PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - NOVEMBER 03: Justin Verlander #35 of the Houston Astros delivers a pitch against the Philadelphia Phillies during the first inning in Game Five of the 2022 World Series at Citizens Bank Park on November 03, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
Houston Astros star Justin Verlander won his third American League Cy Young Award on Wednesday, while Sandy Alcantara became the first Miami Marlins pitcher to win the National League honor.
Alcantara earned all 30 first-place votes to secure the trophy over finalists Max Fried and Julio Urías.
Los Angeles Angels two-way star Shohei Ohtani finished fourth in AL voting.
Alcantara led all pitchers with 8.0 wins above replacement, per Baseball Reference, thanks mostly to his impressive durability, highlighted by a major league-best 228.2 innings. He tallied 23.2 more innings than anyone else, while his six complete games doubled the next-best number.
No team in baseball posted more than five complete games this year.
The 27-year-old was lights-out, finishing 14-9 with a 2.28 ERA and 0.98 WHIP plus 207 strikeouts.
Though Urías had more wins (17) and an NL-best ERA (2.16), Alcantara's ability to consistently carry his team made him the top choice.
Verlander also stood out for his incredible season, finishing 18-4 while leading the majors with a 1.75 ERA and 0.83 WHIP. He added 185 strikeouts in 175 innings, while his 220 ERA+ was easily the best of his career.
Only twice in 28 starts did the right-hander allow more than three earned runs.
The 39-year-old has been one of the best pitchers in baseball throughout his career, but few gave him the chance to bounce back at this level after he underwent Tommy John surgery and made just one appearance over the last two years. He proved all doubters wrong with an outstanding regular season and then helped the Astros win the World Series.
Cease had a strong case for the award, including his 227 strikeouts and memorable hot streak during the summer (11 GS, 65.2 IP, 0.82 ERA, 0.96 WHIP from June 14 to Aug. 11), but he wasn't as consistent as Verlander.
Verlander is now one of only 11 pitchers with three Cy Young Awards, adding to his Hall of Fame résumé.
Justin Verlander Seeking Max Scherzer-Like Contract in Free Agency, Says Astros Owner
Nov 16, 2022
HOUSTON, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 05: Justin Verlander #35 of the Houston Astros celebrates after defeating the Philadelphia Phillies 4-1 to win the 2022 World Series in Game Six of the 2022 World Series at Minute Maid Park on November 05, 2022 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
Houston Astros owner Jim Crane is hoping the team doesn't lose ace pitcher Justin Verlander in free agency this offseason, but he knows it will take a massive deal to retain him.
Crane told MLB.com's Brian McTaggart that he believes Verlander is seeking a contract similar to that of New York Mets starter Max Scherzer, who signed a deal with the highest average annual value in MLB history last season at $43.3 million ($130 million over three years).
"I know him well, so we’ve been pretty candid," Crane said. "He’s looking at the comp, which I think there’s only one or two. … J.V.’s probably got a few years left, and he wants to make the most of it. I think he’s going to test the market on that."
Verlander, who will turn 40 in February, turned down a $25 million contract option to test the open market.
While Crane didn't mention what the franchise would be willing to offer Verlander to retain him, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle recently reported that Crane is hoping to offer him a deal in the range of two years and $30-35 million annually. Rome added that while "multiple people familiar with Crane’s thinking said he’s set something of a limit in negotiations with Verlander," there's still a chance Crane would be willing to exceed those numbers.
The veteran right-hander enjoyed a stellar 2022 season in which he went 18-4 with a 1.75 ERA, a 0.83 WHIP and 185 strikeouts to establish himself as the favorite to win his third American League Cy Young Award. He then helped lead Houston to a World Series championship, defeating the Philadelphia Phillies in six games.
Verlander's 2022 campaign was a bounce-back performance after his lost 2020 and 2021 seasons. He made one start in 2020 before being shut down and forced to undergo Tommy John surgery, which caused him to miss the entirety of the following year.
Losing Verlander in free agency would be surprising for Houston, but the team should be able to manage the loss thanks to its deep starting rotation that includes Framber Valdez, Cristian Javier and Lance McCullers Jr.
