Feb. 6: Several teams are showing interest in Guardians’ Clase
Josh Hader’s five-year deal with the Astros has, as anticipated, led to a rush on free-agent bullpen relievers. Since Hader inked his contract on January 22, players including Matt Moore, Robert Stephenson, Aroldis Chapman, David Robertson, and others have left the team.
Clubs still seeking elite bullpen support may want to consider making a trade for one of the top closers in the game when the open market becomes less crowded. MLB Network insider Jon Paul Morosi reports that Emmanuel Clase, the right-hander for the Guardians, is being pursued by many organizations. Morosi notes that it is doubtful that a settlement will be reached very soon.
Morosi stated :”The Guardians have no reason to move him at this time,”.
Prior to his 26th season, Clase led the Majors in saves in 2022 and 2023. Each season, he was also selected to the All-Star squad. After 75 appearances and 72 2/3 innings pitched, he concluded the season with a 3.22 ERA. That represented a regression from his 2021–22 performance, during which he recorded a 1.33 ERA over 142 1/3 innings. In 2023, he struck out less often than a quarter of the time, down to 21.2%, although he continued to have high ground-ball and barrel rates (56.6% and 5%, respectively).
Clase will remain under club ownership until at least 2026. He has club options for $10 million in 2027 and 2028.
Feb. 6: There are apparently several teams interested in Urshela.
MLB Network insider Jon Paul Morosi reports that the Yankees, Mets, and Marlins all interested in free-agent infielder Gio Urshela.
Having spent 2019–21 as a player for the Yankees, Urshela is no stranger to New York. Before being sold to the Twins in March 2022 along with Gary Sánchez for Josh Donaldson, Isiah Kiner-Falefa, and Ben Rortvedt, the veteran had a successful career with the Bronx Bombers, amassing a.292/.335/.480 line (119 OPS+) with 41 homers over 291 games. Before sustaining a fractured pelvis, he played 62 games for the Angels in 2023, hitting.299 with two home runs and a.703 OPS.
When Anthony Rizzo, Gleyber Torres, Anthony Volpe, and DJ LeMahieu are expected to start, Urshela, should he return to the Yankees, would likely play utility infield. Oswald Peraza is now scheduled to fill the position in New York.
If rookie Brett Baty doesn’t pan out, Urshela may play a similar role for the Mets, with the chance to win regular starts at third base. Ever since Dominican Winter League prospect Ronny Mauricio tore his right ACL, the Mets have been searching for a hot corner replacement.
With Jake Burger taking over as the team’s designated hitter in place of free agent Jorge Soler, the Marlins could provide Urshela the best opportunity to gain reliable playing time right from the start of the season, whether it’s as Miami’s regular shortstop or as a third baseman.
Feb. 6: Red Sox talking about trading Jansen, are they going to deal Duran as well?
On Tuesday on Bleacher Report, MLB Network insider Jon Heyman said that the Red Sox are in talks with many teams over a potential deal involving closer Kenley Jansen. Heyman expressed his non-surprisal in the event that Boston manages to acquire the 36-year-old reliever. The Red Sox may dump more players before the season begins, though, than just him. Heyman continues, saying he “is not going to be shocked” if Jarren Duran, an outfielder, is also traded by the team.
Feb. 6: Kershaw and the Dodgers negotiate a contract
According to a source who spoke with Juan Toribio of MLB, the Dodgers have agreed to bring back Clayton Kershaw.
The Dodgers may place the left-hander on the 60-day disabled list as early as Thursday, which means they can sign Kershaw without requiring a 40-man roster slot. Kershaw is expected to have his medical on that day.
Following surgery on his left shoulder in November, the 35-year-old will likely miss a significant portion of 2024. Kershaw, though, intends to return in the summer. We now know it will be in Dodger blue if he does.
