Rumors: Former MVP a priority for Padres

We’re keeping track of all the latest free agent and trade rumors.

Nov. 20: Twins motivated to re-sign Correa

Carlos Correa is a free agent for the second straight offseason after opting out of his contract with the Twins, but he might not necessarily be one and done in Minnesota. According to MLB Network insider Jon Heyman, the Twins are “definitely motivated to keep Correa.” More >

Nov. 20: Heyman predicts Phils will come away with star FA shortstop

The Phillies are reportedly one of 11 clubs currently engaged with the free-agent shortstop market, and MLB Network insider Jon Heyman expects them to come away with one of the four top available names.

Philadelphia has been linked to Trea Turner this offseason, but Heyman considers Xander Bogaerts to be the most likely option. Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski has familiarity with Bogaerts from their time together with the Red Sox.

The Phillies made a surprising run to the World Series in 2022 before losing to the Astros in six games. The club doesn’t have a ton of needs, but shortstop is clearly one of them. Phils shortstops produced an 82 wRC+ last season, the 11th-lowest mark in MLB and the third lowest among teams that made the playoffs, behind the Yankees and Cardinals.

Philly also has a vacancy at second base after declining Jean Segura’s club option, but Bryson Stott could fill that role if the Phils sign a star shortstop.

Nov. 20: Assessing Dodgers’ shortstop options

When Corey Seager became a free agent last offseason and signed with the Rangers, the Dodgers’ list of shortstop options for 2022 started and ended with Trea Turner. But with Turner now a free agent, the Dodgers have a number of avenues they could consider heading into 2023.

MLB Network insider Jon Heyman recently broke down the free-agent shortstop market in an appearance on “High Heat” and said he thinks the Dodgers will come away with one of the four available stars at the position.

However, their most likely option might not necessarily be Turner. According to Heyman in an article for the New York Post, the Dodgers believe Turner wants to play for an East Coast team. And while the Dodgers love Correa, Heyman gets the sense the team is reluctant to sign him due to his connection to the Astros’ sign-stealing scandal in 2017, when Houston defeated L.A. in the World Series.

That leaves Dansby Swanson and Xander Bogaerts as the most likely fits for Los Angeles, with Gavin Lux representing an internal backup plan. If Lux is the choice, it would increase the likelihood of the Dodgers pursuing other high-priced free agents such as Aaron Judge and Justin Verlander.

Nov. 20: Mariners considering wide variety of middle-infield options

Mariners president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto reaffirmed the team’s commitment to J.P. Crawford as its starting shortstop during the General Managers Meetings, but the club has an opening at second base and is considering a wide variety of middle-infield options.

According to The Athletic’s Jim Bowden, the Mariners have checked in on free agent Trea Turner and “all the other free agent middle infielders.” Turner, Carlos Correa, Xander Bogaerts and Dansby Swanson are the four biggest names on the shortstop market, while former Mariners Jean Segura and Adam Frazier are the best second basemen available. 

Seattle is also exploring the trade market and showing interest in the Yankees’ Gleyber Torres and the Brewers’ Kolten Wong.

MLB.com’s Jon Paul Morosi previously has linked Seattle to Turner, but it’s unclear how realistic a target the 29-year-old is for the M’s. The largest free-agent deal the Mariners have handed out during Dipoto’s tenure was Robbie Ray’s five-year, $115 million contract last offseason. Turner will surely go for more than that. It’s also believed that Turner, a Florida native whose wife is from New Jersey, prefers to play for an East Coast team.

Nov. 19: Abreu a top priority for Padres

Free-agent first baseman José Abreu is a top priority for the Padres, according to MLB.com’s Jon Paul Morosi, who notes that Abreu spoke to Friars officials this month.

San Diego has openings at first base and DH with Josh Bell and Brandon Drury both reaching free agency.

Abreu, 35, has spent the past nine seasons with the White Sox. He won the 2020 AL MVP Award and is a career .292/.354/.506 hitter with 243 homers and 863 RBIs. Abreu hit a career-low 15 home runs in 2022 but still finished with a 133 OPS+, almost identical to his career mark (134).

Nov. 19: Cubs in on deGrom?

