Guardians Baseball Insider

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Top Stories

• Monday: The Philadelphia Phillies are likely done spending money for free agents–right now. Their cap is already at $208MM. Righty Brandon Kintzler and lefty Tony Watson will each make $3MM apiece which would then put the cap at $214MM. The Phillies want to leave room for a potential in-season acquisition, but if they add both veteran relievers, it will make it almost impossible for them to add another player, unless they’re from the minors.

• Tuesday: The minor league season will be delayed by at least a month. There was no current reason given for the delay. The season was canceled last year due to COVID concerns. The MLB hopes that the delay will allow for vaccinations for all its player’s and a full season.

• Wednesday: The MLB and MLBPA have no plans to discuss the universal DH or expanded playoffs at the current time for the 2021 campaign. 

• Thursday: The Milwaukee Brewers have signed free-agent outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr. to a two-year, $24MM deal. It gives him an opportunity to test the open market next season.

• Friday: Free-agent righty Sam Dyson has been suspended for the entire 2021 season due to violating the MLB domestic violence policy.

• Saturday: The Houston Astros signed righty Jake Odorizzi to a two-year deal with a player option. Details of the figures are currently not known.

• Sunday: The Pittsburgh Pirates acquired righty Duane Underwood Jr. from the Chicago Cubs in exchange for infield prospect, Shendrik Apostel. 

Indians News

• Mandy Bell of MLB.com reported that Cleveland Indians third baseman Jose Ramirez, and outfielder Franmil Reyes are being held out of Indians Spring Training due to violating COVID protocol. They both dined together at a restaurant, and Reyes received a haircut on Friday. Both players will have to test negative for COVID-19 before returning to camp. This is the second time Reyes has broken protocol. 

News and Notes

• Mark Berman of  KRIV Fox 26 reports that Houston Astros pitching prospect Forrest Whitley will potentially undergo Tommy John surgery after suffering a UCL sprain in his right arm. 

• According to Jesse Dougherty of the Washington Post, the Washington Nationals have released righty, Jeremy Jeffress. The move was due to “personal reasons,” which was stated by GM, Mike Rizzo. 

• Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reported hat Chicago Cubs righty Pedro Strop is being held out of Cubs Spring Training due to violating COVID protocol. He was out with Cleveland Indians outfielder Franmil Reyes–who is also being held out for violating the same rules. 

• According to Matt Kawahara of the San Francisco Chronicle, Oakland Athletics infielder Jed Lowrie could play in his first game of the spring if he’s able to go through base-running activities without any setbacks. 

• David O’ Brien of The Athletic reported that righty Mike Soroka threw two innings in a simulated game on Sunday. This marks a milestone after he suffered a ruptured Achilles last season. 

• Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times reported that righty Joe Kelly will likely not be ready for Opening Day due to shoulder inflammation that has lingered since last season. However, he has thrown a few bullpen session. 

Featured Articles

Cleveland’s slew of shortstops  and the race to replace Francisco Lindor

Zack Meisel of The Athletic talks about the additions of all the shortstops the Cleveland Indians have acquired over the year, and which ones have stood out thus far in Spring Training–as the process of replacing Francisco Lindor begins.  

https://theathletic.com/2428090/2021/03/06/cleveland-indians-shortstops-race-to-replace-franciso-lindor/