After a surprisingly busy Wednesday, listed below are three issues we’ll be keeping track of across the baseball world all through the day right this moment:
1. Extension season continues:
Extension season has bled into the common season this yr, and that’s by no means been extra obvious than it was yesterday, when three long-term offers acquired hammered out: Jackson Merrill and the Padres hammered out a $135MM pact early yesterday morning, whereas the Crimson Sox and Kristian Campbell put the ending touches on a $60MM deal that’s been anticipated because the weekend. The Diamondbacks additionally acquired in on the enjoyable with their fourth extension of 2025, agreeing to a $116.5MM contract with franchise face Ketel Marte.
Given their proximity to Opening Day, every of those offers is in some methods extra akin to a Spring Coaching extension, because the sides certainly did the vast majority of the negotiating earlier than the season started. May different rumored potential extension targets be signed to offers within the coming days? The Phillies have been identified to have a minimum of some curiosity in extensions with slugger Kyle Schwarber and catcher J.T. Realmuto, whereas the Blue Jays are in fact hoping to signal Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to an extension regardless of the star’s public indications that he expects to check free company.
2. Sequence Preview: Reds @ Brewers
The early days of the 2025 season have been powerful on two anticipated potential contenders for the NL Central crown: the Brewers and Reds. Each golf equipment are 2-4 via their first six video games of the season, with the Reds having suffered back-to-back 1-0 losses in opposition to the Rangers coming into this collection whereas the Brewers discovered themselves outscored bye an eye-popping 43-13 margin throughout three video games in opposition to the Yankees and Royals from Saturday to Monday. Tough as the beginning of the season has been for each golf equipment, nonetheless, one of many two golf equipment will make some progress the remainder of the week as the 2 face off in a four-game set.
The collection kicks off at 6:40pm native time in Milwaukee this night, with southpaw Nestor Cortes (3.77 ERA in 2024) on the mound for the Brewers as he seeks redemption after surrendering 5 homers to the Yankees in simply two innings throughout his first begin of the yr. He’ll be dealing with a fellow southpaw right this moment, because the Reds are anticipated to go together with Nick Lodolo (4.76 ERA in 2024) after a stable begin in opposition to San Francisco his first outing. Tomorrow’s sport will see veteran Nick Martinez (3.10 ERA in 2024) take the mound in opposition to an as-of-yet unannounced Brewers starter, whereas Saturday’s sport will see Cincinnati’s Brady Singer (3.71 ERA in 2024) sq. off in opposition to Milwaukee’s Elvin Rodriguez (profession 9.49 ERA in 37 MLB innings). On Sunday, the golf equipment will wrap issues up because the Reds ship swingman Carson Spiers (5.46 ERA in 2024) to the mound reverse Brewers rookie Chad Patrick, who has a 3.18 ERA in 5 2/3 innings of labor to this point this yr.
3. DFA Resolutions anticipated:
When gamers are designated for task, golf equipment have one week to both commerce the DFA’d participant or try and go them via waivers. That seven-day window is closing right this moment for 2 gamers who’ve been in DFA limbo because the begin of the season: catcher/outfielder Cooper Hummel, and infielder Eguy Rosario. Hummel, 30, is a profession .159/.255/.275 hitter within the majors who has bounced between the Diamondbacks, Mariners, and Astros over time. He was in competition for a spot on Houston’s bench this spring however in the end misplaced out on the job when the membership opted to advertise high prospect Cam Smith to the majors.
As for Rosario, the 25-year-old has spent his whole professional profession within the Padres group this level. He’s gotten simply 100 plate appearances over three seasons with the membership, however a .245/.283/.500 slash line with 5 homers, a triple, and 7 doubles throughout that point suggests the versatile infielder has intriguing pop. If Hummel and Rosario go unclaimed on waivers right this moment, their golf equipment may have the chance to outright them to the minor leagues and hold them within the fold as non-roster depth going ahead this yr. With that being mentioned, Hummel has a earlier outright task in his profession and might reject a second task in favor of free company ought to he so select.
