It feels as if the MLB off-season has kicked off in full gear.

With the annual Winter Meetings less than a week away, let’s take a look at happenings from around the league.
<h2>Two pitchers from Japan posted:</h2>
As expected, pitchers Shota Imanaga and Naoyuki Uwasawa have been posted by their respective Nippon Professional Baseball clubs, the Yokohama DeNA BayStars and the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters. They&#8217;re now in a 45-day window in which they can negotiate a contract with Major League clubs. 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
Shota Imanaga and Naoyuki Uwasawa have officially been posted. They have a 45-day window to be signed, ending January 11th at 5pm ET.
per <a href="https://twitter.com/Feinsand?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Feinsand</a> <a href="https://t.co/1XdbkWRa0R">pic.twitter.com/1XdbkWRa0R</a>
&mdash; FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) <a href="https://twitter.com/MLBONFOX/status/1729194026740617633?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 27, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
While the star of this year&#8217;s market among pitchers from Japan is Yoshinobu Yamamoto, both Imanaga and Uwasawa project to be solid middle-to-back-rotation starters in the big leagues. Imanaga posted a 2.80 ERA across 22 starts and 148 innings while Uwasawa had a 2.96 ERA in 24 starts and 170 innings. 
In order to sign any of Yamamoto, Imagana, and Uwasawa, their NPB teams will also have to be paid out on top of the contracts those players are to sign. As per MLB Trade Rumours, the NPB club &#8220;will receive 20% of the contract’s first $25 million in guaranteed money, 17.5% of the next $25 million, and then 15% on anything beyond the $50 million mark.&#8221;
<h2>Juan Soto update:</h2>
Is Juan Soto going to be Padre in 2024 or will he play for some other team? Who knows at this point.
On Monday, Héctor Gómez reported that the Yankees have a good chance at getting him, but his source believes that he has a better chance at sticking with the Padres.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
SOURCE: A person very close to Juan Soto just told me that although the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Yankees?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Yankees</a> have a very good chance of getting him, he believes that Soto has a better chance of staying with the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Padres?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Padres</a> in the 2024 season than of being traded.
The <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Mets?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Mets</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Giants?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Giants</a> involved in talks, too. <a href="https://t.co/cDuMTwWNdP">pic.twitter.com/cDuMTwWNdP</a>
&mdash; Héctor Gómez (@hgomez27) <a href="https://twitter.com/hgomez27/status/1729023870915711122?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 27, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
This sentiment was echoed by <a href="https://fansided.com/posts/mlb-rumors-padres-urgency-to-trade-juan-soto-has-been-greatly-exaggerated-01hg9ghwyrq4">Fansided’s Robert Murray</a>, who stated on an episode of Baseball Insiders that the only way they’d move him is if it’s an offer they can’t refuse. That article can be found here, and includes the episode in question. <a href="https://theathletic.com/5095044/2023/11/28/mlb-trade-rumors-juan-soto-padres-blue-jays/">However, The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal</a> stated that Soto is almost certain to be traded because the Padres’ handle finances similar to how I did in college — not great.
Logic would indicate that Soto winds up being traded out of San Diego but who knows at this point.
<h2>Rays want MLB talent for Tyler Glasnow:</h2>
Like Soto, it seems like it’s not a question of “if”, but “when” Glasnow is traded. Per Mark Sheldon, the Cincinnati Reds’ beat reporter for MLB.com, the Tampa Bay Rays want MLB-ready talent for the 30-year-old former ace.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
The <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Reds?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Reds</a> were close on terms with Sonny Gray before Gray agreed to terms with STL, per <a href="https://twitter.com/m_sheldon?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@m_sheldon</a> 
