Mining the News (12/14/23)

• Free Agent Lucas Giolito made an adjustment with the Angels to regain some velocity.

Laurila: What about your fastball velocity?

Giolito: “That’s roughly the same, it’s still low- to mid-90s. My velo was kind of down earlier this year, but I made a mechanical adjustment while I was with the Angels [from July 26 to August 31] and got it to tick back up a little. A lot of that was getting back on top of the fastball, which also helped me get a little more ride and hop.”

With the White Sox, his average fastball velocity was at 93 mph. He upped it to 94 mph with the Angels but it dropped back down to 93 mph with the Guardians.

American League

Astros

• The team is looking to steal more bases.

Most of Espada’s concern may be on the bases — and Brown shares the sentiment. Both men acknowledged Houston must improve on its suspect base running and its pitchers must be better at holding opposing base runners to control the running game.

Houston made just 39 outs on the bases last season — just five teams made fewer — but the team ranked last in taking extra bases on hits. The club stole just 107 bases, a number Espada would like to see increase, and had just a 77 percent success rate. Only four teams had a lower success rate.

“That’s one of the reasons why we added (first-base coach) Dave Clark to our coaching staff,” Espada said. “With him and (third-base coach Gary Pettis), I feel like putting those two baseball minds together, I think we could do a better job at taking advantage of base running and studying more opposing pitchers and be better running the bases in general.”

Mariners

• The team is considering platooning Dominic Canzone.

“We would like to add, I would call it, ‘1½ corner outfielders’ with the half being of someone at least capable of platooning with the idea that Dominic Canzone could fill the other side of it, or Cade Marlowe or Taylor Trammell,” Dipoto said …

I’m not sure why the Mariners feel they need to platoon Canzone. Over the last three seasons, his combined OPS versus rightis is .925 and .840 versus lefties.

Orioles

• Both Tyler Wells and DL Hall don’t have defined roles.

Tyler Wells and DL Hall don’t yet have defined roles for 2024

Wells and Hall could both be relievers, one could be a starter and the other a reliever or both could be starters — although Elias said that final occurrence would likely only happen if the O’s lose other starting pitchers to injuries.

“I think that we won’t know until we get into Spring Training, and even into next season,” Elias said. “But I’m happy about the fact that we’re able to talk about both guys in a starter context and also a reliever context.”

• The game’s top prospect, Jackson Holliday, could be on the Opening Day roster.

Jackson Holliday might actually be a big leaguer on Opening Day

At 20 years old — and with only 145 games of Minor League experience under his belt — Holliday is already on the cusp of the big leagues. In fact, MLB Pipeline’s No. 1 overall prospect could even make the Orioles’ 2024 Opening Day roster.

Elias said on Tuesday it’s “a very strong possibility” Holliday breaks camp with the O’s this spring.

Red Sox

• While I have seen the other names as potential starters, this is the first time Josh Winckowski has been on the list.

• Brayan Bello
• Chris Sale
• Nick Pivetta
• Kutter Crawford
• Tanner Houck
• Garrett Whitlock
• Josh Winckowski

The Red Sox have said they’re getting these six pitchers stretched out as potential starters. But how many are locked into the rotation? Two? Bello will definitely be there, and presumably Sale (without much certainty about how much workload he can provide). Is Pivetta the No. 3 right now?

Royals

• MJ Melendez will play in the outfield next season.

He did, however, confirm that MJ Melendez will continue to play the outfield next season. The 25-year-old was once one of the top catching prospects in baseball, but he transitioned to a full-time outfield role this past season. His defense never stood out behind the plate, where he was blocked in the Royals organization by Salvador Perez anyhow. With the emergence of backup catcher Freddy Fermin, and with the way Melendez improved at the plate after he stopped catching in 2023, it doesn’t come as much of a surprise that the Royals are going to keep him in the outfield going forward.

Tigers

• Matt Vierling is the favorite to start at third base.

As of now, the likely favorite to start at third base on Opening Day is Matt Vierling, whom the Tigers acquired in their trade with the Philadelphia Phillies last offseason. Vierling came to Detroit as a highly intriguing player, a Statcast darling who had yet to fully unlock his game. During his first season in Detroit, that narrative did little to change. We saw flashes of high potential from Vierling, who played 35 games at third base last season. On occasion, it was easy to see why the Tigers liked him. But over a 162-game season, the numbers were mostly pedestrian. He hit .261 with a 96 OPS+. The Tigers, though, hope Vierling can begin elevating the ball to the pull side and getting to his power more often. That will be key if the Tigers want to strengthen their production at third base.

