Wow, is this off-season ever moving slowly.

This is MLB Notebook, where we look at news and notes from around the league, whether it relates to the Blue Jays or not. A divisional rival made a trade, a former Blue Jay signed, and there’s some news on a top free agent.
Let’s dig in!
<h2>Thomas Pannone signed a minor league deal with the Chicago Cubs:</h2>
Do you remember Thomas Pannone? I wouldn’t blame you if you didn’t. <a href="https://www.bleachernation.com/cubs/2023/12/18/chicago-cubs-signing-lefty-thomas-pannone/">Well, the Chicago Cubs signed him Monday afternoon to a minor league deal with an invite to spring training</a>.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
Chicago Cubs Signing Lefty Thomas Pannone<a href="https://t.co/McdhBfOku6">https://t.co/McdhBfOku6</a> <a href="https://t.co/s2bQMuYCAO">pic.twitter.com/s2bQMuYCAO</a>
&mdash; Bleacher Nation (@BleacherNation) <a href="https://twitter.com/BleacherNation/status/1736859504057483559?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 18, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The Blue Jays acquired him and Samad Taylor (who was eventually moved for Whit Meriifield) in a trade with Cleveland back in 2017 for reliever Joe Smith. Pannone, then 24 years old, made his debut with the Jays in the dreaded 2018 season, where he posted a 4.19 ERA and a 5.11 FIP in 43 innings pitched.
The 2019 season, he was a part of the “four horsemen of the apocalypse” rotation which also featured Ryan Borucki, Jacob Waguespack, and Trent Thornton (as well as Marcus Stroman). Anyway, the 2019 season wasn’t as kind to Pannone, who had a 6.16 ERA and a 5.16 FIP in 73 innings pitched.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
9 pitches, 9 strikes 😳<a href="https://twitter.com/ThomasPannone?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ThomasPannone</a> throws the third Immaculate Inning in team history! <a href="https://t.co/ZAFGBi4I1y">pic.twitter.com/ZAFGBi4I1y</a>
&mdash; Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) <a href="https://twitter.com/BlueJays/status/1117508581668999168?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 14, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Pannone was still in the organization in 2020, but due to COVID, he only pitched at the Alternate Training Site, before electing free agency. After that, he bounced around the league for a bit, and even ended up pitching in Korea, before pitching 2.2 innings with Milwaukee in 2023.
Now, he’s signed a minor league deal with the Cubs, who also had other former Blue Jay pitchers in 2022, such as Borucki, Anthony Kay, and Julian Merryweather… as well as Stroman.
<h2>Baltimore acquires pitching:</h2>
It was announced on Monday afternoon that the Royals were trading 26-year-old right-handed pitcher Jonathan Heasley to the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for low-minor prospect Cesar Espinal.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
The Baltimore Orioles are acquiring right-hander Jonathan Heasley in a trade with the Kansas City Royals for rookie-ball right-hander Cesar Espinal, sources tell ESPN.
&mdash; Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) <a href="https://twitter.com/JeffPassan/status/1736885308644282844?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 18, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Of course, there’s always risk trading away a low minor prospect, as you can look no further than the Los Angeles Dodgers trading away Yordan Álvarez for Josh Shields (yikes). But more often than not, those prospects don’t amount to much.
Heasley pitched 15 innings from the Royals bullpen in 2023, posting a 7.20 ERA and a 6.99 FIP, along with a 14.3 K% and a 3.2 BB%. He started all 21 games he appeared in during the 2022 season, posting a 5.28 ERA and a 5.67 FIP in 104 innings pitched, along with a 15.1 K% and a 10.1 BB%.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
Jonathan Heasley collected 3 strikeouts in 1.1 innings. <a href="https://t.co/t2CFGBFddg">pic.twitter.com/t2CFGBFddg</a>
