Ichiro may become the second ever unanimous HoFer today. Voting results will be released at 4PM AZT.
Diamondbacks News
3 Hitting Prospects Set to Break Out for the Diamondbacks in 2025 by Jake Oliver [SI]
The Diamondbacks’ system is particularly loaded with hitters as 24 of their top 40 prospects are hitters and so are eight of their top ten players. So, it might be hard to find three players that look ready to climb the organizational rankings in 2025, but here are three hitters that look set to take a major leap next season.
D-backs ‘still have work to do’ after Burnes by Steve Gilbert [Dbacks.com]
After Kendrick laid out some areas they could add to, it was pointed out to him that then they would likely be adding to an already record payroll of about $194 million.
“I wouldn’t say that I would bet on that one,” Kendrick said.
Can Jorge Barrosa Take Advantage of Potential Opportunity by Alex D’Agostino [SI]
Certainly, he fits in well with the trend of somewhat undersized D-backs outfielders, and his ability to hit from both sides of the plate is an undeniable asset. He hasn’t had enough opportunity to prove he can hit at the major league level, so his extremely modest projection might be attainable.
The real question is whether or not he’ll be afforded that opportunity. Our playing time estimates expect him to see a larger chunk of plate appearances, and his rate statistics could jump higher based on his ability.
Ranking the 10 best players in the NL West by Lauren Amour [Yardbarker] {Ed. Note: I’d certainly quibble with the rankings here, but 3 Snakes crack the top 10 in this list. What do y’all think?}
2. Ketel Marte, 2B, Arizona Diamondbacks
Marte had a career year in 2024 and was voted the best second baseman in MLB for 2025. He slashed .292/.372/.560 with career-highs in homers (36) and RBI (95) in 136 games. Marte was named an All-Star for the first time since 2019 and finished third in NL MVP voting.
Around the League
Baseball’s Top-Heavy Food Chain Is Nearing a Tipping Point by Ryan Phillips [SI] {Ed. Note: This is the only response I’ve seen from a national media outlet which hasn’t adopted the standard “The Dodgers aren’t the problem; owners who don’t spend are the problem.” While they aren’t entirely wrong, this article gives several good counterpoints, like when the Padres tried to spend at the upper echelons of baseball but then they tried to take out a loan to help cover expenses and MLB shut it down. That had a cascading effect which led to Juan Soto needing to be traded and they’re now reportedly shopping Cease and others. Clearly, not all teams can do what the Dodgers are doing and just back up the Brinks truck for every free agent. Great article that I think is definitely worth your time.}
Major League Baseball needs to turn its attention to the wide financial gap between its teams and start figuring out solutions. If the league ignores the current predicament and doesn’t begin preparing a response, things are likely to get ugly when the current CBA expires. At that point, any goodwill fans have will be completely squandered.
The Blue Jays Finally Get a Free Agent Slugger To Say Yes by Dan Szymborski [FanGraphs]
Santander’s deal includes a club option for 2030 and an opt-out after the 2027 season, according to multiple reports. The club option is a conditional one; if Santander chooses to opt out, Toronto can void his decision so long as it tacks on the sixth year, which would bring the total value of the contract to $110 million. The options here don’t change the calculus of the deal all that much. Considering Santander is already 30 and doesn’t offer much more than his power, he probably won’t risk the security of his contract unless his production with the Jays exceeds what he did with the Orioles — and even then, he might rather stay put. Similarly, the Jays probably won’t exercise their option for the sixth year unless he continues to be a viable middle-of-the-order slugger into this mid-30s.
Are the Blue Jays still a fit for Alonso? [MLB]
The Blue Jays were thrust to the forefront of the Alonso market late last week after the New York Post reported that the Mets were moving on from negotiations after the first baseman rejected their last-ditch offer. However, after Toronto reached a five-year deal with free-agent slugger Anthony Santander on Monday, it’s fair to wonder if the Blue Jays are still a fit for Alonso.
Dodgers Had Interest In Kirby Yates Prior To Tanner Scott Deal by Steve Adams [MLB Trade Rumors]
If Yates needs to look elsewhere for his next contract, he should have plenty of options. He’s been connected to the Cubs, Tigers, Rangers and Diamondbacks this offseason and presumably has interest from other clubs as well. Teams like the Blue Jays, Orioles, Red Sox and Atlanta had some interest in Scott and could be looking elsewhere for relief help after he landed with the Dodgers. The relief market has been heating up more broadly of late, with Scott, A.J. Minter, Jose Leclerc, Jeff Hoffman and Andrew Kittredge agreeing to deals in recent weeks.
Did Andruw Jones play his way OUT of the Hall of Fame? by Bradford Doolittle [ESPN]. {Ed. Note: This is behind the ESPN+ paywall, but is an excellent read and thought exercise if you have access.}
For Jones and players like him, their biggest issue is a kind of James Dean/Marlon Brando problem and one that behavioral scientists might refer to as the difference between the experiencing mind and the remembering mind. We tend to forget the pleasure we experienced with a thing and recall only our last encounters with it. Because Dean died young, he’s iconic in a way Brando can’t be because we saw his decline.
Those who watched Jones dominate center field for all those years in Atlanta experienced something special during that time — a truly unique player. But last impressions — and career numbers — tend to dominate in the remembering mind, and we have easier access to that aspect of our memory. For Jones, we remember glimpses of what he was at the beginning, but can’t let go of the player he was at the end.
The Padres are the biggest loser of the Roki Sasaki sweepstakes by Brandon Glick [Call to the Pen]
With Joe Musgrove already ruled out for the 2025 season due to Tommy John surgery, adding Sasaki would have been the perfect move to wake the team up out of its offseason slumber.
Instead, they’ll now watch Sasaki dominate the next half-decade for the Dodgers, all while wondering what could have been.
Question of the Day
Reading the quotes around the Burnes deal from team leadership, it’s obvious signing him wasn’t part of the offseason plan, but they decided the opportunity to add Corbin was too great to pass up when it fell into their lap. The side effect is that it now appears the team cannot add any salary without removing salary first. Even if the team is able to shed $10-12M of Monty’s salary, is that enough to properly address the bullpen or a right-handed power bat, much less both?