Like a novelist nearing their deadline, the authors behind Major League Baseball's offseason will have to tie up a lot of loose ends in a short amount of time once the owner-imposed lockout is lifted. At that point, the major unresolved storylines should reach their resolution: the free agencies of , , and ; the disa sembly of the ; and the arrival of Japanese outfielder Seiya Suzuki, .Suzuki, 27 years old, is caught in limbo. His 30-day negotiation window (which began when Nippon Profe sional Baseball's Hiroshima Toyo Carp "posted" him for consideration) will remain paused for as long as the lockout endures. Suzuki and his agent opted against signing before the work stoppage, and he didn't tip his hand during a recent television appearance alongside former big-league reliever Koji Uehara -- not even when Uehara pre sed him about signing with the . Seiya Suzuki explains that he actually followed the Boston Red Sox two years ago to watch hitters like Xander Ike Anigbogu Jersey Bogaerts and Mookie Betts. He later confirms that no decision has been made yet regarding any contract, including with the Red Sox. Yakyu Cosmopolitan (@baseballcosmo) To most American fans, Suzuki is a mystery man beyond what is captured on . He's a career .309/.402/.541 hitter who has launched 189 home runs and has swiped 102 bases. He first appeared on these pages back in June 2020, :Suzuki has a well-rounded game. He has one of the most discerning eyes in the league, and he's topped 25 home runs in each of the past four seasons. Defensively, he has a strong arm that serves as a reminder that he pitched as a youngster. He's tallied 24 a sists since 2017; for comparison's sake, led big-league right fielders in that category last season, and he has 22 a sists over the same timeframe.Soon, Suzuki will be tasked with ending a recent drought that has seen Japanese position players fail to take to the Jarrod Uthoff Jersey majors. Excepting (the ultimate outlier, in many regards), have gambled and lost in recent years on the likes of Yoshi Tsutsugo and making a smooth transition. Evaluators think Suzuki's swing and overall game are more likely to translate to the MLB game.Just how reasonable is that belief, and how good might Suzuki be? To attempt an answer on both ends, CBS Sports obtained Suzuki's ball-tracking data from an industry source and used it to create similarity scores by comparing his outputs in several key categories (exit velocity, launch angle, and so on) to all big-league hitters who recorded at least 300 plate appearances last season. Before getting to the results, we are obligated to state some caveats. Foremost, for as good as NPB is -- and it is the second-best baseball league in the world - Solomon Hill Jersey - there is a difference between posting these numbers there and posting them in MLB. That much should be understood. Additionally, using one season of data for all the involved players is le s precise than using multiple seasons and weighing it in accordance to recency. For our purposes, we're willing to make that trade.Now, onto the good stuff: Suzuki averaged a 91-mph exit velocity and a 13.6-degree launch angle on his batted balls last season. Roughly 45 percent of those traveled at 95 mph or faster, and 26.5 percent of them were launched between 10 and 30 degrees. We didn't include chase or whiff rates in our similarity scores, but while we're data-dumping: he expanded his zone on just 17 percent of the pitches he saw, and he flailed on 21 percent of his swings. (The averages for those metrics among our MLB player pool were 27.3 percent and 25 percent.)With that out of the way, let's reveal the 10 hitters most statistically similar to Suzuki: nameAVG EVLaunch angle95+ mph%10-30 degrees%2021 OPS+9114.346.836.3116 90.413.847.827.893Adolis Garca90.814.645.525.8101Bryce Harper91.112.949.734.2179 9114.747.430.2134Teoscar Hernndez91.813.149.534.8133 92.213.448.531.693 90.214.243.835.99890.114.245.9331329013.141.13188It's an interesting group. You have the reigning National League Most Valuable Player Award recipient, in Bryce Harper; an all-world slugger, in Pete Alonso; a World Series champion coming off a breakout season, in Austin Riley; some one-time All-Stars, in Teoscar Hernndez and Adolis Garca; and some otherwise unexpected names, including the bookend duo of Ji-Man Choi and Trevor Larnach.Oftentimes, NBA New Orleans Pelicans Jeresy it's easier to analyze the group as a whole than to pick and choose from the individuals. In this case, Suzuki's similar hitters had a median OPS+ of 109 last season, suggesting he's in the company of mostly above-average bats.That shouldn't come as a surprise based on what we've established about Suzuki: he hits the ball hard; he makes a good amount of contact; he seldom swings at balls; and he has an optimized launch angle. If you were building the ideal hitter from scratch, you'd make a point of including all of those qualities before you sent them to the dish. All the above seems to bode well for Suzuki as he attempts to become a productive big-league hitter. Factor in his strong arm, and his presence Josh Hart Jersey in right field should make him a meaningful contributor on both sides of the ball. (He's not much of a base-stealing threat, suggesting his contributions will end there.)As we recently explained, . Even so, there's sufficient reason to think that he could become one of the offseason's biggest bargains -- especially if most teams are more concerned with the risk than the reward.

