MLB Rumors: Orioles GM issues a giant nothing statement on Adley Rutschman extension
Baltimore Orioles general manager Mike Elias is arguably the best front office executive in baseball at saying something and nothing at the same time.
A nothing sandwich, as I like to refer it, is a statement by any front office executive — usually one in a smaller market — on spending money when they have very little of it available.
I earnestly believe the Orioles want to extend Adley Rutschman. They would be dumb not to, as he's already one of the best catchers in the American League at 25 years old. Rutschman is slashing .273/.399/.424 on the early season, and when All-Star voting does open, he'll be among the favorites to start at his position. He's still in his pre-arbitration years, so the O's aren't under much stress to re-sign him just yet. It's not like he'll be a free agent next offseason.
However, the longer Baltimore waits, the more unlikely it is that he'll be signed to a long-term contract. Adley is a generational talent, and was the No. 1 overall pick for a reason. It'd be wise to open negotiations now and potentially sign him to a large figure, but not an overwhelming one for a mid-market team that likes to save money long-term. Elias, though, didn't suggest anything was close. In fact, he didn't suggest much at all in his recent statement on the subject:
"I would just say that we've got a lot of people in our front office with a lot of business experience, experience with major league contracts, economics, and they're all working on ways to keep our organization healthy all the time," Elias said, per the Baltimore Banner. "And that absolutely includes looking at augmenting the contracts of young players that we have, but in terms of, like, what's happening right now, I'm just not gonna get into it."
I'm not sure what that means. You're not sure what that means. It's nothing, and that's all the more frustrating for Orioles fans.
MLB Rumors: Carlos Correa finally realizes why fans boo him
The sign-stealing scandal was a long time ago. But no, Carlos Correa doesn't understand his part in it just yet.
Correa is still booed by rival fans at pretty much any ballpark he visits. Correa assumes that's because he makes a lot of money, which is only one side of the argument.
"I'd boo myself, too, with the amount of money I'm making and I'm playing like that," Correa said after the Twins game on Tuesday.
Sure, Correa is playing well and making a lot of money. He's going to perform to that level in Minnesota for years to come, which is awesome. However, it's not just that Correa is playing well — it's a perception that he had some help along the way via illegal means. Correa is far from the only former Astro (or current if you count Alex Bregman and Jose Altuve) who receive the ill will from opposing fans wherever they travel.
Twins fans love Correa, as they should. He plays hard, and he plays the right way. It's unclear exactly what impact the sign-stealing system had on Carlos in Houston, but it can't be much given it was put to bed a long time ago.
Minnesota is among the favorites in the AL Central, and Correa is a big reason why. This is just something he'll have to deal with throughout his career, and he knows it.
MLB Rumors: Did Yankees actually win the Harrison Bader trade?
Oh, let's take a walk down memory lane. Well, not that far — I'm thinking last year's MLB trade deadline.
The initial prognosis on the Harrison Bader deal was a bad one for the Yankees. Jordan Montgomery has pitched quite well for the St. Louis Cardinals. He was everything they wanted last year and then some, with a 3.11 ERA in just over 63 innings pitched. So, what's the problem?
Well, St. Louis has struggled out of the gate. In fact, they could even be sellers at the trade deadline if this stretch continues. A couple of wins against the rival Cubs are nice, but they'll need to take that momentum into their next series, and then some.
Bader's injury history followed him to New York, where he missed the majority of the tail end of last season. However, in some cameos (and now full-time for the Yankees), Bader has looked tremendous, and the concerns the Cardinals initially had regarding his bat have seemingly disappeared.
"I'd do it again 100 times out of 100. He's built for both the Yankees and this roster," Yanks Go Yard's Adam Weinrib said. "I'll take the super CF who wants to be on his hometown team over the low-ceiling lefty. The best version of the Yankees' rotation still doesn't include him (Montgomery)."
Montgomery was a good find for the Cards, but ultimately Bader has the higher ceiling and, assuming he can stay healthy for a decent stretch, is a player the Yankees need. He's one of the better defensive outfielders in the American League for a reason.
Montgomery, meanwhile, has proven he shouldn't be a front-end starter on a playoff team. The Cardinals still lack that, which is why they'll be in the trade market for said pitcher again if in a position to contend.
