Spring training games have officially started, and the countdown is on to opening day. With that in mind, clubs are focused on position battles, avoiding injuries, and ultimately getting their players prepared for the start of the season.
With that in mind, there is plenty of news from around the league as teams work to get down to their 26-man rosters. Let’s take a look at some of the news from this week:
Severino Shut Down
It appears that the New York Yankees’ pitching depth is going to be tested early on this year. After having already lost James Paxton due to injury, Luis Severino was shut down this week due to forearm soreness.
This is not a new problem for Severino as he had similar issues dating back to the playoffs last season. An initial MRI and CT scan came back negative, but it appears that Severino will still be returning to New York this week to undergo more tests.
In 2017 and 2018, Severino was brilliant and seemed like an ace in the making for the Yankees. In 2018, for instance, he went 19-8 with a 3.39 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and had 220 strikeouts in 191.1 innings.
Last year, though, was a disappointing season that saw him throw just 12 innings over three starts. In that time, he went 1-1 with a 1.50 ERA, but the arm just never seemed right last year. After an offseason of rest and recovery, this is certainly not a good start for the young hurler.
At just 26, Severino is hoping that he can figure out the root of the problems to hopefully put these arm troubles behind him.
Without both Severino and Paxton, it appears that the Yankees’ rotation right now will consist of Gerrit Cole, Masahiro Tanaka, J.A. Happ, and then two pitchers from a list that includes Jordan Montgomery, Luis Cessa, Deivi Garcia, Michael King or Jonathan Loaisiga.
White Sox Sign Bummer To Extension
The Chicago White Sox have made a habit of getting young players signed long-term. They have done it recently with Eloy Jimenez and Luis Robert, and now reliever Aaron Bummer can be added to that list.
Bummer signed a five-year, $16 million contract that also includes two option years. With the club options, the contract could grow to just under $30 million.
Bummer is a lefty reliever that has drawn comparisons to the New York Yankees’ Zack Britton due to his ability to induce groundballs. In fact, last year, he had a 72.1% ground ball rate, second in the majors (behind Britton).
Last season, with the White Sox, Bummer pitched 67.2 innings over 58 games with a 2.13 ERA and a 0.99 WHIP. He also had 60 strikeouts over that time.
The White Sox also agreed to a new deal with Leury Garcia this week. He signed a one-year deal worth $3.5 million. It also includes another team option for the same amount for 2021.
This season, Garcia is expected to be the starting second baseman, at least until prospect Nick Madrigal is deemed ready for a call-up. At that point, Garcia may become more of a utility player that can play around the diamond.
Last season, with Chicago, Garcia hit .279/.310/.378 with eight home runs, 40 runs batted in, 93 runs scored and 15 stolen bases.
Brewers Sign Holt
Just because spring training is underway doesn’t mean that teams aren’t still looking at free agents. In fact, a couple of notable free agents found new teams this week.
The first of those is utility man Brock Holt. The Milwaukee Brewers this week announced that they signed Brock Holt to a one-year deal worth $3.25 million, but it also includes a $5 million club option (or $750,000 buyout). The deal also has incentives built in for plate appearances.
Holt’s biggest strength is his versatility. With the exception of pitching and catching, he can truly play anywhere on the field and play to at least an average level at all of those positions.
With the Brewers trying to rebuild on the fly after losing a handful of position players over the offseason, this is a great under the radar type signing.
At 31, Holt played all but his rookie year with the Boston Red Sox (his rookie year was in the Pirates organization). Last year, in 259 at-bats, Holt hit .297/.369/.402 with three home runs, 31 runs batted in and 38 runs scored.
Likely to play a little more often with the Brewers, Milwaukee hopes that he can put up similar numbers this year for the Brew Crew.
Red Sox Sign Lucroy
Another free agent that was signed this week was veteran catcher Jonathan Lucroy. The Boston Red Sox signed Lucroy to a minor league deal that would pay him $1.5 million if he were to make the major league team.
At 33 years old, Lucroy is no longer the All-Star-caliber catcher of his previous years, but could still serve as depth for the Red Sox.
Last year, splitting time between the Los Angeles Angels and the Chicago Cubs, Lucroy hit .232/.305/.355 with eight home runs, 36 runs batted in, and 30 runs in 293 at-bats.
It is a far cry from his 2016 season where he hit .292/.355/.500 with 24 home runs, 81 runs batted in and 67 runs scored, but as previously mentioned, the Red Sox are just hoping that he may serve as a good depth piece and possibly make the major league roster if the team decides to carry three catchers.
