Listed here are three issues we’ll be being attentive to round baseball at this time:
1. Ogasawara’s posting window:
The Chunichi Dragons posted left-hander Shinnosuke Ogasawara for MLB golf equipment on December 10, giving him till January 24 to signal a deal. That deadline is quick approaching. If he and his reps at WME don’t strike an settlement with an MLB group by tomorrow, the southpaw will return to the Dragons for the 2025 marketing campaign.
Ogasawara, 27, was an NPB All-Star for the primary time in 2023 and was arguably even higher this previous yr, decreasing his ERA from 3.59 to three.12 and rising his strikeout-to-walk ratio from 3.27 to three.73. He additionally lowered his dwelling run charge from 0.8 HR/9 to 0.6 HR/9. Nonetheless, it’s essential to remember the fact that runs are tougher to come back by in NPB than MLB, and Ogasawara’s numbers aren’t precisely dominant by NPB requirements. His ERA, strikeout charge, and residential run charge have been all worse than the Central League common in 2024. His strikeout charge was at 24% as lately as 2022 however has dipped in every of the previous two years, bottoming out at a discouraging 13.6% this previous season. That stated, this yr’s 3.7% stroll charge was phenomenal. His plus command may assist him land a spot in the back of a group’s rotation, although it’s attainable he’d match higher in a bullpen position in MLB. Readers trying to study extra concerning the lefty can take a look at an in depth scouting report on Ogasawara from Sports activities Data Options’ Brandon Tew.
Little or no information has come out about Ogasawara since he was posted, making it troublesome to gauge his market and even tougher to foretell what measurement of contract he would possibly signal. MLBTR predicted a two-year, $12MM deal for Ogasawara once we ranked him at No. 48 on our Prime 50 Free Brokers record earlier this offseason, based mostly largely on his youth and command.
2. Ready for the following notable commerce:
Whereas the commerce market has been comparatively sluggish to this point in January, the rumor mill has remained lively. The Dodgers are reportedly gauging curiosity in right-handed reliever Ryan Brasier, whereas the Twins and Padres are stated to have mentioned a deal involving catcher Christian Vazquez. Minnesota additionally has curiosity in Padres ace Dylan Stop. In the meantime, the Cubs’ bullpen search has led them to contemplate buying and selling for veteran Astros reliever Ryan Pressly, although his no-trade rights may make that troublesome.
The most important identify nonetheless on the commerce market is third baseman Nolan Arenado. Whereas reviews have advised Arenado is now much less prone to be dealt than he was earlier within the offseason, Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak has stated he’s nonetheless looking for a deal. Nonetheless, group chairman Invoice DeWitt Jr. lately advised an Arenado commerce isn’t a necessity, and his membership isn’t determined to chop payroll in 2025. Maybe which means Arenado will keep in St. Louis in any case, or maybe these feedback are meant to present the Cardinals some further leverage — be it in Arenado negotiations or in potential commerce talks for different veterans on the roster.
3. Roansy Contreras DFA decision:
The Orioles designated right-handed reliever Roansy Contreras for project final week after claiming infielder Jacob Amaya. That kicked off a seven-day countdown for the O’s to both commerce Contreras or run him by way of waivers. At the moment marks the top of that week-long interval. The waiver course of can take as much as 48 hours, so it’s secure to presume the righty was positioned on waivers Tuesday. By some level at this time, we should always discover out if one other group will declare him or if the Orioles can ship him outright to the minor leagues. He has by no means been outrighted beforehand in his profession and doesn’t have the required service time to reject an outright project.
Contreras, 25, started his profession as a prospect within the Yankees group earlier than the group traded him to the Pirates as a part of the deal that despatched Jameson Taillon again to New York. He pitched in elements of 4 seasons with Pittsburgh from 2021-24 earlier than the Pirates traded him to the Angels this previous Could. Since ending off the 2024 marketing campaign with L.A., he has bounced between a number of groups on waivers, going from the Angels to the Rangers to the Reds to the Orioles. He has a profession 4.72 ERA and 4.66 SIERA in 90 video games (33 begins) and clearly presents sufficient upside for a number of groups to be occupied with claiming him off. Maybe that upside will persuade yet one more group to take an opportunity on him at this time. If not, the O’s can stash the previous high prospect in Triple-A Norfolk as a depth arm.
