The latest on the starting pitching market
LATEST FREE AGENT & TRADE RUMORSDecember 29th, 2023
We’re keeping track of all the latest free agent and trade rumors.
Dec. 29: Checking in on the pitching market
That being said, there’s still some buzz that the team could end up making a big move at some point, with Heyman writing in The New York Post that it’s worth wondering if owner Steve Cohen would put out a marginally competitive team in what’s Pete Alonso’s walk year. Heyman also wrote that the Mets made a “big effort” to sign Yamamoto, but that the Japanese pitcher may have had a preference for the West Coast. Additionally, the Phillies made a “real attempt” at signing Yamamoto and are still in play for Snell and Montgomery.
In an interview on High Heat on MLB Network on Friday, Heyman said the Red Sox, Phillies, Giants and Angels are also interested in Montgomery. Heyman adds that Montgomery returning to the Yankees is a “possibility” and indicates that there is some mutual interest in a reunion.
Regarding Snell, Heyman said that the Angels and Giants “make the most sense” for the reigning National League Cy Young Award winner. However, Heyman said he can’t see the Angels outbidding the Giants for Snell.
Dec. 29: Angels, Mets reportedly interested in J.D. Martinez
Martinez, 36, had a fantastic 2023 season with the Dodgers, racking up 33 homers and 103 RBIs in 113 games. His 134 OPS+ was a four-year high. The D-backs are looking for a hitter like Martinez, per Heyman, but it’s not clear if they are specifically interested in him. Martinez spent the second half of the 2017 season with Arizona following a trade from Detroit. He put up a tremendous .302/.366/.741 slash line with 29 dingers in just 62 games with the D-backs.
Dec. 28: Yankees, Rangers, Dodgers among teams interested in Josh Hader
Part of the reason that Hader hasn’t signed yet is due to his desire to get a contract “north” of the five-year, $102 million contract that Edwin DĂaz signed with the Mets last offseason, per a new report from The Athletic’s Jim Bowden.
Bowden, who was speaking on CBS Sports HQ, said that while no club has “gone to the ballpark” of a nine-figure contract, the Rangers, Dodgers and Yankees are all in play for Hader. That said, Bowden says that all three teams would prefer to acquire a starting pitcher before a reliever.
Additionally, Bowden said that the Yankees are “hoping” to reacquire Jordan Montgomery in free agency, but would have no problem pivoting to Hader if Montgomery signs elsewhere.
Dec. 27: Giants âbig-game hunting,’ in on Snell, Bellinger, Chapman
After missing out on Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, both of whom landed with the rival Dodgers, the Giants are still âbig-game huntingâ on the free-agent market as they look to add more star power to their roster, according to MLB Network insider Jon Heyman.
Per Heyman, the Giants are in on many of the top free agents left on the board, including starter Blake Snell, third baseman Matt Chapman and outfielder Cody Bellinger.
While San Franciscoâs biggest addition to this point has been center fielder Jung Hoo Lee out of Korea, Heyman gets the sense the team is still leaning toward upgrading on the offensive side of the ball and considers Chapman the most likely of the three to land with the Giants.
The San Francisco Chronicle’s Susan Slusser also linked the Giants to those three players in an appearance on MLB Network on Tuesday while mentioning a reunion with pitcher Sean Manaea as another possibility.
The Giants were recently connected to another top free-agent starter, Japanese lefty ShĆta Imanaga, in a report from MLB Network insider Jon Paul Morosi as well.
Dec. 27: Angels reportedly interested in Snell
While no one can replace the incomparable Shohei Ohtani in Anaheim, there are a number of available players who can address some of the glaring holes on the Angelsâ roster. Starting pitching is perhaps the Halosâ biggest need, and the team appears to have some interest in one of the top arms left on the market.
Dec. 27: Where do the Blue Jays stand in the Belli market?
After missing out on Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the Blue Jays have been considered one of the favorites to land free-agent outfielder Cody Bellinger.
