Infield Options For The Mariners
2024/01/mariners-trade-rumors-infielder-free-agent-targets.htmlThat's not true to the same extent as Suarez, Hernandez and Kelenic, but the M's haven't exactly stockpiled plus bat-to-ball skills and overhauled their offensive identity, either. … Instead, ownership has opted to place some rather clear payroll restrictions on the front office in light of ongoing uncertainty regarding the team's television rights.
Blue Jays Reportedly Optimistic About Signing Yariel Rodríguez
2024/01/blue-jays-reportedly-optimistic-about-signing-yariel-rodriguez.htmlIt's unclear what exactly those issues are or when they are expected to be resolved. … The Blue Jays are optimistic about landing right-hander Yariel Rodriguez, per Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.
The Phillies’ Next Steps
2024/01/the-phillies-next-steps.htmlPredicting exactly who'll be squeezed out of a big league deal requires some degree of guesswork, but rebound candidates like…… Even in terms of minor league free agency, the Phils have added hard-throwing righty Jose Ruiz and...
Marlins, Jonathan Davis Agree To Minor League Deal
2024/01/marlins-re-sign-jonathan-davis.htmlDavis, another righty bat, doesn't exactly profile as a platoon option for either Chisholm or Sanchez, as he's a career .214/.338/.313 hitter even against lefties. … Miami outrighted Davis off the 40-man roster at season's end rather than tender him a contract in arbitration.
Rockies Looking For Left-Handed-Hitting Outfielder
2024/01/rockies-rumors-outfielder-left-handed.htmlIt'd be a shock to see the Rockies spend at the levels necessary to sign Cody Bellinger, and the options beyond him aren't exactly plentiful. … As things stand, the Rockies have a largely right-handed outfield mix.
Mariners Still Exploring Infield, Bullpen Markets
2024/01/mariners-trade-rumors-infield-bullpen-free-agency.htmlAny of that trio would meet the Mariners' previously stated goal of improving the club's contact rate (which hasn't exactly been strictly adhered to, when looking at the acquisition of Raley in particular). … The lefty-swinging Rojas has extremely similar rate stats against lefties and righties, with identical 93 wRC+ marks against each, but his production against lefties is contingent on a .361 average on balls in play that's not likely to hold up.
Pirates Notes: Cherington, Payroll, Cruz, Keller
2024/01/pirates-notes-cherington-cruz-keller.htmlSince Cherington is on record as saying that the Pirates will increase their payroll, it remains to be seen exactly how much the team is willing or able to spend for further upgrades. … "We’re trying to get better every day and investing in areas where we're gonna get better every day....We're doing all the right things to win for Pittsburgh.
Blue Jays Interested In Jorge Soler
2024/01/blue-jays-interested-in-jorge-soler.htmlSoler isn't exactly a sure thing at the plate as he enters his age-32 season, and MLB Trade Rumors' projection of a three-year, $45MM deal (Soler ranked 16th on our list of the winter's top 50 free agents) reflected this uncertainty about his offense, and his lack of defensive utility. … Soler has made only 89 appearances in the outfield for the Marlins over the last two seasons, operating as a part-time left fielder in 2022 and then a part-time right fielder in 2023.
Braves, Red Sox Trade Chris Sale For Vaughn Grissom
2023/12/braves-red-sox-trade-chris-sale-for-vaughn-grissom.htmlThis is exactly what the Braves are counting on from Sale as a third or even a fourth starter, behind Max Fried, Spencer Strider, and Charlie Morton in the team's rotation. … He fits Breslow's preferred add of a right-handed hitter, and Grissom's glovework could or should work out well at the less-demanding second base position.
Reds Sign Frankie Montas
2024/01/reds-to-sign-frankie-montas.htmlHis deal almost exactly matched the one-year, $15MM pact that MLB Trade Rumors projected for Montas in our top 50 free agents list, with Montas sitting 44th in the ranking. … The Reds announced that they have signed righty Frankie Montas, to a one-year deal with a mutual option for 2025.
Reds Sign Conner Capel To Minor League Deal
2023/12/red-sign-conner-capel-to-minor-league-deal.htmlCapel doesn't exactly have a clear path to joining Cincinnati's roster, as the lefty outfielder would be competing with the likes of TJ Friedl, Will Benson, and Jake Fraley for a spot on the club's roster to say nothing of right-handed outfield options like Stuart Fairchild and Spencer Steer. … The outfielder was outrighted off the 40-man roster back in August and subsequently hit minor league free agency, allowing him to sign on with the Reds on this non-roster pact.
Central Notes: Frazier, Pirates, Twins, Tigers, Miller
2023/12/central-notes-frazier-pirates-twins-tigers-miller.htmlWhile approximately league average offense and rough defense (-15 OAA, -1 DRS) at second base isn't exactly an impact signing, the addition of Frazier to the Pirates lineup could offer the club a stable, veteran solution at the keystone while not blocking the likes of Nick Gonzalez from taking a step forward and seizing everyday playing time in the majors. … Tigers president of baseball operations Scott Harris spoke effusively about newly-signed right-hander Shelby Miller after he landed in Detroit on a one-year pact last week.
