Notes On The Jorge Polanco Trade, Justin Turner To Toronto & Orioles On The Rise
Firing through some quick baseball thoughts as we edge closer and closer to the start of spring training...
It is so close I can almost hear the majestic sound of a crack of the bat and a 105mph fastball crashing into a catcher’s mitt.
Yes, that’s right, baseball is nearly back and we have less than two weeks until the first spring training camps open.
I don’t know about you, but I am super excited for the 2024 MLB season and I’m more than ready for Opening Day at this point.
While the long and agonizing wait for actual games to begin is thankfully nearly over, Hot Stove season still has a role to play with the likes of Cody Bellinger and Blake Snell still out there twisting in the wind.
Side note; we all know Bellinger is going to end up back with Chicago, so here’s hoping the Cubs hurry up and just puts everyone out of their misery.
We have been treated to some notable news this week, however, including arguably the biggest story of the offseason behind Shohei Ohtani signing with the LA Dodgers.
I’m going to dive into a buffet of delicious baseball items that happened this week, starting with the big trade that kicked things off.
Let’s go…
Jorge Polanco Dealt To Seattle
It wasn’t a surprise that the Minnesota Twins traded their former All-Star to the Seattle Mariners, but the package back did raise some eyebrows. The Mariners traded for the switch-hitting second baseman, sending veteran RHP Anthony DeSclafani, right-handed reliever Justin Topa, pitching prospect Darren Bowen and outfielder Gabriel González, who was ranked Seattle’s No. 3 prospect and No. 79 overall in baseball, per MLB.com. Oh, and the Mariners also gave the Twins $8 million in cash. Talk about a monster package.
Now, I like this deal for both teams - I’ll explain why from the Seattle aspect in a minute - but this was a trade that made a lot of sense for the Twins in particular. Yes, they are giving up a switch-hitting, middle-of-the-lineup bat, but Minnesota is so flush with infielders that trading away Polanco was the only real outcome that made any sense. And, kudos to president of baseball operations Derek Falvey and general manager Thad Levine for getting a package back that improves the ball club going forward, despite the fact that all of baseball knew Polanco had become expendable. With an absolute glut of infielders in Carlos Correa, Royce Lewis, Edouard Julien, Brooks Lee, Jose Miranda and Alex Kirilloff, Polanco wasn’t a luxury the Twins could really afford given their desire to cut payroll, coupled with the slew of roster needs they still have to address heading into spring training.
By trading Polanco and avoiding a logjam in the infield, thus paving the way for rising star Edouard Julien to be the team’s everyday second baseman in 2024, the Twins also saved $6.5 million with Polanco set to earn $10.5 million this year, with a $12 million club option for 2025. If you add the money saved to the $8 million Seattle included in the deal, then the Twins all of a sudden have some roster flexibility when it comes to rounding out the roster for 2024. With a need for help at first base and in the outfield, Minnesota could look to add some depth in those positions on team-friendly deals. Gio Urshela, Brandon Belt, Tommy Pham and Kevin Pillar could all be intriguing options without breaking the bank.
In terms of the four players acquired as part of the return package, DeSclafani should be a nice veteran piece to add to the backend of the rotation following the departures of Sonny Gray and Kenta Maeda in free agency. DeSclafani went 4-4 with a 4.88 ERA for the Giants in 2023, and is said to be healthy after suffering with a flexor strain last year. Owning a career 4.20 ERA with 830 strikeouts in 942 2/3 innings pitched, the righty will only cost the Twins $4 million in 2024 and is a solid depth option for a rotation that lost a couple of key pieces in the offseason. Topa should be a nice fit for a bullpen that was middle of the pack in 2023 (3.95 ERA), and the righty went 5-4 with a 2.61 ERA and 61 strikeouts in 69 innings for Seattle last year. Bowen, who was selected in the 13th round of the 2022 draft, went 4-2 with a 3.88 ERA and 59 strikeouts in 55 2/3 innings at Low-A Modesto in 2023 and has some upside. However, the biggest prize of this package was without doubt González, a Top 100 prospect in baseball. The right-handed hitting outfielder is a contact hitter and struck out in just 16.6 of his plate appearances in 2023. Able to drive the ball, González needs to add power to his game and, at just 20-years-old, he has plenty of time to add some pop to his game. He hit .298/.361/.476 with 18 home runs and 84 RBIs between Low-A and High-A in 2023. González is projected to be a corner outfielder with good defensive instincts and an absolute hose for an arm. He bolsters Minnesota’s outfield depth considerably.
Giving up Polanco was no doubt a tough decision for the Twins given what he meant to that organization, but it was a deal that made too much sense. The Twins got four players back, created some roster flexibility and were able to address both the present and the future, which isn’t always easy to do in deals like this.
