#Baseball Reference

The MLB Hot Stove's recent days have brought us both the feel-good and feel-bad stories of this offseason. The feel-bad story, of course, involves the possibility of Trevor Bauer being signed by some desperate team, so let's forget that and consider for a moment Andrew McCutchen "returning home" to the Pittsburgh Pirates. As Kevin Henry notes,…

2022 stats: 148 G, 5 HR in 500 PAs, .195/.285/.262 (58 OPS+), +0.7 bWAR, Date of birth: October 22, 1999 (23 years old), 2023 status: On 40 man roster. As a top prospect, expectations were high. In 2020, MLB.com ranked Geraldo Perdomo the 79th best prospect in baseball. In February 2022, ZiPS ranked him as the 70th best prospect in baseball and…

After a slightly delayed start, Opening Day for the 2022 season is just days away. That also means you only have a few days remaining to get some final player prop bets in before the season starts. Several sportsbooks have set over/unders for some key players on the Red Sox. They've also set odds on certain players' chances to win the American…

The New York Mets reportedly have concerns about Carlos Correa's surgically repaired leg. Although the leg hasn't given Correa much trouble during his big league career, teams are weary to dish out a long-term contract to the star shortstop. It was the primary reason for Correa's deal with the San Francisco Giants falling apart. So what should…

On January 24th, the Baseball Writers' Association of America will unveil what players they've chosen for Cooperstown. Whoever gets the nod will be inducted, alongside Fred McGriff (more on him later), on July 23rd. This year's ballot has 28 names on it, half of which are first-time nominees. To get elected, a player's name must appear on at least…

Following the first-ever MLB draft lottery at the annual winter meetings earlier this month, it's time for our first official 2023 mock draft! There is still a lot of time for prospects to rise and fall during the upcoming spring seasons, but this draft class has already taken shape on the strength of 2022 performances during the high school and…

With the 2022 MLB All-Star festivities in the books, it's time for a quick round of bold predictions before the second half of the season gets underway on Thursday. What follows are 10 bold predictions for the remainder of the 2022 season, focusing mostly on individual players rather than teams since there will be plenty of postseason predictions…

Business remains brisk in the starting pitching marketplace. While the Cardinals have yet to make a move to improve their rotation quality or depth, other franchises have been busy. The Texas Rangers signed Nathan Eovaldi to a two-year, $34 million contract that could become a three-year, $63 million contract if he hits all of his bonuses and…

Welcome back to Kings of Kauffman's KC Royals Projections series for 2022. Between now and Opening Day, our writers are analyzing how various Royals performed last season and predicting how they might fare this year. Next up is Nicky Lopez. When Nicky Lopez had a bad 2021 Spring Training-he hit just.118-he was assigned to begin his season in the…

With the season being over, we can reflect on the Diamondbacks performance in the 2022 season and look at which players contributed the most. The awards in consideration were the Most Valuable Player, Best Hitter, Best Pitcher, Rookie of the Year, Best Reliever, Hitting Prospect, and Pitching Prospect. These are the players who earned those…

The Cubs are getting ready to play ball and take on St. Louis and Milwaukee for first place in the NL Central. The three teams have more time to enhance their rosters before the start of the 2023 season, but as it stands now the Cardinals are less likely to have an easy jog to the division title. And that's true even after their signing of…

Michael Brantley also has an expiring deal, which could shift Yordan Alvarez to left field full time. HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- The joy of winning a World Series championship is irreplaceable, but the Houston Astros may have to do some replacing of their own in the coming months. As is customary every MLB offseason, a slew of players who won a world…

The San Diego Padres, annually known as one of the most aggressive clubs on the trade market thanks to GM AJ Preller, are gearing up for yet another action-packed deadline this season. The club has made its interest known in superstars of all kinds including Shohei Ohtani of the Angels, Luis Castillo of the Reds, Juan Soto of the Nationals, Frankie…

The Chicago White Sox entered the 2022 MLB season as the clear favorites to win the American League Central division. Chicago was seemingly leaps and bounds above everyone else in the Central. But the Minnesota Twins jumped out to an early lead in the division. However, they endured a collapse of their own down the stretch while the Cleveland…

2022 Status: Final Pre-Arb season, $730900 Arizona native and Goodyear High School alumni Josh Rojas was drafted by the Houston Astros in 2017 while attending University of Hawaii. His first couple of seasons in that organization were solid but unremarkable. Then he had a breakout year in 2019, batting.322 with 23 homers and a 1.023 OPS. He was…

The National League Cy Young race is shaping up to be the most hotly contested award race in the 2022 MLB season. With injuries to Jacob deGrom and more recently Max Scherzer, the Cy Young betting market is flush with opportunities. 2021 winner Corbin Burnes is the favorite as of now, but there is plenty of time for the cream to rise to the top as…

During the Winter Meetings we all got a big laugh at Jon Heyman tweeting that "Arson Judge" was heading to the San Francisco Giants. A much bigger story dropped at almost exactly the same time when Bradford William Davis reported on Dr. Meredith Wills' latest round of research for Insider, revealing that MLB used at least two (and possibly three)…