At some point in the coming weeks, MLB and the MLB Players A sociation will agree to a new collective bargaining agreement, and the owner-imposed lockout will end. At 68 days, this is already the second longest work stoppage in baseball history, trialing only the 1994-95 strike (232 days). I don't know when it will return, but baseball will return at some point. I promise. And once it does, the 30 clubs will have to scramble to wrap up their offseason busine s before opening spring training. Some teams have more to do than others (a lot more), and some teams are pretty much set for 2022. With that in mind, let's look at Zydrunas Ilgauskas Jersey each team's No. 1 priority after the lockout, shall we? Let's get to it. CBS Sports HQ Newsletter Your Ultimate Guide to Every Day in Sports We bring sports news that matters to your inbox, to help you stay informed and get a winning edge. I agree to receive the "CBS Sports HQ Newsletter" and marketing communications, updates, special offers (including partner offers), and other information from CBS Sports and the Paramount family of companies. By pre sing sign up, I confirm that I have read and agree to the . Please check the opt-in box to acknowledge that you would like to subscribe. Thanks for signing up! Keep an eye on your inbox. Sorry! There was an error proce sing your subscription. Gauge the market for . They have to do it, right? The lost 110 games in 2021 and they're stuck in a division with several big-market powerhouses. I'm not sure a quick turnaround is po sible. Marte is signed affordably for another three years and he remains an elite performer (when healthy). Realistically, his trade value only goes down from here because he'll inch closer to free agency, so listen and seriously consider offers. The D-Backs don't to trade Marte right now, but it would be silly to make him off-limits given their current situation. Re-sign . It should have happened before the lockout, but late is better than never. This is a situation that will have to get sorted out fairly quickly after the lockout too. If he's not going back to the , Freeman will want to pivot to other teams and find a new home, and the Braves will have to pivot to other first base candidates. But yeah, just pay the man, Braves. He's great, he's the face of your franchise, and you just won the World Series. Don't pinch pennies with this guy. Approach about an extension. Rutschman, , will be the centerpiece of the next contending team. I don Jarrett Allen Jersey 't know when that next contending Orioles team will arrive, but it will arrive at some point, and locking up Rutschman now ensures he'll be a part of it. We've seen several players sign long-terms contracts before making their MLB debuts ( , , etc.). The O's should try to make Rutschman the next, even if it means offering $100-plus million. He is that good. Bring in another outfielder. For better or worse, the went quantity over quality with their pitching ( , , , etc.), and now they need to bolster an outfield that currently includes , , , , and po sibly . Maybe Bradley bounces back and maybe Duran lives up to the prospect hype after last year's rough debut. Seems to me there's room for improvement there. A reunion would make sense, but even someone like would be a nice depth addition. Get a shortstop. There's something to be said for giving an extended opportunity. I just think that, when guys like and are available, you should sign them and upgrade a key up-the-middle position. There is room on the roster for both Correa/Story and Hoerner. I promise. The were smart and opportunistic when they signed to a three-year deal before the lockout. With so many big-market teams seemingly sitting Larry Nance Jersey out the shortstop market, the Cubbies have another chance to be opportunistic here. Don't pa s it up. Find a second baseman or right fielder. The are in a bit of a weird place at those two positions because and played well enough the last two years to warrant more playing