TRADE: Jokers Continue Rotation Overhaul, Land Perez from Fish

The St. Joseph Jokers continued their busy off-season on Friday, completing a deal with the Spokane Fightin' Fish to acquire left-hander Martin Perez (2FA/$5). The Fish will receive a 2nd and 3rd Round Pick in return (25th and 36th Overall).

The 31-year-old veteran southpaw's 2022 season was one of the bigger surprises among starting pitchers. He went 12-8 and made the All-Star team for the first time in his 11th major-league season. Perez had a career-best 2.89 ERA (3.26 FIP), a 1.26 WHIP, a career-high 169 strikeouts and 69 walks in 196 1/3 innings over his 32 starts in his first season with the Rangers. Whether he can do it for a second season in a row is another story. Perez has a career 4.43 ERA (4.35 FIP), a 1.45 WHIP and a 909:470 K:BB in 1,299 innings over 253 appearances (223 starts).

The Jokers have transformed their rotation this off-season, acquiring Tyler Mahle, Noah Syndergaard and Perez to slot in behind Kyle Wright and Ross Stripling. In total, the group is owed just $20 combined while carrying a projection of 399.0 points per starter.

The Jokers also hold $127 to fill their remaining 10 spots, making them likely targets for an additional top of the rotation starter as they look to improve on a group that posted a RDBL-worst 4.50 ERA and 1.35 WHIP in 2022.

GM Michael Tirabassi continues to navigate his way through what is widely viewed as the best off-season of any RDBL club following the additions of Aaron Judge and Justin Verlander while netting four early round picks in return for players that were not expected to make their Keeper Roster.

On The Lookout: Real Games!

Spring Training games officially get underway at 10:00am this morning as Roger Dorn Baseball League Front Offices begin their evaluation of players in preparation for the 2023 Draft. There are only three games on the schedule today before a full slate over the weekend. Despite the slow start, there are still plenty of storylines to follow on Friday.

Masataka Yoshida US Debut

Yoshida will be one of several regulars to take part in the Red Sox's traditional kickoff to spring action against the Northeastern Huskies. Several members of the team will be leaving soon for the World Baseball Classic, so manager Alex Cora wants to give them at-bats before leaving camp. Of note, Yoshida will bat cleanup Friday, but he is expected to serve as Boston's leadoff hitter during the regular season.

Yoshida enters Spring Training as one of the biggest names to watch for RDBL Front Offices as they plan for the 2023 Auction. His appeal to the Red Sox, who signed him to a five-year, $90 million deal, likely centered around his ability to make contact. Across seven NPB seasons, the outfielder struck out just 9.4 percent of the time and hit .327. Those numbers were even better last year, when he rode an 8.1 K% to a .335/.447/.561 slash line and helped the Orix Buffaloes to a title. That contact ability should help him produce a solid or better average against MLB pitching, but whether he'll do enough else to live up to that free agent contract remains a question, as he offers very little with his glove and legs. His outstanding on-base ability could get him there, as he finished second among qualified NPB hitters in both strikeout rate and walk rate (15.7%) last season. He also has decent enough power, averaging 22 homers across the last five years, but it's possible he is more of a 10-to-15 homer guy against MLB pitching. His contract guarantees him significant playing time early on with Boston, but his Spring numbers could be a big driver in the contract he secures on Draft Day.

Triston Casas Begins Quest for Activation

Casas was a big storyline this week due to his unusual pregame routines which including sunbathing in the outfield and a pregame nap which caused a stir in the Red Sox clubhouse last season. The slugging first baseman will turn his focus back between the lines on Friday as he looks to prove to the Maltese Falcons Front Office that he's ready to be activation. The club appears inclined to hold off on promoting Casas, but a big Spring could sway them according to sources.

Xander Bogaerts Padres Debut

The Clovers swung a big deal Thursday, landing third baseman Nolan Arenado who strengthened a light group of Keepers on offense for GM Chris Shelley. Arenado will join Xander Bogaerts as key forces at the plate with Bogaerts set to make his Padres debut Friday after signing a 13-year deal with San Diego this Winter.

TRADE: Clovers Land Arenado from Maulers for Picks

The Mission Viejo Maulers continued to strip down their roster Thursday, this time dealing away third baseman Nolan Arenado (3/$38) to the Cloverdale Clovers. In return, the Maulers will acquire 1st (15th Overall), 3rd (37th Overall) and 5th (46th Overall) Round Picks in return.

Arenado has put all of the worries about how he'll perform outside of Coors Field completely to bed after a monstrous 2022 season where he hit 30 homers and drove in 103, adding big time numbers to his hall-of-fame career's line. He also brought the batting up to .293, a welcome sign after that had taken a dip away from Denver. He posted his best barrel rate since 2017 (8.5%) and took his strikeout rate down to a ridiculous mark of 11.7% (seventh best in the league). He and teammate Paul Goldschmidt were forces to be reckoned with and they both really helped each other's counting stats hitting back-to-back in the order. Nolan has now gone seven straight seasons (ignoring 2020) with 100+ RBI and hitting at least 30 homers.

With eight pitchers expected to return, including a full six man starting rotation, Arenado joins a group of just five expected Keepers on offense. He'll team with activations Adley Rutschman and Oneil Cruz as well as Xander Bogaerts and Alex Verdugo while Jarred Kelenic will try and play his way into the final spot in Spring Training.

The Maulers now hold four selections in the first round, picking 3rd, 12th, 13th and 15th along with three picks in the 3rd Round.