Phillies' Bryce Harper to Have Surgery on Elbow Injury; 2023 Status Uncertain
Nov 16, 2022
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - JUNE 22: Bryce Harper #3 of the Philadelphia Phillies walks off the field after the third out in the first inning against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field on June 22, 2022 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tim Heitman/Getty Images)
Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Bryce Harper will undergo elbow surgery Nov. 23, president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski told reporters Wednesday.
Don’t let Tommy John freak you out. It doesn’t mean Harper would miss 2023. Shohei Ohtani had Tommy John surgery on Oct. 1, 2018. He returned to DH for the Angels on May 7, 2019.
Harper, who also suffered a broken thumb that kept him out for a chunk of the Phillies' regular season, initially suffered a UCL tear in May. He was limited to designated hitting duties as the Phillies made an improbable push to the World Series.
In 99 regular-season games, Harper slashed .286/.364/.514 and posted 18 home runs and 65 RBI.
He was more prolific in the postseason, slashing .349/.414/.746 with six home runs and 13 RBI.
Should Harper miss time to start the season, Nick Castellanos would presumably slot back into right field, while Brandon Marsh holds down center and Kyle Schwarber plays left.
There was no mystery about who would win AL Rookie of the Year for 2022. In a season with more viable preseason candidates for the award than usual, Seattle...
MLB Trade Rumors: All-Star OF Teoscar Hernandez Traded to Mariners from Blue Jays
Nov 16, 2022
TORONTO, - OCTOBER 08: Teoscar Hernandez #37 of the Toronto Blue Jays reacts while running the bases after hitting a two-run home run in the second inning during the Wild Card Series game between the Seattle Mariners and the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on Saturday, October 8, 2022 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Thomas Skrlj/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
The Seattle Mariners are banking on a bounce-back season from 2021 All-Star Teoscar Hernandez.
Per ESPN's Jeff Passan, the Mariners have acquired the 30-year-old outfielder from the Toronto Blue Jays. Ryan Divish of the Seattle Times reported the Mariners will deal relief pitcher Erik Swanson and pitching prospect Adam Macko in exchange for Hernandez.
Swanson will provide a boost to Toronto's bullpen. The right-hander was excellent with a 1.68 ERA, 70 strikeouts and just three homers allowed over 53.2 innings in 57 appearances last season.
FanGraphs' Eric Longenhagen ranked Macko as the 10th-best prospect in Seattle's farm system last season. The 21-year-old left-hander was a seventh-round draft pick in 2019. He struck out 60 with a 3.99 ERA in 38.1 innings in High-A but didn't pitch after May 21 with an unspecified injury.
The 2022 season was disappointing for Hernandez. He hit .267/.316/.491 with 25 homers and 77 RBI in 131 games. His 127 OPS+ was the third-highest mark of his career in a full season, but it was a step down from the previous two years.
In 193 games in 2020 and 2021, Hernandez had a .295/.345/.538 slash line with 84 extra-base hits. He made the American League All-Star team in 2021 and set career highs in homers (32) and RBI (116).
While he's coming off a down year, it's surprising to see a Blue Jays team with playoff aspirations move on from Hernandez without an obvious replacement in place. He is entering the final season of arbitration with a projected salary of $14.5 million, per Spotrac.
Adding Hernandez allows the Mariners to tinker with their outfield and designated hitter rotations. Newly minted AL Rookie of the Year Julio Rodriguez will continue to handle center field.
Jesse Winker in left field has been a below-average defender throughout their career. Winker had the ninth-worst defensive value rating among qualified players in 2022 (minus-12.8), per FanGraphs.
Mitch Haniger, who was Seattle's primary starter in right field, is a free agent. The acquisition of Hernandez would seem to indicate the Mariners are moving on from Haniger.
Hernandez can play both corner outfield spots, though he's also been below-average with the glove for most of his career. He has been an above-average hitter over the past five seasons with the Blue Jays. This is a great buy-low acquisition for a Mariners team looking to build after ending a 21-year playoff drought last season.
