Good
morning. I think Al pretty much handled the fiasco concerning the MLB TV rights, so we’ll skip that here.
- We’re getting some Hot Stove movement already. The biggest trade was the Orioles sending right-handed pitcher Grayson Rodriguez to the Angels for outfielder Taylor Ward.
- Ben Clemens evaluates the Rodriguez-for-Ward deal.
- Jake Mintz asks and answers six questions about the Ward/Rodriguez trade.
- R.J. Anderson hands out grades to both sides.
- Keith Law calls the trade shocking and a potential “heist” for Los Angeles, but it might work out well for both sides (The Athletic sub. req.) should the Orioles take the correct next steps.
- Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon argue that the Orioles still need another outfielder and that free agent Kyle Tucker should be at the top of Baltimore’s list. (The Athletic sub. req.) Plus other Hot Stove rumors and musings.
- The Braves made a trade with the Astros. The Braves got utility player Mauricio Dubón and the Astros got infielder Nick Allen in return.
- The Braves also re-signed reliever Raisel Iglesias. Michael Baumann looks at how the Braves did on these moves, as well as the Astros end of the deal.
- Michael Baumann examines why four players accepted a qualifying offer, including Shōta Imanaga.
- Jordan Schusterman looks at what the decision to accept a QO means for the teams of these four players.
- Mark Feinsand has an “all-trade rumor” team and evaluates how likely those players are to be dealt.
- Kiley McDaniel speaks with baseball “insiders” about the Tigers decision on whether or not to trade Tarik Skubal.
- Dayn Perry compares two free agent lefties, Ranger Suárez and Framber Valdez.
- Two Japanese players, third baseman Kazuma Okamoto and right-hander Kona Takahashi have been posted by their respective NPB clubs.
- Andrew Simon ranks the top ten free agent hitters.
- I wrote about this article by Eno Sarris in Wednesday’s After Dark, but here are Sarris’ four potential free agent bargains. (The Athletic sub. req.)
- Jordan Schusterman argues that free agent right-hander Dylan Cease is a risky free agent acquisition.
- Former Cy Young Award winner Randy Jones died at 75. Our condolences go out to his family, friends and former teammates. Shaun O’Neill with the obituary.
- AJ Cassavell has five “remarkable” facts about Randy Jones.
- Matt Snyder looks at MLB’s gambling scandal, what it is doing and why baseball and the sportsbooks will never completely ban prop bets.
- MLB is staging another “Field of Dreams” game between the Phillies and the Twins this coming summer. Also, the Iowa Cubs and the St. Paul Saints will play a minor league contest at the Field of Dreams site.
- Sarah Langs argues that Guardians third baseman José Ramirez is the best player to have never won an Most Valuable Player award.
- Early predictions for the 2026 Rookie of the Year Awards.
- Ben Clemens has some new things we can learn from the Statcast bat tracking data.
- Rawlings has placed a giant Gold Glove on top of their headquarters.
- Manny Randhawa has the story of a rare “no. 35” Yogi Berra jersey that recently sold for $363k at auction.
- And finally, Emma Baccellieri has the story of former phenom Mo’ne Davis, who has returned to playing baseball with the new Women’s Professional Baseball League, 11 years after she electrified the country as a Little League star.