However, itâs fair to wonder if Toronto is still a fit for Bellinger after the club reached a deal (a source told MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand) on Tuesday to bring back center fielder Kevin Kiermaier. The Blue Jays followed that up by agreeing to a two-year deal with another position player, utility man Isiah Kiner-Falefa, on Wednesday. More >
Dec. 26: Dodgers, Angels, Red Sox showing interest in Teoscar
Even after acquiring Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow and Manuel Margot and re-signing Jason Heyward this offseason, the Dodgers may not be done adding to their roster. According to reporter Francys Romero, Los Angeles is one of the teams monitoring the market for free-agent outfielder Teoscar HernĂĄndez.
This isn’t the first time the two sides have been linked. Jorge Castillo of the Los Angeles Times reported back in November that HernĂĄndez was on the Dodgers’ radar. Their continued interest in the slugger certainly makes sense. With Mookie Betts expected to play second base more often in 2024, the teamâs current outfield options are Margot, Heyward, James Outman and Chris Taylor. The team could also use another right-handed power bat after replacing J.D. Martinez with Ohtani at the designated-hitter spot. Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, Max Muncy, Outman and Heyward all bat from the left side.
Hernåndez also was recently connected to the Angels and Red Sox, with Ken Rosenthal in The Athletic (subscription required) reporting that both teams were showing interest in the 31-year-old.
The Angels have Mike Trout, Taylor Ward and Mickey Moniak slated to start in their outfield but could use HernĂĄndezâs firepower to help make up for the loss of Ohtani.
Alex Speier of the Boston Globe (subscription required) reports that the Red Sox had not made an offer to HernĂĄndez as of Saturday night, but they were discussing potential contract parameters. Tyler OâNeill (acquired from the Cardinals) is expected to replace Alex Verdugo (traded to the Yankees) in left field, but Boston still needs replacements for free agents Adam Duvall and Justin Turner.
Dec. 26: Four teams ready to jumpstart reliever market
Following Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s deals with the Dodgers, the rest of the free-agent market should begin to thaw. One area that could see more movement in the coming weeks is the reliever market.Â
According to MLB Network insider Jon Paul Morosi, the Dodgers, Angels, Rangers and Yankees have been aggressive in the reliever market, specifically in regards to the top free-agent arms such as Josh Hader, Robert Stephenson and Jordan Hicks.Â
None of these teams are particularly surprising fits for the top-end relievers in free agency. Despite the Dodgers landing Ohtani, Yamamoto and Tyler Glasnow, they could continue adding more certainty to the roster with a quality high-leverage reliever. The reigning World Series champion Rangers, meanwhile, have been heavily linked to Hader this offseason and could use an elite reliever.
In the aftermath of Ohtani signing with the Dodgers, the Angels are looking to pivot to reconstructing a roster without the 2023 AL MVP in the fold. The Yankees — following a rare down 2023 season and missing out in the Yamamoto sweepstakes — could look to build a super bullpen as they’ve done in the past and continue improving a roster that already added superstar Juan Soto this offseason.
Dec. 23: Red Sox ‘showing strong interest’ in re-signing Paxton (report)
The Red Sox are in need of starting pitching, and according to WEEI’s Rob Bradford, Boston is “showing strong interest” in bringing back veteran left-hander James Paxton.
Paxton posted a 4.50 ERA over 19 starts for the Red Sox in an injury-limited 2023 campaign. Injuries have been an issue for the 35-year-old, particularly in recent years — he signed with the Red Sox before the 2022 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery he underwent the prior April while with the Mariners.
But Paxton missed the entire ’22 campaign before making his Boston debut last May. Hamstring and knee injuries hampered him, and after a strong start to his season, he struggled to a 6.98 ERA over his final nine starts. More >
Dec. 22: Here’s what the Yankees and Mets offered Yamamoto (report)
The Dodgers won the Yoshinobu Yamamoto sweepstakes with a 12-year, $325 million offer to the coveted Japanese right-hander, which sources told MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand includes a $50 million signing bonus and opt-outs after the sixth and eighth years of the deal.