The Dodgers’ choice to rejoin with Kershaw might be the culmination of an incredible offseason in which they finalized a trade with the Rays for star pitcher Tyler Glasnow and outfielder Manuel Margot, as well as signing Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto to megadeals as free agents. Along with reliever Ryan Brasier, starter James Paxton, and outfielders Teoscar Hernández and Jason Heyward, Los Angeles also signed free agents.
The San Francisco Chronicle’s Susan Slusser reports that the Giants are “in talks” with the Cuban slugger. This month marks Soler’s 32nd birthday. With the Marlins last season, he blasted 36 home runs and was selected to his first All-Star squad. With 49 home runs with the Royals in 2019, he was the American League’s home run champion.
For three out of his last four complete seasons, Soler’s barrel rate has been in the 90th percentile or above. Included in that is his 2023 barrel rate of 15%, which fell into the 91st percentile. In his ten-year career, his strikeout percentage of 24.3% was the second lowest, but his walk rate of 11.4% was almost at a career high.
Feb. 5: Witt and the Royals reach a historic agreement.
Bobby Witt Jr. and the Royals reached a mega-extension agreement on Monday, signing the 23-year-old shortstop to a contract that may at least last through the 2034 season (an 11-year guarantee) plus a three-year team option that could extend it to a 14-year contract through 2037. It’s the first 10-plus season contract in Royals history as well as the richest in franchise history.
The parameters of the agreement were not disclosed by the organization, but a source informed MLB.com that it is guaranteed to be worth $288.7 million over 11 years, with a three-year team option that could increase the value to $377.7 million over 14 years.
Feb. 2: Will the White Sox deal Cease now, or wait until summer?
There may be new trade rumours involving White Sox pitcher Dylan Cease as a result of the Brewers’ decision to deal star pitcher Corbin Burnes to the Orioles on Thursday. Jon Paul Morosi of MLB Network, an insider, believes Chicago won’t transfer Cease before Opening Day.
According to Morosi, “Cease is going to be a trade more at the Trade Deadline.”
At one time, it appeared as though Cease would be sold this offseason more than any other elite pitcher, but Chicago hasn’t been able to find a team ready to pay its allegedly high asking price. The O’s were thought to be among the front-runners for Cease, but they are most likely eliminated now that they had Burnes.
The White Sox can afford to take their time in trade negotiations because Cease still has two years left with the franchise. With Burnes, who is eligible to become a free agency in the upcoming summer, the Brewers did not have the same luxury.
Feb. 2: After shipping off Burnes, do the Brewers have any additional moves planned?
The Brewers may move more elite players before Opening Day, perhaps not even Corbin Burnes. Following Thursday’s trade of Burnes to the Orioles by Milwaukee, a source informed Mark Feinsand of MLB.com that shortstop Willy Adames and closer Devin Williams may be the next players traded.
The Brewers may employ one or both of these guys to add rotation support since they have ready-made replacements for Williams and Adames on their roster in hard-throwing righty Abner Uribe in their bullpen and infield prospect Joey Ortiz coming over in the Burnes trade deal. Adames may test free agency following the next season, but Williams is under control through 2025.
Feb. 2: The Yankees offered Snell a deal that exceeded Rodón’s terms.
Though the Yankees’ precise offer to lefty Blake Snell, a free agent, is undisclosed, MLB Network insider Jon Heyman has learned that the team was prepared to go “above [Carlos] Rodón” in their talks with the two-time Cy Young Award winner. In the summer, Rodón signed a six-year, $162 million contract with an average yearly worth of $27 million with New York.
Feb. 2: With the addition of Diekman and Fujinami, is the Mets’ offseason over?
According to a source, the Mets signed one-year contracts with relievers Shintaro Fujinami and Jake Diekman on Friday. These actions could be the last ones made throughout this hectic offseason.
