# MLB: Spring Training 2024
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-spring-training-2024/997963
**Category:** The Game Room
**Tags:** baseball-mlb
**Created:** [February 22, 2024, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-spring-training-2024/997963 "2024-02-22T22:06:30Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 3
### Author:  [@Southern\_Yankee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Southern_Yankee)
#### Post date: [February 28, 2024, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-spring-training-2024/997963/41 "2024-02-28T13:13:58Z")
I haven’t seen him myself, but this from an article in The Athletic today:
Jones is also considered a strong defender, potentially capable of handling center field in the majors someday, though Law wrote he could imagine him playing “above-average defense” in right field. His 43 steals last season also point to Jones being a future threat on the bases.
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### Author:  [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)
#### Post date: [February 28, 2024, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-spring-training-2024/997963/42 "2024-02-28T16:13:30Z")
> [@Jaycat.again](#):
>
> The Soto trade is starting to look a lot better. I wonder how the Padres feel, having given up these guys for basically no return.
And Soto is saying all the right things to make the fans hopeful this is going to turn out to be long term and not just a rental.
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### Author:  [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)
#### Post date: [March 1, 2024, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-spring-training-2024/997963/43 "2024-03-01T14:36:59Z")
Looks to me like Sports Illustrated is again publishing stories written by ChatGPT or some other AI.
I challenge anyone to read this genuinely bizarre non-story article and tell me with a straight face this was written, to any significant degree, by a human. Absolutely every sign of AI writing.
[https://www.si.com/mlb/mets/news/mets-superstar-predicted-be-dealt-trade-deadline-toronto-blue-jays-brad9](https://www.si.com/mlb/mets/news/mets-superstar-predicted-be-dealt-trade-deadline-toronto-blue-jays-brad9)
It has all the hallmarks of AI writing, weird turns of phrase that are technically correct in terms of grammar and structure but which a person would not write, like “Well, he’s scheduled to hit free agency after the year” and epic weirdnesses like this one:
> [@](#):
>
> New York has talked about wanting to bring Alonso back, but trading him away might create a fracture in their relationship that can’t be overcome.
Uh… yes ,trading him away so he is the employee of ANOTHER TEAM does sort of “fracture” the relationship.
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### Author:  [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)
#### Post date: [March 1, 2024, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-spring-training-2024/997963/44 "2024-03-01T14:46:12Z")
> [@RickJay](#):
>
> > [@](#):
> >
> > New York has talked about wanting to bring Alonso back, but trading him away might create a fracture in their relationship that can’t be overcome.
>
> Uh… yes ,trading him away so he is the employee of ANOTHER TEAM does sort of “fracture” the relationship.
That sort of struck me too 🤪. How many teams have gotten a haul of prospects in trading away a star and then managed to subsequently re-sign the star in free agency?
Otherwise, it’s like lots of other clickbait stories that wind up on my phone feeds, urging or predicting trades/signings that have little to no chance of happening.
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### Author:  [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)
#### Post date: [March 1, 2024, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-spring-training-2024/997963/45 "2024-03-01T15:06:13Z")
> [@RickJay](#):
>
> Looks to me like Sports Illustrated is again publishing stories written by ChatGPT or some other AI.
Maybe. I looked up the author and he’s relatively young and inexperienced. He’s only been writing professionally (as a freelancer) for a few years and has a podcast. He graduated from college in 2018.
It’s possible he’s trying to use AI to help him write, or he’s just not very good yet. (Or both.)
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### Author:  [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)
#### Post date: [March 1, 2024, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-spring-training-2024/997963/46 "2024-03-01T15:35:49Z")
Oh, he may have done some work on it himself, I’ve little doubt of that, but there’s multiple AI indicators in there. I am quite certain.
This is becoming irritatingly common in sports journalism, and there is LOADS of it in hot stove writing.
> [@Jackmannii](#):
>
> How many teams have gotten a haul of prospects in trading away a star and then managed to subsequently re-sign the star in free agency?