There were 11 different players who received a contract of $100 million or more in free agency last offseason, led by Corey Seager who signed a 10-year, $325 million deal with the Texas Rangers. That list will likely be shorter this offseason, but there are still a number of high-profile players set to hit the open market, including New York…

The Texas Rangers have done a fair amount of work to their rotation this off-season. Adding Jacob Degrom, Andrew Heaney, Jake Odorizzi, and Martin Perez so far. Pitching was a problem in 2022, even with the All-Star season by Perez. Gray was good, but health was an issue. With the ban of the shift, the offense should be more productive, and they…

After waiting until a month after the World Series for the winter meetings to get the ball rolling, Major League Baseball's free-agent spending spree has been something of a runaway freight train. There have already been 30 free agents who signed contracts with an average salary of at least $10 million. And, no, we're not just talking about the New…

Two of the best pitchers in Major League Baseball are scheduled to go head-to-head Wednesday night, with a spot in the National League Division Series on the line. Adam Wainwright will head to the mound for the St. Louis Cardinals at Dodger Stadium to face Max Scherzer and the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL Wild Card Game. The longtime aces were two…

In our first edition of Mock Draft Roundup & Takeaways, draft analysts had the Milwaukee Brewers' first-round pick dominated by two players in particular-Tennessee's Drew Gilbert and James Madison's Chase DeLauter. In terms of the type of players that the Brewers typically covet in the first round, both fit the mold as up-the-middle defenders with…

Welcome to playoff baseball, where the "best" team wins the championship far less often than in other sports. To wit: According to Baseball Prospectus odds, no team in the 2021 playoff field has better than a 20 percent chance to win the World Series. With eight deserving teams ready to do battle, let's dive into the reasons each particular team…

Major League Baseball's 2022 winter meetings blew through San Diego like a three-day whirlwind, sending Justin Verlander to the Mets, Trea Turner to the Phillies, Willson Contreras to the Cardinals, Kenley Jansen to the Red Sox and "Arson Judge" into the pantheon of baseball's greatest Twitter moments. One of our biggest takeaways from the spending…

The MLB free-agency and trade market dominoes have continued to fall at a dizzying pace since the lockout was lifted as teams try to fit three months' worth of offseason activity into just a few weeks. Despite all of the activity, high-profile stars Carlos Correa and Trevor Story are both still searching for a new home as Opening Day fast…

SAN DIEGO - The saga is over. As of early Wednesday morning, the Yankees had re-signed superstar Aaron Judge to a nine-year, $360-million deal. The Giants had reportedly been in the mix for the 30-year-old slugger, who also turned down a big offer from the San Diego Padres, according to a source close to the negotiations. Want to bet on MLB? Here…

The 2022 MLB winter meetings will begin Sunday, and while the MLB talent changing teams in blockbuster trades can often steal the headlines, the prospects who go the other way in those deals often wind up being the bigger story. Workhorse right-hander Jeff Samardzija going from the Oakland Athletics to the Chicago White Sox during the 2014 winter…

One final homestand, six final games. The Toronto Blue Jays are playing meaningful September baseball, and they have an opportunity to earn more. On Tuesday morning the Blue Jays sit at 87-69, in fourth place in the American League East and a game behind the Boston Red Sox for the AL's final playoff spot. The AL Wildcard standings sit as…

As I noted Friday, MLB Network host Greg Amsinger told St. Louis sports station 101 ESPN that he expects to see free-agent shortstop Trea Turner in a Cardinals uniform on Opening Day, 2023. To recap for those who missed it: "He's the perfect fit, the missing link, and if the Cardinals don't recognize that they're missing out," Amsinger said. "He…

The New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays will conclude their three-game series at Tropicana Field on Sunday afternoon. With that said, it's a good time to check out our MLB odds series, which includes a Yankees-Rays prediction and pick, laid out below. The Yankees have stumbled a bit recently, falling to a 79-54 record, just four games ahead of the…

The Philadelphia Phillies might actually do it. They might finally end their playoff appearance drought, the longest in the National League. It's hard to believe that 2011 was over a decade ago and that the Phillies have struggled so much since then. But with the Golden Era way back in the rearview mirror, it's time to look forward. At the end of…

Let's get one thing out of the way right off the top: if the Tampa Bay Rays do not make the postseason in 2022, it will be a big disappointment. The Rays currently hold the top Wild Card spot. They have a 1.5 game lead over the Blue Jays and the Mariners, and a comfortable four-game lead over the Orioles, who are on the outside looking in. They are…

The Tampa Bay Rays enjoyed 21-6 month of August bringing them to 84-46. Their hot August was tied with the Los Angeles Dodgers for tops in the majors, and their overall record puts them on par with the San Francisco Giants, also with a.636 winning percentage. With 132 games in the books, the Rays have a 6.0 game lead over the Houston Astros for…

