Because the Winter Conferences enters its closing stretch right now, listed below are three issues we’ll be maintaining a tally of across the baseball world all through the day right now:
1. 2024 Rule 5 Draft:
Baseball’s annual Rule 5 Draft is scheduled to happen at 1pm CT this afternoon. Worldwide gamers and highschool draft picks who signed in 2019 and faculty draft picks signed in 2020 who haven’t but been added to their membership’s 40-man roster are weak in right now’s draft, the place any membership can choose them for a $100K price. If the participant doesn’t stick on their new membership’s 26-man roster for your complete season, he have to be provided again to his unique membership for $50K. Groups should have open house on their 40-man roster to pick out a participant within the draft, which means the Tigers and Purple Sox would every have to clear house on their 40-man roster earlier than the draft begins as a way to take part.
Gamers chosen within the Rule 5 draft sometimes go on to affect their staff sooner or later, as free agent outfielder Anthony Santander famously did following his choice within the 2016 Rule 5 Draft. Purple Sox right-hander Justin Slaten, A’s right-hander Mitch Spence, and Padres right-hander Stephen Kolek are amongst final yr’s picks who remained with their new group by your complete 2024 season, with Slaten particularly that includes prominently in Boston’s late-inning combine. Will a equally helpful diamond within the tough be unearthed right now?
2. Yankees pivot away from Soto:
The Yankees began their pivot away from Juan Soto yesterday in an enormous method once they agreed to an eight-year deal with left-hander Max Fried. The deal is the biggest in MLB historical past for a left-handed beginning pitcher, and each indication is that the new range will keep energetic within the Bronx going ahead. The membership has been linked to first baseman Christian Walker, third baseman Alex Bregman, and outfielder Teoscar Hernandez amongst others in free company, whereas potential commerce candidates embody White Sox southpaw Garrett Crochet, Astros outfielder Kyle Tucker, and Cubs first baseman/outfielder Cody Bellinger. The membership’s reported curiosity in Crochet got here earlier than they landed Fried, however every of these hitters nonetheless appears to be a fairly attainable goal for the Yankees as they appear to rebuild their lineup with out Soto.
3. What’s subsequent for the Rangers?
The Rangers checked the most important field of their offseason yesterday by agreeing to a deal that will deliver right-hander Nathan Eovaldi again into the fold. That wasn’t the membership’s solely transfer final evening, both, as they adopted it up by buying infielder Jake Burger from the Marlins for a bundle of three prospects. With restricted payroll house out there because the membership seeks to duck beneath the posh tax this winter, may the acquisition of Burger immediate Texas to deal a hitter resembling first baseman Nathaniel Lowe as a way to unencumber extra {dollars} for pitching assist? Barring to clear payroll, Chris Younger’s entrance workplace might want to get artistic as a way to rebuild a bullpen that’s misplaced Jose Leclerc, David Robertson, and Kirby Yates to free company whereas additionally including extra beginning depth.