MLBTR: Chapman, Montgomery, Snell Still Looking For Nine-Figure Deals
Courtesy of Tim Dierkes/.MLB Trade Rumors
MLBTR TRIVIA
Three free agents — Matt Chapman, Jordan Montgomery and Blake Snell — are still hoping to land nine-figure contracts this offseason despite the fact that the exhibition schedule has begun and the calendar turns to March 1 on Thursday.
Not counting the 2021-22 offseason, when signings were delayed by the lockout, this is the latest date that a player has signed a nine-figure deal since Bryce Harper’ a $330-million deal with the Phillies became official on Feb. 28, 2019.
GIANTS, YANKEES, ANGELS PURSUING BLAKE SNELL
MATT CHAPMAN ALSO ON GIANTS LIST
Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports that Snell and agent Scott Boars may not be open to a shorter contract with high salaries and opt-outs, similar to what Boras client Cody Bellinger signed with the Cubs. Such a deal is a bad fit for the Yankees, in light of the fact they are top-tier luxury tax payors and will be taxed 110 percent on any additional player salary. The Angels also are believed to be involved in the market for Snell.
Susan Slusser adds that the Giants also still have interested in third baseman Matt Chapman, and sources have indicated it’s a 50-50 chance the Giants will land Chapman or Snell. They both rejected qualifying offers, which means they would cost a signing team draft-pick compensation and international bonus-pool cap space.
WHITE SOX RHP JESSE SCHOLTENS TO HAVE TOMMY JOHN SURGERY
Jesse Scholtens is scheduled for Tommy John Surgery to repair the torn ulnar collateral ligament in his pitching elbow, the team announced. The White Sox placed Scholtens on the 60-day injured list to make room for minor-league lefthander Bailey Horn on the 40-man roster.
A nine-round pick by the Padres out of the University of Arizona in 2016, Scholtens signed with the White Sox as a minor-league free agent after the 2022 season and made his major-league debut last April. He posted a 3.32 ERA in 14 relief appearances and a pair of spot starts while bouncing between Triple-A and the majors through the end of July, then moved into the starting rotation in August. He took the place of Lance Lynn, who was traded to the Dodgers. Scholtens had three quality starts in early August, but struggled the rest of the way, compiling a 9.42 ERA in six additional starts and one relief appearanc,. In 85 innings with the White Sox he made six starts and a relief appearance and had an overall ERA of 5.29.
CUBS, WHITESOX EXCHANGE MINOR-LEAGUE PITCHERS
The Cubs traded minor-league lefty reliever Bailey Horn to the Cubs for non-roster righty starter Matthew Thompson to make room on their 40-man roster for CF/1B Cody Bellinger, whose contract is now official. Horn was originally drafted by the White Sox out of Auburn University in the fifth round in 2020 but was flipped to the Cubs for righty reliever Ryan Tepera at the 2021 deadline.
Horn, who turned 26 in January, reached Triple-A for the first time in 2023, posting a 4.58 ERA in 39 relief appearances at the level. His 29-percent strikeout rate was undermined by an inflated walk rate, as has been the pattern throughout his brief professional career.
Thompson, a 23-year-old who was drafted in the second round by the Sox in 2019, spent 2023 in the Double-A rotation, posting a 4.85 ERA in 27 starts while walking a whopping 15 percent of the batters he faced.
MIKE LORENSEN’S MARKET
A good deal of focus has been placed on top remaining free agents like Snell, Chapman and Jordan Montgomery in recent weeks, leaving quality big leaguers like Michael Lorenzen somewhat overshadowed even as they continue to linger on the open market. MLBTR's Steve Adams broke down Lorenzen's 2023 season and took a look around the league in an effort to identify the best remaining fits for the right-hander. A handful of teams are likely out due to luxury tax implications, while others are generally set in the rotation. Steve highlighted eight teams that stand as reasonable fits before further narrowing that field to the five ideal fits in terms of rotation need, payroll capacity and luxury-tax status.
OTHER INJURY NEWS
Royals left-handed reliever project Christian Chamberlain has a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his pitching elbow.
OTHER ROSTER MOVES
Cardinals designated IF Buddy Kennedy for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster for SS Brandon Crawford, whose one-year, $2-million contract is now official.
OTHER MINOR-LEAGUE TRANSACTIONS
Nationals have come to terms with RHP Matt Barnes on a minor-league contract with an invitation to major-league Spring Training, per Mark Zuckerman of MASNsports.com.
Orioles signed RHP Julio Teheran to a minor-league contract with an invitation to major-league Spring Training, per Jon Heyman of the New York Post. Teheran would receive a $2-million salary in the majors.
Red Sox signed RHP Jason Alexander to a minor-league contract.
FROM TRADE RUMORS FRONT OFFICE
Courtesy of Nicklaus Gaut
A look at Marcus Semien
Semien is as good a bet as you can make to stay healthy. He has avoided the Injured Listen since 2018.
Much like his health, Semien’s per-PA roto rates tend to stay steady. The 45 home runs in 2021 were nice but last came with an 18.4 percent HR.FB ration, which was seven points higher than his career average. The .036 HR/PA from the past two seasons is more in line with what we should be expecting. His stolen base rates are nothing special (outside of a 25 stolen base anomaly in 2022) but it is also really easy to pencil in a double doze bags and feel comfortable.
His runs + RBI are dictated by batting order and team offense. Semien has been the best of both worlds, completely lock-in to batting leadoff for what should be one of baseball’s best offenses.
Semien led all of baseball with 753 plate appearances in 2022, oe of 11 players in the 700+ club. In 2022 that club only had five members, after having just two in 2021. In 2020 the number was zero, but in 2019 there were seven players who crossed the 700 PA threshold. And in four full seasons since 2019, Semien is the one player to make the list every time.