As the Winter Meetings continue, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:
1. Will the Yankees land Soto?
The Yankees came into the offseason with a clear need for a left-handed bat to add to their outfield, and they filled that hole last night by acquiring Alex Verdugo from the Red Sox. Even after landing an outfielder from their arch-rivals, however, the club still appears to be in on superstar Juan Soto. While talks between the Bronx and San Diego appeared to stall out last week, there’s been plenty of indications that the sides would continue talking during the Winter Meetings this week. According to Andy Martino of SNY, the sides were engaged in discussions as recently as late last night. There was no deal ultimately reported overnight, but could Soto be on the move before the Winter Meetings come to a close tomorrow morning?
2. What are the Cubs’ plans?
Yesterday was a strange day for Cubs fans, as reports early in the afternoon indicated that the club was losing optimism regarding its hopes of landing two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani. Later in the evening, however, president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer refuted the report, leaving the club’s plans going forward uncertain. What’s more, Ohtani is far from the only impact player the Cubs have been connected to in recent days. Rumors of Chicago’s interest in Rays right-hander Tyler Glasnow resurfaced yesterday, while reports connecting first baseman Rhys Hoskins and third baseman Matt Chapman to the club could suggest some alternative hitters of interest should Chicago indeed miss out on Ohtani.
3. The Rule 5 Draft is today:
As part of the final day of the Winter Meetings, the annual Rule 5 Draft will take place at 1pm CT this afternoon. International players and high school draft picks who signed in 2019 and college draft picks signed in 2020 who have not yet been added to their club’s 40-man roster are vulnerable in today’s draft, where any club can select them for a $100K fee. If the player does not stick on their new club’s 26-man roster for the entire season, he must be offered back to his original club for $50K. Teams must have open space on their 40-man roster to select a player in the draft, meaning the Rays, Rockies, and Royals would each need to clear space on their 40-man roster before the draft begins in order to participate.
Players selected in the Rule 5 draft occasionally go on to impact their team in the future, with Orioles outfielder Anthony Santander and Red Sox right-hander Garrett Whitlock among the most prominent recent examples. Giants catcher Blake Sabol and A’s first baseman Ryan Noda highlighted last season’s class of Rule 5 picks who remained in their new organizations permanently. Sabol slashed .235/.301/.394 across 110 games with San Francisco last year, while Noda posted a .229/.364/.406 slash line as the starting first baseman for the A’s.
Jeez what a boring Winter Meeting this year! Somebody go trip a GM and create SOME excitement!
brooklyn – How can you say it’s boring when they just made a blockbuster trade last night! Verdugo is gonna be huge in NY, he has a lot of energy and runs really good and has a cool bandana and the best chains. He’s also unpredictable, he’ll swear throughout live interviews.
Yankee fans are gonna love him! Although he’d be very popular in San Diego too.
You can kind of do whatever you want, but when people mention your name, and it is more about the chains than the talent, you might want to re-consider the chains you wear. I don’t know why you’d want to wear any chains, but at least with a guy like Betts, it is a nice chain, Verdugo’s is garish.
Great use of vocab,man! Garish…I love it!
Joe – Dugie does it for the attention, that’s the difference. He has his name on the bandana and his number on the chain. But I think it could also be a culture thing too, like the tricked out cars.
@FPG, I said when the off-season started that the Sox should hold Verdugo until the trade deadline. It is his walk year and he has a chip on his shoulder. I am not a fan of Verdugo, but the dude is going to rake this year!
Trading him to The Empire is going to haunt us. He is charging his light sabre and is going jedi on the Sox at Fenway this year!!!
He’s never raked before, so why now?
Brew – Dugie had an .856 OPS on June 28th of this year before personal issues got the best of him. He has always had the raw talent, he’s just a bit of a headcase.
With this being a contract year and on a new team, DBH is 100% correct in stating Dugie could bust out with a big season. But it was never gonna happen in Boston with Cora.
29% Hard contact. 18% Barrel rate.
Yeah, he’s gonna rake. Lol.
Great point. Been a semi regular for 5 seasons now. Is what he is.
He is charging his light sabre and is going jedi on the Sox at Fenway this year!!!
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Tow years ago, I’d have extended him. But part of my reason for wanting him traded was that his light sabre doesn’t stay charged for very long. Every year, without fail, he has periods where I think he is finally on that 20-HR, .300, GG contender path, only to see him fade away.
Been a semi regular for 5 seasons now. Is what he is.
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Like most pending FAs, I expect him to come in in the best shape of his life. But like you said, he has a career 105 OPS+.
Two words: High Maintenance.
Well, what else is Cashman supposed to do? The poor guys hands are tied because of how restrained his budget always is (lol).
All I can say, is Cashman has to be running extremely short, on the number of failures he has left.
Verdugo will lose his mojo when he’s forced to shave his kid-beard.
Or when his legal issues suddenly resurface. Do a little digging, Verdugo has a serious issue still pending from his time with the Dodgers.
Buckner – Still pending? Can you provide a link? I followed the story closely, it ain’t pending. Heck even Krapler got a promotion recently.
