Because the early a part of the offseason continues, listed here are three issues we’ll be keeping track of across the baseball world right now:
1. Soto assembly with groups:
The bidding for famous person outfielder Juan Soto is already getting underway, and the primary order of enterprise is for golf equipment to satisfy with Soto himself. That’s a course of that’s set to play out this week, with the Blue Jays, Purple Sox, Mets, and the incumbent Yankees all recognized to have scheduled a gathering at this level. ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported yesterday that Toronto is first in line to satisfy with Soto this week as they give the impression of being so as to add a star hitter to enhance Vladimir Guerrero Jr. after lacking out of Shohei Ohtani final winter, although the 2 New York groups have typically been considered the favorites for the 26-year-old phenom up to now within the course of.
2. What’s subsequent for the Angels?
The Angels have been probably the most aggressive workforce in baseball this November with a variety of strikes already within the books. They shipped Griffin Canning to the Braves to be able to land slugger Jorge Soler, then changed Canning of their beginning rotation by signing veteran right-hander Kyle Hendricks to a one-year deal. They’ve now added additional reinforcements by bringing in veteran catcher Travis d’Arnaud on a two-year pact.
There’s purpose to imagine that aggressiveness might proceed, as properly; with Logan O’Hoppe entrenched because the membership’s beginning catcher and d’Arnaud now within the combine as an above-average backup possibility, it will appear probably the membership is about to maneuver on from Matt Thaiss, who served as O’Hoppe’s backup this yr and the membership’s main catcher in 2023 whereas O’Hoppe was injured. The Athletic’s Sam Blum relayed uncertainty from GM Perry Minasian relating to what Thaiss’ future with the membership is following the transfer to land d’Arnaud. With the non-tender deadline scheduled for subsequent week and Thaiss projected by MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz for $1.3MM, a choice on his future could possibly be imminent.
3. Rays stadium plans stay murky:
A report yesterday from Tampa revealed that the Rays’ dwelling of Tropicana Subject could possibly be fastened for the 2026 season. That information took the unsurprising step of roughly formally ruling out the potential for the membership returning to their ballpark in 2025 whereas additionally leaving their medium-term future unsure. The town of St. Petersburg, which owns the stadium and is accountable for any repairs, has an insurance coverage coverage that may cowl $25MM of the $55.7MM required to restore the Trop. Whether or not town will look to take action is just not but clear, and till they make that call the Rays gained’t know whether or not they’ll be nomadic solely in 2025 or for the subsequent three seasons till their new stadium is constructed for the 2028 marketing campaign. Within the meantime, they’ll have to discover a place to play for subsequent season within the close to future, as commissioner Rob Manfred lately recommended that there must be a plan in place by late December.