But what did the runners up offer Yamamoto?
According to Ken Rosenthal in an article for The Athletic (subscription required), the offers from the Yankees and Mets were comparable.
Rosenthal reports that the Yankees offered Yamamoto 10 years and $300 million, which would have resulted in a higher annual average value than what Yamamoto agreed to with the Dodgers. And, unlike the Dodgers’ deal, the Yanks’ offer did not backload any money — just a straight $30 million per year. There was also an opt-out after year five.
The Mets, meanwhile, matched the Dodgers’ offer of 12 years and $325 million, according to Rosenthal.
Dec. 22: With Dodgers reportedly landing Yamamoto, will the rest of the market thaw?
According to MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand, things may finally begin to “thaw” across the rest of baseball in the wake of the Yamamoto news.
This offseason’s top prize, Shohei Ohtani, inked a record 10-year, $700 million contract with the Dodgers earlier this month, and despite hopes that the market for other marquee free agents would begin to move significantly, that didn’t happen. Given that this winter’s market is deeper on the pitching side than it is for position players, that’s not necessarily surprising.
With Yamamoto off the board, perhaps “setting” the market standard for free-agent starters, pitchers like two-time Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell, 2023 World Series champion Jordan Montgomery and Japanese lefty ShĆta Imanaga may see their markets heat up quickly, particularly after the Christmas holiday. The same goes for star relievers like Josh Hader and the top position players available, such as Cody Bellinger and Matt Chapman.
Things could start moving quickly for teams that lost out on Yamamoto, in particular — the Yankees, Mets, Phillies, Giants, Blue Jays and Red Sox will turn their focus elsewhere for an impact signing.
Dec. 19: Is Cease a lock to be traded this offseason?
With the Dodgers’ deal for Tyler Glasnow now official, there is one fewer frontline starter on the trade market. That may lead to increased interest in the aces who could still be available via trade, including the White Sox Dylan Cease and the Brewers’ Corbin Burnes.
While The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal isn’t as certain about Burnes being dealt, he thinks Cease is all but guaranteed to be moved this offseason.
“At some point, Dylan Cease is going to be traded,” Rosenthal said Tuesday on the “Foul Territory” podcast.
Sources recently told MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand something similar, saying that they expect the White Sox to trade Cease this offseason.
Cease is a possibility for a number of teams, including the Yankees, Giants, Rangers, Reds, Braves and Orioles, Rosenthal wrote Friday (subscription required). USA Today’s Bob Nightengale went one step further on Sunday, labeling Atlanta and Baltimore as the “current favorites” to land the 27-year-old right-hander.
The Orioles and Reds could entice Chicago with their position-player depth. Baltimore has six position players on MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 prospects while Cincinnati has a glut of young, talented infielders. Relatedly, the Reds are reportedly engaged in talks with multiple teams regarding 27-year-old second baseman Jonathan India, who was the 2021 National League Rookie of the Year.
Cease is arbitration-eligible for two more seasons and is projected to make $8.8 million in 2024, according to MLB Trade Rumors.
Dec. 19: Giants reportedly looking at trade market in search for shortstop
With Brandon Crawfordâs tenure in San Francisco likely over, the Giants are looking at the trade market for shortstops, according to a report from Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle (subscription required)
Slusser speculates that the Giants could package catcher Joey Bart with some young pitchers and/or outfielders in exchange for the Padresâ Ha-Seong Kim or the Brewersâ Willy Adames. Bart, a former No. 2 overall Draft pick, has fallen out of favor in the organization and could be on his way out after the Giants reached a deal with veteran backstop Tom Murphy.
San Franciscoâs current shortstop options include Marco Luciano (MLB Pipelineâs No. 26 overall prospect), Casey Schmitt and Tyler Fitzgerald. All three players made their MLB debuts in 2023.
