9-5 Baseball Update - 3/16/2021

Ryan Braun isn't ready to announce his retirement, Wander Franco reassigned to minor league camp, & more.

Good morning.

It’s March 16th, 2021 and here’s everything that happened in the world of baseball over the last 24 hours.

The Most Important Thing

Adam McCalvy @AdamMcCalvy

Ryan Braun is on radio with Uke and isn't announcing anything so far. Said he's staying in shape but hasn't touched a baseball or a bat since last season. On MKE: "I feel so fortunate and just incredibly grateful to have had the opportunity to have spent my whole career there."

Brewers OF Ryan Braun is not quite ready to call it a career.

Adam McCalvy @AdamMcCalvy

Ryan Braun to Uke: "I guess with retirement you can always push back that decision, and I'm not at a place where I'm ready to fully retire yet. So I'll continue to stay in shape so you can see what the future holds."

Everything Else

Monday Recaps

• Orioles 12, Pirates 3 (MLB)

• Cardinals 4, Nationals 2 (FS Midwest)

• Rays 3, Red Sox 2 (Over the Monster)

• Blue Jays 4, Tigers 0 (Sportsnet)

• Braves 5, Twins 1 (Talking Chop)

• Marlins 6, Astros 5 (Crawfish Boxes)

• Yankees 4, Phillies 2 (Yahoo)

• Indians 7, A’s 3 (Cleveland.com)

• Royals 6, Giants 1 (FS Kansas City)

• White Sox 4, Cubs 4 (South Side Sox)

• Reds 7, Angels 3 (Cincinnati.com)

• Dodgers 12, Rockies 5 (LA Times)

• Diamondbacks 6, Mariners 2 (AZ Snake Pit)

• Padres 13, Brewers 3 (Gaslamp Ball)

Transactions

• The Rays announced several roster moves that can be found here. Included: #1 prospect in baseball, SS Wander Franco, was reassigned to minor league camp.

• The Mariners announced several roster moves that can be found here.

• The Dodgers announced several roster moves that can be found here.

• The Giants announced several roster moves that can be found here.

• The A’s announced several roster moves that can be found here.

• The Royals announced several roster moves that can be found here.

• The Marlins announced several roster moves that can be found here.

Injuries/Chatter

• RHP Lucas Giolito will be the opening day starter for the White Sox.

• RHP Dylan Bundy will be the opening day starter for the Angels.

• Rays OF Brett Phillips will be out 3-4 weeks with a grade 1 hamstring strain.

• Notes from Diamondbacks manager Torey Luvallo: 2B/OF Ketel Marte “is fine” after being hit by a pitch in yesterday’s game. His removal from the game was just precaution; RHP Jon Duplantier cut his finger trying to put a razor together and that kept him from pitching yesterday. The team does not expect it to linger.

• Notes from Giants manager Gabe Kapler: RHPs Aaron Sanchez and Logan Webb are in great position to be in the rotation on opening day; RHP Dedniel Nunez has a UCL sprain and will be getting a second opinion; LHP Alex Wood will be evaluated by a specialist after dealing with back stiffness.

• Notes from Yankees manager Aaron Boone: C Robinson Chirinos will undergo surgery on his right wrist today and will be out 4-6 weeks; DH Miguel Andujar is dealing with a muscle strain and nerve issue in his right wrist and will continue to receive treatment.

• Notes from Reds manager David Bell: OF Shogo Akiyama is going to miss a few weeks.

• Notes from Rockies manager Bud Black: the team is encouraged by reports on 2B Brendan Rogers’ hamstring, though there’s no timetable for a return.

• Notes from Dodgers manager Dave Roberts: RHP Trevor Bauer and LHP Clayton Kershaw are both expected to pitch 3-4 innings today; He’s unsure when RHP Brusdar Graterol will pitch in a game.

• Notes from Mariners manager Scott Servais: OF Jarred Kelenic, dealing with a knee issue, could get into a game later this week.

• Notes from Phillies manager Joe Giradi: 3B Brad Miller is dealing with a little low strain of the oblique and may be ready for opening day; RHP Spencer Howard did not pitch yesterday due to back spasms.

• Notes from Red Sox manager Alex Cora: OF Danny Santana is in the hospital with a food infection and it’ll take a while to get him going; SS Jeter Downs should be fine in the upcoming days.

• Angels RHP Felix Peña was pulled from yesterday’s game with right hamstring irritation, relays Jeff Fletcher.

• A couple of Brewers exited yesterday’s game with injuries: RHP Bobby Wahl exited with right side discomfort and C Manny Pina left with left shoulder discomfort.

• Royals OF Andrew Benintendi did not play yesterday due to back soreness. Click the link just to read the first reply. Trust me.

• Angels OF Justin Upton was scratched from yesterday’s lineup due to a non-COVID illness.

• Pirates 3B Phillip Evans was scratched from yesterday’s lineup due to left hamstring tightness.

• Orioles RHP Hunter Harvey has an oblique strain and will be out for a while, says Roch Kubatko.

Posts With Your Toast

• Juan Soto’s projections will blow your mind, writes Sarah Langs.

• Blake Snell is tough on batters, but tougher on himself, says Mark Feinsand.

• Alec Lewis on what he’s heard in the first three weeks of Royals camp.

• A’s SS Logan Davidson learned the art of switch hitting from his father Mark, writes John Shea.

• Patrick Saunders relays RHP Jon Gray is thrilled by the return of his fastball velocity.

• Eloy Jiminez says the White Sox are trying to change the city and make a “Sosa-style” impact, says Vinnie Duber.

• RJ McDaniel breaks down Sunday’s incredible 22 pitch at-bat by Luis Guillorme.

Podcast Recommendation

Jon Heyman and Tony Gwinn, Jr. chat with Padres’ President of Baseball Operations AJ Preller on the Big Time Baseball podcast.

David Sampson’s Nothing Personal discusses Trevor Bauer’s problem with everything.

Talkin’ Baseball previews the Oakland A’s.

Random Baseball Rewind

BaseballHistoryNut @nut_history

Dave Parker and Willie Stargell hit back-to-back home runs. #pirates #mlb #astros

Foul Tips

• Tom Hanks calls baseball “a game to be loved.”

God bless and good day!

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