The 2024-25 Main League Baseball offseason carries on, and notable free-agent names are off the board — together with the most important identify of all in Juan Soto. With the Winter Conferences freshly behind us and lots of huge free brokers and commerce targets nonetheless accessible, we’re nonetheless being handled to an virtually each day provide of rumors concerning all of that. Talking of which, Friday’s spherical of rumors could be discovered slightly below.
Cubs, Yankees make trades, proceed to speak Bellinger
The Cubs and Yankees each made notable trades on Friday. New York obtained nearer Devin Williams from the Brewers (you possibly can learn our full evaluation right here) and Chicago added outfielder Kyle Tucker from the Astros (you possibly can learn our takes right here). That does not imply the Cubs and Yankees are accomplished with enterprise, nonetheless.
With the Cubs buying Tucker, they’re going to presumably be trying even tougher to maneuver an outfielder of their very own in Cody Bellinger — somebody who has reportedly been of curiosity to the Yankees.
Bellinger, 29, is coming off a season wherein he hit for a 111 OPS+. The onetime NL MVP Award winner has at the very least one yr (value $27.5 million) remaining on his contract, which additionally features a participant possibility for subsequent season.
Cubs add catcher
Along with buying Tucker, the Cubs additionally reportedly signed catcher Carson Kelly to a two-year pact value $11.5 million with a mutual possibility for a 3rd season, in keeping with ESPN. Kelly, 30, posted a 96 OPS+ final season whereas splitting time between the Tigers and Rangers.
Mariners listening on Castillo
The Mariners have an abundance of beginning pitching, a lot of it younger and controllable, and for fairly a while, they have been anticipated to make a deal, probably in an effort to enhance a lackluster lineup. This winter’s magma-hot marketplace for free-agent beginning pitchers now comes into play, and that is why, in keeping with MLB.com, the M’s have been getting a number of inquiries in regards to the commerce standing of veteran right-hander Luis Castillo. Of these calls, MLB.com reviews:
“‘They are not hanging up,’ a supply with information of the scenario instructed MLB.com.”
Castillo, who turned 32 on Thursday, is coming off a 2024 season wherein he pitched to a 3.64 ERA/3.91 FIP in 175 1/3 innings for Seattle. For his profession, he owns an ERA+ of 120 and a WAR of 24.0 throughout elements of eight MLB seasons. The three-time All-Star has a bit greater than $72 million left on his contract by means of the 2027 season. His pact additionally features a $25 million vesting possibility for the 2028 season.
