This FA slugger is drawing interest from multiple teams

We’re holding monitor of all the most recent free agent and commerce rumors.

Even after buying Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow and Manuel Margot and re-signing Jason Heyward this offseason, the Dodgers will not be completed including to their roster. In accordance with reporter Francys Romero, Los Angeles is likely one of the groups monitoring the marketplace for free-agent outfielder Teoscar Hernández.

This is not the primary time the 2 sides have been linked. Jorge Castillo of the Los Angeles Occasions reported again in November that Hernández was on the Dodgers’ radar. Their continued curiosity within the slugger definitely is smart. With Mookie Betts anticipated to play second base extra usually in 2024, the crew’s present outfield choices are Margot, Heyward, James Outman and Chris Taylor. The crew might additionally use one other right-handed energy bat after changing J.D. Martinez with Ohtani on the designated-hitter spot. Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, Max Muncy, Outman and Heyward all bat from the left facet.

Hernández additionally was not too long ago related to the Angels and Pink Sox, with Ken Rosenthal in The Athletic (subscription required) reporting that each groups have been exhibiting curiosity within the 31-year-old.

The Angels have Mike Trout, Taylor Ward and Mickey Moniak slated to start out of their outfield however might use Hernández’s firepower to assist make up for the lack of Ohtani.

Alex Speier of the Boston Globe (subscription required) experiences that the Pink Sox had not made a proposal to Hernández as of Saturday evening, however they have been discussing potential contract parameters. Tyler O’Neill (acquired from the Cardinals) is anticipated to switch Alex Verdugo (traded to the Yankees) in left subject, however Boston nonetheless wants replacements totally free brokers Adam Duvall and Justin Turner.

After lacking out on Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the Blue Jays have been thought of one of many favorites to land free-agent outfielder Cody Bellinger.

Nevertheless, it’s honest to marvel if Toronto continues to be a match for Bellinger now that the membership seems to be on the verge of a deal to carry again heart fielder Kevin Kiermaier. Extra >

Pink Sox starters pitched the fourth-fewest innings in MLB in 2023, and their 4.68 ERA ranked twenty second within the Majors. Boston was thought of a finalist for Japanese right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who reportedly agreed to a 12-year take care of the Dodgers.

Given their critical want for beginning pitching, the Pink Sox are one in all many golf equipment who “stay engaged” with free-agent right-hander Lucas Giolito, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reported Tuesday. The 29-year-old pitched 184 1/3 innings in 2023 (Brayan Bello led the Pink Sox with 157) and posted a 4.88 ERA.

Giolito’s season took a major flip for the more serious after he was dealt from the White Sox to the Angels on the Commerce Deadline. He posted a 6.89 ERA in six begins with the Angels, was claimed by the Guardians off waivers on Aug. 31 and put up a 7.04 ERA in six begins with Cleveland. Nonetheless, there is no denying Giolito’s upside: From 2019 to 2021, he posted a 3.47 ERA, ending sixth, seventh and eleventh in American League Cy Younger Award voting, respectively. Extra >

Now that the Yoshinobu Yamamoto sweepstakes have concluded, with the prized Japanese ace reaching a 12-year deal to affix Shohei Ohtani on the Dodgers, the marketplace for reigning NL Cy Younger Award winner Blake Snell is anticipated to warmth up.

The Angels and Giants are among the many golf equipment reportedly exhibiting curiosity within the free-agent lefty. Extra >

The Pink Sox are in want of beginning pitching, and in line with WEEI’s Rob Bradford, Boston is “exhibiting robust curiosity” in bringing again veteran left-hander James Paxton.

Paxton posted a 4.50 ERA over 19 begins for the Pink Sox in an injury-limited 2023 marketing campaign. Accidents have been a problem for the 35-year-old, notably in recent times — he signed with the Pink Sox earlier than the 2022 season whereas recovering from Tommy John surgical procedure he underwent the prior April whereas with the Mariners.

