Major League Baseball 2024 Season

**S Landreth** · 11-02-2024, 07:12 AM

Clayton Kershaw agrees to contract to return to Dodgers

Kershaw to return to Dodgers for 17th season

The Dodgers are bringing back their longtime franchise ace, agreeing to a deal with southpaw Clayton Kershaw, a source told MLB.com on Tuesday. The club has not confirmed the move, which is pending a physical that is scheduled for Thursday.

Kershaw is set to return for his 17th big league season, though he isn’t expected to be available until sometime next summer after undergoing surgery on his left shoulder following the Dodgers’ loss to the D-backs in the NLDS.

One of the greatest pitchers in baseball history, Kershaw is a former NL MVP, a 10-time All-Star, a three-time Cy Young Award winner and a World Series champion. He owns a lifetime 2.48 ERA, and his 157 ERA+ ranks him second in AL/NL history behind Mariano Rivera (205) among pitchers with at least 1,000 innings.

**S Landreth** · 11-02-2024, 09:52 AM

Caleb Ferguson traded to Yankees

Yankees get LHP Ferguson in trade with Dodgers

The Yankees swung another trade to bolster their bullpen on Monday, acquiring left-hander Caleb Ferguson from the Dodgers in exchange for lefty Matt Gage and right-hander Christian Zazueta.

It is the second swap of the offseason between the Yankees and Dodgers, following a Dec. 11 deal that brought left-hander Victor Gonzalez to New York.

Ferguson, 27, posted a 7-4 record with three saves and a 3.43 ERA in 68 appearances (seven starts) for Los Angeles in 2023. In 60 1/3 innings, Ferguson permitted 30 runs (23 earned) and 64 hits, with 23 walks and 70 strikeouts.

Over parts of five big league seasons with the Dodgers dating back to 2018, Ferguson has compiled a 3.43 ERA over 201 career games (14 starts). He is eligible for free agency after the '24 season.

**S Landreth** · 12-02-2024, 03:30 AM

Brewers To Sign Gary Sanchez To One-Year Deal

The Brewers are reportedly signing free agent catcher Gary Sánchez to one-year deal with mutual option with a $7MM guarantee. The club’s 40-man roster is full and a corresponding roster move will be required when the deal is made official. The backstop is represented by MDR Sports Management.

Sánchez, 31, had a frustrating time getting a job last year but made the most of it when he finally got one. He initially signed a minor league deal with the Giants but opted out when that club wouldn’t give him a roster spot. He landed another minor league deal with the Mets and did get called up to the big leagues but was quickly put on waivers.

A claim by the Padres was the opportunity he needed. He went on to take 260 plate appearances over 72 games with San Diego, hitting 19 home runs in that brief time. His batting average and on-base percentage were low, as his fairly normal for him, but his .218/.292/.500 batting line in that time nonetheless translated to a wRC+ of 115 indicating he was 15% better than the league average hitter.

With Sánchez, the power has always been there, but his defense has been more questionable throughout his career. He seems to have improved over time, however. Defensive Runs Saved has given him positive grades in each of the past two years, including a +7 mark in 2023. Each of FanGraphs, Statcast and Baseball Prospectus considered his pitch framing to be a positive over the past two seasons. His throwing arm has always been considered strong with his blocking a weakness, though even his blocking grades have improved in the past few seasons as well.

**S Landreth** · 13-02-2024, 06:34 PM

James Paxton, Dodgers agree to one-year deal

Dodgers working on 1-year contract with southpaw Paxton (source)

The Dodgers are closing in on an agreement on a contract with free-agent left-hander James Paxton, a source told MLB.com's Mark Feinsand on Monday. The club has not confirmed the deal, which is expected to be for one year and worth roughly $12 million, per a source.

Paxton would be yet another add to a remade Los Angeles rotation after the club signed top-tier free agent Yoshinobu Yamamoto and traded for Tyler Glasnow.

Paxton’s 2023 season wasn’t perfect, but the Canadian left-hander was surely happy to pitch again. In 2020 and 2021 combined, Paxton made just six starts with the Yankees and Mariners, respectively. He underwent Tommy John surgery in April 2021 after one start in his return to Seattle, missing the rest of the year, signing with the Red Sox that offseason and missing 2022 entirely.

**S Landreth** · 14-02-2024, 09:27 AM

Arrest made in Jackie Robinson statue theft

An arrest has been made in the case involving the theft and destruction of a Jackie Robinson statue from a park in Wichita, Kan., the Wichita Police Department said Tuesday.

The suspect is charged with felony theft (value over $25,000), aggravated criminal damage to property, identity theft and making false information.

"The investigation has not revealed any evidence indicating that this was a hate-motivated crime," said Aaron Moses of the Wichita Police Department. "We believe this theft was motivated by the financial gain of scrapping common metal."