Astros, Blue Jays, Pirates, Yankees Continue To Be Interested In Yariel Rodriguez
2023/12/astros-blue-jays-pirates-yankees-continue-to-be-interested-in-yariel-rodriguez.htmlRoster Resource projects Houston's 2024 payroll to sit almost exactly at the $237MM luxury tax threshold, which is notable since the Astros have only once (in 2020) exceeded the tax line in their history. … Yariel Rodriguez's market continues to percolate, as the Astros, Blue Jays, Pirates, and Yankees "are still in the bidding for" the right-hander's services, according to reporter Francys Romero (X link) earlier this week.
Tigers Sign Shelby Miller
2023/12/tigers-sign-shelby-miller.htmlPrior to the 2023 season, Miller had thrown exactly one splitter in his career -- way back in 2014. … 8:26am: The Tigers have agreed to a deal with free agent right-hander Shelby Miller, reports Kiley McDaniel of ESPN.
Brewers Sign Eric Haase
2023/12/brewers-sign-eric-haase.htmlWhile he's not exactly a premium defender in the outfield, he's still logged 355 career innings in left and made a one-off appearance in right field as well. … The Guardians outrighted him at season's end -- effectively non-tendering him -- rather than paying him a raise in arbitration.
Pirates Re-Sign Andrew McCutchen
2023/12/pirates-andrew-mccutchen-reportedly-agree-to-one-year-deal.htmlAndrew McCutchen said multiple times throughout the 2023 season that he didn't intend to play anywhere other than Pittsburgh for the remainder of his career, and that's exactly where he'll be in 2024. … Defensively, he was almost exclusively a designated hitter, spending just 64 2/3 innings in right field.
The Best Remaining Fits For Cody Bellinger
2023/12/the-best-remaining-fits-for-cody-bellinger.htmlAngels: It's difficult to identify exactly where the Angels go from here. … Phillies: Philadelphia is involved on Yamamoto, suggesting an ability to stretch the budget for the right player.
Giants Reportedly Interested In Shota Imanaga
2023/12/giants-reportedly-interested-in-shota-imanaga.htmlDepending on exactly how much money the Giants have to spend this offseason, a pursuit of Imanaga could leave them with more room in the budget to make further additions to the club this offseason. … Morosi adds that Imanaga's market is likely to come into further focus when the sweepstakes for right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto come to an end.
Report: Angels Did Not Match Dodgers’ Offer For Ohtani
2023/12/report-angels-did-not-match-dodgers-offer-for-ohtani.htmlIt's interesting that he decided to pull the reins on the Ohtani chase, though it's unknown exactly why or how close they were. … The Blue Jays were "right there," according to a report from Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.
Mariners “Rebuffed” Red Sox’ Interest In Young Starting Pitchers
2023/12/red-sox-trade-rumors-mariners-starting-pitchers.htmlSimilarly, the Sox might be loath to part with much in the way of immediate MLB production in the lineup, as the free-agent market isn't exactly deep in bats to replace any outgoing hitters. … To the contrary, Dipoto acknowledged to Jude that for the "right player" with another club, the Mariners "will consider just…
Dodgers, Rays Discussing Deal Involving Tyler Glasnow, Manuel Margot
2023/12/dodgers-rays-discussing-deal-involving-tyler-glasnow-manuel-margot.htmlAs for the players reportedly being targeted by Tampa Bay, Pepiot is exactly what the Rays typically covet: an MLB-ready player with five seasons of club control who can step directly onto the roster in place of a star-caliber player being traded elsewhere. … 8:27am: The Dodgers and Rays are in talks on a trade that would send right-hander Tyler Glasnow and outfielder Manuel Margot from Tampa Bay to Los Angeles in exchange for Ryan Pepiot and outfielder Jonny Deluca, as first reported by Jack Azoulay-Haron of MLB Nerds and Bruce Kuntz of Dodgers Digest.
Why Shohei Ohtani’s Contract Structure Is Not A Luxury Tax Dodge
2023/12/why-shohei-ohtanis-contract-structure-is-not-a-luxury-tax-dodge.htmlAs you know, money is worth more now than it is in the future, so players have not exactly been clamoring to wait until retirement age to receive 97.1% of their contract. … MLB would've been right - there would be no other reason to pay Judge through age 44.
Giants Met With Yoshinobu Yamamoto
2023/12/giants-rumors-yoshinobu-yamamoto-meeting.htmlIt's not clear exactly which members of the team brass met with Yamamoto, though it's fair to presume that president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi and ownership representatives were present. … The Giants met with star NPB right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto on Sunday, reports Buster Olney of ESPN.
Royals Interested In Marcus Stroman
2023/12/royals-interested-in-marcus-stroman.htmlIt wasn't exactly a clean season for Stroman either last year, as injuries spoiled what was initially shaping up to be a very strong 2023 campaign. … The right-hander missed about six weeks due to hip inflammation and then a cartilage fracture in his right ribcage, and thus the Cubs limited to Stroman to shortened starts and bullpen work after he returned from the injured list in September.
Scott Boras Discusses Gerrit Cole’s 2024 Opt-Out Clause
2023/12/scott-boras-discusses-gerrit-coles-2024-opt-out-clause.htmlAgent Scott Boras, who represents Cole, has indicated he believes that's exactly how the situation will play out next year. … Yankees ace Gerrit Cole just won the first Cy Young award of his career in a unanimous vote last month, adding another significant accomplishment to the right-hander's incredible resume.