Roki Sasaki has reportedly set his finalists: the Toronto Blue Jays and two NL West rivals.
Diamondbacks News
Report: Diamondbacks Out on Roki Sasaki by Jake Oliver [SI]
As per John Gambadoro, the Arizona Diamondbacks will not win the Roki Sasaki sweepstakes, although they submitted a proposal to meet with him. They were not granted a meeting with him despite extensive scouting.
As Hazens travel the world, beloved Nicole always with them by Steve Gilbert [Dbacks.com]
“We’re creating a map around the world of the places where we’re going to spread her ashes,” Hazen said. “Instead of just in one spot or keeping them, I want them to have a memory, not only of the trips we take when they get older and when they have their families, but also make it connected to Nicole. Every time we spread her ashes, one of us does a little tribute to her. It’s a little moment that we have in the middle of all these trips. We try to pick the coolest place, wherever we are.”
MLB Front Office Rankings, 2024 season: No. 15 Arizona Diamondbacks by Bill Felber [Call to the Pen]
There’s no question that, on a short-term basis at least, the two-year, $47.5 million contract Montgomery eventually got was a loser. Montgomery produced -2.5 Wins Above Average, making his signing Hazen’s single worst move of the offseason.
It also put a hit on Hazen’s reputation for judging veterans that was, otherwise, unmerited. Overall, the D-Backs GM actually did pretty well in signing veteran talent, signing Randal Grichuk, Kevin Newman and Joc Pederson.
Report: Diamondbacks Will Sign Rodney Suarez by Jake Oliver [SI]
The Venezuelan outfielder mostly plays center field and possesses plenty of power and speed. This duo of skills gives him the potential to stay in center field long-term, although the glove will need some work. His powerful arm would play in any outfield spot.
The right-handed hitter has plenty of pop, but will need to work on making more contact as it’s currently a power-over-contact approach.
Around the League
Sasaki narrows list to trio of teams with decision coming soon (report) by Thomas Harrigan [MLB]
With the Roki Sasaki sweepstakes in the home stretch, it appears the Japanese phenom has narrowed down his choices. According to a report from MLB Network insider Jon Heyman, the Dodgers, Padres and Blue Jays are the three finalists to sign Sasaki.
What Could Pete Alonso’s Market Look Like on a Short Term Deal? by Steve Adams [MLB Trade Rumors]
That said, the short-term developments were also foreseeable. We’ve kicked ourselves for moving off the prediction of a three-year, $90MM deal with multiple opt-outs for Alonso, which for awhile was our unofficial prediction for MLBTR’s annual Top 50 free agent list. The market hasn’t rewarded this skill set in recent years, and it felt very possible that Alonso would go out looking for Freeman money — if not more — and find himself in a situation similar to that of last offseason’s quartet of fellow Boras clients who lingered on the market into spring training.
Verlander says offseason training tweak already paying ‘big dividends’ [ESPN]
For the first time in nearly two decades as a major league pitcher, Justin Verlander didn’t take an offseason break from throwing.
He needed to keep a baseball in his hand so his shoulder would cooperate. He needed the routine to maintain a rhythm.
“I’ve always been somebody who, I set down the ball, I don’t pick it up again for a few months and then I’ve always been very lucky that I just pick it up and start throwing,” Verlander said Monday. “Well, at 41, that caught up with me. So that was an adjustment that I’ve made that I feel is paying big dividends already.”