time, but also their track records are very short, and I feel like a team that fancies itself a World Series contender should aim higher. Ketel Marte would be the ideal addition since he can play second and the outfield. I'm a fan of A's utility guy , who can also play second and the outfield. He'd add depth in case Engel and/or Garca don't repeat their 2020-21 performances but also not stand in their way if they do. Find a shortstop. The still don't have a shortstop, huh? Give props for holding his own at the position last year, though that can't be the plan again. Top prospect has been overmatched in his limited MLB time and should be allowed to develop properly in the minors. By projected future WAR, this is the greatest free-agent Larry Nance Jr. Jersey shortstop cla s in history. Carlos Correa and Trevor Story are the only ones left unsigned, and if the Reds aren't going to go there, then you at least have to make calls about trade candidates and . Shortstop is not a position to punt. Get another outfielder. is a solid everyday center fielder and is a personal favorite. The / platoon in the other outfield spot does nothing for me though. The have been short an outfielder (or two, at times) since left and ownership has to spend money eventually. is the only player on the roster with a guaranteed contract! Bring in an outfielder and try to make a run in a not-great division with the postseason field likely to expand. Take trade calls about . The are impo sible to figure out. They didn't trade Trevor Story, they didn't make the qualifying offer, and they're giving out extensions that suggest they want to win now. I don't get it. They went 74-87 a year ago with Story and Gray, and they're stuck in a tough division. Mrquez is one of the most valuable trade commodities in the game given his durability, performance, and affordable Larry Johnson Jersey contract. Cash him in as a trade chip before his value plummets due to injury or Coors Field, and infuse the organization with young talent. Beef up the bullpen. The quietly went 68-61 in their final 129 games last year, and they're poised to be even better this year after signing and , and eventually incorporating top prospects and Spencer Torkelson into the lineup. The AL Central isn't exactly a powerhouse division and the new collective bargaining agreement is likely to expand the postseason field. Detroit has a few weak spots in the bullpen. Even mid-range free agent relievers like, say, and would be big upgrades. It's a cheap and easy enough way to improve the team's postseason chances. Re-sign Carlos Correa. Look, I like as a prospect, but Correa is one of the best players in the world, and the would be crazy to let him walk. Their World Series window is as open as it's going

Athletics head into matchup with the Astros on losing streak August 13 sharefacebooktwitterredditlink Oakland Athletics (41-72, fifth in the AL West) vs. Houston Astros (73-41, first in the AL West)Houston; Saturday, 7:10 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Athletics: Zach Logue (0-0); Astros: Lance McCullers Jr. (0-0) LINE: Astros -285, Athletics +228; over/under is 9 runsBOTTOM LINE: The Oakland Dante Exum Jersey Athletics head into the matchup against the Houston Astros as losers of six in a row.Houston is 73-41 overall and 37-18 at home. The Astros have the top team ERA in the AL at 3.05.Oakland is 41-72 overall and 24-33 in road games. The Athletics are 14-9 in games when they hit two or more home runs.The teams match up Saturday for the 14th time this season. The Astros lead the season series 7-6.TOP PERFORMERS: Yordan Alvarez has a .296 batting average to lead the Astros, and has 15 doubles, two triples and 31 home runs. Jose Altuve is 14-for-38 with two RBI over the past 10 games.Sean Murphy has 26 doubles, a triple and 13 home runs for the Athletics. Ramon Laureano is 10-for-41 with three doubles, two home runs and seven RBI over Jarrett Allen Jersey the past 10 games.LAST 10 GAMES: Astros: 6-4, .267 