Jesse Friedman

1 month ago | mlb.com | Jesse Friedman

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- There was a moment during the Guardians’ 2024 postseason run that shortstop Brayan Rocchio will never forget. On Oct. 12, as Rocchio stepped in the batter’s box in the bottom of the eighth of a winner-take-all NLDS Game 5 against the Tigers, he was greeted by nearly 35,000 fans at Progressive Field chanting his name: Ro-chhi-o! Ro-cchi-o!“That’s the best moment in my life,” Rocchio said. Rocchio responded by delivering an RBI single that extended the Guardians’ lead to 7-3.

1 month ago | mlb.com | Jesse Friedman

On Monday, the A’s announced a seven-year deal with outfielder Lawrence Butler that includes a club option for 2032. The deal is worth $65.5 million, a source previously told MLB.com. “[Butler’s] A’s story represents the absolute best of this organization and the best of what we’re looking for in players,” Athletics general manager David Forst said during a press conference on Monday. “This is not a former first-round pick sitting here.

1 month ago | mlb.com | Jesse Friedman

TEMPE, Ariz. -- Given Brent Rooker’s 39 homers and Lawrence Butler’s spectacular second half, it could be easy to overlook the player who led the A’s with 43 doubles in 2024: center fielder JJ Bleday. In his first full season in the Majors, Bleday slashed .243/.324/.437 with 20 homers and 60 RBIs. Among qualified hitters who played center field in at least 60 percent of their games, Bleday’s 120 OPS+ ranked fourth in the Majors, trailing only Aaron Judge, Jackson Merrill and Jarren Duran.

1 month ago | mlb.com | Jesse Friedman

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Take a cursory glance at the Rockies’ roster, and you will see a team that has plenty of speed. Brenton Doyle, Nolan Jones, Ezequiel Tovar and Sam Hilliard, to name a few, all ranked above the 70th percentile in sprint speed last year. But in 2024, the Rockies ranked 25th in the Majors in stolen bases (85). Since ‘22, they are 28th, ahead of only the Giants and the Twins. This year, manager Bud Black would like to see his team be more aggressive on the basepaths.

1 month ago | mlb.com | Jesse Friedman

GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- On Sep. 16, 2023, as the Brewers inched closer to clinching their fifth postseason berth in six seasons, Mark Canha -- whom Milwaukee acquired at the Trade Deadline earlier that year -- hit one of the more memorable home runs in recent Brewers memory. With the game tied at 5-5 in the bottom of the eighth against the Nationals, Canha launched a no-doubt go-ahead grand slam that sent the home crowd into a frenzy. The Brewers went on to win, 9-5.