:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/49093057/usa-today-9184947.0.jpg)
The MLB Daily Dish is a daily feature we're running here at MLBDD and rounds up roster-impacting news, rumors, and analysis. Have feedback or have something that should be shared? Hit us at @mlbdailydish on Twitter.
Good morning baseball fans!
In a rather shocking move, the Mets placed shortstop Ruben Tejada on waivers, moving him one step closer to becoming a free agent.
From one shocking move to another, White Sox first baseman Adam LaRoche has decided to retire and step away from the game of baseball.
The Blue Jays have stars on their team, but they are relying on their acquisitions of depth to fuel a division win in 2016.
Pittsburgh got a major bargain by signing David Freese, writes Kevin Ruprecht of Beyond the Box Score.
Freese's .310 BABIP last year was the lowest of his career; the most likely culprit was a lower line drive rate. Freese hit mostly more grounders and a few more fly balls. Though grounders have a higher BABIP, line drives would obviously have an even higher BABIP. Freese typically produces roughly average or better line drive rates, so a rebound in this area is reasonable. However, Freese had the highest line drive rate of his career coupled with the highest hard-hit rate of his career last year and still ended up with only a .330 BABIP.
Despite the lower BABIP more reflective of true talent, Freese has still produced offensively. Overall, he is a slightly above average hitter: his walk and strikeout rates leave a little to be desired, but when he makes contact he can still produce. His glove is good enough at third (or at least UZR thinks so). The projections don't see a rebound of any sort, ZiPS projecting a 98 wRC+ and Steamer a 104 wRC+, but the overall value is still at 1.6 fWAR per 600 plate appearances.
With the going rate of wins on the free agent market around $8 million or so, the Pirates got a huge bargain and any advantage they can find in a competitive division should serve them well.
Yesterday, MLB Daily Dish posted the first division roundup of the year, gathering up all of the news surrounding the AL West.
Craig Edwards of FanGraphs explored which teams have the most dead money in the league.
Important Links:
Subscribe to The Rosterbatorical on iTunes. While you are there, drop us a rating and a review!
Today in Baseball History: