Here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:
1. Marte talks nearing their conclusion?
Diamondbacks star Ketel Marte has been one of the most talked about players on the trade market this offseason. GM Mike Hazen made waves yesterday in that corner of the market, however, when he noted that he plans to put an end to conversations regarding a Marte trade in the near future. Hazen’s suggestion was that the club simply pulling Marte off the table for negotiations was a more likely outcome than a trade coming together at this point. That’s been Hazen’s stance all throughout the offseason, as he has long said he didn’t foresee Arizona dealing a star player this winter. Even so, a deal remains at least possible as long as Hazen and the Arizona front office continue to be willing to entertain trade talks on Marte.
Whether he’s traded or not, it figures to shake up the market in a big way when Marte ultimately comes off the market. That would leave Cardinals utility man Brendan Donovan as the clear top trade chip on the infield this offseason, barring a surprise deal involving someone like Isaac Paredes or Nico Hoerner. It would also remove an alternative to free agent infielders like Alex Bregman and Eugenio Suarez who have lingered are the market to this point. If Marte is dealt, it would remove a possible suitor for those players but also leave the Diamondbacks hungry for a middle-of-the-order bat to replace him.
2. Angels, Rendon parting ways:
The Angels and veteran infielder Anthony Rendon brought Rendon’s fraught tenure with the organization to an end yesterday when they restructured the final year of his contract ahead of his expected retirement. Rendon technically remains on the roster for the time being but does not figure to resume his playing career, whether for the Angels or another club. While Rendon’s retirement doesn’t change much for the Angels on the field due to his injury history and lack of production, it could still have an impact. The restructured deal takes a large chunk of money off the books for Anaheim headed into 2026, and club officials have made clear their desire to bring in help at third base and in center field this winter. This influx of financial flexibility could allow the team to make a splash at one of those positions, or at the very least add a reliable bat at one or both of those spots in the lineup.
3. Imai meeting with teams:
The sweepstakes for right-hander Tatsuya Imai is nearly at its conclusion. The right-hander has begun conducting in-person interviews with teams in the U.S. and figures to continue talking to teams over the coming days. With just over 48 hours remaining until his posting window closes at 4pm CT on January 2, the right-hander has limited time to find a deal. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see Imai’s contract come together sooner rather than later, in order to allow Imai the time needed to undergo a physical with his new club before the impending deadline. The right-hander’s youth and recent track record in NPB have made him one of the more intriguing arms available this offseason in the eyes of both fans and teams. The Yankees, Mets, Cubs, Phillies, and Orioles have all been connected to the righty at one point or another, but it’s certainly possible more teams outside of that group of five could be involved in the righty’s market.
Rendon!
No, Strasburg!
No, Bonilla!
No, Pavano!
Ok, can we move on now? I think that covers it.
The Yankees aren’t getting Imai. Not sure where that connection is coming from? It’s gotta stop. Not happening. Unless the Yankees are laying in the woods somewhere.
Well, seeing the lack of woods in the Newport Beach area, they’re probably not. I’m guessing Angels.
I’m not writing the Yankees off on Imai, 99. He’s supposedly narrowed his choices to 3-4 teams and wants to win, but doesn’t want the Dodgers. Mets? Toronto? San Diego? Cubs? Philly? Other? Choose your contender, but I’d say the Yankees are in the running.
They’re only in the running if they want to be in the running and I’m not picking up any vibe to suggest they’re in the running. One thing about the Yankees is they declare up front when they’re interested in big free agents, be it Cole, of Sabathia, or Soto, or Tanaka, etc. There’s probably a price if the market collapses, but I suspect there are suitors who are willing to go farther to sign him than the Yankees. Jack Curry, who is as tapped into their interests as much as anyone, pretty much shot down the idea of Imai last week. The only free agent they’ve indicated interest in is Bellinger, and even that has limits. They’ll let him go if the Phillies or Mets come in with a higher offer.
Not till you type Chris Davis and acknowledge that catastrophe.
Sounds like the Marte party is over because they wanted too much. There are also the reported clubhouse concerns that prompted the trade talks to consider.
I see this as a call for final bids before Marte is moved. Never trust what a GM says to the public.
What he said to the public is 100% consistent with a call for final bids. There’s no reason to distrust what he said to the public.
Clearly he implied the bidding was ending. Just read ‘this one belongs to the Reds’ comment. I dont see an end where Marte will quietly go back to playing 2B in AZ.