Itâs already been an eventful offseason for the Giants, who came up short in the Shohei Ohtani sweepstakes before landing center fielder Jung Hoo Lee out of Korea. The team still has a number of holes to fill after signing Lee.
After missing out on Yoshinobu Yamamoto, itâs possible the Giants will pivot to one of the other top arms on the free-agent market, such as Blake Snell or Jordan Montgomery. The club also has been linked to third baseman Matt Chapman.
Dec. 17: A pair of Twins stars on the trade market?
The Twins are “listening to trade offers” on outfielder Max Kepler and middle infielder Jorge Polanco, according to MLB Network insider Jon Paul Morosi.
Morosi notes that with the free agency departures of right-handers Sonny Gray and Kenta Maeda, Minnesota is seeking rotation help and could part ways with the two longtime Twins.
Kepler has posted a .753 OPS with 153 home runs over nine seasons for Minnesota, including a 36-homer campaign in 2019. Injuries have limited him in recent years, but he still managed to hit 24 homers with an .816 OPS over 130 games last season.
Polanco, meanwhile, has been with the Twins for the last 10 seasons. He’s also been hampered by injuries, but in each of the last two seasons in which he played at least 150 games, he was nearly a 5-win player per Baseball Reference WAR. That includes his lone All-Star campaign in 2019.
Dec. 17: Mariners, Cubs eyeing Hoskins (reports)
MLB Network insider Jon Paul Morosi reported Saturday that the Mariners are showing interest in free agent slugger Rhys Hoskins, who missed all of last season with a torn ACL in his left knee. However, Seattle is facing competition from the Cubs. USA Today’s Bob Nightengale wrote Sunday that Chicago is in talks with Hoskins’ agent, Scott Boras, about the first baseman.
Morosi previously reported that the Cubs had discussed one-year and multiyear contracts with Hoskins’ representatives.
Prior to his injury, Hoskins was a perennial 30-home run threat with the Phillies. With the moves the Mariners have made so far this offseason, including a trade that sent Eugenio SuĂĄrez to the D-backs, and the decision to not extend the qualifying offer to Teoscar HernĂĄndez, Seattle needs some power to support Julio RodrĂguez and Cal Raleigh in the lineup.
The Cubs have also been linked to free-agent third baseman Matt Chapman as they effort to bulk up their infield. They lost third baseman Jeimer Candelario to the Reds as a free agent.
Dec. 16: Giants showing interest in Imanaga (report)
The Giants, who recently signed Korean star outfielder Jung Hoo Lee, are apparently not done trying to bolster their roster this offseason. San Francisco has been linked to top starting pitchers on the free agent market, and according to MLB Network insider Jon Paul Morosi, you can add ShĆta Imanaga to that list.
Imanaga, 30, is reportedly viewed by some teams who were in the mix for Yamamoto as a fallback option, and it appears that is the case for the Giants as well. It stands to reason that San Francisco would be seeking to fortify its starting rotation — behind Logan Webb and Alex Cobb, there are a lot of question marks, with Anthony DeSclafani coming off a pair of injury-plagued seasons and a wealth of young but unproven pitching prospects.
While he’s several years older than his 25-year-old countryman, Yamamoto, Imanaga owns a 3.18 ERA over eight seasons in Nippon Professional Baseball. The left-hander has a four-pitch mix that includes a mid-90s fastball, as well as a splitter, slider and curveball.
Dec. 16: Multiple teams engaged in ‘active’ trade talks for Reds’ India
Trade talks for Reds second baseman Jonathan India are “active,” according to MLB Network insider Jon Paul Morosi, who hears that multiple teams are engaged in discussions with Cincinnati.
Even if Spencer Steer moves to left field following the Reds’ acquisition of corner infielder Jeimer Candelario in free agency, the club still has an infield logjam with Elly De La Cruz, Matt McLain, Noelvi Marte and Christian Encarnacion-Strand all on the roster in addition to Candelario and India.