As for Seattle, they were in real need of a power bat in the middle of the lineup and they will likely slot Polanco straight into the three-hole on Opening Day. Although he has suffered with a slate of different injuries over the past few years, Polanco is a clear upgrade at second base for the Mariners, and he instantly makes that lineup better if he can stay healthy. The switch-hitter slashed .255/.335/.454/.789 with 14 homers and 48 RBIs in 80 games in 2023, but knee and hamstring injuries slowed him down. The good news for Seattle, though, is that Polanco stayed healthy down the stretch after returning to the field in July, producing an .817 OPS and helping the Twins go 30-20 in that span. Plus, the 30-year-old hit 33 home runs and drove in 98 runs as recently as 2021, not to mention that he slugged 22 homers with 79 RBIs in 2019. So, when healthy, Polanco is a true power bat who can also get on base at a high clip and walk a lot too. If they can keep him on the field, then the Mariners will be gaining a real offensive weapon with a whole lot of pop at the top of their lineup in 2024. A good thing for an offense that was middle-of-the-pack at best in most offensive categories last year.
Justin Turner’s A Blue Jay
I continue to be frustrated by the Mets’ utter insistence on not looking outside the organization for a DH. It is an absolute bone-headed mentality that will no doubt cost them in 2024.
Well, New York’s loss could be the Blue Jays’ gain. Justin Turner, who was linked with a return to Queens, signed a one-year, $13 million deal with Toronto earlier this week, as first reported by Jon Morosi of the MLB Network.
Personally, I think Turner is an excellent pickup for the Blue Jays. Despite being in the back nine of his career, the veteran is still the picture of consistency and he’s coming off a pretty good year with the Red Sox. In his first (and only) year in Boston, Turner hit .276/.345/.455/.800 with 23 home runs and 96 RBIs in 626 plate appearances. He’ll slot into that DH role for the Blue Jays, but he will also no doubt get reps at first, third and even second base, underlining his versatility.
However, given his age and waning skills in the field, Turner’s biggest asset will be his ability to provide offense as the DH, and he showed in 2023 that he can still mash at a high level. Plus, what has gone under the radar is his ability to put the ball in play and get on base. He hit 31 doubles and stole four bases, while drawing 51 walks last year. Turner has been ultra productive throughout his career, and the fact that he’s still putting up impressive numbers at the backend of his career should spell good news for Blue Jays fans. He set career-highs in hits (154) and RBIs (96) in 2023 at 38-years-old, and he also raked in clutch situations. Among 79 players with at least 150 plate appearances with runners in scoring position, Turner ranked seventh in average (.338) and eighth in OPS (.942). That’s impressive. All in all, Turner should be a really good fit for an already potent Toronto lineup.
Let’s not overlook the experience factor here, either. I know sometimes the leadership tag is overplayed and overrated but, for a team as talented as the Blue Jays, who have been swept three times in the AL Wild Card Series in the past four years, something was obviously missing from that clubhouse and Turner could be part of the answer given his wealth of experience and his reputation as a leader among men. Just check out this piece from Red Sox beat writer Chris Cotillo of MassLive, who praises the virtues of Turner’s leadership both in the clubhouse and on the field. The Blue Jays have got themselves one heck of a veteran presence, and one who can still contribute on the field at a high level. Now, is Turner the final piece in the contending puzzle for Toronto? No, I don’t think so. Bringing back Matt Chapman would certainly be another step in the right direction, but signing a trusted and respected veteran in Justin Turner was a good start for this Blue Jays team.
New Era For The Orioles
I am so, so, so pumped for Baltimore Orioles fans right now.
Man, what a year they are having. Heck, what a week they are having.
A few months after winning 101 games and reaching the ALDS, the O’s now look to have slayed their biggest dragon by finally ridding themselves of the awful Angelos family. As first reported by John Ourand of Puck News on Wednesday night, the Angelos family have an agreement in place to sell the Orioles to a group led by private equity billionaire David Rubenstein, a Baltimore native, for $1.725 billion. Now, it is important to know that the Rubenstein group will only initially purchase about 40 percent of the franchise. The option to purchase the remaining 60 percent and gain full control will be available after the death of Peter Angelos, pending approval from Major League Baseball.
That entire process will take months but the crucial detail is that Rubenstein will take over from John Angelos as the team’s controlling owner. That’s important because John, who previously took control of the Orioles from his father, Peter, who purchased the franchise for $173 million in October 1993, is renowned for being a terrible owner who refuses to spend money. That approach ensured the Orioles were an absolute dumpster fire for decades, with the team losing 100 or more games on three separate occasions in a four-year span last decade. Having not won a World Series since 1983, the franchise never even competed for the Commissioner’s Trophy under the Angelos family.
One constant under the now old ownership has been a low payroll. The Orioles were entrenched as bottom-feeders for years, sucking and tanking on purpose while putting an absolute garbage product out on the field. Even in 2023, as the young O’s, led by two young franchise cornerstones in Adley Rutschman and Gunnar Henderson, won 101 games and made it to the postseason for the first time since 2016, Baltimore still ranked 29th in payroll with $61 million. Yes, and that team still managed to rip off 101 wins. Impressive. To put that into some context, the Orioles spent just $4 million more than the Oakland Athletics, a team that was trying its best to lose as many games on purpose while fielding a minor league team on their way to bolting town for Vegas.