However Paxton missed your complete ’22 marketing campaign earlier than making his Boston debut final Might. Hamstring and knee accidents hampered him, and after a robust begin to his season, he struggled to a 6.98 ERA over his closing 9 begins. Extra >

The Dodgers gained the Yoshinobu Yamamoto sweepstakes with a 12-year, $325 million provide to the coveted Japanese right-hander, which sources advised MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand features a $50 million signing bonus and opt-outs after the sixth and eighth years of the deal.

However what did the runners up provide Yamamoto?

In accordance with Ken Rosenthal in an article for The Athletic (subscription required), the gives from the Yankees and Mets have been comparable.

Rosenthal experiences that the Yankees provided Yamamoto 10 years and $300 million, which might have resulted in the next annual common worth than what Yamamoto agreed to with the Dodgers. And, not like the Dodgers’ deal, the Yanks’ provide didn’t backload any cash — only a straight $30 million per yr. There was additionally an opt-out after yr 5.

The Mets, in the meantime, matched the Dodgers’ provide of 12 years and $325 million, in line with Rosenthal.

In accordance with MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand, issues might lastly start to “thaw” throughout the remainder of baseball within the wake of the Yamamoto information.

This offseason’s prime prize, Shohei Ohtani, inked a document 10-year, $700 million contract with the Dodgers earlier this month, and regardless of hopes that the marketplace for different marquee free brokers would start to maneuver considerably, that did not occur. Provided that this winter’s market is deeper on the pitching facet than it’s for place gamers, that is not essentially stunning.

With Yamamoto off the board, maybe “setting” the market customary for free-agent starters, pitchers like two-time Cy Younger Award winner Blake Snell, 2023 World Collection champion Jordan Montgomery and Japanese lefty Shōta Imanaga may even see their markets warmth up shortly, notably after the Christmas vacation. The identical goes for star relievers like Josh Hader and the highest place gamers obtainable, corresponding to Cody Bellinger and Matt Chapman.

Issues might begin transferring shortly for groups that misplaced out on Yamamoto, particularly — the Yankees, Mets, Phillies, Giants, Blue Jays and Pink Sox will flip their focus elsewhere for an impression signing.

With the Dodgers’ deal for Tyler Glasnow now official, there’s one fewer frontline starter on the commerce market. That will result in elevated curiosity within the aces who might nonetheless be obtainable by way of commerce, together with the White Sox Dylan Stop and the Brewers’ Corbin Burnes.

Whereas The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal is not as sure about Burnes being dealt, he thinks Stop is all however assured to be moved this offseason.

Sources not too long ago advised MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand one thing comparable, saying that they count on the White Sox to commerce Stop this offseason.

Stop is a risk for plenty of groups, together with the Yankees, Giants, Rangers, Reds, Braves and Orioles, Rosenthal wrote Friday (subscription required). USA At the moment’s Bob Nightengale went one step additional on Sunday, labeling Atlanta and Baltimore because the “present favorites” to land the 27-year-old right-hander.

The Orioles and Reds might entice Chicago with their position-player depth. Baltimore has six place gamers on MLB Pipeline’s Prime 100 prospects whereas Cincinnati has a glut of younger, gifted infielders. Relatedly, the Reds are reportedly engaged in talks with a number of groups concerning 27-year-old second baseman Jonathan India, who was the 2021 Nationwide League Rookie of the 12 months.

Stop is arbitration-eligible for 2 extra seasons and is projected to make $8.8 million in 2024, in line with MLB Commerce Rumors.

With Brandon Crawford’s tenure in San Francisco probably over, the Giants are trying on the commerce marketplace for shortstops, in line with a report from Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle (subscription required)

Slusser speculates that the Giants might package deal catcher Joey Bart with some younger pitchers and/or outfielders in alternate for the Padres’ Ha-Seong Kim or the Brewers’ Willy Adames. Bart, a former No. 2 general Draft choose, has fallen out of favor within the group and might be on his approach out after the Giants reached a take care of veteran backstop Tom Murphy.

