Most teams will begin spring training games this weekend, but some teams appear to be using this as an opportunity to get started. This week, a former American League batting champion lands in Miami and a super utility player heads to Detroit. We also learned that the National League's top pitcher will start the season on the disabled list with a shoulder injury, meaning the young starter will be stuck in Pittsburgh for the next few years. So let's take a look before the match starts!
welcome to miami
It seemed like a no-brainer since Anderson was released to the White Sox, but the Marlins and Tim Anderson agreed to a one-year, $5 million contract, pending a physical, of course. Anderson is coming off a nightmare season, hitting .245/.286/.296 with just one home run in 524 at-bats. Power has never been a big part of his game, but last season's power outage was completely unexpected. Anderson has been plagued by injuries in recent seasons. He was batting .298/.327/.404 through the first 11 games of the 2023 season, but a collision at third base during which he attempted to tag out with Twins outfielder Matt Wallner sprained his left knee. He returned from injured reserve about three weeks later, but never fully regained his fitness. The Marlins are hoping for a bounce-back season from the 30-year-old. Before the news of Anderson's deal broke, the Marlins were likely to start the season with Jon Berti at shortstop, with Xavier Edwards, Jacob Amaya and Vidal Burhan as backup options. As Pete Campbell says in Mad Men, “Not good, Bob!” It's completely understandable why Fish would take a gamble here. Not a bad one-year deal, especially when he's only worth $5 million. From a fantasy perspective, Anderson should only be drafted in the National League or a draft-and-hold league. His play on the dish the past two seasons has been a major concern, and he's probably best left on the waiver wire until he can be seen this season.
Mitch Keller agrees to contract extension with Pittsburgh
On Thursday, it was announced that the Pirates and right-hander Mitch Keller have agreed to a five-year, $77 million contract extension. Keller and the team had already agreed to a one-year, $5.44 million contract for the 2024 season, but the deal will keep him in Pittsburgh for at least the next four years. Keller is a 2024 second-round pick who has long been considered a top prospect not only in the Pirates organization but in baseball as a whole. The 27-year-old has been at the top of the Pirates' rotation for the past two seasons, posting a 4.08 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, and 348/155 K/BB ratio in 353 1/3 innings. Last season, it was a tale of two halves for Keller. He had an ERA of 3.31 in the first half, but the second half was pretty rough and he ended up with an ERA of 5.59. His home and road results were further apart, with a disappointing ERA of 2.90 at home and 5.35 on the road. But there was a lot to like about Keller's 2023 season, as he posted a career-high 25.5 percent strikeout rate and career-low 6.7 percent walk rate. He could easily fit on a fantasy manager's roster as a No. 3 or 4 starting pitcher this season. He's not necessarily a forgettable guy, but more often than not he'll be in the lineup for almost every start.
Kodai Senga to start this season on injured list
Also on Thursday, it was announced that Mets right-hander Kodai Chiga will start the season on the disabled list due to shoulder tightness. On Wednesday, it was revealed that the X-year-old boy, who had been battling fatigue in his arm during camp, had been diagnosed with a moderate strain in the posterior capsule of his right shoulder. The team plans to completely lock down Senga until his symptoms subside. With no firm date set for his return, he will personally be off my draft board for the remainder of draft season unless more encouraging news emerges closer to the start of the season. When asked if the team would be active in the trade and free agent market, president of team operations David Stearns said, “I don't think so.” We're always going to be opportunistic and listen to what's out there, but I don't think it will change our thought process much. ” As such, top free agents like Blake Snell and Jordan Montgomery likely won't be wearing the orange and blue next season.
Gio Urshela joins Tigers infield mix
Also Thursday, the Tigers and Gio Urshela agreed to a one-year, $1.5 million contract that includes incentives based on at-bats during the season. The deal would allow Urshela to bring a veteran presence to a relatively young team, sliding into a platoon role with Matt Vierling, Zach McKinstry and Andy Ibanez. The team also informed top prospect Jace Jung that he will not be on the Opening Day roster and that Justin Henry Malloy will be moved from the No. 3 spot to focus solely on the outfield. Urshela hit .299/.329/.374 in 214 at-bats with the Angels, but a fractured pelvis ended his season in June. The veteran is unlikely to play an everyday role with the Tigers, so he remains undraftable in standard mixed leagues. Still, he could be an interesting late flyer as an infield depth option in a deeper draft-and-hold league.