“Players selected in the Rule 5 draft occasionally go on to impact their team in the future,”
Like Roberto Clemente, whom the Pirates swiped from the AAA team (Montreal) of the Dodgers.
Dodgers offered Clemente a $5k salary and a $10k bonus. Under the rules in place in 1954, any player receiving a bonus of $4,000 or more who was assigned to the minor leagues would then be subject to a special draft at season’s end.
Under the new rule, which would eventually become known as Rule 5, such a player could be taken by another major league franchise at the cost of only $4,000.
He won’t be the same player once he shaves.
Yeah, I think they got him to entice a SD trade. Verdugo and the two pitchers.
Yeah pretty much a snooze fest.
You’ll be a lot more excited when Preller is forced to trade Soto.
I agree with brooklyn62. Nothing like last year. Lol. All the bigger market teams are in a holding pattern. Everyone is waiting on Ohtani/Yamamoto signings I suspect.
Queue up The Vapors………
> Jeez what a boring Winter Meeting this year!
it’s because it’s not Winter yet. It’s still Fall or Autumn. They should be called the Fall Meetings.
One trade during the annual winter meetings doesn’t make the meetings exciting, regardless of the personality of one of the players traded
brooklyn62 is correct
the Yankees have only 37 players currently on the 40… will they actually MAKE a rule V draft selection this year?
I can see Cashman going for a bullpen arm, but they’d have to keep him up all year and they like to run the Scranton Shuttle & rotate tired bullpen arms… Troy Johnston might be a good replacement for Jake Bauers as 1B/LF depth but I doubt he will fall to them at 16.
Find another gem in the R5 draft Zaidi!
@MLBTraderumors,
Please give a list of current number of 40man slots available for the draft today, by team, please!
This has it:
mlb.com/news/players-of-interest-2023-rule-5-draft…
I think the Red Sox number is now 38, not 37 as shown, because Weissert went onto the 40-man.
Thanks Horace!!!
I think it remains the same, they added Weissert and subtracted Verdugo… Fitts does not need to be protected yet.
Oops. Yes, you’re right.
This is why sometimes teams are better off moving players when they can. The NYY getting Verdugo took them out of the running for Soto, and they were a good target for SD. I think it will be the same for the Reds and India. If the RS land a 2B somewhere else, the Reds lose a lot of leverage.
Joe – You don’t think there’s any chance Dugie gets flipped to SD?
That’s a popular meme right now, but my guess is that, if SD wanted Verdugo, they’d have gone directly to the RS for a trade. I thought the NYY trade was fine, contingent on a scout’s take on the prospects, but I’m sure SD could’ve topped it if they wanted to.
The only mitigating issue might be that, had SD traded for Verdugo, it would’ve lessened their leverage with Soto & Grisham.
Or conversely, Grisham to the NYY instead of Verdugo seems like a much better fit.
I don’t think so, I think adding $9 million in salary for Verdugo goes against lowering payroll and Fitts & Weissert would have been better for them
Verdugo should be better option than Stanton, Who must going to the bench for good. The Yankees do not advance because pitching, it is because horrible hitting
O’s got Tyler Wells recently as well.
As soon as Ohtani signs the other dominos will start to fall fast and furious.
Business better pickup today or this could be the worst winter meetings ever.
If the team website is correct, the Padres only have 31 on their 40 and they left a fairly highly rated C (defensively at least) exposed in Valenzuela and if all the rumors are correct are even trying to offload a couple of OFer’s.
Seems prime for a possible Rule 5 pick or 2.
Why isn’t the Rule 5 draft live on MLB Network?
I’d watch it
If Im the Yankees and Im serious about winning titles again. Im trading any prospect SD wants for Soto except Jasson and im resigning him. Im bidding the highest for Yamamoto as his stuff looks electric. A 1-2 punch of cole and yammy is downright filthy. And im absolutely going out and signing hader. An offseason of Soto, Yammy, and Hader is earth shattering. It puts the Yankees as the AL favorites and would make Yankees fans salivate. Unfortunately Cashman and Hal no longer want to win.
The trade proposed by SD would decimate the Yankees pitching. They want 2 of the current 5 starters and the top pitching prospect. Not to mention the other 3 or 4 pitchers they asked for as well as taking on a bad contract. Cashman would be a fool to take that deal.
Yankees should keep Verdugo:
1) Padres want far too much for a player in his walk year.
2) Verdugo will be further removed from several issues he was dealing with. (Being Betts replacement, Cora, Death in family). He should be a lot more comfortable.
3) Verdugo is a pull hitter, every HR he hit last year, went to rightfield or right-center field. That should translate great to Yankee stadium.
He is kinda a DBag, but he’s also fun to watch when he’s on point. But all in all Yankees did okay in the deal.
JMO
@RedStockings
And given the fact that the Green Monster is so high, some of those balls hit to left field probably go out of Yankee stadium too.