Where do you see his public comments as inconsistent with a “call for final bids?” He said they were going to stop talking about trades soon, and as it stands they don’t have a trade offer he likes. There’s more time for a better offer to come in, but he’s not going to wait forever.
Nothing you are saying is inconsistent with what Hazen said. So why the cynicism about his honesty? It doesn’t make sense.
I said “I see this as a call for final bids”.
“I see” that makes my comment an opinion. Why are you intentionally manipulating my comments.
I said you’re right, this looks like a call for final bids. And that’s entirely consistent with what Hazen said to the public.
Why are you calling him a liar when what he said is not contradictory with what you said?
I DID NOT call him a “liar”. Why are you lying?
————-
Roommate 1: “Im going to the store”
Roommate 2: “Here’s $10 can you pick me up milk”
Roommate 1: “Sure”
Four weeks later Roommate comes back with milk.
There was NEVER a lie, it was implied that Roommate 1 would be back soon. Roommate 2 should not have trusted what Roommate 1 said.
——-
Stupidest conversation ever. Hazen IMPLIED the bidding was ending, I said “I see” a deal coming, not that he would just go back to his position in AZ.
What is your problem? Why all the manipulating of my words?
You wrote “never trust what a GM says to the public.”
Why not?
You’re spending way too much on milk bro
I just explained didnt I?
Here’s another example: If I say ‘Dont trust a contract without reading the fine print’. It does NOT mean the person that wrote the contract is a “LIAR”.
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Yet you go straight to “liar”!!!!
Cubsin:
I prefer free range, hand drawn milk.
That’s not the point
The facts of the matter are the only way to 100% put an end to the trade speculation on Marte is to actually trade him. Even if Hazen comes out and says they’re absolutely bot trading him there’s been so much speculation on a trade to this point no one is going to take that as definitive.
Reflexive cynicism is tiresome.
Of course, you do
bcjd:
Manipulating other people words to create an argument “is tiresome”.
———-
Heres another:
If I say “Dont trust you can catch the baseball with one hand, use two.”
Who’s lying? The Ball, The Glove or The Hands?
GMs are unpredictable. They say this and do that.
I think being skeptical and speculating about statements made by public figures makes sense. They often have hidden agendas. This includes owners and GMs who market their teams to the public and take positions for negotiations. I don’t pay much attention to words. I wait to see their actions.
Reggie, Go back to bed. You’re starting arguments left and right.
Geez, a bunch of you are so trollish.
It’s Marte, not Trump.
Poor Reggie Smith, dug a hole and kept on digging.
Reggie – You write like a politician. I now don’t trust you.
Trust me, at least it doesn’t involve Devers… “Reggie Smith” shows his real Reggie Smith argumentative behavior with that lol
Classy take Steinbreener, haters be hatin
They should be asking for an absolute ton for Marte. He’s had consecutive career years and on a contract much cheaper than his performance. Plus it’s a sellers market. 3 blue chips should be easy to obtain
And u kno he’d look good in red !
Where does Imai go? Of the teams listed, please go to Baltimore or even the Phillies
Would love to see that “take down LA” attitude in Philly.
@one time. if Taking out the dodgers is his goal. The giants make alot of sense. Been seeing okamoto to the angels is heating up. Speculation is the rendon restructure was for him. Boras is the agent
Yes, Boras is the agent for both guys.
@halosheavenJJ. He’s been saying the angels before he was posted. It kinda makes sense if the angels were off a bit. So boras figured out a way restructure rendon’s contract. Passan and blum reported that it was between the pirates and angels.
Are the Giants anywhere near taking down the Dodgers though? Same could be said of the Mets. Maybe he has a broader interpretation of contender but I think there are much closer teams than these.
Hazen has been saying he’s not shopping Marte, but now is ‘putting an end to conversations’ sometime in the near future. Marte’s going to feel like he was done dirty.
Why? Because the team listened to offers but found he was too valuable to trade? That doesn’t sound like “done dirty.” That sounds like a reasonable approach to the business of baseball.
Is that you Hazen? Thou doth protest too much.
Yeah, I’m the CEO of a multibillion dollar corporation spending my Wednesday morning arguing with you in the comments of a website.
Either that or you have anger issues. Im giving you the benefit of the doubt.
Good thing you have your priorities straight.
I wouldn’t call an Issac Paredes trade suprising because of the lack of Walker suitors.
Back to the Tigers for Olson? Maybe figure out a larger package to tick more boxes on both sides.
We want young pitching for Paredes.
