On the heels of some early morning information, listed below are three issues we’ll be keeping track of across the baseball world all through the day right now:
1. Outfield uncertainty in Atlanta:
Yesterday, the Braves obtained some robust information when their largest offseason addition, outfielder Jurickson Profar, was suspended for 80 video games after testing optimistic for PEDs. The 32-year-old will miss the rest of the primary half and be ineligible for the postseason this 12 months because of the suspension. The information leaves the Braves scrambling to fill out an outfield that regarded strong coming into the 12 months. Ronald Acuna Jr. continues to be a couple of month away from returning to motion after final 12 months’s torn ACL, which has left Jarred Kelenic to deal with proper subject on an on a regular basis foundation. With Kelenic in proper, Bryan De La Cuz and up to date waiver declare Stuart Fairchild seem most definitely to be tasked with dealing with left subject in the meanwhile, although the membership did signal outfielder Alex Verdugo late final month and will lean on him as soon as he will get on top of things after lacking most of Spring Coaching.
2. Extension season in Boston:
The opposite huge information yesterday was a report that the Purple Sox and left-hander Garrett Crochet have reached an settlement on a six-year extension that ensures the southpaw $170MM. The information got here as one thing of a shock after the edges reportedly tabled extension talks when the beginning of the season got here and went with out an settlement, however Crochet will now put pen to paper on an settlement per week after the common season begins. The Purple Sox haven’t but formally introduced Crochet’s extension, although that may be anticipated to occur in comparatively quick order. With Crochet locked up long-term, the query stays if every other key items of the membership’s future will land long-term offers of their very own. Specifically, eyes shall be on second baseman Kristian Campbell after stories over the weekend indicated that Campbell’s camp and the Purple Sox are deep into discussions concerning an extension for the well-regarded prospect.
3. Harrington, Smith to debut right now:
The morning started with some information on the prospect entrance, because the Pirates are poised to pick out the contract of right-hander Thomas Harrington forward of his huge league debut in opposition to the Rays later right now. The 23-year-old is ready to tackle righty Shane Baz in Tampa at 7:05pm native time this night, however he’s not the one participant scheduled to make his huge league debut right now. On the south aspect of Chicago, right-hander Shane Smith is poised to debut in opposition to the Twins at 6:40pm native time this night. The membership’s decide in December’s Rule 5 draft is only a few days shy of his twenty fifth birthday and can have fun by making his first huge league begin reverse Minnesota right-hander Simeon Woods Richardson, a former consensus top-100 prospect who pitched to a 4.17 ERA and 4.12 FIP in 28 begins for the Twins final 12 months.