It’s already been an eventful offseason for the Giants, who got here up brief within the Shohei Ohtani sweepstakes earlier than touchdown heart fielder Jung Hoo Lee out of Korea. The crew nonetheless has plenty of holes to fill after signing Lee.

After lacking out on Yoshinobu Yamamoto, it’s potential the Giants will pivot to one of many different prime arms on the free-agent market, corresponding to Blake Snell or Jordan Montgomery. The membership additionally has been linked to 3rd baseman Matt Chapman.

The Twins are “listening to commerce gives” on outfielder Max Kepler and center infielder Jorge Polanco, in line with MLB Community insider Jon Paul Morosi.

Morosi notes that with the free company departures of right-handers Sonny Grey and Kenta Maeda, Minnesota is in search of rotation assist and will half methods with the 2 longtime Twins.

Kepler has posted a .753 OPS with 153 house runs over 9 seasons for Minnesota, together with a 36-homer marketing campaign in 2019. Accidents have restricted him in recent times, however he nonetheless managed to hit 24 homers with an .816 OPS over 130 video games final season.

Polanco, in the meantime, has been with the Twins for the final 10 seasons. He is additionally been hampered by accidents, however in every of the final two seasons during which he performed at the least 150 video games, he was almost a 5-win participant per Baseball Reference WAR. That features his lone All-Star marketing campaign in 2019.

MLB Community insider Jon Paul Morosi reported Saturday that the Mariners are exhibiting curiosity in free agent slugger Rhys Hoskins, who missed all of final season with a torn ACL in his left knee. Nevertheless, Seattle is dealing with competitors from the Cubs. USA At the moment’s Bob Nightengale wrote Sunday that Chicago is in talks with Hoskins’ agent, Scott Boras, in regards to the first baseman.

Previous to his harm, Hoskins was a perennial 30-home run menace with the Phillies. With the strikes the Mariners have made to date this offseason, together with a commerce that despatched Eugenio Suárez to the D-backs, and the choice to not lengthen the qualifying provide to Teoscar Hernández, Seattle wants some energy to assist Julio Rodríguez and Cal Raleigh within the lineup.

The Cubs have additionally been linked to free-agent third baseman Matt Chapman as they effort to bulk up their infield. They misplaced third baseman Jeimer Candelario to the Reds as a free agent.

The Giants, who not too long ago signed Korean star outfielder Jung Hoo Lee, are apparently not completed attempting to bolster their roster this offseason. San Francisco has been linked to prime beginning pitchers on the free agent market, and in line with MLB Community insider Jon Paul Morosi, you’ll be able to add Shōta Imanaga to that record.

Imanaga, 30, is reportedly considered by some groups who have been within the combine for Yamamoto as a fallback choice, and it seems that’s the case for the Giants as effectively. It stands to motive that San Francisco can be in search of to fortify its beginning rotation — behind Logan Webb and Alex Cobb, there are a whole lot of query marks, with Anthony DeSclafani coming off a pair of injury-plagued seasons and a wealth of younger however unproven pitching prospects.

Whereas he is a number of years older than his 25-year-old countryman, Yamamoto, Imanaga owns a 3.18 ERA over eight seasons in Nippon Skilled Baseball. The left-hander has a four-pitch combine that features a mid-90s fastball, in addition to a splitter, slider and curveball.

Commerce talks for Reds second baseman Jonathan India are “energetic,” in line with MLB Community insider Jon Paul Morosi, who hears that a number of groups are engaged in discussions with Cincinnati.

Even when Spencer Steer strikes to left subject following the Reds’ acquisition of nook infielder Jeimer Candelario in free company, the membership nonetheless has an infield logjam with Elly De La Cruz, Matt McLain, Noelvi Marte and Christian Encarnacion-Strand all on the roster along with Candelario and India.

Cincinnati can alleviate that and make the most of a weak free-agent marketplace for second basemen by dealing India, who’s controllable by way of 2026. The 2021 Nationwide League Rookie of the 12 months is a lifetime .255/.350/.419 hitter (105 OPS+) with 48 homers and 21 steals over three seasons.