I actually did remember one, and it involved the Blue Jays: Rickey Henderson. They got him from Oakland in 1993 for a much bnallyhooed pitching prospect named Steve Karsay, and then Rickey promptly re-signed in Oakland on a two year deal.
Karsay had a modest little career. He had a heck of a year out of the bullpen for Cleveland in 1999.
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### Author:  [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freddy_the_Pig)
#### Post date: [March 1, 2024, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-spring-training-2024/997963/47 "2024-03-01T18:23:30Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#):
>
> That sort of struck me too 🤪. How many teams have gotten a haul of prospects in trading away a star and then managed to subsequently re-sign the star in free agency?
The Yankees traded Aroldis Chapman to the Cubs at the deadline in 2016 (getting Gleyber Torres) and then re-signed him during the offseason.
The bigger problem I have with that article is the notion that a trade of Alonso would be “shocking”. If in fact the Mets are not in contention in July, and Alonso is still unsigned, the shocking thing would be if they _didn’t_ trade him. Regardless of any “fracture” this might or might not create in their relationship.
Also I like leading off with “It will be interesting to see how the Mets perform in the upcoming season.” That’s sort of what sports is all about, isn’t it–watching how each team performs each season. Gets right to the heart of the matter, this fellow does.
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### Author:  [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)
#### Post date: [March 1, 2024, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-spring-training-2024/997963/48 "2024-03-01T20:00:02Z")
> [@RickJay](#):
>
> Oh, he may have done some work on it himself, I’ve little doubt of that, but there’s multiple AI indicators in there. I am quite certain.
I’d say that as a young, seemingly inexperienced writer, that to me makes it more likely that AI was used.
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### Author:  [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)
#### Post date: [March 1, 2024, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-spring-training-2024/997963/49 "2024-03-01T20:26:18Z")
Phillies fans abuse Dollar Dog Night, now they’re bitching now that it’s been cancelled. Stay classy, Philadelphia.
> **[Phillies replacing beloved 'Dollar Dog Nights' with new $5 BOGO promotion](https://www.fox29.com/news/phillies-replacing-beloved-dollar-dog-nights-with-new-5-bogo-promotion)**
>
> The Phillies announced on Thursday that “Hatfield Phillies Franks Dollar Dog Nights" will be replaced with “Hatfield Phillies Franks BOGO Nights" this season at Citizens Banks Park.
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### Author:  [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)
#### Post date: [March 1, 2024, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-spring-training-2024/997963/50 "2024-03-01T20:49:48Z")
Found one more free agent resigning, though not after a trade for a “package of prospects”.
The Twins traded Rick Aguilera to the Red Sox in 1995, getting in exchange pitcher Francisco Rodriguez and minor league outfielder J.J. Johnson. Aguilera re-signed as a free agent with Minnesota after pitching well for Boston. Rodriguez didn’t do much with the Twins over several seasons; Johnson never made it to the majors, though he had a solid season in '96 with the Hardware City Rock Cats (later the Hartford Yard Goats).
\*this post was not composed with the help of AI.
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### Author:  [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)
#### Post date: [March 1, 2024, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-spring-training-2024/997963/51 "2024-03-01T21:02:54Z")
I found another one:
[https://www.si.com/mlb/yankees/news/blue-jays-seen-as-possible-landing-spot-for-yankees-superstar-juan-soto-pat3](https://www.si.com/mlb/yankees/news/blue-jays-seen-as-possible-landing-spot-for-yankees-superstar-juan-soto-pat3)
This “NY baseball player could sign/be traded to the Blue Jays, based off this other article written by Bleacher Report” format is so weirdly specific.
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### Author:  [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulf_the_Unwashed)
#### Post date: [March 2, 2024, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-spring-training-2024/997963/52 "2024-03-02T00:21:35Z")
Going way back, I believe Jim Slaton qualifies for the traded-away-and-resigned-with-original-team sweepstakes: he was traded by Milwaukee to Detroit before the 1978 season, became a free agent, and signed with the Brewers again.