batting average, 3.13 ERA, outscored opponents by 16 runsAthletics: 2-8, .220 batting average, 4.20 ERA, outscored Dean Wade Jersey by 16 runsINJURIES: Astros: Jason Castro: 60-Day IL (knee), Blake Taylor: 60-Day IL (elbow), Michael Brantley: 10-Day IL (shoulder), Josh James: 60-Day IL (lat), Lance McCullers Jr.: 60-Day IL (forearm)Athletics: Paul Blackburn: 15-Day IL (finger), Daulton Jefferies: 60-Day IL (arm), Deolis Guerra: 60-Day IL (elbow), Brent Honeywell Jr.: 60-Day IL (elbow)___The A sociated Pre s created this story using technology provided by and data from . in this topic American League Major League Baseball Oakland Athletics Houston Astros Dylan Windler Jersey Daulton Jefferies Josh James Jose Altuve Deolis Guerra Brent Honeywell Jr. Ramn Laureano Paul Blackburn Lance McCullers Jr. Yordan Alvarez Blake Taylor Jason Castro Sean Murphy Michael Brantley Houston Astros Oakland Athletics share World Cup fans find booze at hotels, Qatar's 1 liquor store Qatar's strict rules regarding alcohol have drawn attention as it hosts the World Cup 32 MINS AGO ASSOCIATED PRESS Sterling leaves England World Cup camp after home break-in England forward Raheem Sterling has left his teams World Cup camp in Qatar and returned to the U.K. after a break-in at his home 36 MINS AGO ASSOCIATED PRESS Ronaldo looks to shine like Mbapp and Me Darius Garland Jersey si at World Cup Cristiano Ronaldo has been overshadowed by the brilliance of Lionel Me si and Kylian Mbapp so far at the World Cup 1 HOUR AGO ASSOCIATED PRESS Ottawa hosts Los Angeles after Giroux's 2-goal game The Ottawa Senators host the Los Angeles Kings after Claude Giroux's two-goal game against the San Jose Sharks in the Senators' 5-2 win 1 HOUR AGO ASSOCIATED PRESS Penguins host the Blue Jackets following Kapanen's hat trick The Pittsburgh Penguins host the Columbus Blue Jackets after Kasperi Kapanen's hat trick against the St. Louis Blues in the Penguins' 6-2 win 1 HOUR AGO ASSOCIATED PRESS

Prior to this weekend, the had lost 16 of their last 17 games in Yankee Stadium. Hell, even in 2018 -- when Jerry Sloan Jersey they won 108 games and the World Series -- they lost all three series in the Bronx. They hadn't won a series there since Aug. 11-13, 2017. The Red Sox took care of that by winning the first two games of the series on Friday and Saturday over the struggling . Sunday, they were going for their first sweep in Yankee Stadium since 2011. Adam Mokoka Jersey It took a late comeback and extra innings to pull it off, but they got the job done, .The big blow came via star shortstop in extras with two outs: Bogaerts puts the back on top in the 10th. MLB (@MLB) The Red Sox drew first blood with an homer in the top of the first, but the Yankees rallied for two in the bottom on a double. The Yankees would tack on one in the fourth, but it was Zach LaVine Jersey a pitchers duel for a bit after the first. allowed just the one run on three hits in 5 2/3 innings.Once German exited, though, the Yankees' lead vanished. tied things up with a two-run shot in the seventh. In the eighth, doubled to lead things off and scored after two productive outs. The Red Sox had taken the lead and were looking that rare sweep square in the face. The Yankees wouldn't go quietly, though. drew a one- Michael Jordan Jersey out walk in the ninth and then doubled him home. The Yankees would end up with runners on first and third for . The walkoff run was 90 feet away, but Odor was rung up on a pitch that should've been ball four. Questionable strike call on Rougned Odor. Sporting News (@sportingnews) Multiple ejections from the Yankees bench ensued.Regardle s, the Red Sox got their two runs in the top of the 10th and the Yankees only managed one in the bottom half, with a double play looming large. The Red Sox are now 36-23, trailing the by one game in the Wendell Carter Jersey AL East. The Yankees have lost 10 of their last 13 games. Their 31-29 record is good for fourth place in the AL East and they are 6 1/2 out.

