Christmas has passed and we are still waiting for the first significant free agent hire in the off-season. Only 10 of our 60 top free agents have signed, including only five of the top 25. There were some notable negotiations this week thanks to the San Diego Padres. Here are the latest rumors of hot stoves.
Phillies adds Alvarado to three-man switch
Not to be outdone by the Fathers, the Dodgers agreed to their own exchange with the Rays on Tuesday, although as part of a three-team exchange with the Phillies. Here is the disbursement of the deal:
Both Alvarado and Cleavinger shot at the majors, with Alvarado accumulating more service time.
Alvarado, eligible for arb for the first time, seemed to have established himself as a late afternoon game in 2018. Since then, he has dealt with elbow and shoulder problems that limited him to 44 appearances in 2019-20 and that took several points from your bowling ball sinker. The Phillies must discover that the reward outweighs the cost. Given the poor state of their bullpen, they could be right.
Cleavinger made an appearance for the Phillies in 2020. He recorded two eliminations and allowed a run in two strokes (one being a home run). His fastball was in the mid-90s during that tour, according to Statcast. He will likely receive burns in the Los Angeles bullpen sometime in 2021.
Cubs buying Contreras
As the Cubs continue their demolition, it is fair to expect their players to continue to populate the rumors of trade. One of those Cubs doing just that is catcher Willson Contreras, who, according to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, is being purchased extensively.
Contreras, 28, has two years left in control of the team. He reached 113 OPS + during his career in the big league, and this season he qualified as an improved receiver, becoming a more complete player.
If the Cubs move Contreras, he would be the second catcher they would trade this winter. Chicago included Victor Caratini’s backup alongside Yu Darvish in his trade with the Fathers.
Twins ink Robles
The Twins have hired former Angels closest to Hansel Robles for a minor league, according to the team. Robles, 30, battled problems of command and loss of speed in 2020 on the way to a disappointing season. Before 2020, it emerged as a high-leverage reliever. In parts of three seasons with the Angels, Robles had an ERA of 3.65 and a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 3.20.
Royals sign Santana
Here’s a fun one. The Royals announced on Tuesday that it had hired right-handed veteran Ervin Santana for a minor league.
Santana, 38, has not played in the majors since a season of three games in 2019. It did not go well. Nor did his five appearances in 2018. Before that, however, he was a reliable half-rotation starter, who accumulated more than 27 wins over substitution over his first 13 seasons in the majors.
Santana, who was an All-Star in 2017, seems highly unlikely to play a significant role in the 2021 season of the Royals. Instead, this is probably the case where the Royals are paying a favor to an old friend. Santana spent the 2013 season in Kansas City.