Roto Riteup: March 11, 2019

The Fangraphs staff (minus some notable exceptions) headed out to Spring Training this weekend. During the weekend, there were a series of skills challenges. So, it is time to play:

Which was more embarrassing?!?

Is it Brian Johnson’s fastball:

I got prospects for days @FlatgroundApp 😏😏 (cc: @BaseballATeam) pic.twitter.com/e42B82x7pv

— Paul Sporer (@sporer) March 9, 2019

Or is it Paul Sporer’s catching ability:

He tried. He tried so hard. pic.twitter.com/VVL2IuyxTF

— Cut4 (@Cut4) March 8, 2019

While I was unable to attend this year, my face did make an appearance:

Well, you’re here in spirit, @JustinMasonFWFB! pic.twitter.com/WNkmKKkOAi

— Paul Sporer (@sporer) March 9, 2019

On the Agenda:
1. Signings
2. Various News and Notes

 

Signings
The Arizona Diamondbacks have signed Adam Jones to a one year deal, pending a physical. Jones is expected to man centerfield for the Diamondbacks, which will put Ketel Marte into a super utility role. Jones has had a skills decline over the last couple of seasons, but has been one of MLB’s most durable players having played in at least 145 games a season in six of the last seven seasons. Marte was slated for a full time role, but will now likely play between the infield and outfield until someone gets hurt.

The Royal have signed Martin Maldonado to a one year deal. Maldonado will step into the starting catcher’s role for Sal Perez, who will undergo Tommy John Surgery. Maldonado moves to an unfriendly hitter’s park and is expected to bat near the bottom of a pretty poor Royals lineup. While he has some value in AL only formats, he probably doesn’t move the needle in most mixed leagues.

 

Various News and Notes
Nicholas Castellanos left Sunday’s game after being hit by a pitch in the hand. X-rays following the game were negative, so it appears that he avoided serious injury. He is expected to sit out a couple of games as a precaution.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has been diagnosed with a strained left oblique and is expected to miss about three weeks. The injury is a grade one strain, which is the lowest possible grade, so this shouldn’t be an issue moving forward. Vlad was going to be heading down to the minor leagues no matter what and hadn’t performed well in Spring Training. This injury shouldn’t delay his timetable unless there is a setback.

Tyler Skaggs was scratched from his Sunday start with soreness in his left forearm. The soreness appears to have been caused by a new pitch that Skaggs was working on. An MRI on the forearm came back negative, so it appears that this is not a serious issue.