Marty’s musings: MiLB pay and real-live action

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, we prepare for real live-action countable games this week, two top-ten free agents remain unsigned, and Babe Ruth’s daughter passes-on.

All this news and more in this week’s Musings.

News and Notes

4.8 - Free agent fWAR still on the board between closer Craig Kimbrel and starting pitcher Dallas Keuchel. Kimbrel has been linked to Atlanta recently, while Keuchel is preparing for the season in California.

50 - Percent pay raise the Toronto Blue Jays reportedly are giving their MiLB players per a report by Emily Waldon and Ken Rosenthal at The Athletic. Waldon and Rosenthal reported he Jays are preparing to finalize a 50 percent pay increase of any player who is on an affiliated minor-league roster, from the Dominican Summer League to triple-A.

2 - Real game of baseball this week, with the Mariners taking on the Athletics Wednesday and Thursday from Japan....at the early hour of 5:30 ET. Still, it’s an opportunity to view games beyond exhibitions in a fun and lively international environment.

102 - Years of age of the recently-deceased Julie Ruth Stephens, Babe Ruth’s daughter. Ruth Stevens’ was born in 1916, and her mother and Babe married married in 1929 on Opening Day at Yankee Stadium.

10 - Days until true Opening Day. Gosh what a winter it’s been!