Headlines

Go To Pro Hockey Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Dodgers Rumors

Trevor Bauer’s Administrative Leave Extended Through April 16

By | at

TODAY: Bauer’s administrative leave has been extended another month, through April 16 (Jorge Castillo of The Los Angeles Times was among those to report the news.)  The timing ensures that Bauer will miss at least the first week of the regular season.

MARCH 11: Trevor Bauer has been placed on a week-long administrative leave by the league, as first reported by MLB Network’s Jon Heyman (Twitter links).  The leave will run from March 13 to March 19, and Bauer also won’t report to the Dodgers’ Spring Training camp prior to the 13th.  Major League Baseball is still considering whether or not to issue a suspension to Bauer, as per the MLB/MLBPA’s Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Policy.

Bauer has been on paid administrative leave since July, shortly after a woman in California made allegations of sexual assault and had a temporary ex parte restraining order filed against Bauer.  In February, the L.A. County District Attorney’s Office announced that criminal charges weren’t being pursued against Bauer, as “After a thorough review of the available evidence, including the civil restraining order proceedings, witness statements and the physical evidence, the People are unable to prove the relevant charges beyond a reasonable doubt.”

As per the MLB/MLBPA’s joint policy, the league can still issue a suspension even in the absence of criminal charges, as has been the case with most of the suspensions filed since the policy was first introduced in August 2015.  Commissioner Rob Manfred has the broad authority to issue suspensions of any length or severity, and suspended players can appeal to an arbitration panel if they disagree with the commissioner’s decision.  It is expected that Bauer will indeed appeal any suspension levied against him.

Beyond the case in California, reports also surfaced this past summer of a previous ex parte temporary civil stalking protection order granted to a woman in Ohio against Bauer in June and July of 2020.  This protection order was in regards to another alleged incident that took place involving Bauer and the woman in 2017, when Bauer was a member of the Indians.

The league hasn’t interviewed Bauer since July, according to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale.  While the league’s investigation has now been ongoing for over eight months, it seems as though both the lockout and the pending decision from the L.A. County D.A.’s Office led to the delay.  That said, it still isn’t clear when exactly the league may render its own judgement on a possible suspension.

Latest On Freddie Freeman’s Market

By | at

It’s been apparent since the Braves acquired and extended first baseman Matt Olson that Freddie Freeman is likely headed elsewhere in free agency, but Freeman made that all but official this afternoon when he thanked Braves fans and bid them and the organization farewell on Instagram this afternoon.

“…Thank you from the bottom of my heart,” wrote Freeman. “It has been a blast to have you cheer for me and I hope I was able to bring smiles to a lot of your homes over the years. I gave everything I had day in and day out and I hope you guys saw that as well. Although our time has come to an end, I look forward to seeing and playing in front of you all again. When that time comes, I hope you remember all the wonderful memories we made together. I love you Braves Country! Champions Forever!”

It’s not clear whether Freeman’s message is a portent for an agreement with a new team or simply an acknowledgement that the first chapter of his storied career has drawn to a close. Several possible landing spots for the 2020 NL MVP have dried up in the past few days, as the Braves not only essentially replaced him with Olson, but the Yankees struck up a deal to bring Anthony Rizzo back to the Bronx.

Reports recently have suggested that Freeman remains of interest to the Dodgers, Red Sox, Rays and Padres, although each destination comes with its own reasons for some degree of skepticism. Freeman has reportedly sought a six-year deal that would carry him through his age-37 season, and the Dodgers tend to prefer higher annual salaries and shorter terms than that six-year target. To that end, USA Today’s Bob Nightengale wrote this week that L.A. is “believed” to have offered a four-year deal to Freeman that includes a sizable annual value.

Looking to Freeman’s other reported suitors, the Padres have spent more than a year trying to move Eric Hosmer, who still has four years and $59MM remaining on his contract. As explored more in depth here at MLBTR yesterday, it’s difficult to see that deal coming together without several other pieces falling into place first.

