Sure, the Winter Conferences are behind us, and the Juan Soto commerce and Shohei Ohtani signing have already been checked off. Nevertheless, baseball’s offseason is an extended one, and loads of compelling names stay on the board. That, after all, means a gradual provide of rumors, and under you will discover Sunday’s.
Dodgers nonetheless in on Yamamoto
The Dodgers are recent off guaranteeing $700 million to Ohtani, however they nonetheless want to handle a rotation that proper now’s fairly skinny. They intend to try this and, as Jon Heyman studies, the Dodgers sill have designs on Japan’s Yoshinobu Yamamoto. The correct-hander is simply 25 years of age, and he combines ace stuff with ace outcomes. As such, he is essentially the most coveted beginning pitcher in the marketplace, and he is more likely to command maybe $300 million, and that is not even counting the substantial posting charge that might be owed to his NPB membership, the Orix Buffaloes. As Heyman notes, the Mets and Yankees are additionally anticipated to be critical suitors for Yamamoto. The posting guidelines give a participant 45 days to pick out a workforce or have his rights returned to his NPB membership. For Yamamoto, meaning he has till Jan. 4.
J.D. Martinez was the Dodgers’ main DH final season, and he after all will not be returning now that they’ve inked Ohtani. So Martinez is in the marketplace at age 36 and coming off a 2023 season during which he slashed a fairly productive .271/.321/.572 with 33 house runs in 113 video games. He additionally stays a playable bat in opposition to right-handed pitching, so he is greater than only a lefty-masher platoon man. As such, he’ll have takers, particularly within the period of the common DH. Talking of which, Jon Heyman reports that the Diamondbacks, Angels, Mets, and Mariners are amongst these groups with potential curiosity within the veteran slugger.
Alvarez open to extension with Mets
Catcher Francisco Alvarez is coming off a reasonably promising rookie marketing campaign with the Mets during which he tallied 25 house runs in 382 at-bats and labored virtually 900 defensive innings behind the plate. Coming into 2023, Alvarez, who’s nonetheless simply 22 years of age, was thought to be one of many high prospects in all of baseball, so his early success wasn’t completely stunning. He appears like a long-term core contributor for the Mets, and that brings us to Tim Healey’s report that Alvarez is open to signing a long-term extension with the club. Catcher, after all, is a notoriously tough place to fill, particularly in the case of getting energy manufacturing from it, and the Mets underneath new president of baseball operations David Stearns after all know this. The Mets even have huge sources and might simply afford such a dedication.
Yankees, Dodgers engaged on (in all probability minor) commerce
Within the wake of the Shohei Ohtani signing and the equally tantalizing Joe Kelly re-signing, Dodgers have to clear a few spots on their 40-man roster. The Yankees, meantime, are prepared to assist them out at a price. That brings us to this:
Rosenthal’s report is clearly mild on specifics, however you’ll be able to surmise that this in all probability will not qualify as any form of blockbuster. That stated, the truth that it is the Dodgers and Yankees concerned makes it notable absent another context.
Guardians herald Hedges
The Guardians have agreed to phrases with catcher Austin Hedges on a one-year, $4 million deal, Jon Heyman reports. The 31-year-old Hedges beforehand spent components of three seasons with Cleveland. Whereas he is a talented pitch-framer, he would not supply a lot with the bat. He is coming off a 2023 season with the Pirates and Rangers during which he batted .184/.234/.227 with one house run in 81 mixed video games. With the Guardians, Hedges figures to again up Bo Naylor behind the plate.
In a corresponding transfer, the Guardians have traded catcher Christian Bethancourt — acquired earlier this winter from the Rays — to the Marlins for money, the groups introduced.
Tigers add Chafin
The Tigers have fortified the bullpen by agreeing to phrases with veteran lefty Andrew Chafin on a one-year take care of a membership possibility for 2025, Evan Petzold reports. Chafin, 33, is coming off a 2023 season with the Brewers and Diamondbacks during which he pitched to a 4.73 ERA and a pair of.25 Ok/BB ratio in 51 1/3 mixed innings.
Smith lands with Royals
Will Smith, the long-time reliever, has signed a one-year, $5 million take care of the Royals, Jeff Passan reports. The 34-year-old lefty in 2023 put up a 4.40 ERA and a 3.24 Ok/BB ratio in 57 1/3 innings for Rangers. With Texas, Smith made MLB historical past by turning into the primary participant to win three straight World Collection, every with a unique workforce. That streak doesn’t determine to succeed in 4 in 2024.
