Spring training is just around the corner, but baseball’s hot stove isn’t cooling off yet. Several big names are still up for grabs, and teams are making their final moves before pitchers and catchers report.
The San Diego Padres are getting creative with their outfield situation. They’ve lost Jurickson Profar to the Atlanta Braves, but they’ve got a plan to fill that gap.
They’re bringing in Jason Heyward and Connor Joe on one-year deals to form a left-field platoon. It’s a budget-conscious move for a team that’s dealing with some behind-the-scenes drama following the death of owner Peter Seidler.
Heyward, who’s 35, will get most of the playing time as the left-handed half of the duo. He hit .211 with 10 homers in 87 games last year, splitting time between the Dodgers and Astros.
Joe, 32, will face left-handed pitchers – something he’s pretty good at. He’s hit .254 with decent power against lefties in his career.
Over in Anaheim, the Angels are making an interesting switch at third base.
They’ve just picked up Yoán Moncada for $5 million, and here’s the kicker – he’s taking over as the starting third baseman.
That means Anthony Rendon is headed to the bench. It’s quite a fall for Rendon, who signed a massive $245 million deal back in 2020. He’s still owed $77.1 million over the next two years, but injuries and poor performance have derailed what looked like a promising partnership with the Angels.
Moncada, who’s 29, was once baseball’s next big thing. While he hasn’t quite lived up to the massive hype, the Angels are betting he’s got more left in the tank than Rendon.