** This game has been postponed due to weather **There hasn't been a shortage of offense thus far in the three-game series between the and , as each Chandler Hutchison Jersey team has reached double digits in runs en route to a victory. Cincinnati posted an 11-1 triumph in Monday's opener before Philadelphia cruised to a 17-3 win in the middle contest. With two unproven starters on the mound, another high-scoring affair is po sible when the Phillies visit the Reds for the series finale on Wednesday afternoon.First pitch is scheduled for 12:35 p.m. ET. Philadelphia sends (0-1, 5.56 ERA) to the mound against fellow right-hander (0-1, 1.80). Cincinnati is being listed as the -115 money line favorite (risk $115 to win $100) at William Hill Sportsbook, while the over-under for runs scored is 8.5 in the latest Phillies vs. Reds odds. Before making any Reds vs. Phillies picks, .This model, which simulates every pitch of every game 10,000 times, had a banner 2019 season, the league's last full schedule, returning more than $1,400 on its top-rated money-line and run-line . It is off to a Jerry Sloan Jersey fast start in 2021, going 71-52 on top-rated money-line picks through nine weeks, returning over $800. Anyone following it has seen huge rewards.Now, the model has dialed in on . You can . Here are the and trends for Reds vs. Phillies: Phillies vs. Reds money line: Philadelphia +105, Cincinnati -115Phillies vs. Reds run line: Philadelphia -1.5Phillies vs. Reds over-under: 8.5 runsPHI: The Phillies are 5-1 in their last six games against National League Central teamsCIN: The Reds are 20-7 in their last 27 home meetings with Philadelphia Featured Game | Cincinnati Reds vs. Philadelphia Phillies Moneyline Spread Total CIN PHI Why you should back the PhilliesAfter getting trounced in the series opener, Philadelphia flexed its muscles and belted seven home runs in Tuesday's laugher. and both went deep twice as the Phillies collected 18 hits en route to ending their three-game losing streak. added a grand slam and seven different players posted multi-hit performances for Philadelphia, which set a season high as it reached double digits in Devon Dotson Jersey runs for just the second time in 2021.Herrera has been red hot in the series, recording a pair of three-hit efforts to raise his batting average from .248 to .276. A similar outing would be very beneficial to Howard, who will be making his third start since replacing in the rotation. The 24-year-old Howard allowed one run and two hits over four innings in a no-decision at Miami last Thursday.Why you should back the RedsCincinnati actually held an early lead on Tuesday as launched a two-run homer in the second inning. The 30-year-old outfielder became the Simisola Shittu Jersey fourth member of the Reds with at least 11 blasts this season, joining (13), (12) and (12). Cincinnati enters the series finale ranked third in the National League with 74 home runs. The Reds are counting on another strong start from Gutierrez, who pitched well enough to win in his major-league debut NBA Chicago Bulls Jeresy on Friday. The 25-year-old Cuban limited the to one run and two hits over five innings at Wrigley Field but received no run support in a 1-0 lo s. Gutierrez earned the promotion after going 2-0 with a 2.65 ERA and 0.94 WHIP in three starts for Triple-A Louisville.How to make Reds vs. Phillies picksSportsLine's model is leaning over on the total, projecting the teams to combine for 8.7 runs, and it also says one side of the money line has all the value. .So who wins Phillies vs. Reds? And which side of the money line has all the value? , all from the advanced model off to a hot start in 2021.

The Giants and Dodgers delivered a cla sic in Game 5 of the NLDS.But this cla sic didn't quite get the ending it deserved. Instead of the game ending on a flyout, groundout or such Kawhi Leonard Jersey , Giantsfirst baseman Wilmer Flores was rung up on a check-swing Strike 3 against Max Scherzer. First base umpire Gabe Morales ruled on appeal that Flores went around.Here's the swingin question:This was a checked strike three and ended the seriesThoughts? The Sporting News (@sportingnews) MORE:Yeah, it doesn't look like he went around.It was a snap decision by Morales. , "field umpires must be alerted to the request from the plate umpire and quickly respond."And according to , a checked swing is not on the list of calls that can be viewed on video. "Check swings are one of the hardest calls we have. I don't have the benefit of multiple camera angles when I'm watching it live. When it happened live I thought (Flores) went, so that's why I called it a swing," Morales told reporters in a postgame pre s conference (per ).Said Giants manager Gabe Kapler after the game: "I mean, obviously, you don't want a game to end that way. I know these guys work really hard to make the right call. Obviously it's going to be frustrating to have a game end like that. Pretty high-quality hitter at the plate that can climb back into that count (Flores Dewan Hernandez Jersey fell behind 0-2). It's no guarantee of succe s at the end of