&mdash; Omaha Storm Chasers (@OMAStormChasers) <a href="https://twitter.com/OMAStormChasers/status/1702141986193486076?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 14, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
For his career, Heasley has a 5.45 ERA and a 5.86 FIP in 133.2 innings pitched, along with a 14.5 K% and an 8.9 BB%. The Orioles must see something they like. As for Espinal, the right-handed pitcher had a 3.18 ERA and a 3.98 FIP in 34 innings pitched with Baltimore’s Dominican Summer League team, along with a 25 K% and an 8.1 BB%.
<h2>Atlanta releases Matt Carpenter:</h2>
<a href="https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2023/12/braves-release-matt-carpenter.html?utm_source=twitter">The 38-year-old is officially a free agent</a>.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
The Braves have released Matt Carpenter, who they traded for on Friday, after being unable to trade his bad contract <a href="https://t.co/X3hIhFZYsY">pic.twitter.com/X3hIhFZYsY</a>
&mdash; Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) <a href="https://twitter.com/TalkinBaseball_/status/1736785692338884790?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 18, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Matt Carpenter has been in the twilight of his career for quite a while now, as the 38-year-old was great in the early part of it, leading the St. Louis Cardinals to several World Series. After three rough seasons, the Cardinals declined the option on his contract, and Carpenter walked heading into the 2022 off-season.
He briefly signed with the Texas Rangers, before he was released and the New York Yankees signed him to a major league deal, where magic happened. Between late May until he was injured in early August, Carpenter slashed .305/.412/.727 with 15 home runs in 154 plate appearances… which is an absolutely insane rate. The veteran struggled in the postseason, before signing with the Padres in 2023.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
Matt Carpenter is on fire. 🔥 <a href="https://t.co/o55tPNKvlf">pic.twitter.com/o55tPNKvlf</a>
&mdash; MLB (@MLB) <a href="https://twitter.com/MLB/status/1548454207186800643?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 16, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
He didn’t have a great season, slashing just .176/.322/.319 with five homers in 237 plate appearances, along with a 17.3 BB% and a 28.3 K% for an 86 wRC+ and a -0.3 fWAR. Carpenter had a player option for the 2024 season, but the Padres traded him and cash to Atlanta, before the latter released him.
He may sign a minor league deal, but it also may be the end of his major league career. In total, he slashed .260/.367/.451 with 175 homers in 5616 plate appearances for a 125 wRC+ and a 32.6 fWAR.
<h2>Teams didn’t start bidding on Yoshinobu Yamamoto until Monday:</h2>
Do the Blue Jays realistically have a shot at the 25-year-old potential ace? Probably not. However, they’ve been linked to the right-handed pitcher who may make upwards of $300 million. Jeff Passan doused the fire on Monday, noting that all the alleged bids were inaccurate as teams have been asked not to leak.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
Also in the story: All the alleged $300M bids for Yoshinobu Yamamoto — that’s inaccurate, sources tell ESPN. Teams have been asked not to discuss terms yet. But that could change today when bidding, sources said, is expected to begin. Now is when Yamamoto&#39;s free agency gets real.
&mdash; Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) <a href="https://twitter.com/JeffPassan/status/1736822910449320243?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 18, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&nbsp;
Of course, that doesn’t mean that he won’t get a lot of money, with the New York Yankees, New York Mets, and the Los Angeles Dodgers seen as the front runners. Of course, the Blue Jays and several other teams are interested, but it seems unlikely that he will sign with Toronto.
Either way, let’s hope things start moving before Christmas!
<hr />
As always, you can follow me on Twitter, Instagram, and Threads @Brennan_L_D.
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Wow, is this off-season ever moving slowly.



