On the heels of an early-morning signing, listed below are three issues we’ll be maintaining a tally of across the baseball world in the present day:
1. Rookie of the Yr introduced:
The 4 main BBWAA awards are being introduced this week, and in the present day issues kick off with the Rookie of the Yr announcement. Within the NL, Pirates righty Paul Skenes and Padres outfielder Jackson Merrill are the main contenders, with Brewers outfielder Jackson Chourio rounding out the finalists in one of many stronger rookie lessons in latest reminiscence. In the meantime, within the AL, Orioles outfielder Colton Cowser is usually thought-about to be a slight favourite over Yankees right-hander Luis Gil and Yankees catcher Austin Wells for the award. The winners are set to be introduced at 5pm CT this night.
At this time’s awards include extra intrigue past the {hardware} itself, as nicely. Skenes didn’t obtain a full yr of service time in 2024 on account of his debut being held off till mid-Could, however he’ll earn that full yr of MLB service if/when he finishes within the high two of Rookie of the Yr voting. In the meantime, the Padres, Orioles, and Yankees have an opportunity to earn Prospect Promotion Incentive picks. The Padres will likely be awarded a PPI decide if Merrill wins the NL award this night, whereas the Orioles or Yankees can be awarded a decide if Cowser or Wells respectively win within the AL. Skenes, Gil, and Chourio are all unable to earn their golf equipment PPI picks for quite a lot of causes: Skenes wasn’t rostered lengthy sufficient to garner a full yr of MLB service as beforehand talked about, whereas Gil was not featured on two qualifying high 100 prospects lists and Chourio signed a pre-debut extension with the Brewers, rendering him ineligible for a decide.
2. QO Choices looming:
The deadline for gamers to just accept the Qualifying Provide is tomorrow, and this weekend noticed a pair of reviews relating to gamers on the bubble of the QO resolution: Reds right-hander Nick Martinez is predicted to settle for the one-year supply, whereas Mets righty Luis Severino is predicted to be part of Purple Sox right-hander Nick Pivetta in rejecting the supply. That trio of gamers have typically been considered the three almost definitely to just accept a QO among the many gamers to whom it was prolonged. Clearly, top-of-the-market gamers like Juan Soto and Corbin Burnes are sure to reject the QO as they seek for nine-figure contracts in free company, however may a mid-level free agent resembling Christian Walker or Sean Manaea shock the baseball world and settle for?
Even when all of the remaining gamers intend to reject their QO and check free company, the looming deadline may function a springboard for negotiations on a multi-year deal, both with their present membership or a brand new one. Left-hander Tyler Anderson and first baseman Anthony Rizzo are among the many latest examples of gamers who signed multi-year offers after being tagged with the QO however earlier than the deadline to just accept or reject it.
3. Soto to fulfill with the Yankees:
Talking of Soto, the market’s most sought-after free agent met with a contingent from the Mets led by proprietor Steve Cohen over the weekend. That comes on the heels of Soto reportedly assembly with the Purple Sox and Blue Jays. At this time, Jon Heyman of the New York Publish notes that Soto is scheduled to fulfill with the incumbent Yankees, the place the reigning AL champs are set to make their pitch to Soto and agent Scott Boras on why he ought to keep within the Bronx alongside fellow outfield star Aaron Choose. These early conferences between Soto and golf equipment have seemingly been largely introductory in nature with out formal presents being made or figures exchanged, although that is probably not the case for the Yankees given the truth that Soto is already loads conversant in the group. Will in the present day’s assembly get the marketplace for the winter’s greatest free agent shifting?