MLB Manager of the Year 2022: Terry Francona, Buck Showalter Take Home AL, NL Honors
Nov 16, 2022
CLEVELAND, OHIO - OCTOBER 15: Terry Francona #77 of the Cleveland Guardians is introduced before the game against the New York Yankees in game three of the American League Division Series at Progressive Field on October 15, 2022 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Terry Francona of the Cleveland Guardians and Buck Showalter of the New York Mets took home top honors in the Manager of the Year voting announced on Tuesday.
Francona beat out Brandon Hyde of the Baltimore Orioles and Scott Servais of the Seattle Mariners for the American League award. It's the third time he's been named Manager of the Year with the Guardians (2013, 2016).
Francona received 17 of 30 first-place votes and 112 total points. Hyde, who led the Orioles to a surprise 83-79 record, finished second with 79 points (nine first-place votes). Servais finished third thanks to his second- and third-place votes that gave him 43 points.
Houston Astros skipper Dusty Baker finished ahead of Servais in first-place votes (three to one), but he was only named on a total of 13 ballots. Servais was named on 23 ballots.
Expectations were understandably muted for the Guardians coming into 2022. They were coming off an 80-82 record in 2021, had the youngest roster in MLB the third-lowest payroll this season.
The steady hand of Francona, as well as breakout seasons for some of those young players, resulted in Cleveland winning the AL Central for the first time since 2018. Andrés Giménez and Emmanuel Clase joined veteran superstar José Ramírez as All-Stars this year.
Steven Kwan finished third in AL Rookie of the Year voting and won the AL Gold Glove award for his contributions in left field.
The Guardians' young roster included 16 rookies who made their big-league debut in 2022. Despite all of their inexperience, they rarely looked overmatched on the field. Their season came to an end with a five-game loss to the New York Yankees in the AL Division Series.
Francona led MLB's youngest team to 92 wins and the ALCS. He did it by investing/believing in his players and adapting his team's play style to his roster's strengths. He has already had a HOF career, but it may be his best managerial work yet.
Francona did start talking about the end of his managerial career because of a series of health issues that kept him out of the dugout for most of the 2020 and 2021 seasons.
"When the day comes that losses don't affect you," Francona told reporters shortly after Cleveland's season ended, "then it's probably time to hang it up. I'm not there."
The Guardians' success in 2022 and potential to keep improving next season appears to have given Francona a new lease on things. The AL's best manager will look to get his team over the hump in 2023.
Showalter joins Tony La Russa and Bobby Cox as the only managers in MLB history to win Manager of the Year four different times. He previously won in 1994 with the New York Yankees, in 2004 with the Texas Rangers and in 2014 with the Baltimore Orioles.
Brian Snitker of the Atlanta Braves and Dave Roberts of the Los Angeles Dodgers were the other finalists from the senior circuit. All three managers came from teams that won at least 101 games during the regular season.
Voting was incredibly tight, with each of the top three finishers receiving at least seven first-place votes. Showalter pulled ahead with 10 second-place votes and seven third-place votes.
Roberts only had nine total second- and third-place votes. Snitker received five votes each for second and third place, but he had to settle for third place overall because Roberts had one more first-place vote (eight to seven).
Buck Showalter wins his first NL Manager of the Year award to go along with his three from the AL. As in the AL, no manager appeared on all 30 ballots. The full vote: pic.twitter.com/AVPVP7X5fb
This is the first time a Mets manager has ever been honored as the NL's top skipper.
As has been the case throughout his managerial career, Showalter immediately stepped in and turned around a franchise lacking a consistent organizational vision. He's only had eight losing seasons in 21 years as a manager.
"He loves to point out other teams messing up, I'll tell you that," Mets pitcher Chris Bassitt told The Athletic's Andy McCullough and Ken Rosenthal in May. "It's everything—rundowns, cutoffs, relays, everything. He's like, 'Listen, this wins and loses you ballgames. This is how we're going to do it. We're going to do it the right way.' Not always the easiest way. But he wants you busting your butt and doing everything the right way."