Police remain committed to identifying all individuals involved in the crime, Moses added.

"We know from the surveillance video that there were at least three individuals there when the statue was taken, and we know it was taken somewhere where other individuals were present," Moses said.

The Robinson statue was reported missing on Jan. 25 after being stolen from McAdams Park, the home base of League 42, a local youth baseball league named after the number Robinson wore with the Dodgers. The thieves cut the statue off at the ankles before removing it from the premises, and it was later found burned and dismantled. The theft and subsequent destruction of the statue, which was installed in 2021, sparked outrage and drew national attention.

"We're feeling good that someone is being held responsible, and I do believe that all individuals involved will be apprehended," said League 42 executive director Bob Lutz.

Major League Baseball and the 30 clubs have pledged to replace the statue, Lutz announced on Jan. 31. Additionally, MLB and the 30 clubs will provide funding to League 42 programming in support of its on-field and academic goals.

Individual donations also poured in after Lutz started a GoFundMe page. As of Tuesday, the fundraiser had garnered $194,780.

While the statue's original artist has passed away, Lutz said the original mold will be used to build the new statue of Robinson, with expected completion sometime this summer.

**S Landreth** · 15-02-2024, 04:43 PM

Rays announce business and baseball operations promotions

Erlichman, Ibach headline Rays' front office promotions

The Rays announced a series of promotions, new hires and title changes across their business and baseball operations departments and Major League staff on Wednesday, including the promotion of Kevin Ibach to assistant general manager.

After spending last year as the Rays’ vice president of player personnel, Ibach was elevated to the role of vice president of baseball operations and assistant GM. That title is now shared by Carlos Rodriguez, Chanda Lawdermilk, Will Cousins and Ibach. Tampa Bay has not named a general manager since Peter Bendix left to run Miami’s front office, leaving those four VP/AGMs as the club’s top baseball operations officials under president of baseball operations Erik Neander.

Ibach will remain focused on player development, pro personnel and pro scouting, according to the club’s announcement, with strategy and daily oversight of the department added to his duties. Ibach joined the Rays as a pro scout in October 2012, was promoted to pro scouting director in November ’15 and became senior director of pro personnel and pro scouting in January '20.

Additionally, two prominent members of the Rays’ staff are transitioning into new roles away from the dugout: Jonathan Erlichman and Justin Su’a.

Erlichman, formerly the club’s process and analytics coach who played a key role on manager Kevin Cash’s staff, is moving back to the front office to serve as vice president of process and analytics. In his new role, the club said, Erlichman will “work across departments to accelerate projects of high impact and conduct research related to player wellness.

Su’a, who had been the Rays’ head of mental performance, will now serve as a performance development specialist, focusing on staff initiatives and projects outside of the clubhouse. His previous role included work as the mental performance coach for the Major League club, with many players often crediting him for his role in their development and improvement.

Kris Goodman will assume mental performance duties as the new Major League process and development coach. He joined Tampa Bay’s Minor League staff in a similar role in 2020 after playing in the Marlins system.

Elsewhere in the baseball operations group, Joesph Myers was promoted from director to senior director of baseball performance science; Ryan Bristow was elevated from assistant director to director of pro personnel and pro scouting, leading both departments; and Bobby Kinne will transition from advance scouting work as Major League operations coordinator to pitching strategist, working alongside pitching coach Kyle Snyder and bullpen coach Jorge Moncada and assisting with strategy during games.

**S Landreth** · 17-02-2024, 10:44 AM

Xander Bogaerts shifting to second base, Ha-Seong Kim to shortstop

The Padres, with their roster full of shortstops, will have a new shortstop in 2024.

Xander Bogaerts will move to second base this season, manager Mike Shildt said Friday, with Ha-Seong Kim, the reigning utility Gold Glove Award winner, flipping from second base back to short.

Bogaerts, who signed an 11-year contract with the Padres last offseason, had spent the first 11 seasons of his career playing shortstop almost exclusively in Boston and San Diego. He was solid defensively in 2023, but the Padres made the move looking to get the most value out of Kim, one of the best defenders in the sport.

**S Landreth** · 17-02-2024, 11:34 AM

Gavin Dickey embracing role as Astros assistant GM

From scout to assistant GM: Dickey's ascension through Astros' ranks

Gavin Dickey was as close to a can’t-miss prospect coming out of Lincoln High School in Tallahassee, Fla., as there is. He was considered one of the top high school football players in the state in 2001, earning a spot on the prestigious Parade All-America Team and being named the Florida Gatorade Player of the Year.

Dickey, who was recruited by Notre Dame and Clemson, attended the University of Florida and backed up both Rex Grossman and Chris Leak at quarterback for the Gators. He also played center field on the baseball team at Florida and was drafted in the 12th round by the Mariners in 2006, reaching Double-A in 2009. He hung up his cleats in 2011 after a cup of coffee with the Double-A Mississippi Braves and was suddenly in search of a career.