This is MLB Notebook, where we look at news and notes from around the league, whether it relates to the Blue Jays or not. A divisional rival made a trade, a former Blue Jay signed, and there’s some news on a top free agent.

Let’s dig in!
<h2>Thomas Pannone signed a minor league deal with the Chicago Cubs:</h2>
Do you remember Thomas Pannone? I wouldn’t blame you if you didn’t. <a href="https://www.bleachernation.com/cubs/2023/12/18/chicago-cubs-signing-lefty-thomas-pannone/">Well, the Chicago Cubs signed him Monday afternoon to a minor league deal with an invite to spring training</a>.

https://twitter.com/BleacherNation/status/1736859504057483559

The Blue Jays acquired him and Samad Taylor (who was eventually moved for Whit Meriifield) in a trade with Cleveland back in 2017 for reliever Joe Smith. Pannone, then 24 years old, made his debut with the Jays in the dreaded 2018 season, where he posted a 4.19 ERA and a 5.11 FIP in 43 innings pitched.

The 2019 season, he was a part of the “four horsemen of the apocalypse” rotation which also featured Ryan Borucki, Jacob Waguespack, and Trent Thornton (as well as Marcus Stroman). Anyway, the 2019 season wasn’t as kind to Pannone, who had a 6.16 ERA and a 5.16 FIP in 73 innings pitched.

https://twitter.com/BlueJays/status/1117508581668999168

Pannone was still in the organization in 2020, but due to COVID, he only pitched at the Alternate Training Site, before electing free agency. After that, he bounced around the league for a bit, and even ended up pitching in Korea, before pitching 2.2 innings with Milwaukee in 2023.

Now, he’s signed a minor league deal with the Cubs, who also had other former Blue Jay pitchers in 2022, such as Borucki, Anthony Kay, and Julian Merryweather… as well as Stroman.
<h2>Baltimore acquires pitching:</h2>
It was announced on Monday afternoon that the Royals were trading 26-year-old right-handed pitcher Jonathan Heasley to the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for low-minor prospect Cesar Espinal.

https://twitter.com/JeffPassan/status/1736885308644282844

Of course, there’s always risk trading away a low minor prospect, as you can look no further than the Los Angeles Dodgers trading away Yordan Álvarez for Josh Shields (yikes). But more often than not, those prospects don’t amount to much.

Heasley pitched 15 innings from the Royals bullpen in 2023, posting a 7.20 ERA and a 6.99 FIP, along with a 14.3 K% and a 3.2 BB%. He started all 21 games he appeared in during the 2022 season, posting a 5.28 ERA and a 5.67 FIP in 104 innings pitched, along with a 15.1 K% and a 10.1 BB%.

https://twitter.com/OMAStormChasers/status/1702141986193486076

For his career, Heasley has a 5.45 ERA and a 5.86 FIP in 133.2 innings pitched, along with a 14.5 K% and an 8.9 BB%. The Orioles must see something they like. As for Espinal, the right-handed pitcher had a 3.18 ERA and a 3.98 FIP in 34 innings pitched with Baltimore’s Dominican Summer League team, along with a 25 K% and an 8.1 BB%.
<h2>Atlanta releases Matt Carpenter:</h2>
<a href="https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2023/12/braves-release-matt-carpenter.html?utm_source=twitter">The 38-year-old is officially a free agent</a>.

https://twitter.com/TalkinBaseball_/status/1736785692338884790

Matt Carpenter has been in the twilight of his career for quite a while now, as the 38-year-old was great in the early part of it, leading the St. Louis Cardinals to several World Series. After three rough seasons, the Cardinals declined the option on his contract, and Carpenter walked heading into the 2022 off-season.

He briefly signed with the Texas Rangers, before he was released and the New York Yankees signed him to a major league deal, where magic happened. Between late May until he was injured in early August, Carpenter slashed .305/.412/.727 with 15 home runs in 154 plate appearances… which is an absolutely insane rate. The veteran struggled in the postseason, before signing with the Padres in 2023.

https://twitter.com/MLB/status/1548454207186800643

He didn’t have a great season, slashing just .176/.322/.319 with five homers in 237 plate appearances, along with a 17.3 BB% and a 28.3 K% for an 86 wRC+ and a -0.3 fWAR. Carpenter had a player option for the 2024 season, but the Padres traded him and cash to Atlanta, before the latter released him.

He may sign a minor league deal, but it also may be the end of his major league career. In total, he slashed .260/.367/.451 with 175 homers in 5616 plate appearances for a 125 wRC+ and a 32.6 fWAR.
<h2>Teams didn’t start bidding on Yoshinobu Yamamoto until Monday:</h2>
Do the Blue Jays realistically have a shot at the 25-year-old potential ace? Probably not. However, they’ve been linked to the right-handed pitcher who may make upwards of $300 million. Jeff Passan doused the fire on Monday, noting that all the alleged bids were inaccurate as teams have been asked not to leak.

https://twitter.com/JeffPassan/status/1736822910449320243

&nbsp;

Of course, that doesn’t mean that he won’t get a lot of money, with the New York Yankees, New York Mets, and the Los Angeles Dodgers seen as the front runners. Of course, the Blue Jays and several other teams are interested, but it seems unlikely that he will sign with Toronto.

Either way, let’s hope things start moving before Christmas!

<hr />

As always, you can follow me on Twitter, Instagram, and Threads @Brennan_L_D.

<hr />

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MLB Notebook: Former Blue Jays pitching prospect signs with the Cubs, the Orioles make a trade, and more!

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