It is potential the Reds might embrace the 27-year-old in a package deal to acquire rotation assist, which stays the crew’s prime precedence.

Many of the commerce rumblings on the starting-pitching entrance this offseason have centered round Tyler Glasnow, Dylan Stop, Corbin Burnes and Shane Bieber. With Glasnow headed to the Dodgers (sources advised MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand), groups in want of an ace now have one fewer choice on the commerce market. Nevertheless, executives from two golf equipment advised The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal (subscription required) that they’re monitoring the potential of the Astros buying and selling lefty Framber Valdez, who has posted a 3.13 ERA with 394 strikeouts over 399 1/3 innings over the previous two seasons.

The Athletic’s Chandler Rome first broached the potential of a Valdez commerce again in November at a time when Houston third baseman Alex Bregman’s identify was developing as a possible commerce candidate. Rome pointed to Valdez as probably the most expendable of 4 Astros stars who’re set to succeed in free company over the subsequent two offseasons — Bregman and Jose Altuve in 2024 and Valdez and Kyle Tucker in ‘25.

Together with projected salaries for arbitration-eligible gamers corresponding to Valdez and Tucker, Cot’s Baseball Contracts at present places the Astros’ 2024 Aggressive Stability Tax quantity at roughly $240 million, which might be north of the primary CBT threshold of $237 million. As Rosenthal notes, the one time Houston exceeded the CBT threshold was through the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, when tax penalties have been suspended. 

Valdez is due for an additional substantial increase after incomes $6.8 million in 2023. Buying and selling pitcher José Urquidy — controllable by way of 2025 like Valdez — is another choice for Houston. Nevertheless, he wouldn’t carry again the identical return or present the identical degree of wage reduction. Urquidy earned $3.025 million in 2023.

The Rangers bolstered their rotation depth on Thursday, signing Tyler Mahle to a two-year contract, however the transfer won’t preclude the defending World Collection champs from making one other huge addition on the pitching entrance this offseason. Whether or not that is Clayton Kershaw or another person stays to be seen.

In accordance with The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal (subscription required) on Friday morning, a supply transient on the Rangers’ considering stated Kershaw is “very a lot in play” for the membership.

Mahle and Jacob deGrom each underwent Tommy John surgical procedure this previous season and are not anticipated to return till midseason or later. Kershaw might be on the same timeline after present process left shoulder surgical procedure in early November.

Jordan Montgomery, who helped the Rangers win the World Collection in 2023, stays obtainable, however he is expensive — MLB Community insider Jon Heyman experiences in an article for the New York Put up that he is utilizing Carlos Rodón’s six-year, $162 million take care of the Yankees as a foundation for his personal asking worth. Rosenthal reported on Dec. 8 that Texas was unlikely to carry again Montgomery because of the uncertainty surrounding its TV-rights deal.

Kershaw additionally has been linked to his hometown Rangers in free company up to now, however he re-signed with the Dodgers in 2021, ‘22 and ‘23. A reunion with Los Angeles stays a risk for the 35-year-old.

Might the Mets and veteran infielder Justin Turner be a match this offseason? In accordance with a report within the New York Put up, the membership is actively engaged with Turner on a possible reunion.

Turner, who performed for the Mets from 2010-13, might be a great slot in Queens due to his defensive versatility on the infield. And with the membership’s fourth-ranked prospect, Ronny Mauricio, injured with a torn ACL, there is a explicit want at third base. Extra >

The Giants agreed to phrases on one of many richest contracts for a free agent in membership historical past on Tuesday, after they landed Korean outfielder Jung Hoo Lee on a six-year deal value $113 million, per supply. However San Francisco nonetheless has a whole lot of work to do with the intention to sustain within the NL West with the Shohei Ohtani-led Dodgers and the reigning Nationwide League champion D-backs. One identify to look at is Chapman, who “definitely is within the Giants’ sights,” in line with Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle (subscription required). Extra >