Cold stove news and notes

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, and highlighting this week’s key pitching matchups.

While we wait for some key dominos to fall in free agency, there’s plenty of off-the-field news. Jacoby Ellsbury / Yankees saga continues, a former 25-home run slugger goes to Japan, and Sam Dyson is accused of domestic violence.

News & Notes

26 - Million dollars owed to oft-injured Yankees outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury. The money is being withheld by the New York Yankees, who claim that Ellsbury received medical treatment from an unauthorized doctor. New York failed to recoup any of Ellsbury’s recent salary via insurance, so it appears they’re doing everything the can to get out of paying him.

40 - Years-of-age for Rich Hill who again will miss a large chunk of the upcoming season. Hill underwent elbow surgery in late October, and the Dodgers announced last week he’ll be on-the-shelf until June or July 2020.

2 - Year contract extension Yan Games and the Washington Nationals agreed to last week. Gomes is well-known as a strong defensive catcher and will continue to split the backstop duties with Kurt Suzuki.

30 - Million dollar, three-year deal the Rangers agreed to with former Twins pitcher Kyle Gibson. Gibson will be an upgrade for a Rangers rotation that finished 2019 with the sixth-worse ERA at 5.37.

92 - Career home runs for Justin Bour, who topped 20 homers three times in his six year MLB career. Bour has become a platoon player at this point, so he decided to go east to join the NPB’s Hanshin Tigers.

8 - Year veteran pitcher Sam Dyson is facing domestic abuse allegations, based on an Instagram post from his girlfriend, Alexis Elizabeth. She refers to Dyson as bullying her, and references the details via her cat’s instagram page. MLB will undoubtedly investigate the claims as the story develops.

122 - Days until Opening Day.