed Justin Turner to a 1-year, $6 million deal. He’ll be used primarily as a bench player to back up 1B Michael Busch and 3B Matt Shaw.
Toronto missed the deadline yesterday to sign Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to an extension, so Guerrero says he won’t negotiate further and will enter free agency after this season. A chance to retain a wonderful homegrown talent, blown.
GM Ross Atkins did however say he was hopeful to sign the immortal Daulton Varsho to an extension.
What a dreadful team.
He’s obviously not offensively comparable to Guerrero Jr., but Varsho is a Gold Glove fielder who led MLB in defensive runs saved last year - by a wide margin.
The Bregman signing has led to some speculation that Rafael Devers will be moved there this year. He [Raffie] has been rather vocal about NOT liking it, but twice now in 3 years he’s had a potential peak season ruined in the 2nd half by injuries:
1st half/2nd half
2022 .324 .379 .601 / .249 .325 .388
2024 .291 .374 .592 / .244 .325 .402
Papi Ortiz will be in the Sox camp and might be able to help him transition, tho there’s been talk Bregman will be moved to 2nd instead.
I don’t know anything about the Red Sox roster, but it seems kinda of nuts to get Bregman and not play him at third. Devers is a terrific hitter but kind of crap defensively.
Say goodbye to Sunday Night Baseball on ESPN after this season.