Feb 13, 2024, 11:50 PM ET
Puerto Rican Edwin Díaz will gradually return in his recovery, Dylan Cease chosen to open the season by the White Sox and Glasnow adapts with the Dodgers and their all-stars
PHOENIX — Edwin Díaz, closer of the New York Mets, will return gradually, while completing his recovery after rupturing his right patellar tendon on March 15, while celebrating Puerto Rico’s victory over the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic.
“He’s evolved wonderfully,” said Carlos Mendoza, the Mets’ Venezuelan manager, in preseason training in Port St. Lucie, Florida. “He has a smile on his face.”
Puerto Rican Edwin Díaz is recovering after rupturing his right patellar tendon on March 15. Eric Espada/Getty Images
Díaz, a two-time All-Star who turns 30 next month, had a 1.31 ERA and 32 saves in 35 opportunities throughout 2022. He later agreed to a five-year, $102 million contract, the which contemplates the Mets making deferred payments until 2042.
“He’s probably going to do a lot of work on the ground first, and then we’ll put him on the main stage,” Mendoza said.
The manager was Aaron Boone’s bench coach with the New York Yankees before replacing Buck Showalter as Mets manager in November.
“It’s exciting to be able to put on a Major League uniform as a manager for the first time,” he said. “I’m really excited. “It was a very long three months.”
GRIFOL EXPECTS CEASE TO OPEN INAUGURAL GAME
Pedro Grifol, manager of the Chicago White Sox, plans to have Dylan Cease start the opening game against the Detroit Tigers next month.
Of course, plans can change. There is a lot of uncertainty regarding the team’s pitching staff.
The White Sox are considering a long list of rotation options this offseason. And the outcome of that situation could affect the bullpen.
“We are even looking at 14 or 15 guys and we will see where this takes us,” said the manager with Cuban roots. “And we will shape our bullpen accordingly and at the right time. And if that means we have some guys in the bullpen who can go multiple innings, two or three or even four, so be it. That can help us.”
Cease, 28, was the subject of trade rumors for much of the offseason, but it appears he will at least start the season with Chicago.
He went 7-9 with a 4.58 ERA over 33 starts in 2023, with 214 strikeouts in 177 innings.
GLASNOW ADAPTS TO LIFE WITH MULTI-STAR DODGERS
Tyler Glasnow tries to adapt. He looks around the clubhouse and notices Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman there. Yes, and also Shohei Ohtani.
And remember that he is now a pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
“It’s nice, but surreal,” the Southern California player said Tuesday. “I don’t think I’ve even fully assimilated this. I think when time goes by I will, but now I’m like, ‘Wow, that’s crazy!’ Just being in this clubhouse and meeting all of them and seeing LA in all the uniforms is an amazing feeling.”
Glasnow was acquired in December in a trade with the Tampa Bay Rays, which was overshadowed by Los Angeles’ other offseason acquisitions. Ohtani agreed to a 10-year, $700 million deal for the Dodgers, who also signed Yoshinobu Yamamoto for 12 seasons and $325 million.”
CONTRACTUAL DETAILS OF YARIEL RODRÍGUEZ
Cuban pitcher Yariel Rodríguez’s contract with the Toronto Blue Jays, for five years and $32 million, contains options, tabulators and performance awards. Thus, the 26-year-old right-hander could earn up to $47.5 million as a starter and up to $37.5 million as a reliever.
Rodríguez will receive a bonus of 8 million dollars for signing the agreement. That figure will be covered as soon as the contract receives approval from the commissioner’s office, according to terms obtained by The Associated Press.
His agreement, announced Friday, includes salaries of $2 million this year, $5 million in 2025 and 2026, and $6 million in 2027. Rodríguez has a $6 million option to renew the agreement in 2028.
If they reject that option, the Blue Jays have one for $10 million.
2024-02-14 06:28:00
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