News and Notes: Shohei is not a Sho-Jay. Yet.
News and Notes for Saturday, December 9th, 2023
Yesterday was crazy in baseball social media because apparently a bunch of small time media organizations and MLB Trade Rumors decided to run with a Jon Morosi rumor that Shohei Ohtani was in Toronto and his signing was imminent:
Sources: Shohei Ohtani is en route to Toronto today.
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) December 8, 2023
A representative of his agency, CAA, would not comment when asked about Ohtani’s travel plans.
At this hour, Ohtani does not have a signed agreement with any @MLB team. @MLBNetwork
Ohtani was actually still in Southern California.
Shohei Ohtani is NOT in Toronto.
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) December 8, 2023
Ohtani is NOT on a flight to Toronto.
Ohtani is at home in Southern California.
Jake Mintz of Fox Sports and the Baseball Bar-B-Cast did a great job chronicling the chaos of the day.
I have shared Morosi reports before with the huge caveat that he is a person who throws feces against the wall to see what sticks. But, this is the end of that. I won't share a Morosi report again. He should be completely disregarded by MLB fans.
Jeff Passan of ESPN, a reliable source, did say that an Ohtani decision should come early next week and that the Dodgers, Giants and Blue Jays are seen as the favorites.
Meanwhile, the Angels unloaded some vets and the Braves dumped some salary:
#Braves and Angels Complete Four-Player Trade: pic.twitter.com/Z7DlIBrf8P
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) December 9, 2023
And the Red Sox acquired Tyler O'Neill from the St. Louis Cardinals for essentially Cody Morris/Hunter Gaddis and Nick Sandlin
Red Sox just announced trade, first reported by @JonHeyman. They have acquired Tyler O’Neill from the Cardinals for RHPs Nick Robertson and Victor Santos.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 8, 2023
I have speculated that O'Neill would be a good fit in Cleveland but this trade makes clear to me that MLB Teams do not see his health as reliable and may have concerns about the clubhouse issues O'Neill had with his manager in Cleveland. So, I believe it's fine to pass on pursuing him.
Overall, it's becoming clear that the Guardians offseason has three primary paths from here:
1. Trade Shane Bieber and perhaps Emmanuel Clase for young, controllable, pre-arbitration players. Use the savings from a Bieber trade to shore up whatever roster hole is left at that point.
2. Keep the team as is and sign a Randal Grichuk-type in January to a $3-5 million deal. Or, perhaps pull off a trade of prospects for another player like Deyvison De Los Santos, only older - flawed but interesting, blocked on his current team.
3. Less likely, but maybe if the Angels miss on Shohei, they look to rebuild and the Guardians can target an early arb Taylor Ward with prospects, or pursue a similar deal with another team in similar circumstances as the offseason progresses.
Josh Naylor won the Tip O'Neill award.
You’ve earned this, Nayls.
— Cleveland Guardians (@CleGuardians) December 7, 2023
Congratulations on taking home the 2023 James Tip O’Neill Award for demonstrating excellence in both character and achievement on and off the field this season. #ForTheLand pic.twitter.com/Lb7z5jymlG
Other teams like him. Not likely he goes anywhere.
Brayan Rocchio hit a homer in Venezuela
¡Teacher!
— Tiburones de La Guaira (@tiburones_net) December 9, 2023
Rocchio sacó la bola por el RF. Anotó Arcia.
¡DOS MÁS!
Al bate, Ronald Acuña Jr.#Aguilas 4 - 10 #Tiburones | 2 outs | 7⬇️