Daily Baseball Update - 3/30/2021

Extension updates for Lindor & Rizzo, teams continue to finalize their Opening Day rosters, & more.

Good morning.

It’s March 30th, 2021 and here’s everything that happened in the world of baseball over the last 24 hours.

TWO days until Opening Day!

The Most Important Thing

A couple really interesting extension notes:

SNY @SNYtv

The Mets have offered more than $300 million in extension talks with Francisco Lindor, but the two sides are not on the verge of a deal (via @martinonyc) on.sny.tv/7KdTM6o

The Mets’ extension offer to Francisco Lindor, per Andy Martino, is 10 years, $325 million. Several reports have noted that the deal was likely to be north of $300 million. Martino notes the two sides are not on the verge of a deal.

Tim Healey @timbhealey

Source: Lindor has made the Mets a counteroffer, $385 million over 12 years. That is a slightly lower average annual value but a longer term and significantly higher total financial commitment. Lindor already has told the Mets no their “best and final” offer of $325M/10 years.

Jeff Passan reported over the weekend that Lindor had dinner recently with new Mets owner Steve Cohen.

Patrick Mooney @PJ_Mooney

Anthony Rizzo confirms that contract talks with the Cubs have stalled to the point where there will likely be no pre-Opening Day extension, increasing the odds that he will play out the final season of his deal and test the free-agent market.

The Cubs offer to Anthony Rizzo was reportedly $70 million over five years, so it’s understandable that’s he’s decided to shut down those talks and focus on the upcoming season.

Everything Else

Monday Recaps

• Mets 3, Cardinals 3 (KSDK)

• Astros 2, Nationals 2 (Crawfish Boxes)

• Rays 8, Orioles 3 (highlights)

• Twins 5, Pirates 3 (FS North)

• Blue Jays 13, Phillies 7 (Sportsnet)

• Red Sox 4, Braves 0 (Over the Monster)

• Tigers 5, Yankees 2 (Detroit Free Press)

• Cubs 7, Diamondbacks 1 (Bleed Cubbie Blue)

• Royals 5, Indians 4 (FS Kansas City)

• Mariners 5, Reds 5 (Lookout Landing)

• Giants 7, A’s 2 (SF Examiner)

• Rockies 10, Padres 2 (Gaslamp Ball)

• Brewers 4, Rangers 0 (FS Wisconsin)

• Dodgers 10, Angels 2 (highlights)

Transactions

• LHP Francisco Liriano has been released by the Blue Jays.

• INF Hanser Alberto’s contract has been purchased by the Royals.

• The Phillies purchased the contract of RHP Brandon Kintzler and OF Matt Joyce from Triple-A Lehigh Valley. They also re-assigned OF Odubel Herrera to minor league camp.

• Pirates moves: re-assigned RHP Chase De Jong, LHP Chasen Shreve, OF Brian Goodwin, INF Wilmer Difo, and RHP Steven Wright to minor league camp; optioned RHP Geoff Hartlieb to Triple-A Indianapolis.

• The Rangers will designate 2B Rougned Odor for assignment, ending his time with the team. Odor has spent his entire seven year career with Texas.

• Yankees moves: re-signed C Robinson Chirinos and INF Derek Dietrich to minor league contracts. Released RHP Jhoulys Chacin.

• Marlins RHP Sixto Sanchez will be optioned to the team’s alternate site.

• Nationals moves: Re-assigned RHP Dakota Bacus and 1B Jake Noll to Triple-A Rochestor.

• Reds moves: re-assigned RHP, Heath Hembree, RHP Braden Shipley and INF Mike Freeman to minor league camp; placed RHP Brandon Bailey (elbow) on 60-day IL; purchased the contract of OF Tyler Naquin and RHP Cam Bedrosian from Triple-A Louisville.

• The White Sox released C Jonathan Lucroy, clearing the way for Cs Zack Collins and Yermin Mercedes to make the major league club. The team will also sign 3B Jake Lamb, per Robert Murray.

• RHP Felix Hernandez has opted out of his contract with the Orioles and will become a free agent, per Jon Heyman.

• The Angels signed RHP Steve Cishek to a one year, $1 million deal. They also signed LHP Tony Watson to a one year, $1 million.

Injuries/Chatter

• Giants OF Mike Yastrzemski was hit by a pitch on his left hand on Monday. Thankfully, the x-rays were negative and he’s been listed as day-to-day with a contusion.

• Rangers RHP Jose Leclerc will have Tommy John surgery.

• Notes from Brewers’ manager Craig Counsell: OF Tyrone Taylor (thigh) is making progress but still not ready to play, though he’s not expected to be out long; 2B Mark Mathias (shoulder) will not have surgery and is currently rehabbing; RHP Justin Topa (flexor strain) will miss at least the first half of the season.

• The Pirates are interested in bringing back 3B Todd Frazier if he’s unable to find a major league deal, GM Ben Cherington told reporters.

• Blue Jays OF George Springer is still day-to-day and his availability for Opening Day will come down to the wire, relays Kaitlyn McGrath.

• Yankee OF Aaron Judge should be good to go for Opening Day, manager Aaron Boone told reporters. He had been going through COVID protocols after not feeling well.

• Notes from Yankees GM Brian Cashman: LHP Justin Wilson will begin the season on the IL; Late May or June is the target for a return for LHP Zack Britton.

• RHP Chad Kuhl will be the Opening Day starter for the Pirates.

• Padres players beginning the season on the IL, relayed by Kevin Acee: Austin Adams (elbow) Dan Altavilla (calf) OF Trent Grisham (hamstring) Pierce Johnson (groin) and C Austin Nola (finger.)

• Nationals RHP Will Harris (blood clot) will begin the season on the IL.

Posts With Your Toast

• How getting mad helped Tyler Glasnow get better. Good one from Marc Topkin.

• Ben Frederickson with final thoughts from Cardinals’ camp.

• Mets owner Steve Cohen has admitted uncertainty regarding Francisco Lindor’s contract situation, says Ken Davidoff.

• The Twins offer Randy Dobnak some long sought certainty, says Tony Wolfe.

• The Padres are on the cusp of a golden age, believes Kenny Kelly.

Random Baseball Rewind

Here’s Musial’s SABR Bio & Baseball-Reference page.

Foul Tips

• How “A Drive Into Deep Left Field by Castellanos” became the perfect meme for these strange times.

God bless and good day!

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