After last night’s signings, here are three things we’ll be looking at around the world of baseball all day today:
1. Snell switches sides in Dodgers-Giants rivalry:
The first high market domino fell last night when the Dodgers and the left hander Blake Snell agreed to a five-year, $182MM deal that includes deferred cash that brings the current total value of the deal down to the $160-165MM range. The southpaw’s latest stop in what has become a California tour in recent years. After winning the NL Cy Young Award for San Diego in 2023, Snell experienced a disappointing market in free agency and eventually landed a two-year, $62MM deal with the Giants last winter. That contract, of course, included an exit this winter. The lefty dealt with injuries and struggled early in the season but became the best hitter in baseball from July on, prompting him to step back and check his fortunes.
With a deal for the front arm of the rotation now in the books, what’s next for LA this winter? The outdoor arena looks like it could be the next business plan in LA with Mookie Betts ready to return to the infield in 2025, go Andy Pages as the only full-time linebacker currently appearing on the team’s Opening Day roster (though Tommy Edman could be the club’s regular striker if Betts returns to the field). The club is known for being involved at least to some degree in the game Juan Soto bidding, and is equally interested in meeting again Teoscar Hernandez. Reuniting with the face of a long-time franchise Clayton Kershaw it is also visible in the docket, as well as improving the right hand sighting barn Daniel Hudson and you are right Blake Treinen became a free agent earlier this month.
2. Any other big players signing early?
Between Snell’s deal last night and the deal between Anaheim and the southpaw Yusei Kikuchi broke on Monday morning, the hot stove took off quickly this week. Thanksgiving may slow the momentum a bit if it arrives tomorrow, but in the meantime it wouldn’t be surprising if a few key pieces come off the board before the managers arrive in Dallas for the Winter Meetings on the evening of December 8. The deals for Snell and Kikuchi took out two of the top six free agents. They start free in the market, so it makes sense that the markets Corbin Burns, Fried Max, Jack Flahertyagain Sean Manaea it can start to heat up in the coming days.
It is also possible that the market is starting to melt on the downside, however. Soto’s sweepstakes have dominated the headlines in that segment of the market so far this winter, and it looks like he’ll be somewhere at least by the end of the Winter Meetings, if not sooner.
3. Will Arenado change hands?
In the early days of the off-season, reports from St. Louis indicated that the Cardinals will cut salary and take a potentially retrograde move this winter as they focus on youth and development for the 2025 season. That led to many rumors about the availability of three veteran players: a substitute Wilson Contrerasthe right hand Sonny Grayand third basemen Nolan Arenado. Contreras and Gray both appear reluctant to waive their no-trade clauses and leave St. Louis. Louis, Contreras is even ready to move to first base in 2025 to manage the Cardinals’ youth movement as catchers. Ivan Herrera again Pedro Pages he stands ready to take on big roles.
Arenado, however, has kept an open mind to the possibility, and the Cards have explored the market for him. Given Arenado’s stellar reputation with the glove and dwindling numbers at the plate, it would be a shock if a team wanted him to move across the diamond to first base, but he’s reportedly open to a move in the right situation. Will the deal come together?
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