Olsen is young…and good.
He’s a first baseman. We are open to trading him in the first place because our first basemen has no fits. Otherwise, we put Paredes at first.
So if you want Paredes, try another Young starting pitcher.
He’s a 1B on your roster. Elsewhere he’s a 3B option. Cheers dude.
I know. That’s still not related to the fact that you want to trade Olson for Paredes.
And I don’t think that’s a good trade for the Tigers either way.
MLBTR is silencing me….. I thought free speech was allowed
Freedom of speech means the government can’t punish you for what you say. MLBTR is a privately owned forum whose owners have no obligation to disseminate opinions they find objecionable. It is not a public soapbox.
Woah woah buddy I’m just making silly comments on a baseball site…. no need to get so serious. I have baseball related gospel to spread but it appears the time has passed
Yargh
Come on AA!! Come out of nowhere and sign Imai… It is time Atl moves on from the Kenshin Kawakami fear and get back into the Japanese market.
Let’s go Braves!
I would love this signing if we can keep it 1-3 years. Don’t know if that’s going to be possible given his list of suitors.
Another thing that I find funny is how similar he and strider are against RHH. Fastball and slider almost exclusively and then mix in other offerings against LHH
Is SD a possibility for Imai ?
No doubt AJ has been down the road on a NPB FA as they seem to scout thoroughly. I’d say an offer is even on the table with opt outs.
All depends on better offers (does he prefer guaranteed longer deal or desire an opt out to re-enter FA next year) / player preferences on the teams.
His comments along with SD needs and past history just make it to obvious of a fit of money wasn’t the final answer.
SD is in play just might not be on the final short list of some better offers are out there is my thought:
Love to see the Os cap off a great offseason by signing Imai ! Seems like the right player at the right price to mold into that rotation. And if he’s not as good as advertised, O’s can still get some value out of him due to so many average arms and them being run dependent
Rendon leading a Savannah Banana rival team would be most excellent!
Marte hitting his escalators, he has a bunch of incentive in his contract, top 7 MVP gets him 2M raise.
Up to 2.25M in plate appearances, he wants to stay in the two hole.
As far as teams trading for Marte, 5yr/92M is a real bargain and I feel like his deal is structured as such that he will be ready to go wherever he lands.
If Im a club in contention, Im trading the farm for this guy. Dodgers are the best fit but Boston could put together a big trade too.
I dont think AZ wants to take Campbell’s deal and that jams up the trade. Boston would have to include Romy.
Boston:
MLB -Romy Gonzalez (2B)
MLB – Jaren Duran (OF)
MLB – David Sandlin (P)
A+ – Justin Gonzalez (OF)
A – Brandon Neely (P)
RK – Harold Rivas (OF)
-for-
Arizona:
MLB – Ketel Marte (2B)
That would likely get it done.
That is way too much to pay for Marte, Arizona better be sending cash and another player in return in that scenario
No ABS
Not even close to likely getting it done. Dbacks are looking for pitching almost exclusively in any potential deal involving Marte. Your scenarios is extremely light on pitching. So no thanks on your scenario.
Try Tolle, Whitherspoon, Early, Sandlin and Duran.
Scottaz that’s a ridiculous overpay if Arizona fans think that is what they are getting for Marte you are going to be very disappointed.
I do think if Marte does eventually come to Boston then Early will be heading to Arizona but more like Duran and Early for Marte but I hope that Breslow doesn’t get that desperate. That’s probably an overpay by Boston but you suggestion above is ridiculous.
@ScottAZ — I think you pulled Boston’s best pitching prospects. I included Sandlin in my trade. He’s the mlb-ready pitching prospect I think they’d part with.
Early and Witherspoon likely off the table.
Neely is a good pitching prospect, Rivas and Gonzalez two good young prospects too. It’s a nice return.
Duran is the headliner of the trade, he and Gonzalez move into Arizona’s starting lineup and that makes the trade work but its the prospects that make it a good trade for AZ.
Marte could potentially be a 75M value over the next five seasons. Unloading Duran saves 15M. Trade saves Boston nearly 100M — including Sandlin feels like a fair trade.
Its the savings that makes the trade work for Boston, it’s Marte that makes it a good trade.
That’s a significant overpay for Marte……the hype is making him sound like one of the best ballplayers of all time…..he’s been productive, but at 32, soon to be 33 this season…his horizon is fast approaching and dealing those assets, plus he may in fact demand a new contract for big money and long term security (multi year contract) because of all this ridiculous HYPE… why would Boston trade a core of good MLB players and up and coming assets who can help for him…..and if the clubhouse rumors are correct, is he really a fit or just another player who will demand “special” treatment……..a headache in the making?
