NEWSLETTER
One of the family Christmas gatherings is today, so if the league could press pause on major moves for at least a few hours, that’d be swell.
- As the Cardinals look to trade Nolan Arenado, having been blocked in moving him to the Astros, they reportedly didn’t want to send him to the Yankees for Marcus Stroman (MLB.com):
“The Yankees approached the Cardinals earlier this offseason about a deal for Arenado, sources said, but they were rebuffed because St. Louis had no interest in taking on the contract of veteran right-handed pitcher Marcus Stroman ….
The Yankees expressed an interest in trading for Arenado earlier in the offseason, a source said, proposing a swap of Stroman and Arenado. St. Louis declined the offer without even presenting it to Arenado for approval, according to the source.”
- Stroman, who had mixed results last year for the Yankees, will make $18.3 million in 2025, and has an equally-valuable vesting option for 2026 if he hits 140.0 innings. I actually do get why the Cardinals wouldn’t want that contract back in exchange for Arenado, who’ll make quite a bit more, but the whole point for the Cardinals is to be rid of as much money as possible. That said, I kinda like it if they’re going to be picky, because the Cardinals failing to trade Arenado is probably a best case scenario for the Cubs.
- The MLB.com report indicates that the Yankees may still work to acquire Arenado later, maybe even first signing Paul Goldschmidt to convince Arenado to approve a deal (which is music to my ears, because it suggests Arenado will continue to be picky, and totally neuter the Cardinals’ possible trade return).
- The Angels non-tendered pitcher Patrick Sandoval because they didn’t want to be on the hook for his $5.9-ish million estimated salary in arbitration in 2025 while he recovers from June Tommy John surgery, even though they would’ve still controlled him for 2026, too. That also means they felt he wouldn’t have had any trade value at $5.9 million and what amounts to a team option for 2025 that would’ve been maybe $7-8 million or so … oops:
Multiple sources confirm the @JeffPassan report. Sandoval will make $5.5m in 2025 and $12.75M in 2026. Sox are still open to other rotation moves, but this provides potential late-season reinforcement and a rotation member for 2026. https://t.co/R8fG980QZ4— Alex Speier (@alexspeier) December 20, 2024
- If the Angels had just tendered Sandoval a deal, this signing suggests they could’ve traded him for very real value thereafter, since he’s getting a lot more guaranteed from the Red Sox than he would’ve as a controlled player.
- Ian Happ is understandably quite excited to have Kyle Tucker in the lineup:
"Couldn't really ask for more to put in the middle of the lineup."@ihapp_1 on the Cubs acquiring Kyle Tucker – via @thecompoundpod. pic.twitter.com/0BQJLoMZIn— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) December 20, 2024
- Fun fact: Ian Happ has 150 career homers, Kyle Tucker has 125. It doesn’t mean anything, of course, because Happ has played in nearly 50% more big league games, but that’s why I called it “fun” and not “meaningful.” In any case, I look forward to these two, plus Seiya Suzuki, hitting in the top three of the lineup in 2025. Happ doesn’t quite produce at the same level as Tucker or Suzuki, but he’s consistently quite good, and also that .343 OBP hitting ahead of those two guys sounds very good to me.
- I like this comparison from Pat Hughes, in terms of the feeling (and here’s hoping the result plays, too):
Pat Hughes compares the Cubs acquiring Kyle Tucker to the Jon Lester signing before the 2015 season. pic.twitter.com/QaPAjmXWLb
— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) December 20, 2024
- If you missed the news, the Cubs reportedly got a chance to meet with Roki Sasaki yesterday. So that’s a start!
- Possible change coming to the MLB Draft schedule:
- Paul Skenes is ridiculous:
- Barry Zito’s curveball was so fun:
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