WELCOME, Ball Boys and GIRLS! We did; we survived the 2022 off-season and made it to the season; let's recap some of the late spring moves.
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You can view all of the previous Grade the Deal rounds by clicking here.
In a quick, non-player move, the Blue Jaus extended manager Charlie Montoyo is signed through 2023, and the Jays hold options for 2024 and 2025.
Sometimes it's cheaper to DFA a guy being paid $28mm than to keep him on the roster. The Angels took that approach again with DFA Justin Upton.
While being on the hook for all the $28MM he is owed this year, I am not sure the plan here, but the Angels have younger, better, and more productive players who can fill the role that Upton can't. I give the transaction here a head-scratching B.
The Arizona Diamondbacks and Ketel Marte came to a 6yr extension worth $72MM with a 2028 option and a $3MM signing bonus.
The D-Backs locked up their best offensive player and will keep him around on a team-friendly deal in terms of AAV. I give it an A- and would not be surprised if at least half this deal is played out with another club.
The White Sox and Phillies made a trade. The Phillies sent OF Adam Hasely to the White Sox for MiLB RHP McKinley Moore is going to Philly.
The Phillies cleared some of their expendable depth to get a prospect. Pretty simple depth move here for both teams; give me a C.
The Padres and Phillies made a trade as well. The Padres sent RHP James Norwood to the Phillies for MiLB INF Kervin Pichardo,
Another depth move for a prospect, much like the last trade, is a depth piece of a prospect. I give it a C.
The Pirates and D-Backs agreed to send UTL Josh VanMeter to the Pirates for MiLB P Listher Sosa in another trade.
Depth is excellent; the Pirates need MLB players to play on an MLB field. I give the deal a C.
The D-Backs extended RHP Merrill Kelly to a 2yr deal, covering 2023/2024 and a club option for 2025. The deal is worth about $16MM in total.
Good deal for the D-backs to lock up a talented pitcher now before getting to the point of losing him. The D-backs may not compete now but could in the coming years once the hotness fades in SD, LA, and SF.
The Dodgers and White Sox made a massive trade. The Dodgers sent OF AJ Pollock in exchange for RHP Craig Kimbrel and all of the contract.
The Dodgers are replacing Jansen with Kimbrel, and the White Sox are getting the corner OF they needed. Both sides won in the deal, and both look to be the #1 in their respective leagues now. Both teams get an A.
The Rangers and Yankees made a trade. The Rangers send C Jose Trevino to the Yankees and get RHP Albert Abreu and LHP Robby Ahlstrom.
The backup at C was needed for the Yankees as Higgy was slated for a lot of work and not a lot of depth. The Rangers needed pen depth and help and got it. Please give me a B.
The Yankees and Mets made another trade; the Mets sent LHRP Joely Rodriguez to the Yankees for RHRP Miguel Castro.
The one-for-one deals are easy to grade. Both get a pen piece, and both players get a slight change in scenery. I give it a C.
The White Sox and the Blue Jays traded catching depth, the White Sox sending Zack Collins to the Jays for Reese McGuire going to Chicago.
It is the time of year for depth pieces to move and for guys to get traded for an opportunity. Please give me a C for the deal.
The Athletics weren't done selling, and the Padres needed to buy to help the rotation. The A's traded LHP Sean Manaea and MiLB RHP Aaron Holiday to the Padres for MiLB INF Adrian Martinez and Eruibiel Angeles.
The deal helps the Padres move Paddack and Hosmer with ease now as they look for an upgrade in the OF. The A's are just selling now and dropping the same payroll they had in 1991 at $31MM, the highest. Oooff! I give the Padres and B+, and the A's a C+.
The Yankees and Rays made a trade. The Rays sent RHRP David McKay to the Yankees for cash.
Another depth move on the Yankee's part, and the Rays get cashback. Nothing crazy here, C for both teams.
The Tigers and Rays made a trade that many several confused about, me included. The Rays traded OF Austin Meadows for 3B Isaac Pareda and a Comp round B pick in the 2022 draft of the Rays.
I can't imagine this trade happening if top OF prospect Riley Greene for the Tigers wasn't sidelined 6-to 8 weeks with a foot fracture less than 48hours before the deal. The deal now opens the door for Ray's top prospect Josh Lowe to look at the MLB level and get a solid piece in Pareda. I give both sides of the deal an A.
Some important injury news:
DUE TO SHOULDER INJURY, Mets SP Jacob deGrom is out for at least a month or two.
DUE TO ARM INJURY, Whites Sox Garrett Crochet is out for the season due to Tommy John's surgery.
DUE TO KNEE INJURY, White Sox Lance Lynn will be shut down for four weeks to recover from knee surgery.
DUE TO RIB INJURY, Red Sox Chris Sale was placed on the 60-day IL to start the season.
Other random news:
RHRP Richard Rodiguez, UTL Danny Santana, and INF Jose Rodon, all free- agents, were suspended for 80 games after testing positive on a PED test.
The AL Rookie of the year race will be LIT! Mariners OF Julio Rodriguez, Royals SS Bobby Whit Jr., Tigers 1B/3B Spencer Torkelson, Orioles C Adley Ruschman, Rays RHP Shane Baz have all made their clubs Opening-day Rosters.