We’ll be the last team standing and get them each on 5/110 deals en route to a documentary filmed world championship.
Can’t help but think it’s got something to do with the South Korea games, or positioning for a possible Kim trade.
His completely insane guaranteed $280M contract will have to work extra hard to comfort him.
They have Jackson Merrill waiting in the wings to take over, he probably debuts some time this summer. I have no idea if he’s a legit defensive shortstop, though.
He's not Carson Williams, but he's a good defensive prospect and should stick at short for at least the start of his career. Possible he could fill out and have to move down the spectrum, but I wouldn't be worried about that for a few years yet.
I really have no idea how the South Korean would games fit in here. I think it's really as simple as the best shortstop being given the opportunity to play the position.
I bet Panda misses the food there (in SF not Scottsdale, but not bad there either)
I'm not sure this is something that needs to be fixed. The players that are shuffled like this are almost always fringe players that if they weren't bouncing around the waiver wire would probably be enduring the same thing as free agents or they might be unemployed entirely. It's just the way of life for players that peak at a AAAA level.
For anyone who doesn't have The Athletic, the Pirates have signed Mitch Keller to a 5 year extension for $77M, buying out his final two arbitration years and three years of free agency. He was expected to make $14M or so the next two seasons, based on the article.
This is more AAV (and front loaded) and he has opt outs and still in his 20’s