Cincinnati can alleviate that and take advantage of a weak free-agent market for second basemen by dealing India, who is controllable through 2026. The 2021 National League Rookie of the Year is a lifetime .255/.350/.419 hitter (105 OPS+) with 48 homers and 21 steals over three seasons.
It’s possible the Reds could include the 27-year-old in a package to obtain rotation help, which remains the team’s top priority.
Dec. 15: Could Astros make Valdez available?
Most of the trade rumblings on the starting-pitching front this offseason have centered around Tyler Glasnow, Dylan Cease, Corbin Burnes and Shane Bieber. With Glasnow headed to the Dodgers (sources told MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand), teams in need of an ace now have one fewer option on the trade market. However, executives from two clubs told The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal (subscription required) that they are monitoring the possibility of the Astros trading lefty Framber Valdez, who has posted a 3.13 ERA with 394 strikeouts over 399 1/3 innings over the past two seasons.
The Athletic’s Chandler Rome first broached the potential of a Valdez trade back in November at a time when Houston third baseman Alex Bregmanâs name was coming up as a potential trade candidate. Rome pointed to Valdez as the most expendable of four Astros stars who are set to reach free agency over the next two offseasons — Bregman and Jose Altuve in 2024 and Valdez and Kyle Tucker in â25.
Including projected salaries for arbitration-eligible players such as Valdez and Tucker, Cotâs Baseball Contracts currently puts the Astrosâ 2024 Competitive Balance Tax number at roughly $240 million, which would be north of the first CBT threshold of $237 million. As Rosenthal notes, the only time Houston exceeded the CBT threshold was during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, when tax penalties were suspended.Â
Valdez is due for another substantial raise after earning $6.8 million in 2023. Trading pitcher JosĂ© Urquidy — controllable through 2025 like Valdez — is another option for Houston. However, he wouldnât bring back the same return or provide the same level of salary relief. Urquidy earned $3.025 million in 2023.
Dec. 15: What does Scherzer’s injury mean for Rangers’ chances of landing Kershaw?
The Rangers bolstered their rotation depth on Thursday, signing Tyler Mahle to a two-year contract, but the move might not preclude the defending World Series champs from making another big addition on the pitching front this offseason. Whether that’s Clayton Kershaw or someone else remains to be seen.
According to The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal (subscription required) on Friday morning, a source brief on the Rangersâ thinking said Kershaw is âvery much in playâ for the club.
However, with Max Scherzer now expected to be sidelined until the summer after undergoing surgery on his back for a herniated disc, Texas’ chances of adding another pitcher with injury issues perhaps have decreased.
Mahle and Jacob deGrom both underwent Tommy John surgery this past season and aren’t expected to return until midseason or later. Kershaw could be on a similar timeline after undergoing left shoulder surgery in early November.
Jordan Montgomery, who helped the Rangers win the World Series in 2023, remains available, but he’s costly — MLB Network insider Jon Heyman reports in an article for the New York Post that he’s using Carlos RodĂłn’s six-year, $162 million deal with the Yankees as a basis for his own asking price. Rosenthal reported on Dec. 8 that Texas was unlikely to bring back Montgomery due to the uncertainty surrounding its TV-rights deal.
Kershaw also has been linked to his hometown Rangers in free agency in the past, but he re-signed with the Dodgers in 2021, â22 and â23. A reunion with Los Angeles remains a possibility for the 35-year-old.
Dec.15: Mets pursuing reunion with Turner?
Could the Mets and veteran infielder Justin Turner be a match this offseason? According to a report in the New York Post, the club is actively engaged with Turner on a potential reunion.
Turner, who played for the Mets from 2010-13, could be a good fit in Queens because of his defensive versatility on the infield. And with the club’s fourth-ranked prospect, Ronny Mauricio, injured with a torn ACL, there’s a particular need at third base. More >
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