SnakeBytes 3/3: The WBC Exhibitions Begin Today
A Father-Son Duo Takes Center Stage
The World Baseball Classic (WBC) is set to kick off today, and with it, a unique story unfolds as Andruw Jones, the Netherlands' manager, and his son, Druw Jones, a Diamondbacks prospect, form the first father-son manager-player duo in WBC history. While their relationship is reportedly friendly, with Andruw joking about Druw joining his team, the real focus is on the team's defensive struggles and the intriguing contract decisions made by players like Merrill Kelly.
Defensive Challenges for the D-backs
Coming into the season, Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo emphasized defense after a poor season in 2025. So far this spring, they've committed seven errors in 10 games, which, on a 162-game pace, would amount to 113 errors. While some errors are committed by minor league players still developing defensively, the overall defensive effort has had some holes. However, it's important to note that gold glove-caliber players like Carlos Santana and Nolan Arenado are away from the team preparing for the WBC, which might explain some of the lapses.
Contract Decisions and Tax Implications
We now know the team that offered a 3-year deal to Merrill Kelly, and a reason he spurned them to take a 2-year deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks. The MLB starting pitcher opened up about his contract negotiations, revealing that he had a 3-year offer from the San Diego Padres in MLB free agency. One reason he ended up choosing the 2-year deal with Arizona? Taxes in California.
Around the League
Paul Goldschmidt's Hall of Fame Case
With 63.8 career WAR, Paul Goldschmidt is a strong contender for the Hall of Fame. However, voters can be tough on first basemen, as seen with Keith Hernandez, Will Clark, and Fred McGriff. Plus, Goldschmidt has 372 home runs, and some voters might believe 400 is a must for a first baseman. Still, Todd Helton was elected a couple of years ago with 369 home runs and 61.8 WAR, so Goldschmidt, with one MVP Award and two second-place finishes, will eventually get in.
Grichuk's Journey and the Spring Breakout Series
Enter Grichuk, who split last season between the Diamondbacks and Royals, his fifth team in five seasons. He was exceptionally effective with Arizona in 2024, batting .291/.348/.528 (139 wRC+) with 12 home runs and 1.6 WAR in 279 plate appearances. However, he slipped to .240/.277/.457 (96 wRC+) with seven homers in 188 plate appearances before being traded to the Royals for pitching prospect Andrew Hoffmann on July 28. Things went from bad to worse for Grichuk in Kansas City, as he hit just .206/.267/.299 (56 wRC+) with two homers in 105 plate appearances. He was exactly replacement level with the Diamondbacks and 0.4 wins below replacement level with the Royals.
Major League Baseball announced today that the Spring Breakout series will be played as a tournament in 2027 and 2028. It will be a single-elimination style with two champions crowned, one in the Grapefruit League and one in the Cactus League. The tournament is not starting in 2026 so as to not conflict with this year’s World Baseball Classic. {Ed. Note: Love this idea!}