Because they can’t play them all in the next two or three seasons and Marte saves them a ton of cash.
That’s why Rivas, Neely and J. Gonzalez are important for AZ, because they need some prospects with time value in addition to some help for the MLB Roster.
I like my trade, I’d make that trade if I were Arizona and I’d make that trade if I were Boston.
No ABS
Dbacks don’t want to take on any contracts, they just want cheap young pitching. Then they will spend money getting Bregman signed to a long term deal. That’s why your proposal is a non starter. It might make sense from Boston’s perspective, but it’s a hard NO from the Dbacks’ perspective.
I think it’s a moot point they aren’t trading Marte and Boston certainly isn’t trading Early, Tolle, and Witherspoon by themselves for Marte. That’s a laugh Hazen off the phone from the Red Sox perspective. I think Boston ultimately signs Bregman anyway.
You trade 6 players for a generational talent that is still in his 20’s, you don’t trade 6 players for a guy pushing 33 that comes with baggage that a whole new group of players is going to have to learn to deal with.
Hazen has overplayed his hand from the beginning because he took a situation that was due diligence on other teams interest in Marte and has now dragged it out for two months to the point where they almost have to trade him now as it’s doubtful Marte goes to spring training excited to be a Diamondback
You do when he gets paid 16M in ’26, 12M in ’27, and is a potential MVP. You do when you are in win now mode and its clear as day that the Red Sox are in win now mode.
His baggage isnt a big deal, he has big time incentives in his contract. Make a gentlemens agreement with him that he bats in the one hole or the two hole as long as his OBP is up to snuff and Marte is going to hit because he adds 2M to his salary via PAs.
Id be all in on Marte if I were a team in contention.
So. You and other Red Sox fans (I was one while Tito was managing, I went to UofA with him and yeah he was great then too). Everyone has heard of Marte. He’s all-star caliber still and likely to be on O and D for at least a couple more years. No one outside of Boston knows those guys you have in the proposed trade, and sorry, that’s more value on the Marte side for ticket sales, etc. I watched every game last year and despite his injury, he’s as good as ever and we’re happy to keep and maybe even get Gino back if not Bregman. No Dbacks don’t overpay, and when we get Martinez and and our other TJ pitchers back late next year/early year after the west will be our oyster…or should I say clam chowder lol.
Totally wrong. Marte will happily return to Dbacks if that’s in the cards, as others have in the past. Everyone loves playing for Lovullo.
How is no news a “soap opera”? You’re too high strung.
@release. He’s not 5’2. Maybe 5’8. He has a plus fastball. I dont see why he wouldn’t translate to the mlb.
@Release
buy how is this a “soap opera” was my question? “soap opera” implies some drama being created.
The “opener” seems like the “closer” from yesterday. No news, MLBTR? Come on, son.
Time for the teams who wanted to underpay for Marte to overpay for Brendan Donovan
Baltimore has a history of backing out of deals due to medicals. It would be wild but possible for imai to sign with Baltimore and fail the physical and have no place to land due to the deadline. .
Ketel Marte 3 year bWAR = 16.1. Brendan Donovan = 7.2. Yes, they are both involved in hot stove trade rumors. But other than that, they don’t belong in the same sentence. Donovan is a nice player. But the comps this off-season for Marte are Bichette and Bregman and a team looking for one of those three is not getting a close substitute if it gets Donovan. .
Are the deferred Rendon dollars going to players? They’ve net spent nothing so far this off-season, as a lot of contracts have come off the books. Tyler Anderson, Jansen, Taylor Ward, Rengifo, Moncada, and Hendricks were $50 million. Maybe the money is going to Tyler Skaggs family?
Its been less than 24 hours on the restructuring. Be patient.
Translated: “I don’t wanna see these different-looking players in MY MLB”
The Rockies are a joke and so is your comment.
Classy take Steinbreener. Haters be hatin
@steinbrenner. Don’t know what rock or cave he crawled out of. Japanese players have been making the jump to the mlb for awhile. Its happening more often because the posting rules changing and they can come over before thirty. I guess Cuban players suck because they use a stick bat.
Translated: “I don’t wanna see these short yellow men infect my MLB!”
The Rockies are a joke and so is your comment.
Classy take Steinbreener, Haters be hatin