Two things that would make today fun for me. Ohtani and Burns wind up, both going to the Angels or Giants. Not only because I’m the Angels fan, but because nothing would be more fun, to see the excuses from the most annoying baseball fan base. Yes Dodgers fans, I’m talking about you. You all act like you are the Yankees. When you are more like the Cubs, the lovable loser. Well at least you were. Now all you fans do, is pout and make excuses. Instead of just admitting, the Dodgers lost to a better teams. The Dodgers are 3 – 10 in there last 3 playoff series But yes you get to the playoffs, something my Angels don’t do.
The winter meetings were better when GMs would get soused up and made trades for the hell of it Jobu get Dipito Bean and Preller some cocktails quick
Cubs are in a tough position. A few big moves away from contention, especially in a weak division. The pieces they need are available, and they have the resources to get them. However, teams like the Yankees and Dodgers want the same pieces, and those guys are notoriously difficult to compete with financially.
It’s a weak free agent class for the Cubs “needs”.
Ohtani makes sense from the marketing aspect but he isn’t pitching next year and will eat up all their space under the luxury tax. The Cubs would still have to spend about 40 million on this years team if they sign Ohtani.
Bellinger makes the most sense and really the only sense on the player side. At his best he’s a middle of the order bat that can play multiple positions of need for the Cubs.
The only two pitchers who make sense are Yamamoto and Imanaga. Both have TOR upside. Monty, Snell etc are no goes for me, too much money for not enough payoff.
I wouldn’t pay for a closer, Robertson makes the most sense to pair with Alzolay. Dropping 100+ million doesn’t fit the Cubs budget based off need.
Neither Chapman or Candy make sense, sure the Cubs can use an upgrade at third but they need an impact bat first and foremost. 25 million for Chapman is a joke unless they truly believe they can get him to do a 180 with his two strike approach. Candelario is a no-go for me.
If it were me, I’d try my hardest to pry Tatis Jr. away from San Diego.
I agree the Cubs should just conduct business like Ohtani isn’t even a FA. Sign Hoskins and Bellinger. Ask Nico to move to 3rd and let Morel play 2B. I know it sucks to ask Nico to move again but the answer is already here and won’t cost extra. Just forget about Yamamoto and sign Imanaga. Now just sign a couple of relievers you like and you’re done. When Ohtani comes back and says I’m here Ricketts just pulls his pockets out of his pants like the Monopoly guy and says sorry Dude. No mo money. Aregato or however you say goodbye in Japan. Not giving up a Kings ransom for Tatis or anybody else really. Time to move on.
I think there is always money for Ohtani because you’re going to make more than you spend with him. As long as you’re not tying up DH, you have a spot and you find the money. With Marquee, the Cubs easily make 50 plus million back on Ohtani.
I also think moving Nico would be a horrible idea. The Cubs understand the importance of range at second with the shift rules. If the Cubs don’t sign Ohtani, keeping Morel at DH and being a super sub makes the most sense, especially if you can teach him some first base.
Morel has just as much range as Nico, It’s just everything that happens after that is worse. But if he’s better at 2nd than 3rd it gets him on the field. If you have Bellinger and Hoskins then DH is pretty well taken up especially with Canario expected to be the 4th OF. Cubs don’t need another DH even Ohtani. If the Cubs aren’t going to find a place for Morel in the field then they should trade him. Just not for that piece of glass Glasnow. Aim higher.
Come on Mike, Morel doesn’t not have the range that Nico has. Nico is an elite defender and is absolutely phenomenal moving to his left.
I remember watching a game a few years back, the ball got past first base, the camera man basically gave up on the play and out of no where Nico slid in, fielded the ball and made the out at first. Nico is a special defender.
I also remember Cub fans complaining endlessly about Nico taking over short, again, complaining about range and arm strength. Lo and behold Nico led all shortstops in DRS in 2022.
It’s funny he doesn’t get the credit for being as athletic as he is. One of the fastest guys in the majors with outstanding quick twitch and instincts.
Are we sure Noda was a Rule V selection?
Somebody should snag Kristian Robinson. I understand the risk and that includes messing up his development, but the potential reward is massive and therefore well worth giving it a shot.
Jose Hernandez was another rule 5 pick that lasted the season in Pittsburgh. Pitched well for the most part out of the Pen. for the Bucs.
I always equate the Rule 5 draft to a bad summer blockbuster movie. So much effort goes into preparing for it. So much anticipation from viewers for it to arrive. And yet most of the time an hour after it is over, it is likely to not be talked about again.
Most of the guys taken in the rule 5 draft end up going back to their old team. Most teams won’t take a guy for the future they have to carry all year.
Side note, I wonder if the Cubs would be looking at Lowe as well as Glasnow assuming Lowe could play third base or possibly first.
Verdugo could be a piece in the Soto deal along with King, Thorpe and another prospect.
I don’t think the Yankees want Judge in CF… I would include Verdugo in the Soto deal and get Grisham for CF. He’s a two time gold glover for CF. His offense isn’t much, but it should improve in Yankee stadium. Soto in left and Judge in right and that’s a very solid outfield.
Look for Jerry Dipoto to fill out the Mariners lineup and call it a day.