MLBits: Kershaw’s Opt-Out, Free Tickets for Kids, Players Want Say in Sports Gambling, More

Although I went to all three games at Wrigley Field this week, I didn’t really get a chance to partake in any of the new restaurants at Hotel Zachary across the street. I think I’ll change that tomorrow.

I’m feeling a little Big Star before the game. See ya there?

  • It’s not much of a surprise (I can’t imagine why he wouldn’t), but Clayton Kershaw is expected to opt-out of his contract with the Dodgers this offseason. If he didn’t, he’d play out a two-year/$65 million deal, but, in terms of the guarantee, he’d get much more than that as a free agent. However, don’t start getting excited about his market being fun to follow. Prevailing wisdom suggests he’ll stick around in L.A. and probably finish his career as a Dodger (in fact, that’s probably part of why they were so intent on getting under the luxury tax threshold this offseason and resetting their penalties in the first place). Jon Heyman expects Kershaw to set a new record (both AAV and total dollar) for starting pitchers, and so do I. The Rangers are mentioned as an outside possibility (hometown connections), but I don’t buy it. He’ll be a Dodger, and an expensive one at that.
  • (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

  • The Baltimore Orioles are doing the $0 admission thing for kids under 9-years-old (when an adult buys a ticket in the upper deck), and I think it’s just a fantastic idea. Sure, this sort of play will help attendance issues in the short-term, but it’s about so much more than that. It’s about attracting and holding onto fans from a very young age, which is something baseball has struggled with over the years. Moreover, it’s not just a cash grab for the concessions, as some of the more cynical among you may have guessed. Because if it is, it’ll take a lot of $1.50 hot dogs and $4 beers to make up the cost. In fact, the Orioles whole “anti-airport experience” attitude is one I can really respect. I hope more teams follow their lead (in this one specific regard, that is).
  • Coming into the 2018 season, I think we all expected the juiced ball era to continue in the form of homer after homer leaving the parks around the league. However, according to Rob Arthur, we’re not currently seeing the spike in dingers we expected. In fact, the percentage of home runs per fly ball is down to it’s lowest level since 2014 and it might, once again, be due to changes in the baseball (the “drag” on the baseball seems to be up compared to this time last year). We’ll see if things change as more data comes in.
  • Well how about this:
  • Basically, representatives from the MLB, NBA, NFL, and NHL player unions have come together to say that while Sports Gambling appears to be heading towards mainstream/legality, they need to have a seat at the table when the rules are created: “The time has come to address not just who profits from sports gambling, but also the costs. Our unions have been discussing the potential impact of legalized gambling on players’ privacy and publicity rights, the integrity of our games and the volatility on our businesses. Betting on sports may become widely legal, but we cannot allow those who have lobbied the hardest for sports gambling to be the only ones controlling how it would be ushered into our businesses.” Solid statement, and I agree completely, even if I wouldn’t mind it becoming more and more legal.
  • The Giants are hopeful reliever Mark Melancon can begin a throwing program in two weeks after receiving a stem cell injection in his injured right pronotator, which apparently did not respond well to surgery last September. And if it all sounds a little confusing, don’t feel alone. NBC Sports concedes that while the news was the first in a while, it was hard to gauge how good/bad it was. “I think it’s good news that we don’t have to do more than that,” manager Bruce Bochy said. “I can’t tell you how long before he’s on the mound pitching for us, but at least we have a better idea now than we did yesterday.” Melancon, a huge free agent signing a couple years ago, threw just 30.0 innings for the Giants last year and has yet to throw this season.
  • While we’re on the injury wagon, Elvis Andrus has been diagnosed with an elbow fracture after being hit by a pitch on Wednesday, but he won’t need surgery. Still, he’s expected to miss about eight weeks (it’s not clear if that includes a rehab assignment, but I’d guess it does not).
  • Now that the dust has settled on that big Red Sox/Yankees brawl on Wednesday, MLB has dropped a six-game suspension on Boston righty Joe Kelly and a five-gamer on Yankees infielder Tyler Austin. Both players have appealed. If you recall, Kelly hit Austin in the back in the top of the seventh inning, after Austin had a late slide into second earlier in the game.
  • And to think, this series started off with a light-hearted (but intense!) game of chicken:
  • We’ll get into it more deeply later on, but Forbes has this week released their MLB organization valuations, and the Chicago Cubs rank third in terms of overall value, behind just the Yankees and Dodgers (beating out the Giants and Red Sox is pretty impressive), and in annual revenue. As for the least valuable organizations, it’s the Rays, Marlins, Reds, Royals and Athletics, though only the Rays are worth less than $1B. The Marlins, by the way, have a reported -$53M operating income. And interestingly, their $1B valuation is $200M less than Derek Jeter’s group paid for it last year. [Brett: Yes, that loss of $53 million annually is totally believable. I mean, I believe Forbes got that figure from the Marlins’ submissions, but I also believe there have long been ways that the ownership down there was extracting its value while claiming a loss. Otherwise, nobody is buying that organization for $1.2 billion.]
  • I don’t know how the advanced defensive metrics will judge the following play, but I can tell you it’s one of the most impressive things I’ve ever seen a catcher do:
  • LOL … it’s hard not to love Clickhole (from the makers of The Onion):
  • And finally, have you ever wondered what the kids from The Sandlot look like nowadays? Well, with the exception of Ham Porter, who looks EXACTLY like he did in the movie, the rest of the group is pretty surprising:
  • written by