Nov. 19: Mets considering Verlander as deGrom backup plan (report)

Where will the Mets turn if they aren’t able to re-sign two-time NL Cy Young Award winner Jacob deGrom? According to Mike Puma of the New York Post, the club is considering AL Cy Young Award winner Justin Verlander. More >

Nov. 19: Mariners showing interest in Gleyber

According to MLB Network insider Joel Sherman in an article for the New York Post (subscription required), the Yankees let executives at the General Managers Meetings last week know that they are “open for business with their middle infielders.”

Sherman notes that he’d be shocked if either Gleyber Torres or Isiah Kiner-Falefa isn’t dealt. The Mariners could be a possible trade partner, as Sherman reports Seattle has shown interest in Torres to fill the second-base vacancy left by free agent Adam Frazier.

Sherman also mentions the Marlins and White Sox as two potential fits for Torres. More >

Nov. 19: The latest on Judge’s market

The Aaron Judge market could be heating up.

MLB Network insider Jon Heyman hears the Dodgers plan to make a run at the free-agent slugger after non-tendering center fielder Cody Bellinger on Friday night. Los Angeles has cleared roughly $100 million from its books since the end of the season, potentially opening the door for a major free-agent splurge.

Meanwhile, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman confirmed Thursday that the team has made Judge an updated offer.

The Giants are also lingering in the background. San Francisco is believed to have interest in Judge, a Bay Area native, and president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi has made it clear the team has the spending power to be a major free-agent force. More >

Nov. 19: Breaking down which teams need a shortstop the most

With Carlos Correa, Trea Turner, Dansby Swanson and Xander Bogaerts all available, the free-agent market is abundant with star shortstops for the second straight offseason.

Here’s a look at the teams that have the biggest need for one of these shortstops, from MLB.com’s Mike Petriello. More >

Nov. 19: Rays, Royals may have interest in Smith (report)

With the non-tender deadline having passed Friday, several intriguing players became free agents, one of whom is former Mets first baseman Dominic Smith. Smith posted a .993 OPS in the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign before struggling at the plate in ’21 and ’22. According to a report by Mike Puma of the New York Post, the Rays and Royals may be among the clubs interested in Smith.

Tampa Bay has a vacancy to fill at first base after trading Ji-Man Choi to Pittsburgh. Kansas City has seen the rise of Vinnie Pasquantino at the position, but there’s always the designated hitter role that Smith could fill, occasionally getting a start in the field.

Nov. 18: Heyman can ‘easily see’ deGrom to the Dodgers

Jacob deGrom to the Dodgers? MLB Network insider Jon Heyman told Christopher Russo on MLB Network’s High Heat on Friday that he can “easily see that happening.” More >

Nov. 18: Giants ‘showing interest’ in Jansen (report)

MLB Network insider Jon Paul Morosi reports the Giants are “showing interest” in veteran free-agent closer Kenley Jansen. Morosi notes that San Francisco’s president of baseball operations, Farhan Zaidi, and manager Gabe Kapler know Jansen well from their time in the Dodgers’ front office.

Jansen, 35, posted a 3.38 ERA with an NL-best 41 saves for the Braves last season after spending the first 13 seasons of his career with Los Angeles.

Nov. 18: Padres meet with RHP Senga (report)

The Kodai Senga U.S. tour is continuing apace. The Japanese right-hander met with the Padres in San Diego on Thursday, sources told The Athletic’s Dennis Lin. 

Lin notes that Senga is close with Padres ace Yu Darvish and played with Padres pitchers Nick Martinez and Robert Suarez in Japan. Senga, who struck out 1,252 batters and had a 10.3 K/9 rate across 11 seasons for Nippon Professional Baseball’s Fukuoka Softbank Hawks, could fill a rotation hole in San Diego; Mike Clevinger and Sean Manaea are both free agents this winter.

This latest news follows a report from SNY earlier this week that Senga will meet with the Mets. MLB.com’s Jon Paul Morosi reported that the Angels, Dodgers, Rangers, Mariners and Blue Jays all are showing interest in Senga. The 29-year-old has also been linked to the Cubs and Giants.

Nov. 18: Laying out Yankees’ Judge options

The Yankees’ offseason will proceed in one of four ways, all depending on what happens with Aaron Judge.