In this free-agent cycle, Fujinami and Diekman have joined pitchers Luis Severino, Sean Manaea, Adam Ottavino, Austin Adams, Michael Tonkin, and Jorge López, as well as position players Harrison Bader and Joey Wendle, as the latest players to sign big-league contracts with the Mets. Tyrone Taylor, an outfielder, and Adrian Houser, a right-hander, were also acquired by New York.
The Mets were almost done with their offseason efforts, according to SNY’s Andy Martino, one day before they reached an agreement with Fujinami or Diekman.
Feb. 2: The Giants planning to make a deal for a starting pitcher?
In a unique deal on Friday, the Giants and A’s sent infield prospect Jonah Cox to Oakland in exchange for veteran pitcher Ross Stripling. In order to partially pay Stripling’s $12.5 million contract for 2024, the Giants also contributed $3.25 million to the A’s.
It’s reasonable to speculate that the Giants may be planning a larger pitching acquisition after acquiring Stripling. The Giants now have Kyle Harrison, Jordan Hicks, Keaton Winn, and Tristan Beck slated to start behind ace Logan Webb after Stripling was traded and Alex Cobb and Robbie Ray were forced to miss time due to injury. Together, the Harrison, Hicks, Winn, and Beck team has made 23 big league starts.
With Spring Training quickly approaching, San Francisco may try to sign either Blake Snell or Jordan Montgomery, who have both been connected to the Giants this offseason and are still available in free agency. Hyun Jin Ryu, Michael Lorenzen, Mike Clevinger, and Noah Syndergaard are also unsigned if the Giants are searching for a less expensive alternative.
Feb. 2: Pham is receiving “significant interest” from at least 8 organizations.
Tommy Pham is a free agent who is being pursued by eight teams, according to sources who spoke with MLB.com’s Juan Toribio. The competition for Pham is fierce.
Pham played 129 games for the Mets and D-backs in 2023, with a slash line of.256/.328/.446 with 16 home runs, 68 RBIs, and 22 steals. In 16 playoff games, he also hit three home runs and had a.772 OPS for Arizona, which helped the team win the World Series.
Feb. 1: What will happen to the free agency starting market after the huge Burnes deal?
After Yoshinobu Yamamoto signed a 12-year, $325 million contract with the Dodgers in December, there was hope that the starting pitcher free agency market, which had been frozen, might start to thaw.
While both of Yamamoto’s countrymen, left-hander Shōta Imanaga and right-hander Marcus Stroman, found new teams (Imanaga with the Cubs and Stroman with the Yankees), the top two names available, left-hander Jordan Montgomery, winner of the World Series, and reigning NL Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell, are still available.
Could Snell and/or Montgomery relocate soon in the aftermath of the historic transaction that sends former NL Cy Young Award winner Corbin Burnes from Milwaukee to Baltimore?
It was no secret that the Orioles, who finished the 2017 season with a 101-game winning record and the AL East pennant, were searching for a front-line starter, who may be the last missing piece in their quest for a World Series championship. They most definitely got that in Burnes, but what will the other teams think?
Will the Yankees, for instance, create more excitement following their trade for Juan Soto if they acquire Snell to start at the top of the rotation alongside AL Cy Young Award winner Gerrit Cole? Yes, Stroman has already been added by the Yanks. Could New York, however, compete for the finest arm available considering the injury histories of left-handers Nestor Cortes and Carlos Rodón, who both missed a significant portion of the previous season due to injuries?
According to reports, Snell rejected a six-year, $150 million deal from the Yankees. Now that Burnes has been acquired by the division rival O’s, will they surpass $200 million? Montgomery, what about it? After all that happened, would his old Bronx team give him a closer look?
Speaking of Montgomery, the Rangers, who won the AL Division Series against the Orioles last October, could use some reinforcements in their rotation as they wait for Jacob deGrom to return to the mound at Globe Life Field in August. Will Montgomery return to Arlington with Texas, the club that has been seen to be the most natural option for him?
We’ll find out in time. However, time is running out, and in the next few days, the Burnes trade may quicken the bidding for the best starts on the market.