The Red Sox have been comfortable exceeding the luxury tax in the past, but they opted not to do so and have at pair of interesting young first base/designated hitter types already in Bobby Dalbec and prospect Tristan Casas. It’s doubtful that either would stand in the way of Boston signing a player of Freeman’s caliber, but the luxury tax concerns present a more feasible roadblock. Still, SNY’s Andy Martino tweeted this morning that the Yankees believe their archrivals’ interest in Freeman is sincere.

As for the Rays, their interest is said to be real but also comes with the most obvious hurdles of the bunch. Tampa Bay’s payroll is perennially among the lowest in the sport, and while the long-term books are exceptionally clean (as noted when first examining their reported offer), a free agent of Freeman’s caliber heading to Tampa is entirely without precedent. It was a surprise several years ago to see the Rays reel in Charlie Morton on a $30MM guarantee that spanned two seasons; Freeman could command an annual salary in that range over a longer term. MLB Network’s Jon Heyman tweeted this morning that Tampa Bay has remained “aggressive” in its surprising pursuit of Freeman, but an actual deal between the two parties would still register as one of the largest free-agent surprises ever.

The lack of obvious suitors for a massive five- or six-year commitment and the recent decisions by the Braves and Yankees to move on has created a sense among some executives in the game that Freeman’s camp overplayed its hand, Jim Bowden of The Athletic tweets. That’ll be determined by Freeman’s ultimate contract, of course, but his path to the massive contract that once appeared to be a given looks a bit less clear now than it did when the Yankees and Braves were still in the market for his services.

A’s Claim Sheldon Neuse Off Waivers

By | at

The Athletics announced that infielder Sheldon Neuse has been claimed off waivers from the Dodgers.  Neuse has been in DFA limbo since December 1, as the Dodgers designated him for assignment just before the lockout started.

It’s a reunion of sorts for Neuse and the A’s, as Neuse has spent much of his pro career in the Oakland organization.  A second-round pick for the Nationals in the 2016 draft, Neuse was part of the three-player package (along with Jesus Luzardo and Blake Treinen) sent to Oakland in the July 2017 trade that brought Sean Doolittle and Ryan Madson to D.C.  The Athletics then dealt Neuse to Los Angeles as part of a four-player swap in February 2021.

A pretty well-regarded prospect during his time in the minors, Neuse has a .291/.349/.459 slash line over 1446 career plate appearances at the Triple-A level.  Neuse has played mostly as a third baseman but has also seen a lot of time at both middle infield positions and a handful of games as a first baseman and corner outfielder.  There is some irony that Neuse is returning to the A’s on the same day that Oakland traded Matt Chapman to the Blue Jays, as Chapman’s presence at third base was one of the reasons the Athletics experimented with Neuse at other positions.

With the A’s now shifting into at least some kind of rebuild mode, it could open the door for Neuse to get a longer look at the big league level.  He hasn’t hit much in limited action, with a .207/.236/.314 slash line in 127 PA (61 with the Athletics in 2019 and 66 with the Dodgers last season).

Dodgers, Shane Greene Agree To Minor League Deal

By | at

The Dodgers have agreed to a minor league deal with veteran reliever Shane Greene, tweets MLB Network’s Jon Heyman.  Greene returns to Chavez Ravine after inking a Major League contract with the Dodgers last August, and appearing in nine games with the Dodgers down the stretch.

That brief stint in L.A. saw Greene post a 4.05 ERA, 23.3% strikeout rate, and an ungainly 16.7% walk rate over 6 2/3 innings of work.  While nothing spectacular, it was still a big step up from Greene’s previous work last season — 17 innings out of the Braves bullpen that saw the right-hander struggle to an 8.47 ERA.

