Spring into action? Actually, easy does it
After delayed arrival, players taking cautious approach
The big league spring training games begin in just two days.
The actual big league players who usually compete in those games might not be around for a little while longer.
The Diamondbacks are among eight teams that have their first game Thursday when they play the Rockies at Salt River Fields in Scottsdale, Arizona. If their approach to Thursday’s game is a bellwether for other organizations, it’s unlikely the Vladimir Guerrero Jrs, Max Scherzers, Mike Trouts and Clayton Kershaws of the baseball world will be getting live at-bats or throwing fastballs over the next few days.
“I’m not going to ask any of the players who got here (Monday) to be ready on the 17th,” Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said this week. “All those players who are going to be playing Game 1 on that field against the Rockies are in minor league camp.”
Lovullo said Monday was the first time he got the chance to really see his big league players perform on the field. The fifth-year manager said he’s been impressed with how his players prepared during the lockout’s uncertainty, and that knowledge will figure into his calculus for when he’ll insert his starters into spring training games.
“We’ll throw that all into the search engine and see when they’ll step back on the field and get back in that arena,” Lovullo said. “But it won’t be day one. It won’t be day two.”
All 30 teams should have plenty of backup options available for the first few games. Even during the lockout, minor league camp progressed as scheduled, meaning players not on MLB 40-man rosters have been working out for weeks.
The big leaguers — even those working out on their own — are trying to catch up.
“You’ve got to be able to give and take, to give your body rest and recovery, while also, you’ve got to be turning it on to get ready for the start of the season,” Nationals reliever Kyle Finnegan said. “It’s kind of a balance.”
Olson gets paid: The Braves’ newest first baseman now has plenty of financial security.
One day after cutting ties with Freddie Freeman, the Braves signed Matt Olson to an eight-year, $168 million contract.
Olson wasn’t eligible for free agency until after the 2023 season, but the defending World Series champions quickly locked down the 27-year-old slugger through at least 2029. The deal also includes a $20 million club option for 2030 with no buyout.
The Braves dealt four top prospects to the A’s for Olson, a 2021 All-Star coming off a season in which he had 39 homers and 111 RBIs while batting .271. The move means Freeman — a cornerstone for the franchise for a decade — is likely headed elsewhere.
Olson will make $15 million this year, $21 million in 2023 and $22 million in each of the following six seasons.
It was the 10th contract of at least $100 million agreed to since the end of the World Series and the first since Major the 99-day lockout ended last week.
Phillies bolster bullpen: Right-handed reliever Jeurys Familia and left-handed reliever Brad Hand have finalized one-year contracts with the Phillies.
Hand was a three-time All-Star between 2017-20 when he totaled 103 saves with a 2.63 ERA. He struggled last season with the Nationals and Blue Jays but finished strong with the Mets.
Overall, he was 6-7 with a 3.90 ERA and 21 saves in 2021.
A 2016 NL All-Star with the Mets, Familia led the majors that year with 51 saves. He has only 43 saves since 2016.
Bieber open to long-term deal: The lengthy lockout this winter didn’t have any impact on Shane Bieber’s wedding plans. He’s still happily getting hitched.
It didn’t alter the 26-year-old’s desire for a long-term union with the Guardians, either.
The 2020 Cy Young Award winner, limited to just 16 starts last season due to a right shoulder strain, said he remains open to signing a long-term contract with the Guardians.