After a long two-and-a-half months, baseball season is officially back. Teams have begun preparations for the upcoming season and this gives players new opportunities to crack both the 40-man roster and the MLB roster. Prospects get to showcase their skill against MLB-level players as they go on their way to the big leagues.
With spring training kicking off, fans get a chance to see the league’s superstars wearing different jerseys for the first time. Players like Juan Soto, Max Fried, and Corbin Burnes will represent new teams this season. With new players on new teams, it gives the fans of those teams that signed big-name players, a chance to see what those players can bring to the lineup or pitching rotation.
The Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Yankees, and the New York Mets were the three teams that spent a lot of money this off-season. The Dodgers used the deferred contract method to lessen the blow of going over the luxury tax. Blake Snell was handed a five-year 182 million dollar contract with 66 million dollars deferred, Roki Sasaki did not play the minimum six years in Japan to earn the salary of a regular free agent. As both in the MLB and NPB you must play six seasons to become a free agent. Sasaki was only awarded 6.5 million dollars due to these restrictions.
The Mets splurged almost 1 billion dollars in terms of players’ salaries this offseason. A large chunk of the money going to superstar outfielder Juan Soto. Soto was handed a 15-year deal worth 765 million dollars. The 26-year-old Dominican now holds the record for the largest contract in the history of sports. The Mets also added a couple of arms into their bullpen and pitching rotation including re-signing starting pitcher Sean Manaea. Along with re-signing Manaea, they got their star first basemen Pete Alonso back on a two-year contract. He can opt out of the contract and become a free agent in the winter if he chooses too.
The New York Yankees had the most to do this off-season between the three teams. With losing a big bat in Juan Soto, the Yankees needed to use that money to find replacements all over the field. They signed starting pitcher Max Fried to an eight-year 218 million dollar deal. Fried is going to play a pivotal role in the rotation as he will be behind Yankees ace Gerrit Cole. Then they pivoted to the bullpen and acquired closer Devin Williams from the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for starting pitcher Nestor Cortes and infielder Caleb Durbin. Not too long after the Yankees went on and acquired outfielder Cody Bellinger. Bellinger was acquired to fill the spot of Juan Soto and play stronger defense in the outfield.
Not only are there players on different teams, but there are also coaching staff and management changes. Long-time Mariners head coach Scott Servais was fired in the middle of last season and it will be the first time since the 2015 season that he will not be the skipper for the Seattle Mariners. Moving to the National League, the Cincinnati Reds hired long-time Cleveland Guardians head coach Terry Francona. Francona is one of the best coaches the game has to offer. He has led teams to World Series Championships including winning twice with the Red Sox in 04’ and in 07’. In 2016 he took the now Cleveland Guardians to the World Series but, they ended up falling in seven games to the Chicago Cubs.
Of interest to Green Hope fans, 2016 graduate Mitch Spence will likely start the year in the Athletics rotation after a strong 2024 season. Spence was top-5 in the MLB for innings thrown by a rookie. As the Athletics move to Sacramento, Spence will look to become a mainstay in the Athletics rotation for years to come. In addition to Spence, Jordyn Adams (‘18) is also a Green Hope grad preparing for the upcoming baseball season. After appearing in 28 games for the Angels over the last two seasons, Adams signed with the Baltimore Orioles on a minor league contract. Adams has been playing spring training games with the big club and looks to get the call as the year progresses.