It was an unusual season overall for Greene, as his trip through free agency didn’t result in a deal of any kind until Atlanta signed him to a big league deal in May.  The lack of a proper Spring Training undoubtedly had some impact on Greene’s performance, and while this season’s abbreviated spring camps are also not exactly normal, Greene will at least get some type of regular prep time as he tries to win a job in the Los Angeles bullpen.

Greene has been a little inconsistent since becoming a full-time reliever in 2017, yet he has posted some very strong numbers when at his best.  The right-hander enjoyed very solid seasons in 2017 and 2019 while pitching with the Tigers (serving as Detroit’s closer and reaching the All-Star Game in 2019) and delivered another good year over 27 2/3 frames with Atlanta in the shortened 2020 season.  However, Greene has never been a big strikeout pitcher even in his prime, and since the advanced metrics take a dimmer view of his performance than his real-world numbers, it could explain why Greene languished for so long on the open market last offseason.

If Greene can return to his old form, the Dodgers may have found a reliable and durable bullpen arm at a relative bargain price.  L.A. has assembled quite a collection of notable relievers in camp on minors deals, as Greene joins a list that includes Reyes Moronta, Carson Fulmer, Yency Almonte, Bobby Wahl, and Sam Gaviglio.

Dodgers Sign Jake Lamb, Mike Wright To Minor League Deals

By | at

March 15: Lamb will make $1.5MM if selected to the big league team, per Jon Heyman of MLB Network.

March 14: The Dodgers announced this morning they’ve signed corner infielder/outfielder Jake Lamb and right-hander Mike Wright to minor league deals. Los Angeles also confirmed their previously-reported minors pacts with Yency Almonte and Reyes Moronta.

Lamb has spent the bulk of his career in the NL West, having been the D-Backs’ regular third baseman for a few seasons. That included a 2016-17 peak that saw the left-handed hitter combine for a .248/.345/.498 line with 59 home runs. Lamb earned an unexpected All-Star nod the latter of those two seasons and looked like a potential long-term building block in Arizona.

Unfortunately, he’s seen his production on both sides of the ball turn downwards following a 2018 shoulder injury that required surgery. He’s suited up for four teams — the D-Backs, A’s, White Sox and Blue Jays — over the past three seasons but owns a cumulative .193/.309/.358 mark in that time. His once-strong defensive metrics at the hot corner have tumbled as well, and he’s seen increasing time at positions further down the defensive spectrum (i.e. first base, the corner outfield and designated hitter).

Wright, meanwhile, spent a few seasons as a back-end starter in Baltimore. He made the jump to South Korea in 2020, working 157 2/3 frames of 4.68 ERA ball with the KBO’s NC Dinos. Wright didn’t post especially impressive strikeout or walk numbers there, but he induced ground-balls at a huge 53.7% clip. That was enough to attract the attention of the White Sox, who inked him to a minor league deal for the 2021 campaign.

The right-hander spent the bulk of the season with Triple-A Charlotte, pitching to a solid 3.40 ERA over 16 starts. He was selected onto Chicago’s big league roster in mid-August and worked in relief at the MLB level. In 18 innings across 13 appearances, he posted a 5.50 ERA with 11 strikeouts and walks apiece. The Sox outrighted him off their roster at the end of the season and he elected minor league free agency. He’ll offer the Dodgers some depth both in the rotation and/or long relief.

Seiya Suzuki Weighing Interest From Several Teams

By | at

6:41pm: Suzuki and his reps are expected to meet with Cubs brass tonight, reports Sahadev Sharma of the Athletic (Twitter link).

4:45pm: Suzuki himself shot down rumors of a decision having been made, via Instagram story. “There are several reports that I’ve made my decision, but none of that is true,” writes Suzuki.

2:28pm: Suzuki has not chosen a team yet, according to Dylan Hernandez of the L.A. Times, who says six to seven teams remain under consideration.  Jon Heyman of MLB Network names the Padres, Dodgers, Red Sox, Giants, Mariners, and Cubs as some of the teams still involved.

TODAY, 1:43pm: “It appears Seiya Suzuki’s decision is not far away,” tweets Acee.