Nov. 18: Red Sox looking to add an outfielder

Outfielders like Brandon Nimmo from the Mets or Masataka Yoshida from Japan would be good fits on the higher end of what the Red Sox would pursue. Or the Sox could go after a cheaper bat like Mitch Haniger or Michael Conforto.

Among the less likely options McCaffrey discusses are Aaron Judge (probably too expensive given the team’s priority of keeping Rafael Devers and Xander Bogaerts in Boston), Michael Brantley (the Red Sox want more of a power hitter) and a reunion with Andrew Benintendi (likely wants a longer-term deal than the Red Sox are willing to give).

Nov. 17: Blue Jays could pursue Bellinger

The Blue Jays would be a “team to watch” for Cody Bellinger if the 2019 National League MVP is non-tendered by the Dodgers, MLB Network’s Jon Morosi reports.

Toronto is looking to add a left-handed-hitting outfielder, and the team has already been linked to free agent Brandon Nimmo. If the Dodgers don’t tender Bellinger a contract for 2023, the Blue Jays could try to sign him in the hopes the 27-year-old can return to his All-Star level at hitter-friendly Rogers Centre.

Bellinger has struggled at the plate the last few seasons, batting .203 while averaging 14 home runs and 45 RBIs since the start of 2020. But he remains an excellent defensive center fielder and has performed well in the postseason, including hitting four home runs during the Dodgers’ World Series run in 2020 and batting .353 in the 2021 playoffs.

Nov. 17: What’s the next move for the Mariners?

On Wednesday, Mariners president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto — who certainly is no stranger to the trade market — completed the first big deal of the offseason. In landing slugging outfielder Teoscar Hernández from the Blue Jays for reliver Erik Swanson and pitching prospect Adam Macko, Dipoto took a notable step toward addressing an offense that ranked 17th in the Majors with a .390 slugging percentage in 2022.

But there is still work to do for a Seattle club looking to build on a drought-busting trip to the playoffs. So what might be the Mariners’ next move? MLB Network’s Jon Morosi reports that it could be a trade for Brewers second baseman Kolten Wong.

Wong would be a fit for the Mariners, whose primary second baseman in 2022, Adam Frazier, is a free agent. The Brewers recently picked up Wong’s $10 million club option for ’23, but that wouldn’t preclude Milwaukee from making him available.

Wong is coming off something of an uncharacteristic season. On one hand, his 118 OPS+ was a career high. On the other hand, the two-time Gold Glove Award winner struggled defensively, posting a minus-9 Outs Above Average, per Statcast. However, Wong indicated that he expects better health and new rules limiting the shift to help him bounce back with the glove next season.

Nov. 16: Orioles could be dark horse for free-agent ace

Don’t count out the Orioles in the race for the best starters on the free-agent market.

“The Orioles are swimming in the ‘deep end’ and touching base with the agents for almost all of the free-agent pitchers,” The Athletic’s Jim Bowden (subscription required) writes.

Justin Verlander, Jacob deGrom and Carlos Rodón represent the top tier of available starting pitchers, followed by a group that includes Kodai Senga, Chris Bassitt, Jameson Taillon, Taijuan Walker, Nathan Eovaldi, Andrew Heaney and José Quintana. 

deGrom, Rodón, Bassitt and Eovaldi all have Draft compensation tied to them after declining qualifying offers, but as a revenue-sharing recipient in 2022, the O’s would only need to forfeit their third-highest pick in the 2023 MLB Draft to sign one of them.

Sparked by former No. 1 overall Draft pick Adley Rutschman and a strong bullpen, Baltimore made a surprising leap into contention last season, going 83-79 after losing 108 or more games in each of the previous three full seasons.

Highly regarded prospect Gunnar Henderson also had a promising late-season debut, and more talent is on the way, giving the O’s a strong foundation.

FanGraphs currently projects a 2023 payroll of roughly $41 million for Baltimore, so the club has room in the budget for a big signing or two.

General manager Mike Elias indicated Tuesday that the Orioles are looking to be active in free agency.

“We are working the phones right now,” Elias said MLB Network”s “High Heat.” “Free agency has started and I think we’ve got some targets out there that we’d like to bring in that have a lot of years under their belt.”