A “star” he wasn’t, though he did make an All-Star team or two. Slaton apparently still leads the Brewers in lifetime wins, where it’s possible someone may eventually overtake him, and lifetime shutouts, where it’s not. Who knew? Not me–I would’ve guessed Teddy Higuera.
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### Author:  [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulf_the_Unwashed)
#### Post date: [March 2, 2024, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-spring-training-2024/997963/53 "2024-03-02T00:24:50Z")
Yeah, this is true. I question whether he will be able to hold down left or right field, based on what I’ve seen, but Keith Law and others are paid to judge talent and I am not. So they’re probably right and I’m probably not. Maybe Jones saved his strong defensive skills for games when I wasn’t in the park.
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### Author:  [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)
#### Post date: [March 2, 2024, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-spring-training-2024/997963/54 "2024-03-02T00:42:20Z")
> [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](#):
>
> Slaton apparently still leads the Brewers in lifetime wins, where it’s possible someone may eventually overtake him, and lifetime shutouts, where it’s not. Who knew? Not me–I would’ve guessed Teddy Higuera.
Speaking as a lifelong Brewers fan, the Brewers haven’t really ever had a starting pitcher who pitched well for them, for more than a couple of years. Slaton was, effectively, a 10-10 starting pitcher, with an ERA in the high 3s, who did that, more or less, pretty consistently for 12 seasons. To be fair to him, in his first seven seasons in Milwaukee, they were consistently a second-division team.
(For the record, I would have guessed Higuera, too.)
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### Author:  [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)
#### Post date: [March 3, 2024, 8:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-spring-training-2024/997963/55 "2024-03-03T08:42:14Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#):
>
> \*this post was not composed with the help of AI.
Oh well, maybe next time!
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### Author:  [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)
#### Post date: [March 3, 2024, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-spring-training-2024/997963/56 "2024-03-03T23:38:52Z")
> [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](#):
>
> Slaton apparently still leads the Brewers in lifetime wins
…Despite the fact he had a losing record with Milwaukee.
The other 29 franchise win leaders all had winning records with that team. Even the ones you don’t remember, like Jorge De La Rosa of the Rockies or Ricky Nolasco of the Marlins.
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### Author:  [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)
#### Post date: [March 5, 2024, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-spring-training-2024/997963/57 "2024-03-05T22:48:38Z")
Red Sox pitcher [Lucas Golito](https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/39658830/red-sox-rhp-lucas-giolito-elbow-miss-season) may miss the 2024 season with a partially torn ulnar collateral ligament and flexor strain that could require surgery.
Golito was expected to be Boston’s opening day starter.
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### Author:  [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)
#### Post date: [March 6, 2024, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-spring-training-2024/997963/58 "2024-03-06T05:27:00Z")
Not that I mind but it’s not looking good for the Red Sox. With how they finished last season I was expecting them to make some moves. I know Sox fans are frustrated.
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### Author:  [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)
#### Post date: [March 6, 2024, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-spring-training-2024/997963/59 "2024-03-06T05:36:57Z")
Well, Blake Snell remains unsigned, and he is apparently [willing to take a short-term deal](https://www.si.com/fannation/mlb/fastball/news/reigning-national-league-cy-young-winner-blake-snell-says-hell-take-short-term-contract-now). So that’s a move the Sox could make.
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### Author:  [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)
#### Post date: [March 6, 2024, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-spring-training-2024/997963/60 "2024-03-06T06:24:20Z")
> [@Superdude](#):
>
> Well, Blake Snell remains unsigned, and he is apparently [willing to take a short-term deal](https://www.si.com/fannation/mlb/fastball/news/reigning-national-league-cy-young-winner-blake-snell-says-hell-take-short-term-contract-now). So that’s a move the Sox could make.
With Golito down they might have to. They don’t seem to want to spend money like they used to.
It looks more and more like Boras played himself. The Yankees offer $150 million. No one else is coming close. Now the Yankees are going to get a 110% luxury cap hit for anyone they sign so I doubt they are in the running.
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