:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/68638046/1276651921.0.jpg)
Good morning everyone! Here’s the latest from around baseball.
In Mariners news...
- The Mariners brought in a few players on minor league deals, including one familiar name.
We have agreed to terms on minor league contracts with the following players:
— Mariners Player Development (@MsPlayerDev) January 8, 2021
LHP Roenis Elías
RHP Paul Sewald
INF Jantzen Witte pic.twitter.com/ySuqbI4KYt
- If you’d like to learn more about the M’s new right-handed arm, check out Michael Augustine’s piece at Fangraphs about Paul Sewald from back in May.
- This is odd, considering the Mets already have J.D. Davis.
Source: the Mets have talked to the Mariners about third baseman Kyle Seager.
— Michael Mayer (@mikemayerMMO) January 8, 2021
Seager had a 122 OPS+ in 2020, though he also had -5 defensive runs saved.
Around the league...
- The major news yesterday involved the best shortstop in baseball, Francisco Lindor, being dealt to the Mets along with Carlos Carrasco for a package of young players.
- Let’s Go Tribe provided the Cleveland perspective on the trade, which is understandably an unhappy one.
- Another Let’s Go Tribe staffer was upset that the team included Carrasco in the deal.
- It’s not just fans who think the deal was unfair.
Rival executive on #Mets landing Francisco Lindor: "They stole him. Total steal. It's ridiculous. People in Cleveland should be fired for doing that trade."
— Mike Mazzeo (@MazzNYC) January 7, 2021
- In terms of level of competition, this is an upgrade for Tri-City.
The Frontier League has announced that Tri-City (formerly of the New York-Penn League) has joined its league. pic.twitter.com/Dc4xtavBIt
— JJ Cooper (@jjcoop36) January 7, 2021
- Bianca Smith, who was recently hired as a minor league coach in the Red Sox system, hopes to be an MLB manager one day.
- The Padres made another move, albeit a minor one.
Yesterday, January 6, the Yankees acquired OF Greg Allen from the San Diego Padres in exchange for LHP James Reeves.
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) January 7, 2021
Allen has been added to the Yankees’ 40-man roster, which now stands at 40.
- The right-hander opted to go home instead of signing with the Padres, who he was reportedly in talks with.
Japanese star Tomoyuki Sugano did not come to an agreement on a contract with a major league team before his posting window expired and will return to Nippon Professional Baseball for 2021, sources tell ESPN. He will be eligible to come to MLB as a free agent before 2022 season.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) January 7, 2021
- Mike Petriello at MLB uses the new Statcast pitching tool to analyze Shane Bieber.
- The Mets have reportedly been in talks with the Cubs regarding a deal for Kris Bryant.