Weeks from Opening Day, Major League Baseball teams are scrambling to make moves during cut spring training.
Big-name free agents including Carlos Correa, Freddie Freeman and Trevor Story are still available and trades have been flying ever since the players reported coming to camp, with the Oakland Athletics joining All-Stars Matt Chapman (Blue Jays). ), Matt Olsson (Braves) and more recently Chris Bassit (Mets).
Keep it here all day Wednesday — and through the rest of spring training — as USA TODAY Sports brings you all the biggest news and buzz from around the league.
Tigers strengthen bullpen with Andrew Chaffin
The Detroit Tigers have signed left-handed reliever Andrew Chaffin to a two-year, $13 million deal Chaffin has opted-out of his contract after the first season.
Chaffin, 32, recorded a 1.83 ERA with 19 walks and 64 strikeouts in 71 games for the Chicago Cubs and Oakland Athletics last season.
– Detroit Free Press
Phillies add big bat to Kyle Schwarbow
Opponents already had to account for a lefty lefty in the middle of the Philadelphia Phillies’ lineup in National League MVP, Bryce Harper. Make that two, with the Phillies signing slugger Kyle Schwarber to a four-year deal.
Schwarber was an All-Star in 2021, scoring 32 home runs with 71 RBIs in 113 regular-season games for the Nationals and Red Sox.
Now that the designated hitter has been elevated to the National League under a newly ratified collective bargaining agreement, Phillies manager Joe Girardi can pencil Schwarber’s name up the order without fret about any defensive liabilities.
– Chris Cotton
Red Sox ace Chris Sell will miss opening day
Red Sox lefty Chris Sell has a stress fracture in his rib cage and will miss the start of the 2022 season.
Sales underwent Tommy John surgery in March 2020 and returned in August 2021, leading 5–1 with a 3.16 ERA in 42 innings and three starts for Boston in the postseason.
Red Sox executive Chaim Bloom said it would be “weeks, not days” before Sales could pick up a ball and start throwing again.
“I have work to do,” Sales said. “I’ve been behind huge obstacles, I’ve been behind rocks. I thought I’d never be able to overcome obstacles. This is another of them. Another life trial that I think will be over And trying to be a good partner and a good leader all the time.”
Without a sale, the Red Sox have Nathan Iovaldi, Nick Pivetta, Rich Hill, Tanner Hawke and Michael Wacha in rotation.
Blue Jays get Matt Chapman in business with Oakland
The fire sales continued for the Oakland Athletics, who traded All-Star third baseman Matt Chapman to the Toronto Blue Jays.
In return, the A would receive minor leaguers Kevin Smith, Gunnar Hoglund, Zach Log and Kirby Snead.
This is the third trade this week involving athletics. The dust is still gathering after Oakland traded fan-favorite first baseman Matt Olsson to the World Series champion Atlanta Braves and started pitcher Chris Bassett for the New York Mets earlier this week.
The Cubs signed a deal with Japanese star Siya Suzuki
The Chicago Cubs have brought down Japanese star Seiya Suzuki, one of the most coveted free agents in the market.
Suzuki, a four-time All-Star, three-time Gold Glove winner and two-time batting champion in Japan’s Central League, agreed to a five-year, $70 million deal,
Suzuki has been one of the best players in the Nippon Professional Baseball League since making his debut in 2013. Last season, he scored .317 runs with 38 home runs and 88 RBIs.
Yankees bring back Anthony Rizzo
The Yankees signed free agent first baseman Anthony Rizzo to a two-year, $32 million deal, a reunion with the 32-year-old first baseman who joins him in the 2021 trade deadline.
Now, the Yankees have Rizzo at first base, Gleber Torres at second base, Isiah Kiner-Falefa at shortstop and Josh Donaldson at third base, with DJ Lemahieu expected to start at first, second and third base.
