Sizzlin' Stove
My prized possession as a little boy was my transister radio (or to be more exact, radios). I went through numerous ones, and many, many, batteries. You see, that’s how I learned to love major league baseball. If the Reds game ran past my bedtime, I would put the radio under my pillow to catch every inning I could, and then afterwards, the interview with the star of the game and the scoreboard of other games played. Often the next morning I would wake up to the quiet buzz of my radio; I had forgotten to turn it off. For the most part I gave my radios a rest during the baseball offseason. Sometimes though, I would stay up and listen to the chatter of baseball radio announcers with their thoughts on possible trades and the prospects for my beloved Reds in the next season.
The winter time baseball discussion is affectionately known as the “hot stove league”. The image is of baseball fans gathering around a hot stove during the cold winter and discussing everything about their favorite teams and players. Baseball historians have deemed this practice to be one of the reasons that the game became the country’s national pastime. One might talk and learn about baseball all year round. This past winter the hot stove was put into cold storage as baseball shut its doors beginning December 1. There could be no trades or even talks with player agents until the conflict had been resolved. The 99-day lockout ended abruptly on March 9. With the regular season just four weeks away and many prominent players remaining on the free agent market, the baseball stove not only became hot, but sizzling! Here’s a quick look at the most noteworthy signings.
The 2021 World Series saw Atlanta defeat Houston in a classic series. I became enamored with the Braves’ first baseman, Freddie Freeman. I loved watching video of Freddie attending his son’s little league games during the Series, and hearing the story of his greeting every baserunner at first base with a kind “congratulations”. He’s a pretty good player too – five time NL All-Star; 2018 Gold Glove winner; Silver Slugger award winner from 2019-2021; and the 2020 National League MVP. His contract though had come to an end, and it was his time to test the financial waters. On March 18 Freddie signed a 6 year, $162 million contract with the Dodgers, returning to his roots in southern California. It was indeed the key sizzling stove signing for the National League. With Freeman in the fold, the Dodgers not only have bragging rights to the most formidable lineup in the NL but clearly become the senior circuit favorite.
The American League also was able to keep one of its superstars, 27-year old Carlos Correa. On March 22 former Astro Correa signed a 3-year contract for $105.3 million with the Minnesota Twins. Correa receives the highest annual salary for an infielder in baseball. In 2012 Correa was the first overall selection in the MLB draft. He burst upon the MLB scene in 2015 as the AL Rookie of the Year. Correa is the ultimate five-tool player, an exceptional fielding shortstop with range and arm strength, a batter that hits for average and power, and a sensational baserunner. Correa is THE player in the game whom I would want to build my team around. Unfortunately for the Twins, his new contract includes opt-out provisions after each of the first two seasons. Whether Correa can help boost Minnesota into the playoffs this season or the next two remains to be seen.
Speaking of signing a 27-year old player at the prime of his career, how about the Cubs’ March 18 announcement of a 5-year, $85 million contract for Japanese star Seiya Suzuki! Suzuki comes to the MLB after eight seasons in the Nippon Professional Baseball League (NPB) starring for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp. Suzuki is a four-time NPB All-Star, 5-time NPB “Best Nine” winner, and three-time winner of an NPB Gold Glove. In his first 9 games as a Cub, Suzuki has quickly adjusted to the MLB with 4 HRs, 11 RBIs, and a .400 batting average. Suzuki appears to be the cornerstone right fielder for Chicago over the next several seasons. Among his nicknames, “See Ya” (for his home run hitting prowess) and “Roy” (for his Rookie of the Year candidacy), I’ll take the next “Say Hey Kid”, a high compliment after the Giants’ great, Willie Mays.
There were so many other notable signings during the past offseason – Matt Olson (Braves), Corey Seager and Marcus Semien (Rangers), Max Scherzer (Mets), Robbie Ray (Mariners), Javier Baez (Tigers), Kris Bryant (Rockies), and Trevor Story (Red Sox), just to name a few of the stars. If you’re tuning into a game soon, I suggest you check the team rosters beforehand. It’s anyone’s guess what this player movement means in terms of changes in the standings come year end. For now, let’s sit back, watch the games, and reap the benefits of the Sizzlin’ Stove.
Until next Monday,
your Baseball Bench Coach