Twins

• Jose Miranda will concentrate only on first base.

That seemingly leaves Miranda as the bigger wild card. The Twins have indicated that Miranda’s time at third base is mostly done, and his focus will heavily turn to first base in Spring Training and beyond.

• Jordan Balazovic will be in the bullpen.

Jordan Balazovic is out of minor-league options, which means the 25-year-old right-hander can no longer be sent to the minors without first passing through waivers. He’ll report to spring training likely needing to win a spot on the Opening Day roster to remain in the Twins organization, and he’ll do so as a full-time reliever.

“He’ll come in competing as a reliever,” Falvey said. “I think our view with the best way to get Jordan to be the most effective pitcher with where he’s at with the pitch mix and otherwise is to have him in that bullpen role.”

• The plan is to have Byron Buxton start 80 games in the outfield next year.

If all goes well, the Twins suspect Buxton could handle 80 games in the field while spending time at designated hitter in other contests. With limited financial resources, the Twins appear ready to wait another month before determining how much insurance they need.

Yankees

• Anthony Rizzo, Nestor Cortes, and Jose Trevino all got positive healthy updates.

• Anthony Rizzo has been cleared after getting diagnosed with post-concussion syndrome. Boone said by the end of the season, Rizzo was “probably game-ready and ready to go.” Boone said he expects Rizzo to have a normal winter.

…

• Nestor Cortes started his throwing program on Monday and is doing “well.” Cortes battled two shoulder injuries and a hamstring injury that derailed his 2023 season after being an All-Star in 2022.

• Jose Trevino has recovered from wrist surgery and is expected to be ready for spring training.

• Once healthy, Jasson Domínguez will need to be destroying the minors to get called up.

Boone wouldn’t guarantee that top prospect Jasson Domínguez would be the team’s starting center fielder when he returns from Tommy John surgery this summer. Domínguez, 20, had the procedure in September after hitting four homers with a .980 OPS in his eight-game major-league debut. General manager Brian Cashman has said the team would be in the market for a left fielder and a center fielder, which would suggest that the team won’t acquire a half-season stopgap at the position.

…

“That’s why we called him up (in September). We called him up because he was major-league ready,” Boone said. “Now it’s on him and us to go prove it when he gets that next opportunity when he’s ready to go. You never want to overreact to things that happen over the course of a week or two weeks.”

National League

Braves

• Jarred Kelenic and Vaughn Grissom will likely be in a left field platoon.

The Braves plan to have the left-handed hitting Kelenic and right-handed Grissom, their top middle-infield prospect who is blocked at second base and shortstop, compete for left field and potentially operate in a platoon. Anthopoulos said they are no longer looking to add in left field after the trade.

“You saw the start he got off to last year (before) he had the injury with his foot,” Anthopoulos said of Kelenic, who hit just .231 with four homers and a .655 OPS in his remaining 84 games after the fast start, with 112 strikeouts in 312 plate appearances. “But again, I think with our lineup, we’re not counting on anyone to have to carry the load. He’s talented, and the outfield depth for us was a little thin.”

Grissom will begin playing left field in winter ball in Puerto Rico this month, and the Braves are confident that with his athleticism he can handle the position despite not having professional experience in the outfield.

Brewers

• Aaron Ashby is expected to join the rotation next season.

But Arnold and manager Pat Murphy were both vague this week about what the Brewers expect to get from talented 25-year-old left-hander Ashby, who scored a five-year contract extension in July of 2022, only to undergo shoulder surgery earlier this year and miss the entire season.

“He really feels good. He’s coming back, throwing, playing catch, working out,” Arnold said. “I think he’s on track to be a part of our rotation, hopefully next year. That’s the expectation. This guy is working his tail off to try to come back and he’s definitely on the right track.”

Cardinals

• Alec Burleson is not expected play every day.

More #STLCards POBO John Mozeliak on Alec Burleson: (cont.) "We definitely like Burly and we think there's a spot for him. But in terms of every-day at bats, right now, something else (trades, injuries, etc.) might have to happen first."