Showalter got the Mets to do things the right way. They were starting from a position of power with the highest payroll in MLB after signing Max Scherzer and Starling Marte.
But Mets fans saw in 2021 what can happen when there is a lack of direction and organizational philosophy when the team collapsed in the second half of 2021 under Luis Rojas.
Things got so bad at one point in 2021 that Mets players were mocking the home fans for how they reacted to the team's struggles.
Congrats to Buck Showalter, who has won NL Manager of the Year. Of all the moves the Mets made last off-season, the most critical one was putting Buck in charge. He changed so much about how the team played and operated. It’s hard to overstate the significance of the hire.
Congratulations to Mets manager Buck Showalter on winning the 2022 NL Manager of the Year
He absolutely changed the culture here and led the Mets to only their 4th 100+ win season in team history. He also led them to a 24 win improvement from 2021
With Showalter at the helm and better injury luck, the Mets led the NL East for most of the season and made the playoffs for the first time since 2016.
Even though New York's season came to an early end with a loss to the San Diego Padres in the Wild Card series, Showalter's managerial expertise and owner Steve Cohen's deep pockets are going to keep the franchise close to the top of the NL standings in 2023 and beyond.
Baseball: ALCS Playoffs: New York Yankees Aaron Judge (99) in action, runs to the dugout vs Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park. Game 2.
Houston, TX 10/20/2022
CREDIT: Greg Nelson (Photo by Greg Nelson/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)
(Set Number: X164211 TK1)
The Major League Baseball offseason is in full swing, and with that players have begun making decisions on their contracts for the 2023 campaign.
While Joc Pederson accepted a $19.65 million qualifying offer from the San Francisco Giants, and Martín Pérez accepted a $19.65 million qualifying offer from the Texas Rangers, a number of players declined those qualifying offers.
Among those to decline are Aaron Judge, Trea Turner, Xander Bogaerts, Jacob deGrom, Dansby Swanson, Carlos Rodón, Brandon Nimmo, Willson Contreras, Chris Bassitt, Anthony Rizzo and Nathan Eovaldi.
However, Rizzo agreed to a two-year, $34 million deal, including a $17 million club option for a third year, to remain with the New York Yankees. In addition, Tyler Anderson declined his qualifying offer from the Los Angeles Dodgers to join the Los Angeles Angels on a three-year, $39 million deal.
Judge was always expected to be one of the league's top free agents this winter after a historic season with the Yankees. The 30-year-old hit .311/.425/.686 with 62 home runs and 131 RBI in 157 games. His 62 home runs set the American League record for most homers in a single season.
The Yankees have been clear about their intent to make Judge, who is expected to become one of the highest-paid players in baseball, a competitive offer this offseason after he declined a seven-year, $213.5 million before the 2022 campaign.
Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner recently told Meredith Marakovits of YES Network that Judge "means a lot" to the franchise and that it will do everything possible to retain him in 2023 and beyond.
Steinbrenner added that if Judge re-signs in the Bronx that the Yankees will consider making him their next captain. He would be the first player to be named captain of the Yankees since Derek Jeter served as captain from 2003 to 2014.
However, there's always the possibility that Judge signs elsewhere, especially if another organization comes through with a more lucrative offer.
Another player that will be highly sought after this winter is Bassitt, who rejected his qualifying offer from the New York Mets.
The Mets will need to cough up a lot of money to keep deGrom in Flushing, so it's very possible that Bassitt signs elsewhere in free agency. The right-hander had a decent 2022 campaign with the Mets, posting a 15-9 record with a 3.42 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 167 strikeouts in 30 starts.
Contreras should be one of the top catchers on the market after rejecting his qualifying offer from the Chicago Cubs. The 30-year-old has spent his entire career with the Cubs, but the club has Yan Gomes and P.J. Higgins to rely on in 2023.
Contreras had a solid 2022 season, hitting .243/.349/.466 with 22 home runs and 55 RBI in 113 games.
The Detroit Tigers and St. Louis Cardinals are among the teams that could use a catcher in 2023. They should take a look at Contreras, provided the price is right.