Are the Red Sox advancing to the World Series? The steps are challenging, with the first barrier being a Wild Card game with the New York Yankees. Winner takes all in which the Yankees are the slight favorite on the early betting, according to WynnBET. Baseball is up to their eyeballs in sports betting with alignments with lotteries and sports…

With the Super Bowl now in the rearview mirror and March Madness still weeks away, this would normally be the time of year when talk of the upcoming MLB season starts to heat up. Alas, the lockout rages on with no end in sight. But that doesn't mean we can't still look ahead to how the 2022 season might shake out once MLB and the MLBPA put an end…

The Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals will wrap up their weekend rivalry series at Busch Stadium on Sunday afternoon. With that said, it's a good time to check out our MLB odds series, which includes a Cubs-Cardinals prediction and pick, laid out below. Chicago has fallen from the heights of their 2016 World Series championship, and the fanbase…

On March 31, 2019, Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Elvis Luciano became the first player born in the 2000s to reach the big leagues. In the years since, a wave of talented young players who weren't even born when Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire were chasing down Roger Maris during the 1998 season has descended on Major League Baseball. 2022 Rookie of…

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Five years ago, John Middleton blurted out that the Phillies were ready to spend "stupid money." Middleton followed through in the years since. Since 2019, the Phillies have spent big money. Some names include Bryce Harper, Zack Wheeler, J.T. Realmuto, Kyle Schwarber and Nick Castellanos. Throw in Didi Gregorious, Andrew…

Can we just sit back and take in what we saw Tuesday night between the Mets and Giants? If you chose to place a bet on that game or are a fan of either team, I'm sure your heart rate hasn't fully recovered, but it will likely go down as the best game of the year when all things are settled. Let's have more of these types of games, please! Welcome…

Welcome to my series of Report Card postings for individual members of the 2022 Cardinals. I strive to present a thorough profile for each player, and that takes time because I'm also writing about other topics. Today, this one is pretty simple and easy. Next Up: Paul Goldschmidt. I figured it was appropriate to highlight his 2022 season on Nov.…

The Blue Jays signed Yusei Kikuchi back on March 12th, 2022. It was a three-year, $36 million contract, front-loaded, with Yusei getting $16 million in the first year and the next two at $10 million. He had pitched three seasons with the Mariners, with a 15-24 record and a 4.97 ERA in 70 starts. The hopeful sign was that he struck out 24.5% of the…

Today the focus is on Christian Vazquez, the 32-year-old veteran free agent who is gaining in popularity with St. Louis media and fans. THE OVERVIEW: Vazquez spent seven-plus seasons with Boston before being traded to Houston last summer, and he teamed with Martin Maldonado to form a catching tandem that was part of the Astros' run to the World…

Embrace the chaos of the 2022 MLB postseason. Enjoy the upsets, the unlikely heroes, and seeing 100-win teams going down in a October inferno. Your attitude on this topic probably depends on your personal rooting interests. So I wouldn't expect much cherish-the-postseason sentiment from fans of the Dodgers, Braves, Mets and Cardinals. Their teams…

The Cardinals are in the market for a catcher. Hopefully they'll be smart about this and view the opening as an opportunity to upgrade their offense. Defense must be a consideration, which doesn't really need to be stated. But in this case the defensive requirement has been overstated, with too much attention being paid to the standard established…

The Texas Rangers extended the qualifying offer to 2022 All-Star pitcher Martin Perez which might signal a reunion with the lefty. ARLINGTON, Texas - During the 2013 offseason, Martin Perez inked a four-year, $12.5 million contract extension with the Texas Rangers. At the time, the then-22-year-old had pitched in a total of 32 games with the club.…

Only one hitter improved his team's chances of winning more often in 2022 than Adolis Garcia. That player will likely finish the month with an AL MVP award and a new $300 million contract. You can disagree with me if you want, but I have stats on my side. According to Baseball Reference, Adolis Garcia had a WPA+ of 14.7 in 2022, second only to…

The Los Angeles Angels have not seen much success during the Mike Trout era. Since Trout entered the league in 2011, the Angels have made the playoffs only one time (2014) and have finished in the bottom half of their division eight times. Trout has performed exceptionally well on an individual standpoint, being named an All-Star nine times and…

Dusty Baker finally got his long-awaited ring as the Houston Astros secured their second World Series title in six years, suffering just two postseason losses at the end of an outstanding regular season. Well done, Houston. Now, can you become the first back-to-back champion in more than two decades? An awful lot will change before Major League…

It has been written and said time and time again that the Guardians continue to defy all odds and as the youngest team in baseball have cemented themselves in the American League Central race and in the middle of the AL Playoff as a whole. Sure, they've had some luck go their way with neither the Twins nor White Sox living up to their expectations…

The 2022 season was a success for the San Diego Padres, even though they fell short of their goal. The team went deep into the playoffs, and for the Padres, that was a massive step in the right direction. The Padres will return in 2023 with a mostly intact roster, though they will be missing a few players from the 2022 team that surprised many in…