YESTERDAY, 11:53pm: The Padres are known to be making a push for Seiya Suzuki, and the outfielder worked out in front of Padres executives at Petco Park this weekend, The Athletic’s Dennis Lin reports (Twitter link).  Suzuki’s time in San Diego also included a visit with Padres righty Yu Darvish and Darvish’s family.

Now that the lockout is over, Suzuki is finally free to partake in normal free-agent recruitment tours, which are particularly key for players coming to Major League Baseball for the first time.  Lin notes that it isn’t known if Suzuki visited any other teams this weekend or what his other travel plans may entail, though given the number of teams interested in Suzuki, he could have quite a few stops to make before his posting period is up.  Suzuki now has 17 of his 30 posting days remaining, as the lockout interrupted this process and kept Suzuki from any contract with big league clubs.

Suzuki has seemingly become an increasingly important figure in the Padres’ roster-building efforts, as Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune said earlier today that obtaining Suzuki was part of a “Plan A” scenario for the team.  That outline included signing Suzuki and Nelson Cruz, and then trading one of Eric Hosmer or Wil Myers to open up payroll space, though one element of that plan has now been scuttled since Cruz signed with the Nationals.

With Cruz now off the board, it could only intensify the Padres’ pursuit of Suzuki.  Since Cruz is limited to DH duty, adding Suzuki would arguably be a better fit for San Diego anyway given the team’s needs in the outfield.  Suzuki could be easily slotted right into the Padres’ right field spot, as Myers (if he isn’t traded) could be moved across the grass to fill San Diego’s left field vacancy.

Yankees Pessimistic On Chances Of Signing Freddie Freeman

By | at

The Yankees are pessimistic on free agent first baseman Freddie Freeman, according to Jon Heyman of MLB Network.  The Yankees have also thus far said no to an ask of top prospect Anthony Volpe plus more for Oakland first baseman Matt Olson, Heyman explains.  As such, a reunion with free agent Anthony Rizzo is suggested to be “the most realistic” first base addition for the Yankees.

Three days ago, Heyman wrote that the Dodgers and Braves are the most likely landing spots for Freeman, who reportedly has sought a six-year deal.  The Yankees have since revamped the left side of the infield, shipping out Gio Urshela and adding Josh Donaldson and Isiah Kiner-Falefa from the Twins.  The Yanks still have Luke Voit, DJ LeMahieu, and Gleyber Torres on the roster, so further adjustments may be coming.

Volpe, ranked by Baseball America as the tenth best prospect in the game, isn’t necessarily an unreasonable request by the A’s.  Recent precedent for trading a five-WAR type player in the offseason with two years of control is rare, but the Marlins were able to land Sixto Sanchez and others when shopping J.T. Realmuto three years ago.  Other clubs known to be in the mix for Olson include the Guardians, Rangers, Padres, and naturally the Braves if they lose Freeman.

Rizzo posted a 113 wRC+ for the Yankees in 200 plate appearances after coming over from the Cubs at the trade deadline.

Dodgers Sign Yency Almonte To Minors Contract

By | at

The Dodgers have signed right-hander Yency Almonte to a minor league deal, The Athletic’s Fabian Ardaya reports (via Twitter).  Almonte will get an invite to the Dodgers’ big league spring camp, and he’ll receive a $1.5MM salary if he makes the active roster.

Almonte’s entire big league career has been spent in the NL West, as he posted a 5.30 ERA over 124 relief innings with the Rockies from 2018-21.  Not a big strikeout pitcher at either the MLB or minor league level, Almonte has looked effective when he has been able to avoid the home run ball, as evidenced by his solid numbers over 42 2/3 IP in 2018 and 2020 when he allowed three total homers.  When Almonte hasn’t been able to maintain an above-average grounder rate, problems have ensued — in 81 2/3 innings over the 2019 and 2021 seasons, Almonte was tagged for 16 big flies.