(2/2, end)

— John Denton (@JohnDenton555) December 6, 2023

Marlins

• A.J. Puk will be stretched out as a starter.

Something that I'm hearing: The Marlins plan on experimenting with AJ Puk as a starter in Spring Training. No guarantee, but he'll be stretched out to begin camp.

Puk was a rotation candidate in Oakland before getting traded to Miami.

— Isaac Azout (@IsaacAzout) December 6, 2023

Nationals

• For now, Trevor Williams is in the rotation.

On Williams: “Right now, Trevor's — he's our fourth, fifth starter. We'll see what transpires over the winter.”

Very non-committal. Rizzo said at GM meetings he wanted to add a starter. I would be surprised if Williams was still in the projected rotation when ST rolls around.

— Andrew Golden (@andrewcgolden) December 4, 2023

• Nick Senzel will be the third baseman.

Nick Senzel says he was told by Davey Martinez the Nationals expect him to play third base every day. He can move around to other positions in-game if needed, but he's particularly excited to be able to focus on his preferred position.

— Mark Zuckerman (@MarkZuckerman) December 13, 2023

• Victor Robles is not yet healthy.

As for Robles, the news is less positive. He missed the second half of 2023 due to back spasms and Martinez relayed that Robles hasn’t played winter ball this offseason since he hasn’t yet proven himself healthy. He still has a couple of months before Spring Training gets going but it’s notable that the issue appears to be lingering.

Phillies

• Johan Rojas will be playing centerfield every day but it could be in AAA if he struggles with the bat.

If Rojas struggles, Thomson said Marsh could open in center field, although Pache is an option.

But, really, this is where the unsigned outfielder could come into play.

“We want to do the best thing, the right thing for Johan,” Thomson said. “And if that is going to Triple-A and getting how many ever at-bats that he needs, then that’s what we’ll do.”

• Kyle Schwarber and Trey Turner are expected to hit in the top two lineup spots.

Thomson said he is already thinking about his ideal 2024 lineup, but right now it sounds like it could be Kyle Schwarber and Turner in the 1-2 spots again.

“The one thing that you can’t argue is that when Schwarber’s at the top of the lineup, we won a lot of games,” Thomson said. “I don’t know how to really get away from that. But I am thinking through a lot of different things.”

My worry here is that Turner may have his stolen base opportunities limited.

• The team expects Cristopher Sánchez to make 25 to 30 starts.

Thomson said he thinks Sánchez can make 25-30 starts because of his strike-throwing ability and his changeup.

Pirates

• Marco Gonzales is going to Driveline but doesn’t plan on adding velocity or a new pitch. He just wants a new routine.

How much of an emphasis is this in-season longevity? Gonzales is training at Driveline this offseason in Kent, Wash., not far from his family’s residence in the Seattle area. Pitchers often go to the top-tier baseball performance institute to put a few more ticks on their fastball, to add more rotations per minute on their breaking pitches or to develop a new offering.

Not Gonzales.

“I’m not going to Driveline to chase velo. I’m going to Driveline to create a new routine for myself and learn new perspectives on pitching and gathering strength,” Gonzales said. “If I do end up throwing a little bit harder, that would be great. But I’m looking for endurance, sustainability and health, first and foremost.”

Reds

• Gordon Wittenmyer of the Cincinnati Enquirer stated that Jeimer Candelario will play some second base.

The deal pays Candelario $15 million (which includes a signing bonus) in 2024, $15 million in 2025, $12 million in 2026 and includes a 2027 club option for $18 million (with a $3 million buyout).

The Reds expect the 30-year-old to see time at first, second and third, providing depth and leadership for a talented but extremely young infield.

• Jonathan India will get some reps on the outfield.

They also will have second baseman Jonathan India get work in the outfield during Spring Training to see if that is an option. India is expected to get time at first base and designated hitter, as well.

• Nick Lodolo and Graham Ashcraft are healthy for Spring Training.

Some notes from Nick Krall.

The Reds remain looking to improve the club through free agency and trade markets.

Noelvi Marte has a hamstring strain.

Lodolo and Ashcraft are fully on track for spring training.

— Charlie Goldsmith (@CharlieG__) December 1, 2023