the at-bat."Especially right now, there's Damon Stoudamire Jersey no need to be angry about that. I just think it's a disappointing way to end. There are other reasons we didn't win today's baseball game. That was just the last call of the game."MORE: There were certainly other reasons the Giants lost. They were 0 for 5 with runners in scoring position and they left six runners on base. The offense was held to one run on six hits over nine innings at home in a winner-take-all game.ButKapler is also right that it took the bat out of Flores' hand in a critical situation. Flores is a notoriously difficult batter to strike out he had a 12.8 percent strikeout rate during the regular season Marcus Camby Jersey and he has been productive with two strikes this year. , he ranked 20th in the majors with a .662 OPS in two-strike counts this season (minimum200 at-bats) and seven of his 18 home runs came with two strikes.On the flip side, Scherzer has been just about impo sible to come back from with two strikes. Among pitchers with at least 100 innings pitched, Scherzer's .397 OPS allowed to batters in two-strike counts was the fourth-lowest in the majors in 2021, .MORE:Of course, Dodgersfirst baseman Cody Bellinger wasn't about to complain. "Umpire said it was a swing, so it was a swing,"Bellinger told reporter Lauren Shehadi on the TBS broadcast.And there was some irony in the outcome for the Dodgers. On July 22, Giantsoutfielder Darin Ruf went around for what should have been a game-ending Strike 3, but on appeal it was ruled he held up in time. Ruf walked to force in a runand tie the game 3-3. A two-run single by the next hitter, LaMonte Wade, gavethe Giants the leadand they ultimately won the game.The Giants finished the season one game ahead of the Dodgers in the NL West standings.Darin Ruf recognizes the irony: it didn't look like he went but a checked swing Patrick McCaw Jersey early in the year helped us out too, Its kind of funny how it comes down to those two events. Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr)

Major League Baseball's deadline for signing draft picks pa sed on Sunday evening, and with it so did the chances of right-hander Kumar Rocker, the No. 10 selection, joining the . An agreement worth a $6 million signing bonus went by the wayside after a post-draft medical revealed arm damage that alarmed the Mets. (Though Rocker could have a fruitful career.) The Mets will now gain a compensatory pick in next year's draft, No. 11 overall, .For all the focus on the Mets' side of things, a more important question concerns what comes next for Rocker. Under the current Collective Bargaining Agreement, he won't be eligible to join an club by any route other than the 2022 draft. (If that sounds unfair, .)That leaves Rocker with a few options on how to spend the next 10 months. , where he could have benefitted from the NCAA's new NIL (Name, Image, and Likene s) guidelines. CBS Sports HQ Newsletter Your Ultimate Guide to Every Day in Sports We bring sports news that Chauncey Billups Jersey matters to your inbox, to help you stay informed and get a winning edge. I agree to receive the "CBS Sports HQ Newsletter" and marketing communications, updates, special offers (including partner offers), and other information from CBS Sports and the Paramount family of companies. By pre sing sign up, I confirm that I have read and agree to the . Please check the opt-in box to acknowledge that you would like to subscribe. Thanks for signing up! Keep an eye on your inbox. Sorry! There was an error proce sing your subscription. So what else can Rocker do? Let's break down the three paths.Rocker signing with an independent league team is the most straightforward option, and it's the one that has the most historical precedents. One of the top recent examples of how this works involves Luke Hochevar. Hochevar, like Rocker, was advised by Scott Boras when the selected him 40th in the 2005 draft. The long story short -- -- is that Boras advised Hochevar against signing with the Dodgers, and instead guided him to the Fort Worth Cats of the American A sociation. Toronto Raptors Hoodie Hochevar made four starts with the Cats and was able to improve upon his draft status, to the extent that the selected him No. 1 in 2006. Boras' gambit paid off, too, as Hochevar's signing bonus was more than $500,000 richer than the Dodgers' reported offer.Boras repeated the same indy ball trick several years later with , the 37th selection in the 2009 draft. The offered him le s than $900,000 to sign, but that didn't get the deal done. Comments made by a Toronto executive then caused Paxton to lose his eligibility at Kentucky ( ). Boras led Paxton to the Grand Prairie AirHogs, with whom he started four times before the 2010 draft. Paxton slipped to the in the fourth round, yet his $942, Kawhi Leonard Jersey 500 signing bonus still exceeded the Jays' offer.Rocker's situation isn't directly comparable to either Hochevar's or Paxton's because of the medical angle and because of how the landscape has changed with slotting. Still, Rocker making a handful of appearances with