Welcome to the 4 day weekend edition of Weekend Links. I hope you spend today and the weekend with loved ones and I thank you for being part of this community.
Life is crazy but I have a ton to be thankful for and baseball plays a part in a lot of it. My son is happy and healthy and coaching his Farm Ball team was such a joy. I’ve spent time at the ballpark with my parents, wife, siblings, nieces, nephews, and friends this year. I’m so thankful to have them all in my life and there’s little better way to spend time together than let life slow down for a while and take in a ballgame.
And then there’s this little site. By writing for you folks over the years I’ve gotten to interview players, become friends with Vic Rojas (we still text and will meet up in Phoenix soon), and enjoyed experiences young me could only imagine. So, thank you all.
Now onto the column…
Anthony Rendon’s contract has been an albatross since the 2021 season. To be fair to the Bearded One, the hip injury he suffered that year ends a lot of careers. And the foul ball off the shin a couple years later was absolutely brutal. But he’s done himself no favors with some of his comments and his contract has hindered the team.
Our long nightmare might finally be over.
While this feels like a breakup after a bad relationship, there were some good moments for Rendon in Anaheim. I remember him smiling at kids as we walked around the track at Little League Day, for example. On the field, this left handed homer near the end of Detmers no hitter was his signature moment.
We’ve been looking for a new third baseman for years. Now we really, really need one. Conveniently, a stud Japanese third baseman became available this week. The Rendon buyout might be a coincidence. I know the danger of hopium. But I based my entire Perry piece around signing this guy.
Perry pieces? Oh, yes, our annual off season tradition is in full swing.
John Henry has a very humorous take.
71 burned the whole thing down.
I made mine a fairly realistic piece.
Turk’s Teeth did a bang up job with multiple options.
Turk’s brought up another Asian option at the hot corner. Korea’s Song Sun-Mun just tore up the KBO and is free to sign with any team. We haven’t covered him much but take a look at these numbers:
I’d say that is worth a shot. And that shot will likely cost a lot less than Okamoto, even though I really love Okamoto’s consistent production.
What to do about a guy from KBO that I know little about? Assign an intern to write a more in depth piece. Yorke Lee is doing just that and we will have that up for your holiday weekend pleasure.
Meanwhile, newest Angel Grayson Rodriguez says he’s healthy and will be ready for camp.
It’s a holiday and you’ll have plenty of time to argue with your family members who can’t leave politics out of a conversation so I’m shelving the Kay coverage for a week. Just know the Angels continue to prove their ineptitude and the Skaggs family is both blaming the Angels for not helping Tyler and saying they were completely unaware Tyler had a problem.
From around baseball:
It will be a great Christmas at the Cease household. Dylan Cease signed with Toronto for $210 million over 7 years. $30 million per year for a guy with an up and down track record is where the market for pitching sits.
That puts the recent Red Sox trade for Sonny Gray in a little perspective. Boston picked up the steady eddy Gray for 2 decent prospects and will take on $20 million in salary. As more starters sign, we will see if this looks like a good deal or not. After Cease, it is looking reasonable.
Jake Fraley is a good but not great ballplayer. He would have made a good platoon in LF with Trout, but he signed with Tampa for $3 million over one year.
I know the days are getting short and baseball is still quite a ways on the horizon. But there is baseball being played, so I’ll leave you with this:
It would be great to see Guzman turn into an impact MLB player. For now, I’m enjoying the development.
Did I say I’d leave you? Oh, no, I keep on going. Like a good TV commercial, there’s more.
For those of us who love Spring Training, the master schedules are out. A few things to look for: Team USA playing in small parks before the World Baseball Classic is cool. Angels play home games both Saturday and Sunday on the March 14-15 weekend.
Now I will leave you to enjoy your feast and your family in whichever order is appropriate. Happy Thanksgiving all.
