Are Yanks eyeing ultimate 1-2 punch in rotation?
LATEST FREE AGENT & TRADE RUMORS2:13 AM UTC
We’re keeping track of all the latest free agent and trade rumors.
Jan. 4: Will Yankees land Snell to form Cy Young duo?
After missing out on Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the Yankees have turned their attention to some of the other top starters on the free-agent market.
That reportedly includes Blake Snell, and the interest appears to be mutual.
If the Yankees were to sign Snell, the reigning NL Cy Young Award winner, they would pair him with Gerrit Cole atop the starting rotation — Cole won the AL Cy Young Award last year. That would create perhaps the best one-two punch of any rotation in the Majors. More>
Jan. 4: Rangers viewed as Montgomery’s ‘first choice’
As one of the best starting pitchers left on the free-agent market, Montgomery is appealing to a lot of teams; perhaps at least six clubs are vying for him.
But the left-hander may hold one team in higher regard than the rest: the Texas Rangers. More>
Jan. 4: Santana drawing interest from several teams (reports)
Veteran first baseman Carlos Santana is drawing interest from the Brewers, Pirates and Mariners, all clubs with whom he has played in the past, according to MLB Network insider Jon Heyman in an article for the New York Post. FanSided’s Robert Murray also reports Milwaukee is interested in bringing back Santana.
Santana will be entering his age-38 season, but he’s proven in recent years that he can still be productive at the plate. In 619 plate appearances for the Pirates and Brewers last season, he posted a .747 OPS with 23 home runs.
Jan. 4: Angels ‘have discussed’ pair of veteran free-agent outfielders (report)
In addition to seeking upgrades for the starting rotation and bullpen, the Angels appear to be in the market for some outfield help. According to FanSided’s Robert Murray, the Halos “have discussed” free-agent outfielders Michael A. Taylor and Adam Duvall.
Taylor, 32, hit just .220 in 129 games for the Twins last season, but he did have a career-high 21 home runs and is one of the better defensive center fielders in the game.
The 35-year-old Duvall was hurt much of last season with the Red Sox, but when he was in the lineup, he was good — he posted an .834 OPS with 21 homers in 353 plate appearances for Boston in 2023.
Jan. 3: Latest on the SP trade market
A number of top starting pitchers surfaced in trade rumblings earlier this offseason. But to this point, Tyler Glasnow is the only one of those arms who has moved, with the Dodgers acquiring the right-hander and outfielder Manuel Margot from the Rays in December. (We also saw the Red Sox send Chris Sale to the Braves in an unexpected trade.)
ESPN’s Jeff Passan (subscription required) hears that the White Sox are still likely to trade Dylan Cease, even though the number of suitors for the right-hander has decreased. However, the chances of the Brewers’ Corbin Burnes or the Guardians’ Shane Bieber being dealt before Spring Training are dwindling, Passan writes. With both pitchers entering their final seasons before free agency, neither is likely to fetch enough of a return to entice Milwaukee or Cleveland — two clubs looking to contend in 2024 — to move them.
At the same time, another pitcher is starting to draw increased trade interest: the Marlins’ Jesús Luzardo, who is controllable for three more seasons. A former highly touted prospect, Luzardo broke out in 2023, posting a 3.58 ERA with 208 K’s and 55 walks over 178 2/3 innings. Per Passan, new Marlins president of baseball operations Peter Bendix “is in listening mode” on all of the team’s players except 20-year-old righty Eury Pérez.
The Orioles remain a team to watch in the trade market for starting pitchers. According to MLB Network insider Jon Paul Morosi, Baltimore is speaking with the White Sox about Cease and the Marlins about their collection of arms, including Luzardo and Edward Cabrera (controllable through 2028).
Jan. 3: What do the markets look like for Snell, Montgomery and Imanaga?
According to Feinsand, the Yankees and Angels have been connected to all three, while the Cubs, Phillies, Mets, Red Sox and Giants are believed to have interest in at least two apiece.
Imanaga could be the first of the three pitchers to sign, considering his posting window closes on Jan. 11 at 5 p.m. ET. If he doesn’t sign with an MLB team by the deadline, he’ll return to the Yokohama DeNA BayStars of Nippon Professional Baseball.
ESPN’s Jeff Passan (subscription required) heard from multiple executives who said Imanaga is likely to sign a nine-figure deal.
In an appearance on Bleacher Report on Wednesday, MLB Network insider Jon Heyman named the Giants, Red Sox and Cubs as three of the primary suitors for Imanaga.
Heyman also believes the Rangers are still the most likely fit for Montgomery, who helped the club win a World Series title in 2023.
Jan. 3: Dodgers, Rangers among potential fits for Hader
The Dodgers have had a banner offseason, signing Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto and trading for Tyler Glasnow. Can they cap it all off by inking the best closer on the free-agent market as well?
