The offseason stays comparatively sluggish for Main League Baseball and we’re getting into the “vacation break” zone the place usually not quite a lot of stuff occurs round Christmas and the New 12 months. There’s nonetheless loads of unfinished enterprise, nonetheless, so possibly this 12 months will probably be completely different and the range will really get scorching once more. 

Within the meantime, let’s dive into the most recent rumors, beginning with the man who might assist jar issues free by signing. 

Newest on Yoshinobu Yamamoto

Whereas it is not but determination time for the coveted right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto — the highest free-agent beginning pitcher available on the market this offseason — the time attracts close to. Per posting guidelines, he has 45 days to make his determination, and that involves a deadline of Jan. 4. Jon Morosi reports that Yamamoto has at the very least one supply value $300 million or extra, which is in step with current expectations for the size of contract he’ll fetch. 

As for the groups chasing him, Yamamoto took an essential step on Thursday night. According to Alex Pavlovic, Yamamoto has knowledgeable the San Francisco Giants that he’ll not be signing with them. As nicely, Ben Nicholson-Smith adds that the Blue Jays are “not anticipated” to land Yamamoto. 

Elsewhere, the Phillies have made a proper supply to Yamamoto, per a number of experiences (mlb.com). Stories point out the Phillies really feel like they made a powerful supply, although additionally they aren’t anticipated to be the excessive bidder and are not the favorites to signal him. It isn’t identified the place the Phillies’ supply is for $300 million or extra. 

One of many few large free agent offers we have seen accepted thus far this offseason got here from the Phillies, as they re-signed beginning pitcher Aaron Nola to a seven-year, $172 million deal. 

In their present rotation, Yamamoto would make the Phillies totally stacked. They have already got Nola, Zack Wheeler, Ranger Suárez, Taijuan Walker and Christopher Sánchez. In the event that they signed Yamamoto, Suárez put collectively a full season of which he seems succesful and Nola returned to kind after a down 2023, they’d have 4 frontline starters. Walker has been an All-Star earlier than. 

The Phillies have stiff competitors right here, although. The Dodgers, Yankees and Mets are concerned within the bidding and broadly thought of to be the frontrunners, as Mark Feinsaid notes,whereas groups just like the Purple Sox and Blue Jays have additionally been talked about. As famous above, although, the Blue Jays are reportedly not in place to win the bidding. 

Talking of the Dodgers, they nonetheless have eyes for Yamamoto even after signing Shohei Ohtani and buying and selling for Tyler Glasnow. On the wooing entrance, Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times initially reported that Yamamoto was planning to attend Thursday nights’ Rams-Saints NFL recreation at SoFi Stadium together with Shohei Ohtani. Nonetheless, that report was later retracted regardless of the Rams initially “anticipating” Yamamoto to be there.

The Dodgers have rotation questions for 2024, and Yamamoto as the highest beginning pitcher available on the market would very instantly deal with that shortcoming. The addition of Yamamoto would virtually actually make the Dodgers not solely World Sequence favorites however about as heavy a favourite as one crew will be through the offseason. 

The Seattle Mariners have mentioned a commerce with the Cleveland Guardians that will ship first baseman Josh Naylor to Seattle, reports MLB Network. It seems the Mariners need to beef up their offense through commerce as a substitute of primarily free company. 

Naylor, 26, continues to be underneath crew management for 2 extra years earlier than free company. In 121 video games final season, he hit .308/.354/.489 (133 OPS+) with 31 doubles, 17 homers, 97 RBI, 52 runs, 10 steals and a pair of.5 WAR. 

If Naylor is traded, it could be troublesome to view it as far more than a wage dump and Naylor is not even anticipated to interrupt the financial institution right here in his second 12 months of arbitration. It could doubtless be a precursor to a commerce of Shane Bieber and probably additionally Emmanuel Clase. 

Ought to the Mariners land Naylor, he would make for a high quality 1B/DH combo with Ty France. 

Yankees add González on minor-league deal

The Yankees have signed outfielder Luis González to a minor-league contract, according to Ken Rosenthal. 

González, 28, was NL Rookie of the Month in Could 2022. In 98 video games for the Giants that season, he hit .254/.323/.360 (95 OPS+) with 17 doubles, two triples, 4 homers, 36 RBI, 31 runs and 10 stolen bases. He had again surgical procedure final spring and returned to hit .248/.350/.352 in 31 minor-league video games to conclude the season. He’ll function organizational depth.

And no, this isn’t the identical one who blooped a Mariano Rivera pitch into left area in Recreation 7 of the 2001 World Sequence to present the Diamondbacks their first franchise title.