Report: Former Dodgers All-Star Tyler Anderson, Angels Agree to 3-Year, $39M Contract
Nov 15, 2022
San Diego, CA - October 15: Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Tyler Anderson delivers a pitch during the first inning in game 4 of the NLDS against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park on Saturday, Oct. 15, 2022 in San Diego, CA. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
2022 All-Star starting pitcher Tyler Anderson reportedly has found a new home in free agency, but he won't have to go far.
Per ESPN's Jeff Passan, Anderson has agreed to a multiyear contract with the Los Angeles Angels after turning down the qualifying offer from the Los Angeles Dodgers. MLB Network's Mark Feinsand added that Anderson's deal with the Angels is for $39 million over three years.
A seven-year veteran, Anderson put forth the best season of his career while playing on a one-year, $8 million contract with the Dodgers. The 6'2" lefty made 28 starts and two relief appearances in 2022, finishing with a 15-5 record while posting a 2.57 ERA, a 1.00 WHIP and 138 strikeouts in 178.2 innings of work.
Anderson joins an Angels starting rotation that also includes Shohei Ohtani, Patrick Sandoval, José Suarez and Reid Detmers. Ohtani is the only right-handed starter on the team at the moment, though it's possible that the Angels will look to add another free agent to the staff this offseason.
However, Anderson is joining an Angels franchise that is surrounded by uncertainty. Longtime owner Arte Moreno announced plans to sell the team. Ohtani, the 2021 American League MVP, has one year left on his contract before becoming a free agent next winter. General manager Perry Minasian said last week that L.A. has no intentions of trading Ohtani despite the substantial interest from teams around the majors.
Losing Anderson is a blow to the depth of the Dodgers' starting rotation, which will also be missing Walker Buehler for the majority of next year after he underwent Tommy John surgery. The team still has a strong staff led by Julio Urías, Tony Gonsolin and veteran Clayton Kershaw, who recently agreed to a one-year deal to return to Los Angeles in 2023.
Anthony Rizzo, Yankees Reportedly Agree to 2-Year, $34M Contract in Free Agency
Nov 15, 2022
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 23: Anthony Rizzo #48 of the New York Yankees fields a hit by Jose Altuve #27 of the Houston Astros during the seventh inning in game four of the American League Championship Series at Yankee Stadium on October 23, 2022 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
Veteran first baseman Anthony Rizzo and the New York Yankees have agreed to a two-year, $34 million contract, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic and Jack Curry of Yes Network.
Curry reported the deal includes a $17 million club option for a third season.
The Rizzo deal is for 2 years, $34M with a club option for $17M for a third year. The buyout in the third year is for $6M.
Rizzo had declined the one-year, $19.65 million qualifying offer, which made him a free agent.
The news comes after the 33-year-old became a free agent when he exercised an opt-out clause in his contract with the Yankees for 2023. He had signed a two-year, $32 million extension after coming over in a trade from the Chicago Cubs during the 2021 campaign.
The three-time All-Star put together a respectable 2022 campaign with the Yankees, which was his first full season with the franchise. He slashed .224/.338/.480 with 32 home runs and 75 RBI in 130 games.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone made it clear that he wanted the club to re-sign Rizzo while speaking on The Michael Kay Show in November (h/t Sports Illustrated's Max Goodman):
"He's been everything we could have hoped for. He's been an amazing person in our clubhouse. An amazing teammate, an amazing leader, very productive on the field. I think very much cut out to play for our team, for the Yankees. I think he handles all that goes with playing here as one of the premium players and leaders so well. So yeah, I would love to have him back, of course."
Before being traded to the Yankees, Rizzo spent 10 seasons with the Cubs, helping them win the World Series in 2016. In addition, he won four Gold Gloves and a Silver Slugger during that tenure.
Had he signed elsewhere, the Yankees would have been scrambling to find a player who could replicate his power at the plate.
Now that Rizzo is staying, the front office can shift its focus to other areas, such as signing Aaron Judge as well as at third base, shortstop and pitching.