According to MLB Network insider Jon Paul Morosi, Los Angeles remains interested in Josh Hader. The lefty is reportedly seeking a deal in the range of Edwin Díaz’s five-year, $102 million contract with the Mets, the richest deal ever signed by a reliever.
Morosi also isn’t ruling out the Rangers as a possible landing spot for Hader. The reigning World Series champions have had a quiet offseason, but there’s no denying Texas’ need for an elite closer. More>
Jan. 3: Which teams are possible fits for Stroman?
Due to his track record and asking price relative to some of the other top starters on the market, Marcus Stroman could be a popular name in free agency this month as teams look to shore up their rotations.
MLB Network insider Jon Paul Morosi views the Angels and Giants, two of the leading contenders to sign Blake Snell, as potential fits for Stroman as well.
Another possibility? The Orioles, who have been searching for a starter throughout the offseason. Given its modest spending habits of late and its wealth of young talent to offer, Baltimore has been considered a more likely candidate to swing a trade for a top starting pitcher than to sign one in free agency. However, Stroman might fit within the team’s budget.
Stroman became a free agent when he opted out of the final year of a three-year, $71 million contract with the Cubs. He was due to earn $21 million in 2024.
Stroman could be in line for a deal similar to the two-year, $38.5 million contract Lucas Giolito reached with the Red Sox last week. Stroman is three years older than Giolito and hasn’t been as durable in recent seasons, but he has been more effective.
The 32-year-old posted a 3.73 ERA and a 3.67 FIP in 52 games (50 starts) for the Cubs over the past two seasons, compared to a 4.89 ERA and a 4.70 FIP over 63 starts for Giolito in that same timeframe. Stroman had a 2.28 ERA through 16 starts this past season before struggling in the second half while battling injuries.
Jan. 2: Could Mariners make a move for Cease?
At first glance, the Mariners don’t seem like the most obvious suitor for White Sox right-hander Dylan Cease. Seattle’s starting rotation ranked fourth in MLB in 2023 with a 3.89 ERA, and the Mariners have substantial young pitching depth in Bryce Miller, Bryan Woo and others.
But according to MLB Network insider Jon Morosi on Tuesday, Seattle can’t be overlooked as a trade destination for Cease, who finished second in American League Cy Young Award voting in 2022. After the December deal sending Tyler Glasnow to the Dodgers from the Rays, Cease — with two years of club control remaining — is the biggest name on the current trade market.
According to Morosi, the Orioles — whose need for starting pitching was apparent during an ALDS sweep at the hands of the Rangers — are a top suitor for the right-hander. But the Mariners could move to acquire Cease as part of a larger plan. Still looking to add to its offense after signing Mitch Garver to a two-year deal, Seattle could acquire Cease and then trade Miller or Woo in a deal for a hitter, Morosi said.
There is still a chance the White Sox choose not to deal Cease before the 2024 Trade Deadline, but MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand reported in December that Cease is expected to be moved this offseason. If so, don’t sleep on the Mariners as a potential landing spot.
Dec. 31: Joc Pederson gathering interest from Blue Jays (report)
While the Blue Jays put their free agency plans on hold for Shohei Ohtani, they’ve picked up the free agency pace up as of late, having inked Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Kevin Kiermaier to one-year deals this week. While the Blue Jays were interested in Cody Bellinger earlier this offseason, they’ve reportedly shifted their interest towards Pederson, who hit .235 with 15 home runs with the Giants last year.
Pederson played 23 games in the field last season but is primarily a full-time DH at this point in his career, which would fill the void left by the recently-departed Brandon Belt in the Blue Jays’ lineup. Nicholson-Smith writes that the D-backs, Angels, Giants and Cubs could also be interested in Pederson.
The Blue Jays have also expressed interest in Rhys Hoskins, J.D. Martinez, Joey Votto and Justin Turner, all of whom are DH-first players.
Dec. 29: Checking in on the pitching market
That being said, there’s still some buzz that the team could end up making a big move at some point, with Heyman writing in The New York Post that it’s worth wondering if owner Steve Cohen would put out a marginally competitive team in what’s Pete Alonso’s walk year. Heyman also wrote that the Mets made a “big effort” to sign Yamamoto, but that the Japanese pitcher may have had a preference for the West Coast. Additionally, the Phillies made a “real attempt” at signing Yamamoto and are still in play for Snell and Montgomery.
In an interview on High Heat on MLB Network on Friday, Heyman said the Red Sox, Phillies, Giants and Angels are also interested in Montgomery. Heyman adds that Montgomery returning to the Yankees is a “possibility” and indicates that there is some mutual interest in a reunion.
Regarding Snell, Heyman said that the Angels and Giants “make the most sense” for the reigning National League Cy Young Award winner. However, Heyman said he can’t see the Angels outbidding the Giants for Snell.
