Welcome to ‘Marty’s Musings’, my weekly column of numbers summarizing the happenings in the baseball world. I am your guide for taking an analytic look at the news and notes throughout the game.
In today’s Musings, the Hall of Fame electees becomes official, San Diego rumors abound in the free agency market, the Royals ink an all-star on a long-term deal, and the Giants mourn a pioneering owner.
All this news and more in this week’s Musings.
News and Notes
4 - Players the BBWAA elected to the Hall of Fame last week. All-time great closer, Mariano Rivera became the first-ever unanimous choice for the Hall of Fame, garnering 100 percent of the votes in his first year on the ballot. He is joined by designated hitter Edgar Martinez (85.4 percent), and starters Roy Halladay (85.4 percent) and Mike Mussina (76.7 percent).
1 - New team emerged as a potential favorite to land Manny Machado. Per the Union-Tribune, the Padres are not in the hunt to sign the all-star shortstop. With former FanGraphs’ Managing Editor Dave Cameron in the front-office, it’s no surprise that San Diego is making a run, especially considering the rumored affordable prices we’ve heard so far this offseason.
55 - Million dollar deal outfielder A.J. Pollock signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The contract includes an opt-out after year three if Pollock reaches a set number of plate appearances. The deal also includes a fifth-year player option for $10 million. Pollock has the skills to be a major impact player in the LA outfield; he is an excellent defender, and hits for both power and average. He’ll likely play most of his time in centerfield, flanked by Cody Bellinger, Enrique Hernandez, and occasionally Joc Pederson.
1 - Year deal the Braves inked with first-time All-Star Nick Markakis. Markakis had an excellent 2018, posting his best wRC+ since 2012. The Braves and Markakis agreed to a $4 million one-year-deal with a $6 million club option for 2020 and a $2 million buyout.
4 - Year contract extension agreed to by the Royals and Whit Merrifield. The deal reportedly will be worth just over $16 million over four years, with an additional $2 million in incentives. Merrifield is going into his age-30 season, and coming off a breakout season in which he slashed .304/.367/.438 and posting 5.2 Wins.
76 - Age of former Giants’ owner, Peter Magowan, who passed away of cancer over the weekend. Magowan is credited with leading the ownership group that kept the Giants in San Francisco amidst drama surrounding the move from Candlestick Park. The Giants nearly moved to St. Petersburg in 1992 during a period of financial instability, but by signing Barry Bonds, hiring Dusty Baker, and investing in a new waterfront ballpark, the Giants have been one of the most successful franchises of the last 25 years.
59 - Days until Opening Day!
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Steven Martano is an Editor at Beyond the Box Score, a Contributing Prospect Writer for the Colorado Rockies at Purple Row, and a contributing writer for The Hardball Times. You can follow him on Twitter at @SMartano