Sheldon notes CIN also has interest in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Rays?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Rays</a> SP Tyler Glasnow, who is readily available on the trade market.
TB wants MLB-ready talent in return for Glasnow. <a href="https://t.co/7RLYvCVuqb">pic.twitter.com/7RLYvCVuqb</a>
&mdash; MLB Deadline News (@MLBDeadlineNews) <a href="https://twitter.com/MLBDeadlineNews/status/1729206560470262262?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 27, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The Reds are among a few teams interested in Glasnow, as their divisional rivals the Chicago Cubs are also looking to trade for him, per Jon Morosi from MLB Network. Morosi also mentioned that both the Reds and Cubs are interested in Cleveland’s Shane Bieber.
After missing all but 6.2 innings in 2022, Glasnow returned to action in 2023 pitched 120 innings and posting a 3.53 ERA and a 2.91 FIP.  In those 21 starts, he has a 33.4 K% and a 7.6 BB%, but his velocity dropped from 97.6 mph to 96.5 mph.
<h2>A’s protest, B’s created:</h2>
It would suck if the Jays don’t get a top free agent, but I wouldn’t say we’re a tortured fan base. However, I can’t say the same about Oakland’s fans. A few weeks ago, it was announced the A’s would be moving from Oakland to Las Vegas, ending a 55+ year legacy in Northern California.
Despite their low attendance numbers at the awful Oakland Coliseum, fans in Oakland still care, famously organizing a reverse boycott on June 14th, where 27,759 tickets were sold. It doesn’t sound like a lot, but Oakland’s average attendance in 2023 was 10,275.
Their fans are at it again, organizing another boycott, this time on opening day. The plan this time is to tailgate in the parking lot of Oakland Coliseum while leaving the stadium completely empty, according to <a href="https://theathletic.com/5069122/2023/11/16/athletics-opening-day-boycott-relocation/">this The Athletic article</a>.
It’s also worth mentioning that fans have created a team for the Pioneer League called the Oakland Ballers, also known as the Oakland B’s, according to Jeff Passan.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
With the Oakland A&#39;s set to move to Las Vegas, a group of East Bay fans has created a team that will play in the independent Pioneer League starting in 2024.
That team&#39;s name? The Oakland Ballers &#8212; also known as the Oakland B&#39;s.
News free at ESPN: <a href="https://t.co/N3DlHH2gau">https://t.co/N3DlHH2gau</a>
&mdash; Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) <a href="https://twitter.com/JeffPassan/status/1729505286623215702?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 28, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Hopefully, the team stays in Oakland and their owner looks to sell. Their fans deserve better.
<h2>Yankees gunning for Yoshinobu Yamamoto:</h2>
It’s well known that the Yankees are one of many teams that are interested in the 25-year-old right-handed pitcher from Japan.
<a href="https://sny.tv/articles/yankees-have-been-saving-yoshinobu-yamamoto-uniform-number">According to this SNY article</a>, the Yankees are withholding the number 18 for him and have done so for the past season. The number 18 in Japan is the number that aces wear, as Mashiro Tanaka also wore #18 for the Rakuten Golden Eagles.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
&quot;They&#39;re in on Soto. They&#39;re in on Bellinger. They&#39;re in on Yamamoto.&quot;
&#8211; <a href="https://twitter.com/JonHeyman?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JonHeyman</a> selects the Yankees as his primary bounce back team for the 2024 season <a href="https://t.co/56S0tJ8p1Q">pic.twitter.com/56S0tJ8p1Q</a>
&mdash; MLB Now (@MLBNow) <a href="https://twitter.com/MLBNow/status/1729530595091640374?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 28, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
It seems the Yankees will make a big splash, whether it&#8217;s Yamamoto, Soto, or Cody Bellinger.  
<hr />
As always, you can follow me on Twitter, Instagram, and Threads @Brennan_L_D.
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It feels as if the MLB off-season has kicked off in full gear.