“I was 27 and about to be 28 and never had a real job. It was time,” Dickey said. “I started applying for jobs [as a scout] halfway through the season. I’d basically email teams and once the season ended, I had two interviews -- the Mets and one with Bobby Heck and the Astros.”

Heck, the former Astros scouting director who is now a special assistant with the Rays, hired Dickey to be a scout in South Texas for Houston. The former can’t-miss prospect was now trying to find some for the Astros. More than a decade later, Dickey is one of the longest-tenured members of the Astros’ baseball operations staff, and he was promoted by general manager Dana Brown to assistant GM late last year.

“I don’t feel old and I don’t feel like I’ve been here that long, but for some reason, the room flipped on me really fast and I’m like one of the older guys now,” Dickey, 40, said. “So yeah, I would say I have seen a lot of change. I’ve had an opportunity to learn from really bright people -- forward-thinkers, traditional and analytically driven, the whole gambit. I’ve been fortunate enough to do that all in one place.”

Dickey’s role with the Astros covers player development, player personnel, performance science and Minor League operations. He said senior director of player development and performance science Jacob Buffa will serve as farm director, but Dickey will oversee the player development of a Minor League system ranked 30th by MLB Pipeline.

**S Landreth** · 18-02-2024, 07:03 AM

Charlie Culberson in Braves' Minor League camp as pitcher

After appearing in parts of 11 MLB seasons as a utility man, Charlie Culberson is set to attempt a late-career shift to the mound. According to MLB Network insider Jon Heyman, Culberson will attend Minor League camp with the Braves as a pitcher. The club hasn’t confirmed the report.

Culberson, 34, does have some pitching experience in the Majors. He’s thrown 7 1/3 innings across eight appearances, allowing one run on seven hits with one strikeout and three walks. He also threw 3 2/3 innings for Triple-A Gwinnett in 2023.

Culberson has topped out at 93.7 mph in his MLB pitching appearances, which have mostly come as a mop-up man in blowouts.

**S Landreth** · 18-02-2024, 05:27 PM

MLB free agency 2023-24 tracker: Whit Merrifield agrees with Phillies on 1-year, $8 million deal

Jordan Hicks is reportedly set to sign a four-year, $44 million contract with the San Francisco Giants, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan on Friday. The 27-year-old right hander spent last season with the St. Louis Cardinals and Toronto Blue Jays.

After spending most of his career as a reliever, the Giants will be adding Hicks to their starting rotation. He recorded a 3.29 ERA and 81 strikeouts in 2023 in 65 games out of the bullpen for the Cardinals and Blue Jays.

**S Landreth** · 20-02-2024, 05:54 PM

7 or 8 more days, until the start of Spring Training

Phillies news and rumors 1/14: Hector Neris’ market reportedly awakening, with 2 AL frontrunners

Teams need Héctor — or at least, teams want him.

The free-agent market for the former Phillies reliever is starting to gain some traction, per a Saturday night report from MLB.com‘s Mark Feinsand, and the New York Yankees and defending World Series champion Texas Rangers are “emerging as potential frontrunners.”

Neris hit the market this offseason after two years with the Houston Astros, posting a 2.69 ERA and 1.03 WHIP across 141 total appearances in those two regular seasons, plus a 4.40 ERA (sunk by one bad ALDS outing) in 15 postseason games. Neris collected a nice $16 million across those two years and took down his former club in the 2022 World Series along the way.

That ERA includes a 1.71 figure in his walk year, which positions him as one of the better relief options on the market and explains his rejecting an $8.5 million player option for 2024, which turned then into a $1 million buyout.

Neris won’t command Josh Hader money — or years — but would serve as a nice addition for a competing team looking to add some stability to the back end of its bullpen. As Phillies Nation‘s Tim Kelly pointed out earlier this month, Neris leads MLB in reliever appearances since the start of 2016.

Perhaps his production spiking in Houston was a byproduct of the Astros not employing him as a closer — he saved just five games with the Astros after saving 84 with the Phillies, which climbed him up the franchise’s all-time saves leaderboard but, simultaneously, the blown saves one too, with 26. For what it’s worth, Neris wouldn’t necessarily need to close with the Yankees or Rangers: New York could give that job to Clay Holmes and Texas to José Leclerc, relying on Neris as a bridge in the later innings. Or, they could use Neris as a closer anyway, hoping that his career 89-for-120 success rate will regress to the mean somewhat.

Or, Neris could sign elsewhere, of course. Perhaps a team that’s seemingly finished with its major additions this offseason but could still benefit from some mid- to lower-tier moves, specifically in the bullpen. Perhaps a team Neris already knows quite well.