And that’s what pissed off Baltimore fans this offseason. Despite emerging as a legitimate force in the American League and boasting an exciting team full of elite young position talent with the best farm system in all of baseball, ownership still refused to make a tangible financial commitment. As the Yankees went out and acquired Juan Soto, the O’s largely stood pat despite their need for a top-of-the-range frontend starter to bolster a flawed rotation that was horribly exposed by the Texas Rangers in the ALDS. Heck, as talented as that lineup is, especially with No. 1 overall prospect in baseball Jackson Holliday on the way, there is probably still a need for a couple of veteran bats to help compliment the team’s core of young studs.
Aside from signing veteran closer Craig Kimbrel, the O’s mainly sat on their ass this offseason and choosing to ignore a starting rotation badly in need of reinforcements was seen as another clear sign of a lack of interest from a half-assed ownership group. Oh, and you have to couple that with John Angelos admitting he was reluctant to spend big in order to lock down faces of the franchise such as Rutschman, Henderson and Holliday (eventually), claiming he would have to raise ticket prices “massively” in order to give out long-term contracts to key players. Yeah, good riddance to him and the rest of the Angelos family.
However, all that has now changed.
While Rubenstein and his group - which includes Orioles legend and Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr. (talk about a home run move by new ownership to win over the fanbase further) - are not yet approved by Major League Baseball, their arrival has clearly encouraged a sudden change of attitude in Baltimore. On Thursday evening, out of nowhere, the O’s traded for elite starter Corbin Burnes from the Brewers, acquiring one of the best pitchers in the game without having to give up any of their top prospects. It was a major statement of intent from general manager Mike Elias and the team, and it is a deal that makes this club instantly better.
Burnes will automatically slot in as the No. 1 starter for Baltimore, and that rotation now looks a whole lot better all of a sudden. Sure, there are still moves to be made, but being aggressive and going all out to get one of the best arms in the game should be viewed as the official start of an exciting, and potentially success-laden, new era for the Baltimore Orioles. It is clear new ownership will be willing to spend, meaning that gone are the days where the O’s are a million miles behind the big market teams.
With a legit elite ace now in place, new ownership with endless piles of cash, a team on the rise led by a trio of potential future All-Stars, the deepest and best farm system in baseball and a new long-term agreement in place for the franchise to remain at the beautiful Camden Yards, the future, both short and long-term, looks incredibly bright for Orioles fans who deserve to have a perennial winner to root for. They’ve waited a long, long, long time to enjoy a week like this one. And it could just be the start.
I’ll have more on the Burnes trade, and the significance of it, later by the way.
Quick Hits
Let’s finish off with a quick trip around the bases…
🔘 The Mets continue to make small waves when it comes to roster construction this offseason. Although I don’t think anyone really expected otherwise, it has still been a pretty boring winter in Queens. But, although he doesn’t move the needle at all, the return of Adam Ottavino is another solid move that will help the ball club in 2024. The reliever signed a one-year, $4.5 million deal, the team announced on Tuesday. Ottavino finished with a 3.21 ERA in 61 2/3 innings in 2023, while he owned a sparkling 2.17 ERA from July 1 through the end of the season. He’ll be a solid presence in a bullpen that remains largely intact from the 2023 season, with the biggest addition the return of elite closer Edwin Díaz from injury. Additionally, per The Athletic, the Mets are also close to finalizing a deal with left-handed reliever Jake Diekman. The veteran, who addresses a clear need in the bullpen, posted a 3.34 ERA in 63 games for the White Sox and the Rays last season. He also ranked in the 99th percentile of hard-hit ball rate (27.1%) in 2023, according to Statcast. This move is significant because it gives the Mets a second lefty in the bullpen alongside Brooks Raley.
🔘 Speaking of relievers, the Mets were reportedly in on Wandy Peralta, offering the lefty a two-year deal in the $8-10 million range, per Andy Martino of SNY. However, Peralta got a bigger offer elsewhere and instead signed a four-year, $16.5 million contract with the Padres. The oddest thing about that deal? It features not one, not two but three, yes three, opt-outs. Peralta has been one of the most serviceable relievers in baseball over the past handful of years, posting a 2.82 ERA over 165 games since 2021. He would have been a nice addition to that Mets bullpen but, hey, life goes on, I guess.
🔘 The Detroit Tigers made some waves this week after signing their No. 2 prospect in Colt Keith (I can’t think of a more perfect and fitting name for a ballplayer than that, by the way) to a six-year, $28.6 million contract. When you include all of the potential incentives involved, Keith could end up earning $82 million over nine years. And, per MLB.com, it’s the largest contract signed by a Tiger before a player’s major league debut. It also continues a recent trend of teams signing their top prospects to long-term deals before they’ve even hit the bigs after the Brewers signed Jackson Chourio - MLB’s No. 2 prospect overall in baseball - to an eight-year, $82 million deal back in December. Keith broke out offensively in 2023, hitting .306/.380/.552 with 27 homers in 126 games between Double-A and Triple-A. Projected to be the Tigers’ second baseman, Keith has a high ceiling and he has the tools to be able to mash and get on base at a high level. Plus, with a name like that, he’s bound to succeed in the big leagues.
