As the offseason gets going in full swing for Major League Baseball, the hot stove is starting to warm up. Just a couple weeks in, we have had a couple of potential free agents accept qualifying offers, several who refused them, and one of the more notable free agents already sign with a different team. We also have the continuing saga of the Astros’ cheating allegations and other news from around the league. Let’s take a look at some of the major stories from this past week:
It Just Keeps Getting Worse For The Astros
It continues to be an awful month for the Houston Astros. First, they had the public relations nightmare of their assistant general manager (who they have since fired) antagonizing a female reporter in regards to the notion of closer Roberto Osuna and domestic violence. Next, the Astros lost the World Series after not being able to win a single game at home.
Now, the Astros are in the midst of a significant cheating scandal, a story that was broken by Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. Allegedly, the Astros utilized a hidden camera in the outfield to see what signs the opposing catcher was giving and used that information to relay to the hitter (using a banging sound from a garbage can).
If the evidence wasn’t already bad enough against the Astros, it appears there may also be a paper trail. The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal and Evan Drellich, as well as ESPN’s Jeff Passan, report that a special assistant to the GM (Kevin Goldstein) sent out emails to the club’s scouts about how to gain even more information from opposing clubs (by either seeing signs or into their dugouts).
Again, for a club that already seems to be taken to task, this is just more evidence that could be used against them as MLB determines its guilt and decides on possible punishments.
Smith Signs With Braves
Will Smith was one of seven players who ultimately rejected his qualifying offer (from the San Francisco Giants), and he has already moved on to sign with a new club. The Atlanta Braves have agreed on a three-year deal with the lefty reliever for $13 million per year.
The interesting part of this deal is that the Braves have initially said that Smith will serve as a setup man for incumbent Mark Melancon, but $13 million is a lot for a non-closer, so we will see if that is true or just a smokescreen to appease their current closer.
Last season with the Giants, Smith was 6-0 with a 2.76 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and had 96 strikeouts in 65 1/3 innings. He also led the Giants with 34 saves.
This is an early splash for the Braves in what is a seemingly weak reliever free-agent class, as the next best available reliever is probably Will Harris. For Atlanta, though, it seems to be aggressive as it tries to build around what is a very talented roster with an eye on making another postseason run next year.
Abreu, Odorizzi Accept Qualifying Offers
Two players this year have decided to accept the qualifying offers that were extended to them. One of the players doesn’t come as much of a shock, while the other one does. First, for the one that was partially expected, Jose Abreu has accepted the qualifying offer from the Chicago White Sox.
In today’s day and age, being an aging first baseman does not do a whole lot for you on the open market. In addition, there was significant mutual interest between the player and the team to work out a longer deal.
In fact, reports have indicated that even though Abreu accepted the offer, he and the White Sox may still be talking about an extension. Last season with Chicago, Abreu hit .284/.330/.503 with 33 home runs, an American League-best 123 runs batted in and 85 runs scored. For an up-and-coming White Sox team, Abreu is seen as a solid veteran presence inside the clubhouse.
The other, and more surprising, acceptance of the qualifying offer was by Minnesota Twins starter Jake Odorizzi. The right-hander had a fantastic season last year for the Twins, going 15-7 with a 3.51 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and striking out 178 in 159 innings.
Many believed that Odorizzi would try to turn this strong season into a big contract. Instead, there is a belief that he wants to test the market next year when there won’t be as many top-end starting pitchers available.
For a pitcher who came into last season with a career record under .500, it is a big gamble to take. If he pitches again like he did this year, it may be a gamble that pays dividends; if not, it could cost him millions. Still, a little less than $18 million for one year of playing baseball is a deal that most people would be alright with.
While these two accepted their qualifying offers, there were a total of eight who rejected theirs. Those eight are Smith (who signed with the Braves), Madison Bumgarner, Gerrit Cole, Josh Donaldson, Marcell Ozuna, Anthony Rendon, Stephen Strasburg and Zack Wheeler.
While these players can still negotiate with their previous teams, they also can negotiate contracts with other teams as well; however, any team that signs them would have to forfeit a draft pick, with their previous teams picking up draft-pick compensation due to their rejection.
Turner Has Surgery On Finger
Anyone who questions Trea Turner’s toughness obviously has never played a professional sport with only nine fingers. To some extent, that is exactly what Turner did this year, a season in which he helped his team to a World Series championship.
Turner, who fractured his finger back at the beginning of April, spent time on the injured list before ultimately returning to the Nationals. Still, throughout the season, he was hampered by the injury and, according to Todd Dybas of NBC Sports, Turner underwent surgery on the finger last week.
On the season, even when dealing with his injury, Turner hit .298/.353/.497 with 19 home runs, 57 runs batted in and 96 runs scored. In fact, during the postseason, he could noticeably be seen holding one finger off the bat prior to pitches being delivered.
Still, the talented shortstop was able to gut it out but is now hoping the surgery will correct the problem, and he will be good to go full strength for spring training. As the Nationals work through an offseason where two of their biggest stars, Anthony Rendon and Strasburg, are free agents, getting a fully healthy Turner back will be huge as he is a catalyst for their offense.