    Michael Cerami began covering the Chicago Cubs for Bleacher Nation as a part-time contributor in 2015. One year later, he joined Bleacher Nation full-time, covering the Chicago Cubs and Major League Baseball. Today, Michael runs Bleacher Nation, contributing as a writer (Cubs, MLB) and an editor for all sections of the site, including the Chicago Bears, Bulls, and Blackhawks, as well as MLB, NBA, NHL, and NFL. In 2019, Michael was the co-host of NBC Sports Chicago's Cubs Post-Game Show Outside the Ivy. You can find him on Twitter/X @Michael_Cerami

    more cubs news

    Justin Steele Injury Update: New Classification, MRI Tomorrow, IL Stint Coming? Steele and Counsell Speak

    A significant update on Justin Steele came from Craig Counsell tonight after the Cubs extra innings loss in Texas. In short: Yes, a stint on the Injured List is likely for Justin Steele. But we still don't know how severe...

    Enhanced Box Score: Rangers 4, Cubs 3 – March 28, 2024

    It took exactly one day for the Cubs' ace to sustain what may be a significant injury, for their closer to blow a save, for the umpires to significantly impact the outcome of a critical play (this time in the...

    OMG: Michael Busch Scored the 9th Inning, GO-AHEAD Run, Because He Just Never Stopped Running

    That was absolutely incredible. To all the little kids out there, when your coach tells you to never stop running, this is why. Rookie Cubs 1B Michael Busch (the guy the Cubs got from the Dodgers this offseason to be...

    Pre-Gamin’: Cubs at Rangers – Lineups, Pitching Matchup, Broadcast Info, Game Thread

    *SHORT COURTS: It's Time To Bring The Home Court, Home! Looking for a unique way to celebrate your athlete or team before you peruse the FIRST CHICAGO CUBS LINEUP of the Year? Don't miss out! For just one more week...

    The Cubs Are Among the Most Returning-y Teams

    I am still mostly incapacitated at the moment, so apologies for the short shrift on such an otherwise blessed day. In between pokes and prods, I wanted to share a chart I saw that was pretty interesting, even if unsurprising:...

    Maybe the Cubs Are the Favorites in the NL Central, After All?

    ESPN was the first to throw some love the Cubs way this week, with an overwhelming majority of their writers, analysts, and editors picking the Chicago Cubs to win the NL Central in 2024. But the love doesn't end there....

    The Season Begins, Love for Morel, Counsell’s Value, and Other Cubs Bullets

    You know where you want to spend your Opening Day morning? The hospital! Suffice to say, this is not how I imagined getting HYPED for the Cubs' opener. I guess I'll just have to think about all the possible lineup...