With the annual Winter Meetings less than a week away, let’s take a look at happenings from around the league.
<h2>Two pitchers from Japan posted:</h2>
As expected, pitchers Shota Imanaga and Naoyuki Uwasawa have been posted by their respective Nippon Professional Baseball clubs, the Yokohama DeNA BayStars and the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters. They're now in a 45-day window in which they can negotiate a contract with Major League clubs. 

https://twitter.com/MLBONFOX/status/1729194026740617633

While the star of this year's market among pitchers from Japan is Yoshinobu Yamamoto, both Imanaga and Uwasawa project to be solid middle-to-back-rotation starters in the big leagues. Imanaga posted a 2.80 ERA across 22 starts and 148 innings while Uwasawa had a 2.96 ERA in 24 starts and 170 innings. 

In order to sign any of Yamamoto, Imagana, and Uwasawa, their NPB teams will also have to be paid out on top of the contracts those players are to sign. As per MLB Trade Rumours, the NPB club "will receive 20% of the contract’s first $25 million in guaranteed money, 17.5% of the next $25 million, and then 15% on anything beyond the $50 million mark."
<h2>Juan Soto update:</h2>
Is Juan Soto going to be Padre in 2024 or will he play for some other team? Who knows at this point.

On Monday, Héctor Gómez reported that the Yankees have a good chance at getting him, but his source believes that he has a better chance at sticking with the Padres.

https://twitter.com/hgomez27/status/1729023870915711122

This sentiment was echoed by <a href="https://fansided.com/posts/mlb-rumors-padres-urgency-to-trade-juan-soto-has-been-greatly-exaggerated-01hg9ghwyrq4">Fansided’s Robert Murray</a>, who stated on an episode of Baseball Insiders that the only way they’d move him is if it’s an offer they can’t refuse. That article can be found here, and includes the episode in question. <a href="https://theathletic.com/5095044/2023/11/28/mlb-trade-rumors-juan-soto-padres-blue-jays/">However, The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal</a> stated that Soto is almost certain to be traded because the Padres’ handle finances similar to how I did in college — not great.

Logic would indicate that Soto winds up being traded out of San Diego but who knows at this point.
<h2>Rays want MLB talent for Tyler Glasnow:</h2>
Like Soto, it seems like it’s not a question of “if”, but “when” Glasnow is traded. Per Mark Sheldon, the Cincinnati Reds’ beat reporter for MLB.com, the Tampa Bay Rays want MLB-ready talent for the 30-year-old former ace.

https://twitter.com/MLBDeadlineNews/status/1729206560470262262

The Reds are among a few teams interested in Glasnow, as their divisional rivals the Chicago Cubs are also looking to trade for him, per Jon Morosi from MLB Network. Morosi also mentioned that both the Reds and Cubs are interested in Cleveland’s Shane Bieber.

After missing all but 6.2 innings in 2022, Glasnow returned to action in 2023 pitched 120 innings and posting a 3.53 ERA and a 2.91 FIP.  In those 21 starts, he has a 33.4 K% and a 7.6 BB%, but his velocity dropped from 97.6 mph to 96.5 mph.
<h2>A’s protest, B’s created:</h2>
It would suck if the Jays don’t get a top free agent, but I wouldn’t say we’re a tortured fan base. However, I can’t say the same about Oakland’s fans. A few weeks ago, it was announced the A’s would be moving from Oakland to Las Vegas, ending a 55+ year legacy in Northern California.

Despite their low attendance numbers at the awful Oakland Coliseum, fans in Oakland still care, famously organizing a reverse boycott on June 14th, where 27,759 tickets were sold. It doesn’t sound like a lot, but Oakland’s average attendance in 2023 was 10,275.

Their fans are at it again, organizing another boycott, this time on opening day. The plan this time is to tailgate in the parking lot of Oakland Coliseum while leaving the stadium completely empty, according to <a href="https://theathletic.com/5069122/2023/11/16/athletics-opening-day-boycott-relocation/">this The Athletic article</a>.

It’s also worth mentioning that fans have created a team for the Pioneer League called the Oakland Ballers, also known as the Oakland B’s, according to Jeff Passan.

https://twitter.com/JeffPassan/status/1729505286623215702

Hopefully, the team stays in Oakland and their owner looks to sell. Their fans deserve better.
<h2>Yankees gunning for Yoshinobu Yamamoto:</h2>
It’s well known that the Yankees are one of many teams that are interested in the 25-year-old right-handed pitcher from Japan.

<a href="https://sny.tv/articles/yankees-have-been-saving-yoshinobu-yamamoto-uniform-number">According to this SNY article</a>, the Yankees are withholding the number 18 for him and have done so for the past season. The number 18 in Japan is the number that aces wear, as Mashiro Tanaka also wore #18 for the Rakuten Golden Eagles.

https://twitter.com/MLBNow/status/1729530595091640374

It seems the Yankees will make a big splash, whether it's Yamamoto, Soto, or Cody Bellinger.  

<hr />

As always, you can follow me on Twitter, Instagram, and Threads @Brennan_L_D.

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