Quote from LynchMob on March 9, 2024, 2:56 pm

The Athletic:

A spring training standout for each MLB team: 30 players turning heads in camp

By Jim Bowden

Mar 8, 2024

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One of the most gratifying things about spring training for general managers is when a player on your team exceeds expectations. It could be a veteran who had been in decline before an unlikely resurgence. It could be a prospect who wasn’t on your radar to make the team out of spring training and suddenly has a shot. It could even be a role player who has made significant adjustments that you weren’t expecting and now could get increased playing time.

I reached out to decision-makers with all 30 teams to identify one player on their club who is turning heads during spring training. Here’s what they said, along with my thoughts on each player.

NL Central

Chicago Cubs — Owen Caissie, OF

Age: 21
Bats: L Throws: R
Height: 6-3 Weight: 190

Caissie was the prospect headliner in the Yu Darvish trade in December 2020 after being the Padres’ second-round pick in 2020 out of Notre Dame High in Burlington, Ontario. Last year at Double A, he slashed .289/.399/.519 with 31 doubles, 22 home runs, 84 RBIs and 77 runs. He’s having an impressive spring training with the Cubs, going 10-for-23 so far with scouts across the league raving about him. He’ll probably start the season in Triple A and force his way to the majors later this year. He’s a special talent.

Quote from Randy Manese on March 13, 2024, 11:14 am

Caissie is having a great spring but his hit tool has previously been evaluated as below average - in the 40-45 range (compared to Merrill who is in the 60-70 range).  Has great power potential but a lot of swing and miss, striking out over 31% in AA last year but agree that he could be a special talent.  We'll see what he does in the minors this year but note that the other 3 players included in the trade for Darvish likely won't make it above AA before calling it a career.  I would make this trade again, even with the Darvish injuries, in a heartbeat.

Quote from Randy Manese on March 13, 2024, 11:19 am

Recent injuries to Cole and Giolito plus other highly paid SP's fighting to get healthy like de Grom and Scherzer are reasons why I wouldn't sign a pitcher to a long term contract worth millions and millions of dollars - too much risk for the potential reward.  I'm more on the Tampa Bay strategy of developing your talent and trading it for the best possible challenge when the time comes to decide upon investing or not investing in a pitcher.  There are exceptions but pitchers overall are very mercurial/injury prone so the old adage of  "buyer beware" especially applies to SP.

Just want to add a comment or two about what the Padres have in their minor system, particularly in the bullpen.  I'm looking at 25+ arms that potentially could be assigned to the El Paso roster.  Hoping that the younger guys who are still being groomed as starters, like Iriarte and maybe Cruz, get moved to the San Antonio roster vice stay in EP.  I can see a lot of major league ready RP's finding a home in EP, both those currently on the 40-man and those who deserve to be on the 40-man, and seeing action at the major league level in 2024.  RP's notoriously come up with arm fatigue or bouts of ineffectiveness so it will be good to have a stable of arms in EP and SA who can hop on a plane and be on the mound soon after being called up when one of the guys that starts the season in the pen goes on the IL or is cut.  This is going to be one of the strengths of the team in 2024.

Quote from BoosterSD on March 18, 2024, 7:28 pm

Snell is signing with the Giants. Seems to be a weird 2 year contract, $15M this season and then a $17M signing bonus next season with an option for a $30M contract.

Quote from MrPadre19 on March 18, 2024, 8:00 pm

Don’t swing at the curve in the dirt and take your base.

EASY

🙄

 

Quote from fenn68 on March 18, 2024, 8:25 pm

Quote from BoosterSD on March 18, 2024, 7:28 pm

Snell is signing with the Giants. Seems to be a weird 2 year contract, $15M this season and then a $17M signing bonus next season with an option for a $30M contract.

Actually the signing bonus is not paid until 2026 … so may be weirder if he opts out of the $30MM in 2025 and then basically he gets his $32MM for playing in 2024 paid $15MM in 2024 and $17MM paid in 2026.

Good cash flow move for SF, I guess.

If he plays out both seasons the $62MM/2 years is a lot lower than he and Boras were planning before. Probably not pleased they turned down (the reported) NYY offer earlier for $150MM.

Not sure where this leaves Montgomery in his negotiations … but not looking that good.

Quote from Randy Manese on March 19, 2024, 9:42 am

Read where Snell was working out during his ST hiatus, but it would seem he won't be built up to go very many innings and therefore not ready for the first Giants/Padres series in San Diego.  However, by the time we go to SF to begin the series on 5 April, he could be in the rotation.

Quote from WindsorUK on March 19, 2024, 11:54 am

Outside of last year, Blake was fairly horrible before the All Star break so even if he is active, not too worried him.

Quote from fenn68 on March 19, 2024, 12:15 pm

Now this actually means nothing but a tough start for Thorpe with the CWS.

2.2 innings .... 10 hits ... 8 earned runs ... 3 HR.