the Milwaukee Milkmen or the Kansas City Monarchs before trying his hand again in the draft would seem to be the likeliest outcome.A more lucrative (if perhaps inconvenient) option for Rocker would take him outside of the United States, likely to Japan's Nippon Profe sional Baseball league. That may sound outlandish but the trail was blazed recently by a different Boras client: . Stewart, the eighth pick in the 2018 draft, was offered just around $2 million by the after a post-draft medical revealed a wrist ailment. Rather than sign or take the more traditional independent league route, Stewart agreed Pascal Siakam Jersey to a $7 million contract with the Softbank Hawks. However unconventional the play was, it made a lot of sense on paper. (Boras, if it wasn't obvious, , an inherently anti-labor mechanism.)In addition to guaranteeing Stewart more money upfront, going to Japan ensured he would reach free agency earlier than if he had signed with the Braves or re-entered the following draft. At that point, Stewart could sign with an without being subjected to the rules limiting younger international talents' earning potential. Unfortunately, Stewart's career hasn't gone according to plan yet. He's made only 29 appearances for the Hawks' so far, posting a 3.34 ERA and a 1.74 strikeout-to-walk ratio. (It should be noted that Stewart won't turn 22 until November, giving him ample time to turn things around.) Rocker might not want to uproot his life and commit to playing in Japan for six years. It's an option, though, and it stands to reason someone else Serge Ibaka Jersey will one day follow Stewart's path.As our own Dayn Perry , spring is "the season of figuring out what it takes to get by and then doing a bit le s than even that." How is that relevant to Rocker's situation? Well, he could theoretically forego playing with an independent or international team altogether.Under this scenario, Rocker would keep himself in shape while sparing his body the toll of starting once every five days. He would then host several workouts leading into the draft, allowing scouts and evaluators in-person looks to confirm he remains an intriguing prospect. There are a few obvious downsides to this approach, with the biggest being that it's the only of the three that wouldn't net him a paycheck. Beyond that, Rocker wouldn't have the benefit of showing what he can do within the context of a structured game. Of course, it's fair to wonder what a handful of indy-league starts would demonstrate given that he has an extensive and prolific track record at an SEC school.Whatever route Rocker ends up taking will have major ramifications for his story, next year's draft, and the choices made by future draftees who find themselves in a similar situation.

A season ago right-hander made the jump from tantalizing young arm to reliable big-league starter, throwing 165 2/3 innings with a 3.91 ERA and strong underlying numbers: 31.9 percent strikeout rate, 9.6 percent walk rate, and 1.09 home runs per nine innings pitched. Not an ace, but a rock solid major-league starter. This season the 26-year-old Cease may be making the jump into the ace tier of starting pitchers. Monday afternoon he Wes Iwundu Jersey manhandled the , striking out 11 and allowing just one baserunner (a double) in seven shutout innings ( ). Kristaps Porzingis Jersey Cease threw 93 pitches in those seven innings, so he was excellent and efficient. Watch the video and note accounted for three of Cease's 11 strikeouts Monday (including two on only three pitches). Cease is the first pitcher to strike Trout out three times in a game since lefty on Aug. 31, 2020. Cease has never lacked stuff. He's a former top 100 prospect who came over from the with in the trade, and he's always shown the coveted ability to mi s bats in the strike zone with a high-octane fastball. This year he's using his slider more than ever, and on Monday the changeup was his go-to secondary pitch: MondayFirst 4 starts of 20222021Fastball 33 (34%) 40% 47% Slider 26 (27%) 39% 31% Curveball 8 (8%) 16% 15% Changeup 29 (30%) 5% 7% The 29 changeups tie Cease's career high Courtney Lee Jersey in a start, set back in 2020. He did not throw more than 18 changeups in a start last season. Furthermore, Angels hitters swung at 14 of Cease's changeups Monday and eight times they mi sed. That 57 percent whiff rate is extraordinary even within the context of a single start. In the past, Cease was a fastball-heavy pitcher who leaned on his slider as his primary Josh Reaves Jersey secondary pitch. Starts like Monday, in which he threw his fastball, slider, and changeup almost equally, is not something that would have happened earlier in Cease's career. He is gaining experience and getting more comfortable Dennis Smith Jr. Jersey on the mound, and the result can be a start like Monday's. The season is young -- very young -- but Cease was a trendy breakout pick coming into 2022. Following Monday's start, he has a 2.48 ERA with 39 strikeouts in 29 innings. Numbers like that will land Cease in the All-Star Game, and down the line could equal Cy Young votes.