As one might expect, pitching at Coors Field hasn’t helped Almonte in keeping the ball in the park, so a move to a more pitcher-friendly venue might lead to more consistency.  The Dodgers have had a first-hand look at Almonte over his four years in Colorado and will now see what the 27-year-old can do with a change of scenery in the Los Angeles camp.  The $1.5MM salary isn’t much of a financial risk for the Dodgers to take, as the club will likely happily pay that price if it means Almonte has earned him a crack at a Major League roster spot.

Dodgers Re-Sign Clayton Kershaw

By | at

Clayton Kershaw is staying put, as the Dodgers announced he’s re-signed on a one-year contract. The deal reportedly guarantees him $17MM and contains incentives based upon his number of appearances. The Excel Sports Management client will earn $1MM for reaching each of 16, 20, 22, 24 and 26 appearances next season. He’d also receive a $1.5MM bonus in the event he wins the Cy Young Award next season, with a $500K finish for a second or third-place finish.

It’ll be Kershaw’s fifteenth season in Dodger blue, as the future Hall of Famer returns to the only organization he’s ever known. The front office allowed him to hit free agency for the first time this offseason, but team executives consistently maintained they’d love to keep him in the fold.

Very early in the offseason, it became apparent that the Dodgers and Rangers were the favorites for his services. The 2014 NL MVP didn’t tip his hand publicly about where he was leaning, but Texas and L.A. each had their respective positives. The Rangers offered the Highland Park native a chance to play near his hometown, in addition to the opportunity to reunite with Texas manager Chris Woodward, who’d previously served as a coach with the Dodgers. Yet Los Angeles offered organizational familiarity and a more immediate path to postseason play.

Kershaw is obviously among the greatest pitchers in franchise history, and it stands to reason the Dodgers would’ve wanted to keep him around for legacy purposes alone. He’s claimed five ERA titles, posting a sub-3.00 mark in eleven of his last thirteen seasons. He’s a three-time Cy Young award winner and finished in the top five in NL balloting each season between 2011-17. The veteran southpaw has led the league in strikeouts on three occasions and was a key contributor on the 2020 World Series winning team.

Yet there’s little question the Dodgers — again one of the top on-paper contenders in the league — also were motivated to bring him back because they believe he’ll still be an effective pitcher in 2022. The 33-year-old (34 next week) is no longer the undisputed best pitcher in the sport, but he was still among the top performers on a rate basis last season. Last year’s 3.55 ERA was his highest since his 2008 rookie campaign, but it’s nevertheless solid run prevention. And Kershaw’s peripherals were better, right among the top of the league.

Kershaw struck out a lofty 29.5% of batters faced while walking a minuscule 4.3% of opponents. His 16.7% swinging strike rate was a personal best, the number one mark in the league among pitchers with 100+ innings. He finished sixth in strikeout/walk rate differential (25.2 percentage points) and fifth in SIERA (3.10). Few other starters were that productive on a pitch-by-pitch basis, although Kershaw was limited to 121 2/3 innings and 22 starts by a late-season health scare.

The southpaw missed two months between July and September due to inflammation in his elbow/forearm area. He returned to make a few starts but dealt with renewed discomfort in his final regular season outing. That forced him to undergo a season-ending platelet-rich plasma injection, although he avoided surgery and has generally been expected to be a full-go for the start of the upcoming campaign.

Presuming his physical comes up clean, the Dodgers will install Kershaw back into a key rotation role. They’re in a better position than most teams to weather any potential concerns regarding his workload, given the depth on the roster. Walker Buehler and Julio Urías are at the top of the rotation, while David Price, Tony Gonsolin and offseason signee Andrew Heaney could all factor in at the back end. Dustin May could make a midseason return from May 2021 Tommy John surgery. It’s unclear whether Trevor Bauer will face a suspension from MLB, but he remains on the roster at present.

