Mining the News (1/9/23)

American League

Orioles

• James McCann and Adley Rutschman could see some time at first base.

McCann, who was traded from the Mets to the O’s on Dec. 21, recently shared that in his initial call with the team, he was told that both he and Rutschman could get time at first and/or DH. That may still be a possibility in some lineup combinations even if Díaz or Cordero makes the team.

Just looking over the roster, I think the first base job is Mountcastle’s as long as he’s healthy. He’s started 144 and 145 games the past two seasons, so the catching pair would just need to give him a combined 20 days off during the season.

Tigers

• The team is going to go into the season with several platoons and players moving all over the diamond.

This trade gives us a somewhat clearer idea of what next season’s Tigers roster will look like. Expect to see plenty of platoons and players moving around the diamond. Harris said he expects Vierling and Maton to both be options to play practically any position. Harris said both players will be factors in claiming the Tigers’ vacancy at third base.

“One theme that you’re going to see in Lakeland is we’re gonna get guys reps all over the diamond,” Harris said. “I think these players have a headstart because they’ve already done it in the big leagues.”

I’m still trying to get a read on this situation with the trade over the weekend.

• Michael Lorenzen came back from his last injury with a simplified delivery.

Lorenzen missed more than two months of the season last summer with a right shoulder strain. When he returned, the long-haired righty was a different pitcher. Lorenzen had a 2.36 ERA in his final five starts of the season with the Angels. He struck out 30 batters and walked only 14 in that span of 26 2/3 innings.

He ditched an experiment with a three-quarters delivery and returned his arm slot to its natural position. He altered his pitch mix, attacking right-handers with a four-seam and slider, then going after lefties with his four-seam and changeup.

I’m not sure if there is much to this claim. First, his release point has been all over the place with his end-of-season release point being the same as it was in July.

He did see some late improvement (8% K%-BB% to 15% K%-BB%) that came from a pitch mix change.

He started the season throwing all five of his pitches over 10% of the time, but during that last month, he was basically just four-seam (6% SwStr%), change (20% SwStr%, 53% GB%), and slider (14% SwStr%). If he can maintain a 15% K%-BB%, he would be comparable to Framber Valdez, Tyler Anderson, and Logan Webb in 2022. All three are being drafted at least 300 picks ahead of Lorenzen.

Yankees

• Oswaldo Cabrera will get every opportunity to be the starting shortstop.

I do not think Volpe will be in the mix to start the season. By the end of the season, I’m projecting he’ll be with the Yankees as a September call-up, like Peraza was this season. I also think Peraza will be given every single opportunity to win the starting shortstop job this spring. The only way I see Peraza not being the starting shortstop is if he’s just so dreadful in spring training and has zero confidence or if he’s hurt.

National League

Cubs

• Kyle Hendricks remains behind with his rehab.

Per reports at the end of October, Hendricks was a bit behind in his throwing schedule, having hoped to start playing catch by the end of the 2022 season. Instead, that target was shifted to November.

Pitching coach Tommy Hottovy provided an update to Lee, saying Hendricks is on a regimented throwing program and is playing catch off flat ground. Obviously there’s still a fair bit of rehab to go between that and pitching in baseball games, but it seems the Cubs are still hopeful he can be a part of the opening day roster.

“I’m so overly focused on getting Kyle back to being the best version of himself and not rushing it, not pushing it. We all know what Kyle can do when he feels great, when he’s healthy, when he’s locked in,” Hottovy told Lee.

• Codi Heuer should return sometime around the All-Star break.

In the bullpen, the Cubs are counting on the return of Codi Heuer at some stage. Heuer had Tommy John surgery in spring training last year, but Lee’s reports he remains on track for a return to the mound sometime in late-June or early-July.

Padres

• Fernando Tatis Jr.’s surgery recovery is on pace.

We’ll know more by next month — the pace of his hitting progression is unclear — but the Padres feel he’s in a good spot. Tatis, who had his first wrist surgery in March, went for a second, smaller operation in October after there was some debate about the level of healing in his wrist. Now, doctors feel more confident the wrist is progressing as hoped.

Of course, there is a shoulder to worry about, too. Other players have had similar operations and struggled coming back, at least initially. Tatis’ health will be a major storyline in spring training.

• Brent Honeywell Jr. had good results in the Dominican Winter league.

[Honeywell] reached free agency at the end of the year and has been pitching for the Leones del Escogido of the Dominican Winter League. He’s made seven appearances so far, including six starts, posting a 0.96 ERA over 28 innings.

While he posted the 0.96 ERA and .64 WHIP, I’d like to see him perform better than a 5.5 K/9 and 1.9 K/9. The Padres also signed Julio Teheran who had slightly better numbers (5.8 K/9, 0.7 BB/9) in the league.

Phillies

• The Phillies will be going with a closer by committee this season.

Kimbrel might close some games, but he is not the closer. That is how Thomson wants to run his bullpen. His goal is to not overtax anyone during the season and, if he has three or four pitchers he can trust in the ninth inning, it makes things easier.

Reds

• Joey Votto continues his rehab but hasn’t started fielding balls.

The opening of Spring Training is right around the corner. When the Reds gather in Goodyear, Ariz., in mid-February, will first baseman Joey Votto be fully ready to go? As he continues his rehabilitation from major surgery on his left shoulder and biceps, Votto wasn’t completely sure.

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Votto, who hits left-handed but throws right-handed, has not been doing much work on the defensive side.

“My arm is not completely ready,” Votto said. “I can catch a ball, don’t get me wrong, but as far as being more aggressive, diving, fielding — I’m not quite there yet. I’m able to do some of the basics, but not the extreme.”