(*)PT TODAY: Yamamoto lands in Los Angeles

NATIONAL LEAGUE  |  Jump to AL

Dodgers

NEWS: The Dodgers signed 25-year old Japanese RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto to a 12-year $325 million contract.

IMPACT: High

BHQ SPIN: Yamamoto joins the Dodgers after seven seasons with the Orix Buffaloes in Japan where he compiled a 1.72 ERA,  0.915 WHIP and 20.6% K-BB% over 967.2 IP. With Yamamoto and the recently acquired RHP Tyler Glasnow joining RHP Walker Buehler at the top of the starting rotation, the Dodgers rotation has gone from an area of concern heading into the off-season to potentially one of the top rotations in the NL. With second-year RHP Bobby Miller likely occupying the fourth spot in the rotation, the fifth spot will potentially be occupied by either RHP Emmet Sheehan, RHP Gavin Stone, or RHP Michael Grove to start the season. All three of these pitchers saw time with the Dodgers in 2023, and we expect will do so again in 2024 due to either injuries or the Dodgers managing the workload of Buehler, who is returning from 2022 Tommy John surgery, and Glasnow, who has never pitched more than 120 innings in a season, over the course of the regular season.  

–Gannon

Padres

NEWS: The Padres signed 28-year old Japanese LHP Yuki Matsui to a 5-year $28 million contract.

IMPACT: High

BHQ SPIN: Matsui has spent the first ten seasons of his career with the Rakuten Eagles in Japan and pitched to a 1.57 ERA and 0.890 WHIP, with 39 saves and 26.6% K-BB% over 57.1 IP during the 2023 season. Matsui has cut his BB% each of the last three seasons, from 12.2% in 2021 to 9.8% in 2022 and to 5.9% in 2023, and will need to continue to demonstrate this improved control to be successful in the back half of the Padres bullpen. With the departures of LHP Josh Hader via free agency and RHP Scott Barlow via trade, Matsui and RHP Robert Suarez are expected to be used in late-inning high leverage situations. We expect both to garner save opportunities but have positioned Suarez as the primary closer as we approach spring training.

–Gannon

Padres

NEWS: The Padres claimed RHP Luis Patiño off waivers from the White Sox.   

IMPACT: Low

BHQ SPIN: Patiño, who was a top-50 prospect as recently as 2021, returns to the team that originally signed him in 2016 with an opportunity to earn a spot in the Padres bullpen. After a decent 2021 with the Rays (4.31 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 14% K-BB% in 77 IP) in his first extended major league action, Patiño has struggled with injuries, declining velocity, a declining SwK% and a lack of control the last two seasons.  If Patiño can regain some of previous underlying skills he has an opportunity to stick with the Padres in a bullpen or potentially swingman role heading into the 2024 season.

–Gannon

 

AMERICAN LEAGUE  |  Jump to NL

Mariners

NEWS: Seattle signed C Mitch Garver to a two-year, $24 million deal.

IMPACT: Medium

BHQ SPIN: In 2023, Garver hit .270 (.253 xBA) with 19 HRs in 296 ABs, but towards the end of 2023 he was primarily a DH versus behind the dish. His extensive injury history may keep him at DH for most of 2024 with the Mariners. That arrangement will work for Seattle, as they already have C Cal Raleigh and C Seby Zavala on their roster and are respectively likely to be starting and backup catcher. A move from Globe Life Field to T-Mobile Field in Seattle may lower his HR total a bit, but if he can stay healthy, he could be in line for a career high in ABs and the counting stats that come along with that. 

–Davison

Twins

NEWS: Minnesota signed RP Josh Staumont to a reported one-year deal worth just under $1 million.

IMPACT: Low

BHQ SPIN: This was Minnesota’s first “major” free-agent move of the offseason. Staumont is currently working his way back from thoracic outlet syndrome (he’s been out since early June) and it’s unclear when he will return. The 30-year-old has five seasons under his belt for KC and has a career 4.01 ERA in 168.1 IP. The hard-throwing righty has seen his velocity dip from 98.1 in 2020 to 95.8 in 2023. He does, however, have 191 career strikeouts. If he’s healthy, the Twins have a low-cost piece to help set up closer Jhoan Duran; Staumont could be the team’s replacement for recently departed reliever Emilio Pagán. Earlier this offseason, MIN signed right-hander A.J. Alexy and utility man Niko Goodrum, both former major leaguers, to minor league deals.

–Green

Blue Jays

NEWS: Toronto signed OF Kevin Kiermaier to a 1-yr, $10 million contract.

IMPACT: High

BHQ SPIN: The 33-year-old Kiermaier won a Gold Glove with the Blue Jays last season and was worth 2.2 fWAR. Kiermaier’s value is derived heavily from his defensive prowess, but a mostly healthy season allowed him to produce $12 worth of 5x5 value and a 37 BPV which was the best of his career. His D grade health history, 81 HctX, 56% GB, and below average 92 PX all paint the picture of a player whose value lies mostly in the deepest of leagues as a health based dart throw. In bringing back Kiermaier the Jays are signaling that a free agent acquisition of a player such as Cody Bellinger is less likely than running back an outfield of Kiermaier, Daulton Varsho and George Springer for 2024.

–Cavanaugh

Blue Jays

NEWS: Toronto signed UT Isiah Kiner-Falefa to a 2-yearr, $15 million contract.

IMPACT: Med

BHQ SPIN: The Jays value positional flexibility deploying the likes of Cavan Biggio and Santiago Espinal all over the diamond. While difficult to predict how the presence of Kiner-Falefa impacts the playing time of the aforementioned players, the fact that this is a multiyear contract signals Toronto’s affinity for the player. In the short term he gives the Jays an option at 2B and 3B in the event that they are not able to acquire a more potent bat at those positions. As for the skills, a 103 Spd and 22% SBO indicate that Kiner-Falefa should be viewed as an endgame source of cheap steals, but if he can push his ct% back above 80% and find a more regular role then 25-30 SB are within reach.

–Cavanaugh

 

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