It’s an enviable group, and a top trio of Buehler, Urías and Kershaw could again be a nightmare for opposing offenses in a short postseason series. Yet it’s not out of the question the Dodgers keep trying to add there; they showed at last summer’s deadline in acquiring Max Scherzer they’re never afraid to pursue elite talent if the opportunity presents itself.

The $17MM guarantee will push the Dodgers’ payroll commitments — including projected salaries for arbitration-eligible players — to around $245MM, in the estimation of Jason Martinez of Roster Resource. They opened last season in the $248MM range, although the midseason acquisitions of Scherzer and Trea Turner pushed that figure up substantially.

Los Angeles’ luxury tax number (which is determined by summing contracts’ average annual values rather than real salaries) now sits right around $250MM. That’s $20MM north of the new collective bargaining agreement’s base threshold and right at the first surcharge marker. Los Angeles is all but certain to pay the luxury tax for a second straight year. Because they’ll be a repeat payor, the Dodgers would be subject to a 30% tax on every dollar spent between $230MM and $250MM; they’ll be taxed at a 42% rate for expenditures between $250MM and $270MM. As the club showed last season in blowing past all three thresholds, though, that’s not a concern for ownership in certain circumstances.

Kershaw’s return to L.A. no doubt will come as a disappointment to the Rangers, who had made no secret of their affinity for him. Texas has been among the most aggressive clubs this offseason, signing Corey Seager, Marcus Semien and Jon Gray in a pre-lockout frenzy, but the rotation is very light on certainty. Kershaw would’ve immediately stepped in as the Rangers’ top arm and a veteran voice for their younger starters. With him off the board, it’s possible Texas looks for more affordable stopgap options for the rotation — on deals similar to this afternoon’s $4MM reunion with Martín Pérez.

Kershaw and Carlos Rodón were quite arguably the final two top-of-the-rotation starters available in free agency coming into the day. Kershaw returns to L.A., while Rodón agreed to terms on a two-year pact with the archrival Giants. Yusei Kikuchi and Zack Greinke are the only currently-healthy unsigned starters who made MLBTR’s pre-offseason Top 50 Free Agents. With the top of the market now picked through, rotation-needy teams figure to turn to trade candidates who might offer mid-rotation or better production. The Reds and A’s are generally expected to make impact starters available over the coming weeks.

Ken Rosenthal of the Athletic first reported Kershaw was returning to the Dodgers on a one-year deal. Jon Heyman of the MLB Network was first to report the guarantee and the presence of incentives. Robert Murray of FanSided reported the incentive structure.

Image courtesy of USA Today Sports.

Dodgers To Sign Hanser Alberto

By | at

The Dodgers have an agreement in place to sign utilityman Hanser Alberto, per Robert Murray of FanSided (via Twitter). Junior Matrillé (via Twitter) first broke news of the deal as a Major League contract with a club option for 2023. The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal (via Twitter) seconded the club option, confirming that the Dodgers will have two years of team control over Alberto. Rosenthal notes that the Dodgers locked into their pursuit of Alberto after missing out on Josh Harrison, who signed with the White Sox.

The 29-year-old right-handed batsman began his career with the Rangers after signing as an amateur free agent out of the Dominican Republic. He made his Major League debut with the Rangers in 2015. Regular playing time eluded him, however, until landing with the Orioles for the 2019 season. The versatile defenseman spent two years in Baltimore before playing last year with the Royals.

While Alberto has been a borderline starter the past couple of seasons, he will transition to a clearer bench role with the Dodgers. That said, manager Dave Roberts certainly utilizes his bench, and there’s no shortage of injury history on the Dodgers’ roster. Last year, Alberto slashed .270/.291/.402 over 255 plate appearances, falling in line with his history as a contact-first, low-walk-rate bat with a glove capable of shifting all over the diamond.

Show all

MLB Trade Rumors is not affiliated with Major League Baseball, MLB or MLB.com

Do not Sell or Share My Personal Information

hide arrows scroll to top