…but still pretty cold for the 29 teams not named the Angels.
First, make sure to nominate your favorite Play of Year! Now, on with the news…
Diamondbacks News
Who Could Platoon At First Base for the D-backs? by Alex D’Agostino [SI]
The Diamondbacks will have to likely fill the right-handed power void at first base. What are their platoon options alongside Pavin Smith?
Could the Diamondbacks try to sell high on Jake McCarthy? by Michael McDermott [Michael’s Substack]
Following a strong 2024 campaign, the Diamondbacks could look to trade one of their starting outfielders to help bolster the roster.
How Good are the Diamondbacks Right Now? by Jack Sommers [SI]
Despite losses to free agency, the Diamondbacks are working off a high projection platform to improve the roster for 2025
Perdomo, meet Moise: Some D-backs wins come off the field by Steve Gilbert [DBacks.com]
How does one tell the story or measure the impact of the work the Diamondbacks organization does in the community?
There are cold, hard numbers — the D-backs are at around $93 million in charitable giving since their inaugural 1998 season and will cross the $100 million mark in 2025.
But it’s the stories about the lives that have been changed by all that giving that truly tell the tale.
Take the example of a 10-year-old boy named Moise.
Around the League
Angels To Sign Yusei Kikuchi by Nick Deeds [MLB Trade Rumors]
The Angels have been the most aggressive team in baseball during the first month of the offseason, and they continued that pattern this morning by reaching an agreement with free agent left-hander Yusei Kikuchi on a three-year deal worth $63MM, per a report from Jon Heyman of the New York Post. Kikuchi is represented by the Boras Corporation.
JAWS and the 2025 Hall of Fame Ballot: Ichiro Suzuki by Jay Jaffe [FanGraphs]
While I don’t see how any writer in their right mind could object to Suzuki’s election — and unlike in some past years, this ballot isn’t so crowded as to require a strategic vote — recent history shows the cloak of anonymity can do strange things. None of the writers who omitted Griffey or Jeter have ever been identified, but within a body of roughly 400 voters there will always be a few petty and selfish ones who make the process about themselves.
Still, it will scarcely matter. Ichiro Suzuki is going to Cooperstown in short order, and the celebration will spark joy on two continents.
One free agent who could make sense for every MLB team by Mark Feinsand [MLB]
D-backs: Carlos Estévez, RHP. Arizona’s 4.41 bullpen ERA ranked 13th in the NL last season, and 10 pitchers registered at least one save. The D-backs suffered 26 blown saves in 2024, and for a team that missed the postseason after losing head-to-head tiebreakers with the Mets and Braves, one more win would have made a huge difference. Estévez made his first All-Star team in 2023 and had a superb season with the Angels and Phillies in 2024, making him one of the best relievers on the free-agent market.
Rays will play 47 of first 59 games at home [ESPN]
Major League Baseball switched a pair of series involving the Tampa Bay Rays to the first two months of the season in an attempt to avoid summer rain at open-air Steinbrenner Field, their temporary home following damage to Tropicana Field.
Tampa Bay is scheduled to play 19 of its first 22 games at home and 37 of 54 through May 28, then will play 64 of its last 108 games on the road. The Rays are home for eight games each in July and August.
Question of the Day