The Opener Cubs Yankees DFA Limbo

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One the heels of arbitration-eligible players around the league yesterday, here are three things well be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:  1. Cubs to introduce Imanaga:  The Cubs are expected to introduce newly-signed lefty  in a pre s conference at 2pm CT this afternoon (h/t to ) just hours before the teams annual Cubs Convention kicks off this weekend. Imanaga signed in Chicago earlier this week on a with opt-outs after the second and third years that can be voided if the club exercises a fifth year club option that would take the total commitment to $80MM. Adding the lefty isnt the only move the Cubs have made in recent days, and president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer will surely be asked about the prospect-for-prospect swap that brought infielder  to the Cubs from the Dodgers yesterday in addition to the signing of Imanaga. To acquire Busch and right-handed Nils Aman Jersey  reliever  , the Cubs surrendered a pair of recent draftees: left-hander  (2022 second round) and outfielder  (a 2023 11th-rounder who signed an over-slot $400K bonus, the equivalent of fifth-round money).  2. Yankees roster moves incoming:  The Yankees deepened their pitching staff yesterday, adding right-hander  on a in the afternoon before signing veteran righty  to a last night. Stroman, in particular, is a significant boost to the rotation behind  , filling out a staf that also includes  ,  , and  . Deepening the rotation mix has left something of a roster crunch in the Bronx. The club already had a full 40-man roster, so theyll need to clear two spots for Weaver and Stroman in the coming days. The club could accomplish this simply by designating two players for a signment, though an alternative solution could be working out a minor trade with another club to acquire non-roster talent in exchange for players towards the back of the clubs 40-man.  3. Kranick in DFA Limbo:  In order to make room for newly-signed lefty  on the 40-man roster, the Pirates right-hander  for a signment last week. The seven-day period during which Kranick can be left in DFA limbo expires this afternoon, meaning a conclusion is expected sometime today. Kranick, 26, was an 11th-round pick in the 2016 draft by Pittsburgh and came up to the majors with the club back in 2021. The righty pitched to a 5.56 ERA in 43 2/3 innings of work acro s 11 appearances for the Pirates between 2021 and 2022 before he underwent Tommy John surgery in June of the latter year.  The righty didnt appear in the majors 2023 due to a lengthy rehab but returned to action in the minor leagues toward the end of the season, posting a strong 2.76 ERA in 16 1/3 innings of work at the Triple-A level. Kranick has a very solid Triple-A track record (3.72 ERA, 19% strikeout rate, 7.2% walk rate), but hes also out of minor league options and therefore would need to be carried on any clubs active roster or else exposed to waivers again. If Kranick goes unclaimed, the righty figures to be outrighted to the minors by the Pirates, where hell serve as depth at the Triple-A level entering the season.  Arturs Silovs Jersey