The Ringer’s Ben Lindbergh discusses the changing landscape in baseball regarding the concept of the “innings eater.” Contrary to the popular notion symbolized by the “Chad Innings Eater” memes, Lindbergh observes a shift away from this idea. The modern definition of an “innings eater” seems to be evolving, with teams increasingly prioritizing high-impact, inning-by-inning performance. This change comes with potential drawbacks, including a higher risk of injuries and the necessity for more pitchers on the overall roster.
In other baseball news reported by Japan Times, Hiroki Kuroda, a notable presence in the post-2009 title years for the New York Yankees, has been honored with induction into the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame. Kuroda played a crucial role in stabilizing the Yankees’ rotation during a transitional period for the franchise, earning recognition for his outstanding contributions to the Hiroshima Carp, LA Dodgers, and the Yankees.
MLB Trade Rumors, through Darragh McDonald, informs us about the New York Yankees signing José Rojas to a minor league deal with an invitation to spring training. Rojas, with MLB experience in various positions, is returning to the States after a successful 2023 season in the KBO. Despite having limited major league track record, Rojas posted an impressive 126 wRC+ for the Doosan Bears last year, making the minor league deal a positive move for the Yankees.
Finally, Dan Szymborski of FanGraphs provides a preview of the ZiPS projection for the 2024 Yankees. According to preliminary calculations, the team, if all the projected numbers materialize, could achieve around 93 wins. While this might fall short of winning the AL East, Szymborski suggests that the team has the potential to be competitive with the addition of one more impactful player.
