Wednesday bantering

As mentioned yesterday the Jays picked up Justin Smoak’s option, which lets face it is a bit of a no brainer.

Justin hit .242/.350/.457 with 25 home runs and 77 RBIs in 147 games in 2018, and is also a finalist for a Gold Glove Award at first base.

Toronto faces one more decision on a team option for Yangervis Solarte ($5.5 million with a $750,000 buyout) ahead of Friday’s 5 p.m. ET deadline. Im really hoping we don’t pick it up; it seems a lot of money for a guy who can dance but cannot adequately hit or field.

In AFL action, Surprise lost 12-7 to Peoria.

In a terrifying development, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. went hitless in four at-bats! (but he drew a walk and scored a run). Clearly he needs more seasoning in the minors...

Cavan Biggio entered as a pinch-runner and later doubled, while second baseman Santiago Espinal added a double and an RBI. Jackson McClelland gave up four runs on 4 hits with 2 Ks in one inning of relief

In another no brainer decisions in baseball, the Red Sox announced they have picked up their option over lefty Chris Sale for the 2019 season.

The Brewers announced Tuesday that third baseman Mike Moustakas and right-hander Joakim Soria have both declined their half of their 2019 mutual options. Moustakas’ option came with a $15MM value, while Soria’s was worth $10MM. Both players received a $1MM buyout and are now free agents.

Cleveland also announced their club options and didn’t have any surprises in store. Righty Carlos Carrasco will return at a $9.75MM price tag, while outfielder Brandon Guyer receives a $250K buyout rather than a $3MM salary.

Carrasco is an absolute bargain as he’s controllable in 2020 as well under an option that’s priced just $500K higher than the 2019 version. In 2018 he threw 192 frames of 3.38 ERA ball with 10.8 K/9 against 2.0 BB/9.

J T Realmuto has informed the Marlins’ ownership and front office he’s not going to sign an extension in Miami and it seems likely Realmuto will be with another team by Spring Training 2019.

Fresh off a terrific season in which he batted .277/.340/.484 with 21 homers and 30 doubles, Realmuto will once again be in high demand. He’s projected to earn $6.1MM via arbitration, and he’s controlled through the 2020 season. How i wish he was on the Jays roster.

The Mariners have declined their $12MM option on outfielder Denard Span and will instead pay him a $4MM buyout. Span will re-enter free agency and look for a new team with which to spend his 12th big league season.

The Twins have declined a pair of club options. Starter Ervin Santana and first baseman/DH Logan Morrison will receive buyouts and become free agents.

Santana will receive a $1MM buyout in lieu of a $14MM club option. While it had seemed at times as if the club would likely end up deciding to keep him around for a fifth campaign, the veteran’s injury-limited 2018 campaign rendered that unlikely. As for Morrison, who signed on last winter in what seemed to be a highly team-friendly deal, injury issues also marred his season. The club will give him $1MM rather than picking up an $8MM salary for another.

Ever wondered what happens to all those broken baseball bats used in a season? Well, in Japan, they get recycled into chopsticks.

And here is a great recap of the 2018 season...with bad lip reading.

(PS I had no idea Matt Kemp hated cats.)

Video link here