Slugfest, union unrest, repeat quest
While the Ohtani gambling scandal is making headlines, there are many other storylines in play
The 2024 MLB season promises plenty of drama, on and off the diamond. Shohei Ohtani’s twist-filled interpreter scandal, the MLB Players Association’s intense internal feud and a much-hyped heavyweight fight for the National League crown are just a few of the topics dominating discussions before the season gets into full swing. Here are some of the top non-Ohtani storylines worth watching as the 162-game grind begins for most teams on Thursday:
Yamamoto mania
Adding intrigue to a pivotal season for the Los Angeles Dodgers amid the Ohtani saga is the arrival of Japanese ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto, signed to a 12-year, $325-million (U.S.) contract — a record for pitchers, $1 million more than injured New York Yankees ace Gerrit Cole — after a bidding war with the Yankees and Mets. Yamamoto struggled through spring training and was even worse in last week’s MLB debut when the Dodgers and San Diego Padres opened in Korea, surrendering five runs in his only inning.
NL slugfest
The Dodgers’ off-season makeover — which also included trading for and re-signing right-hander Tyler Glasnow, formerly of the Tampa Bay Rays — bolstered last year’s 100-win team, yet they still face stiff competition. The Atlanta Braves, fresh off a 104-win campaign, are back with the same all-star core and traded for a big-name reclamation project in former Boston Red Sox left-hander Chris Sale, who looked like his old strikeout-machine self during an encouraging spring. The Philadelphia Phillies, meanwhile, hope to finally finish off a playoff run after trips to the World Series and NL Championship Series the last two years. A healthy season from Bryce Harper, now a full-time first baseman and 16 months removed from elbow surgery, would help.
Player unrest
Hanging over opening day is an unresolved spat within the MLB Players Association. Some members want to remove deputy director Bruce Meyer after a slow-moving free agency that ended with multiple stars taking short-term deals. They want to replace Meyer with Harry Marino, a 33-year-old lawyer who helped organize the unionization of minor league players, though the union’s executive subcommittee has since seemed to reject him. Top free-agents Blake Snell, Cody Bellinger and Matt Chapman took short deals with opt-outs after spring training began, while Jordan Montgomery didn’t sign a one-year deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks until Tuesday night. All four are represented by agent Scott Boras, who ripped Marino’s union push as a “coup d’etat.”
Rangers repeat?
Montgomery had played a starring role on the Texas Rangers’ first World Series champion team last fall. The Rangers, who made their championship run as a 90-win wild-card team, did little to retool their pitching staff this off-season, signing reliever David Robertson and starter Michael Lorenzen to one-year deals but losing Aroldis Chapman and now Montgomery.
Former Mets aces Jacob deGrom (elbow) and Max Scherzer (back) are still recovering from surgeries and are expected to miss several months. The offence, however, has high hopes for top prospect Wyatt Langford, the 2023 first-round pick who will open the season as designated hitter. Still, their relative inactivity opens the door for other contenders such as the Houston Astros, who signed top-tier closer Josh Hader and now have perhaps the best bullpen in baseball. No champion has repeated since the Yankees from 1998 to 2000.
Orioles upswing
No conversation about AL contenders is complete without mentioning the just-sold Baltimore Orioles, whose ultratalented young core fuelled a 101-win season and AL East title in 2023. Baltimore filled a huge need atop the rotation by trading with the Milwaukee Brewers for 2021 Cy Young Award winner Corbin Burnes, while MLB’s top prospect, 20-year-old infielder Jackson Holliday, appears close to making his debut.
Franco and Bauer
Rays shortstop Wander Franco faces charges in the Dominican Republic after allegations of a relationship with a 14-year-old. He was released from jail in January, but still faces possible prison time. According to the Tampa Bay Times, he will begin the season on MLB’s restricted list or administrative leave. Franco, who turned 23 this month, missed time under both designations after the allegation was made public in August. A first-time allstar last season, Franco signed an 11-year, $182-million extension in 2021. Meanwhile, 2020 Cy Young winner Trevor Bauer has been auditioning for a return to the majors after serving a league-record 194game suspension under the domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse policy. The 33-year-old righthander spent last season with Japan’s Yokohama DeNA BayStars and has since signed with Mexico’s Diablos Rojos, with whom he pitched three scoreless innings in an exhibition against the Yankees on Sunday.