As MLB’s offseason continues, here are three things to keep an eye on around the baseball world headed into the weekend:
1. Robertson to undergo physical:
After agreeing to a one-year deal with the Rangers last night, veteran right-hander David Robertson is set to undergo a physical before the deal becomes official. According to Jeff Wilson of Rangers Today, said physical is planned for today. When the deal becomes official, the Rangers will need to make a corresponding move to create room for Robertson on their 40-man roster, which is currently at capacity. That could come in the form of simply designating someone for assignment, or perhaps the club will try to work out a trade to recoup some value from the back of their roster.
Robertson, 39 in April, has enjoyed a career resurgence while pitching for the Cubs, Phillies, Mets, and Marlins over the past two years. During that time, he’s managed to post a 2.72 ERA and 3.56 FIP while striking out 29.8% of batters faced in 129 innings of work. He’ll provide a big boost for the Texas bullpen if/when the deal is finalized, particularly after losing left-hander Aroldis Chapman to the Pirates via free agency earlier this week.
2. Giles throwing for teams:
Veteran right-hander Ken Giles has managed just 39 2/3 combined innings of work since the end of the 2019 season as he’s battled injuries, but that isn’t stopping the 33-year-old righty from attempting a comeback. As reported by Jon Heyman of the New York Post earlier this week, Giles is throwing a bullpen session in Phoenix later today for interested teams. It’s easy to see why teams would have interest in Giles’s services if he’s finally healthy enough to take the mound. The veteran righty sports a career 2.71 ERA across 362 relief appearances with a 2.46 FIP, 115 saves, and an impressive 33.3% strikeout rate. Giles would be an impactful addition to just about any bullpen in the league if he were able to recapture even some of that ability from his 20s, though after his lengthy layoff it’s unclear just how much he has left in the tank.
3. Marlins FanFest is today:
The Marlins are running their annual FanFest this weekend, which will be held this evening at loanDepot park. The free fan event is scheduled to run from 4pm to 10pm local time. Tonight’s festivities could involve the unveiling of a new look for the players on the field in Miami; the club has seemingly hinted at uniform updates for the upcoming 2024 campaign.
Among the other items on the agenda are live interviews with president of baseball operations Peter Bendix and manager Skip Schumaker, which are schedule for 5pm local time. Its been a quiet winter in Miami since Bendix replaced Kim Ng atop the club’s baseball operations department, and Bendix and Schumaker will likely face questions on that front. The Marlins have reportedly been listening to trade offers regarding their starting rotation and keeping an eye on the free agent market for infield help, with a shortstop topping the wishlist. While top outgoing free agent Jorge Soler also remains on the market, recent rumors seem to indicate a reunion between the sides is unlikely.
