Morning Rundown: Jim Leyland makes Hall of Fame, Shohei Ohtani rumors
Former Pirates manager named to Hall of Fame
The Contemporary Baseball Era Non-Players Committee elected former Pirates manager Jim Leyland to the Hall of Fame on Sunday. In total, 15 of the 16 members voted to add Leyland to Cooperstown.
Leyland managed the Pirates from 1986 to 1996, posting an 851-863 record and making the playoffs three times.
He went from Pittsburgh to the Florida Marlins in 1997, winning the World Series his first year against the Cleveland Indians.
Leyland won the AL Pennant with the Detroit Tigers in 2006 and 2012. In 22 years as a manager, he had a record of 1769-1728.
As expected, one
of the better potential trade candidates, Dylan Cease, continues to have a relatively large market. According to Jon Morosi, along with the Dodgers and Braves, the Baltimore Orioles are also rumored to be in trade talks.
If the Orioles are getting involved, there is little doubt they could put together one of the better trade packages with one of the deepest farm systems in the game.
It would just be a matter of if they are willing to make that big move.
Shohei Ohtani could have a new home by the end of the week, also reported by Jon Morosi.
The Winter Meetings are the perfect time to get a deal done, and we will probably start to hear rumors flying all over the place as times fight for a position to sign the reigning AL MVP.
It’s the usual suspects all pushing to sign Ohtani, plus the San Francisco Giants, who made a big run at Aaron Judge and Carlos Correa last offseason.
Every Monday during the offseason, we will be doing a mailbag article. Please send in your questions to have them answered! Either comment below with ‘mailbag’ entered in the message or email us at bucsondeckqa@gmail.com. I look forward to answering what you guys have!
BC at the winter meetings...
Mentioned they knew Oviedo had an elbow problem at the end of the season and they planned their off-season thinking he would miss '24.
Their main focus remains adding starting pitching via FA and trades. Mentioned he's engaged in both right now. Also brought up arms that should be in PGH in '24, guys that already debuted like Prietser, Ortiz, Contreras...with Jones, Solometo, Chandler and Skenes having the opportunity to *earn* a spot in '24.
Davis will enter spring training as a catcher and a chance to *earn* playing time behind the dish. Mentioned Davis was called up early last season as they were still in the race and needed a bat like his in the lineup...didn't want to mess with the catching tandem.
He thinks someone will emerge this season as an above reg 2bmen...he mentioned Peguero, Bae, Triolo and Gonzales. Also noted that an outside addition is possible.
He mentioned several times that they'll be competing for wins in '24.
Wonder if Vlad's still around somewhere working on a list of potential Rule 5 gets.