Diamondbacks News
D-backs giving Lawlar chance to grow defensively by Steve Gilbert [DBacks.com]
The organization sees the defensive struggles as a blip rather than something they are overly concerned about.
“We had been bouncing him all over the field in Triple-A,” GM Mike Hazen said. “I don’t think that’s ever conducive from a defensive standpoint. I think we asked a lot of him defensively and I think that’s what it was more than anything else.”
Could the Rays Be Loading Up to Make a Run at Ketel Marte? by Michael
McDermott [D-backs Under Review]
The latest episode of the D-backs Under Review podcast dives into the latest rumors surrounding Ketel Marte and if the Tampa Bay Rays will make a run at him. The Rays have an opening at second base after trading Brandon Lowe to the Pirates in a three-team deal.
Michael McDermott discusses the latest reports on the Rays link to the D-backs All-Star second baseman, the Kyle Backhus trade to the Phillies, veteran utility infielder Ildemaro Vargas returning on a minor league deal, and reports that San Diego offered Merrill Kelly a “competitive offer” before he ultimately chose to re-up with the D-backs.
D-backs may need to note Ildemaro Vargas’ winter ball surge by Wendy Lopez [Burn City Sports]
The 34-year-old Venezuelan infielder is currently playing for Cardenales de Lara in the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League, where he has been a crucial part of the lineup. Through his first 140 plate appearances, Vargas is hitting .365 with four home runs, 19 RBIs and a .945 OPS.
Around the League
Former batting champ McNeil traded to A’s from Mets by Martín Gallegos [MLB]
The A’s will also receive $5.75 million from New York, a source told MLB.com, to help cover the cost of McNeil’s contract, which has one year and $17.75 million remaining. To clear a spot for McNeil on the 40-man roster, the A’s designated left-hander Ken Waldichuk for assignment.
TRADE DETAILS
A’s receive: INF/OF Jeff McNeil, cash
Mets receive: Minor League RHP Yordan RodriguezThe A’s expect to have one of the better offenses in baseball next season on the strength of a core featuring American League Rookie of the Year Nick Kurtz, Jacob Wilson, Brent Rooker, Shea Langeliers, Tyler Soderstrom and Lawrence Butler. Still, second base and third base were two spots they entered this winter exploring opportunities to upgrade.
‘S—t Show’, MLB Exec Rips Mets Clubhouse amid Offseason Moves, ‘It Was a Disaster’ by Timothy Rapp [Bleacher Report]
At least one MLB executive believes the New York Mets must have had serious clubhouse issues last season after Pete Alonso walked in free agency and both Jeff McNeil and Brandon Nimmo were traded.
“What they’ve done tells you how big a s–t show their clubhouse was,” a rival executive told The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon. “The guessing is over. It was a disaster.”
Phenomenal Cosmic Power, Itty Bitty Contact Rate: White Sox Sign Murakami by Michael Baumann [FanGraphs]
A new day dawned in Major League Baseball on Sunday, as the top international player in this free agent class has signed with — that’s right — someone other than the Dodgers!
The White Sox, yes, believe it or not, the White Sox, have landed Munetaka Murakami. Per Jeff Passan, the 25-year-old corner infielder, late of the Tokyo Yakult Swallows of NPB, will make $34 million over the next two seasons. We had him ranked 12th on our Top 50 Free Agents list, with an estimated contract AAV of $22 million. Ben Clemens predicted he’d get seven years, our readers six.
Pirates To Sign Dominic Fletcher to Minor League Deal by Darragh McDonald [MLB Trade Rumors]
The Pirates and outfielder Dominic Fletcher have agreed to a minor league deal, as first reported by Bucco Bantr. The Ballengee Group client also receives an invite to big league camp in spring training.
Fletcher, 28, has appeared in 112 big league games over the past three big league seasons. Suiting up for the Diamondbacks and the White Sox, he has stepped to the plate 377 times but with just four home runs and a 5.3% walk rate. That’s led to a .233/.280/.325 batting line and 67 wRC+, indicating he’s been 33% below league average at the plate. He’s been better in the minors but not by much. Dating back to the start of 2024, he has a .256/.317/.432 line and 88 wRC+ on the farm.
MLB aggrieved fan index: The 10 most frustrated fanbases of 2025 by David Schoenfield[ESPN]
As we neared the end of 2024, the Toronto Blue Jays — coming off a 74-88 season, having lost out on Shohei Ohtani and Juan Soto as free agents and with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. seemingly on his way out of town — came in at No. 5 on our index. But this year, they signed Guerrero to a $500 million extension, won the division and came within two outs of winning the World Series. Now, Toronto is suddenly a destination, the Jays are all-in for 2026, and the fans are happy once again.
The Seattle Mariners ranked No. 2 in last year’s index, and many thought they should have been No. 1. Their pain was of a different sort: the pain of falling just short of making the playoffs in 2023 and 2024, and not making that one extra move needed to get over the hump. Well, 60 home runs will change a lot. Cal Raleigh‘s monster season plus an epic run in September (17 wins in 18 games) put the Mariners back in the playoffs and propelled them all the way to ALCS, where they came within eight outs of reaching the first World Series in franchise history. The future looks bright.
While the Blue Jays and Mariners drop out of the top 10, other fan bases remain as aggrieved as ever. The primary criteria for fans who have the right to be frustrated as the year comes to an end: expectations heading into the 2025 season, the team’s 2025 performance, what they’ve done so far this offseason and any other extenuating circumstances we might consider.