Nov. 16: Signs that Judge may re-sign with Yanks?

While Aaron Judge’s camp has been very quiet in the earliest days of this offseason, there are some signs that the slugging superstar could remain a Yankee, according to MLB Network insider Joel Sherman in an article for the New York Post. More >

Nov. 16: Blue Jays showing interest in Nimmo

The Blue Jays have parted ways with three outfielders in the past two days, designating Raimel Tapia and Bradley Zimmer for assignment on Tuesday and trading Teoscar Hernández to the Mariners on Wednesday.

Toronto has turned its focus to the free-agent market and is showing interest in center fielder Brandon Nimmo, according to MLB.com’s Jon Paul Morosi.

Nimmo’s left-handed bat would make sense for a Blue Jays team that is heavy on right-handed hitters, albeit with one fewer righty bat after trading Hernández. Acquiring Nimmo would also give Toronto the option of moving George Springer from center field to right as he enters his age-33 season.

The 29-year-old Nimmo is tied to Draft compensation after declining a qualifying offer from the Mets. The Blue Jays would need to forfeit their second-highest selection in the 2023 Draft, as well as $500,000 from their international bonus pool, if they sign Nimmo or another QO free agent.

Nov. 16: Yanks reportedly ‘staying busy on multiple fronts’ in free agency

The Bronx Bombers re-signed first baseman Anthony Rizzo to a two-year deal on Tuesday, and they’ve checked in on free-agent shortstops Carlos Correa, Trea Turner and Xander Bogaerts, as well as center fielder Brandon Nimmo. More >

Nov. 16: Cubs active in shortstop market

The Cubs are “broadly active” in the shortstop market, with Carlos Correa, Trea Turner, Xander Bogaerts and Dansby Swanson all on their list of targets, according to MLB.com’s Jon Morosi.

While the club would surely be happy to land any of the Big Four free-agent shortstops, Morosi thinks Correa is at the top of Chicago’s list, with Turner second.

However, The Athletic’s Jim Bowden (subscription required) thinks the Cubs are going to have to go above market price to sign one of them because they aren’t yet ready to be a serious contender.

“I think the Cubs can land one of the top four free-agent shortstops if and only if they are prepared to go 10 years and $300 million. Chicago will have to overpay because most of those shortstops prefer to play for a contender,” Bowden writes.

ESPN’s Jesse Rogers is skeptical that the Cubs will be willing to go to that level.

“I’m not as convinced they’re going to go all in as a lot of people might be,” Rogers told Chris “Mad Dog” Russo on MLB Network’s “High Heat.” “I’m based in Chicago here and there’s so much conversation about getting a shortstop … I’m not convinced they’re ready for an eight- to 10-year deal.

“They just got out from underneath one in releasing Jason Heyward yesterday, it didn’t work out too well. Last week at the GM Meetings [Cubs president of baseball operations] Jed Hoyer talked about how you get the best out of these deals in the first or second year. Well if the Cubs aren’t really ready to win it all in the next year or two, you might be wasting the best years of these shortstops.”

Nov. 16: Red Sox have made ‘at least two offers’ to Bogaerts (report)

According to a report by the Boston Globe, the Red Sox have made “at least two offers” to Bogaerts since the end of the 2022 regular season — one before he officially opted out of the final three years of his contract with Boston, and a “sweetened” offer since then. More >

Nov. 16: M’s Teoscar acquisition could be prelude to Winker trade

The Mariners have acquired outfielder Teoscar Hernández from the Blue Jays, potentially clearing the way for Jesse Winker to be moved in the coming weeks.

MLB.com’s Jon Paul Morosi reported Tuesday that the Mariners have been discussing multiple trades in recent days and “are willing to move Winker and either (starting pitchers) Chris Flexen or Marco Gonzales.” 

Winker, who is under contract through 2023, was an All-Star in Cincinnati in 2021. However, the 29-year-old recorded just a .688 OPS during an injury-plagued first season with the Mariners.

Morosi hears the Mariners aren’t done looking at outfielders, with an eye on upgrading in left field. Brandon Nimmo, Michael Conforto and Andrew Benintendi are some of the notable names on the outfield market behind superstar slugger Aaron Judge, who is presumably an unlikely target for the M’s.