Because the 2023 season nears its conclusion, listed here are three issues we’ll be maintaining a tally of across the baseball world all through the day immediately:
1. Rays Stadium Announcement Incoming:
Yesterday, it was reported that the Rays are poised to announce an settlement to construct a brand new stadium in St. Petersburg. That announcement is predicted to come back immediately, and with it extra particulars on the approaching ballpark will be anticipated. The stadium is predicted to be prepared in 2028, the 12 months after Tampa Bay’s lease at Tropicana Subject expires. The off-the-field victory for the membership comes because the staff on the sphere is having fun with an unprecedented run of success, with a 92-59 report thus far this season and a fifth consecutive postseason berth clinched. With the Rays on the verge of settling their stadium scenario and the A’s placing the ending touches on a bid to maneuver from Oakland to Las Vegas, the most important hurdle for league enlargement that commissioner Rob Manfred has publicly talked about up to now has been cleared. In fact, enlargement should be collectively bargained with the MLBPA, which means there are nonetheless hurdles to clear earlier than MLB welcomes its thirty-first and thirty-second groups.
2. Correa Exits:
Twins shortstop Carlos Correa exited yesterday’s recreation within the first inning after feeling a “pop” in his left heel, as relayed by The Athletic’s Dan Hayes. Correa, in fact, has been enjoying by way of plantar fasciitis throughout a lot of the 2023 marketing campaign. The harm has seemingly impacted the 28-year-old star on the plate, as he’s slashed simply .230/.312/.399 in 135 video games whereas main the majors with 30 double performs grounded into. As Hayes notes, the Twins and Correa have opted towards a visit to the injured record all through the season as a result of a full restoration would require a number of months of downtime.
That type of prolonged absence would have been imprudent with the Twins within the midst of a decent race for the AL Central crown all through a lot of the season. Although the membership hasn’t but mathematically clinched the division title, Minnesota enjoys a snug seven-game lead over the Guardians within the division with simply 11 video games left to play and none of them being head-to-head. That wholesome lead within the division race could lead on the membership to ponder a visit to the IL for Correa or, on the very least, resting their marquee shortstop extra aggressively within the days forward as a way to assist him keep moderately recent for the approaching postseason push.
3. Rodriguez to bear testing:
Tigers left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez exited yesterday’s 8-3 loss towards the Dodgers within the fourth inning as a consequence of what the membership has termed a scapula spasm. Over three innings of labor final evening, Rodriguez surrendered 5 runs on 5 hits and a stroll whereas putting out only one. As famous by Chris McCosky of The Detroit Information, the lefty is predicted to bear additional testing earlier than being re-evaluated immediately. Whereas the approaching replace gained’t have a lot influence on Tigers membership that’s on the verge of being mathematically eradicated from the postseason, Rodriguez’s well being might influence him as he seems to be forward towards a possible return to free company this coming November, being able to choose out of the three years left on his contract. With a robust 3.57 ERA and three.65 FIP throughout 24 begins this season, the 30-year-old Rodriguez figures to rank pretty extremely amongst beginning choices available on the market this offseason, although it’s attainable an harm that runs the danger of impacting him headed into 2024 might alter that notion.