Dec. 29: Angels, Mets reportedly interested in J.D. Martinez
Martinez, 36, had a fantastic 2023 season with the Dodgers, racking up 33 homers and 103 RBIs in 113 games. His 134 OPS+ was a four-year high. The D-backs are looking for a hitter like Martinez, per Heyman, but it’s not clear if they are specifically interested in him. Martinez spent the second half of the 2017 season with Arizona following a trade from Detroit. He put up a tremendous .302/.366/.741 slash line with 29 dingers in just 62 games with the D-backs.
Dec. 27: Giants ‘big-game hunting,’ in on Snell, Bellinger, Chapman
After missing out on Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, both of whom landed with the rival Dodgers, the Giants are still “big-game hunting” on the free-agent market as they look to add more star power to their roster, according to MLB Network insider Jon Heyman.
Per Heyman, the Giants are in on many of the top free agents left on the board, including starter Blake Snell, third baseman Matt Chapman and outfielder Cody Bellinger.
While San Francisco’s biggest addition to this point has been center fielder Jung Hoo Lee out of Korea, Heyman gets the sense the team is still leaning toward upgrading on the offensive side of the ball and considers Chapman the most likely of the three to land with the Giants.
The San Francisco Chronicle’s Susan Slusser also linked the Giants to those three players in an appearance on MLB Network on Tuesday while mentioning a reunion with pitcher Sean Manaea as another possibility.
The Giants were recently connected to another top free-agent starter, Japanese lefty Shōta Imanaga, in a report from MLB Network insider Jon Paul Morosi as well.
Dec. 27: Angels reportedly interested in Snell
While no one can replace the incomparable Shohei Ohtani in Anaheim, there are a number of available players who can address some of the glaring holes on the Angels’ roster. Starting pitching is perhaps the Halos’ biggest need, and the team appears to have some interest in one of the top arms left on the market.
Dec. 27: Where do the Blue Jays stand in the Belli market?
After missing out on Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the Blue Jays have been considered one of the favorites to land free-agent outfielder Cody Bellinger.
However, it’s fair to wonder if Toronto is still a fit for Bellinger after the club reached a deal (a source told MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand) on Tuesday to bring back center fielder Kevin Kiermaier. The Blue Jays followed that up by agreeing to a two-year deal with another position player, utility man Isiah Kiner-Falefa, on Wednesday. More>
Dec. 26: Dodgers, Angels, Red Sox showing interest in Teoscar
Even after acquiring Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow and Manuel Margot and re-signing Jason Heyward this offseason, the Dodgers may not be done adding to their roster. According to reporter Francys Romero, Los Angeles is one of the teams monitoring the market for free-agent outfielder Teoscar Hernández.
This isn’t the first time the two sides have been linked. Jorge Castillo of the Los Angeles Times reported back in November that Hernández was on the Dodgers’ radar. Their continued interest in the slugger certainly makes sense. With Mookie Betts expected to play second base more often in 2024, the team’s current outfield options are Margot, Heyward, James Outman and Chris Taylor. The team could also use another right-handed power bat after replacing J.D. Martinez with Ohtani at the designated-hitter spot. Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, Max Muncy, Outman and Heyward all bat from the left side.
Hernández also was recently connected to the Angels and Red Sox, with Ken Rosenthal in The Athletic (subscription required) reporting that both teams were showing interest in the 31-year-old.
The Angels have Mike Trout, Taylor Ward and Mickey Moniak slated to start in their outfield but could use Hernández’s firepower to help make up for the loss of Ohtani.
Alex Speier of the Boston Globe (subscription required) reports that the Red Sox had not made an offer to Hernández as of Saturday night, but they were discussing potential contract parameters. Tyler O’Neill (acquired from the Cardinals) is expected to replace Alex Verdugo (traded to the Yankees) in left field, but Boston still needs replacements for free agents Adam Duvall and Justin Turner.
Dec. 26: Four teams ready to jumpstart reliever market
Following Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s deals with the Dodgers, the rest of the free-agent market should begin to thaw. One area that could see more movement in the coming weeks is the reliever market.
According to MLB Network insider Jon Paul Morosi, the Dodgers, Angels, Rangers and Yankees have been aggressive in the reliever market, specifically in regards to the top free-agent arms such as Josh Hader, Robert Stephenson and Jordan Hicks.
None of these teams are particularly surprising fits for the top-end relievers in free agency. Despite the Dodgers landing Ohtani, Yamamoto and Tyler Glasnow, they could continue adding more certainty to the roster with a quality high-leverage reliever. The reigning World Series champion Rangers, meanwhile, have been heavily linked to Hader this offseason and could use an elite reliever.
In the aftermath of Ohtani signing with the Dodgers, the Angels are looking to pivot to reconstructing a roster without the 2023 AL MVP in the fold. The Yankees — following a rare down 2023 season and missing out in the Yamamoto sweepstakes — could look to build a super bullpen as they’ve done in the past and continue improving a roster that already added superstar Juan Soto this offseason.