    Cubs vs Rangers: The First Series of the Year!

    Cubs vs Rangers — THE REGULAR SEASON IS HERE! Wake up and rejoice. Later tonight, the Cubs will begin their march toward October Baseball against the (reigning World Series champion) Texas Rangers in Arlington. Justin Steele is getting the nod...

    The 2024 Chicago Cubs for Dummies

    Boom. We made it. The offseason is over, and the Cubs regular season - and those elevated expectations - begins tomorrow. But in case you slept through the winter, I'm here to catch you up on everything you need to...

    I’m Expecting More This Year, Cubs — It’s Time to Start Winning

    There's no way around it: The Chicago Cubs did *not* have the offseason we hoped they might after making Craig Counsell the highest paid manager in MLB history. Not that they did poorly, mind you. Cody Bellinger, Shota Imanaga, and...

    Latest News

    Diamondbacks vs. Rockies: Start Time, Streaming Live, TV Channel, How to Watch

    In their season opener on Friday, Corbin Carroll and the Arizona Diamondbacks take on Nolan Jones and the Colorado Rockies, with first pitch scheduled for 9:40 PM ET at Chase Field.Keep reading to find out how to watch the Arizona-Colorado...

    Guardians vs. Athletics: Start Time, Streaming Live, TV Channel, How to Watch

    Logan Allen will take the mound for the Cleveland Guardians when they square off against starter Ross Stripling and the Oakland Athletics in their season opener on Friday, with first pitch at 9:40 PM ET.Find out how to watch the...

    How to Watch Mariners vs. Red Sox: Live Stream or on TV

    In their season opener on Friday, Julio Rodriguez and the Seattle Mariners play Rafael Devers and the Boston Red Sox, with first pitch scheduled for 9:40 PM ET at T-Mobile Park.Keep reading to see how to watch the Seattle-Boston matchup...

    Padres vs. Giants: Start Time, Streaming Live, TV Channel, How to Watch

    The San Francisco Giants (0-1), led by Jorge Soler, visit Fernando Tatis Jr. and the San Diego Padres (2-1) at 9:40 PM ET on Friday.If you're intending to watch this game, keep reading for streaming and TV options for the...

    How to Watch Dodgers vs. Cardinals: Live Stream or on TV

    The St. Louis Cardinals (0-1), led by Paul Goldschmidt, visit Mookie Betts and the Los Angeles Dodgers (2-1) at 10:10 PM ET on Friday.The article below will give you everything you need to watch Los Angeles take on St. Louis.When...

    OMG: Michael Busch Scored the 9th Inning, GO-AHEAD Run, Because He Just Never Stopped Running

    That was absolutely incredible. To all the little kids out there, when your coach tells you to never stop running, this is why. Rookie Cubs 1B Michael Busch (the guy the Cubs got from the Dodgers this offseason to be...

    Astros vs. Yankees: Start Time, Streaming Live, TV Channel, How to Watch

    On Friday, the New York Yankees (1-0) play Kyle Tucker and the Houston Astros (0-1), with first pitch scheduled for 8:10 PM ET at Minute Maid Park.The article below will provide you with everything you need to know to watch...

    Rays vs. Blue Jays: Start Time, Streaming Live, TV Channel, How to Watch

    At Tropicana Field on Friday, Aaron Civale versus Chris Bassitt will be the pitching matchup when the Tampa Bay Rays (0-1) play the Toronto Blue Jays (1-0), starting at 6:50 PM ET.If you're intending to watch this game, keep reading...

    Enhanced Box Score: Rangers 4, Cubs 3 – March 28, 2024

    It took exactly one day for the Cubs' ace to sustain what may be a significant injury, for their closer to blow a save, for the umpires to significantly impact the outcome of a critical play (this time in the...

    Justin Steele Injury Update: New Classification, MRI Tomorrow, IL Stint Coming? Steele and Counsell Speak

    A significant update on Justin Steele came from Craig Counsell tonight after the Cubs extra innings loss in Texas. In short: Yes, a stint on the Injured List is likely for Justin Steele. But we still don't know how severe...

    more cubs news