Spring training is a month from now and the hot stove is kind of starting to get hot. We have up to 16 hires among our 60 best free agents, including six in the new year. See what the Yankees still need to do after signing DJ LeMahieu and Corey Kluber, and here are the latest rumors of hot stoves.
GM Reds take down Castillo / Yankees rumors
The name of Cincinnati Reds star Luis Castillo was spread by commercial rumors over the weekend, with speculation that the right-hander would be traded to the New York Yankees. However, the rumors proved to be just that: rumors. Reds general manager Nick Krall released a statement calling the idea that Castillo was on his way to the Bronx “completely false”.
“[The rumors] are completely false, “Krall told Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer.” We intend to have [Castillo] as a member of our rotation for 2021. “
It seems that Krall was getting involved in discussions, however. According to Jon Heyman of the MLB Network, the Reds informed the teams that they now intend to keep Castillo, but have tested the waters for potential trade. Cincinnati specifically asked the Yankees for shortstop Gleyber Torres to headline a possible deal, Heyman added. Torres is coming off a year low (0.243 / 0.356 / 0.368), but the 24-year-old is an All-Star twice and should return to form.
Castillo, 28, had an ERA of 3.21, 1.23 WHIP and 89 eliminations with 24 hikes in 70 entries in the abbreviated 2020 season. The strong-handed will make $ 4.2 million with the Reds in 2021 and will not become a free agent for another three seasons. He will be at the top of Cincy’s rotation in 2021, possibly alongside the right-handed Sonny Gray, who also had his name mentioned in commercial rumors this winter.
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Springer decision expected this week
The best free agent George Springer is expected to make his free agent decision this week, according to Jon Morosi of the MLB Network. As of now, the Toronto Blue Jays and the New York Mets are ahead, adds Morosi.
CBS Sports classified Springer as the No. 1 free agent available this winter. Here’s what we had to say about the central defender:
Springer takes first place over Realmuto because the league has always avoided megadeals for catchers. Only one backstop had an AAV in excess of $ 20 million in 2020, while eight outfielders did. On a talent basis, Springer is an above-average central defender who scored an OPS + north of 120 in six of his seven seasons and who hit 20 more hits in five of those seven seasons. Springer did a remarkable job of cutting his strikeout rate over the years without affecting his walking rate, and in 2020, he reached the best mark of his career in 17.1% of his plate appearances. The only thing Springer doesn’t do, for the most part, is steal bases. He has succeeded in 61% of his career attempts, including 52% in the past five years, and should rarely be given the green light. It is unclear whether or how the teams will handle the Astros’ plate theft scandal against Springer; unlike Jose Altuve, he appeared to be a voluntary recipient of “bangs”.
Springer, 31, has been one of the pillars of Houston Astros since the club chose him as the 11th overall choice in the 2011 MLB Draft. He ended the shortened 2020 season with a .265 / .359 / .540 cut line to go along with 14 home runs, six doubles, two trebles and 32 RBI in 222 plate appearances. He is a .270 / .361 / .491 (131 OPS +) hitter who is very comfortable in the starting position. The three-time All-Star finished seventh in the MVP poll and won the 2017 World Series MVP.
The Blue Jays lost their best targets this off-season, but with several of the best free agents still on the board, they still have time to make some noise before spring training. Toronto lacks a natural central defender, and the addition of Springer would be an ideal fit, adding a veteran hitter to a very young and talented squad.
The Mets, led by new owner Steve Cohen, have been struggling this season. They have a full outfield in Queens, but Springer would be an upgrade over Brandon Nimmo in the center. Adding Springer would also help the Mets keep Jeff McNeil in his most comfortable position on second base, full time.
Tanaka attracted ‘strong interest’ from Japan
The head of free agent Masahiro Tanaka remains without a contract, and while the Yankees, his longtime club, remains in touch, there is a “good change he launches elsewhere”, Jon Heyman reports from MLB Network. Tanaka, 32, is gaining great interest in returning to Japan to launch, and the veteran on the right is likely to receive a much bigger contract, adds Heyman.
The Yankees signed a $ 155 million seven-year deal with Tanaka in 2014, after he spent seven seasons playing for the Nippon Professional Baseball League’s Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles.
Phillies adds perspective on trade with Boston
Philadelphia Phillies acquired Boston Red Sox infielder CJ Chatham for a player to be named later or in cash, the teams announced on Monday. To make room on the 40-man roster, the Phillies designated the right-handed Victor Arano for the assignment.
According to the MLB Pipeline, 26-year-old Chatham is ranked as the 14th best prospect in Boston’s agricultural system. He spent the 2020 season at the Red Sox alternative training site. The Red Sox produced Chatham in the second round of the MLB Draft 2016. He reached the Triple-A level for the first time in 2019, and reached 0.302 / 0.330 / 0.430 with 0.760 OPS in 20 games. He will likely hold a bank / utility position with the Phillies in 2021.
Padres gets Musgrove in exchange for three teams
The Fathers added another starter. They acquired Joe Musgrove in a three-team exchange with the Pirates and Mets. Here are the complete business details:
- Fathers receive: RHP Joe Musgrove
- Mets receive: LHP Joey Lucchesi
- Pirates receive: RHP David Bednar, LHP Omar Cruz, OF Hudson Head, RHP Drake Fellows, C / OF Endy Rodriguez
The Fathers obtain Musgrove for Bednar, Cruz, Head, Fellows and Lucchesi. Mets takes Lucchesi to Rodriguez. The Pirates keep it all for Musgrove. Musgrove is the third high-profile starting pitcher the Padres acquired last month, joining Yu Darvish and Blake Snell.
The Nationals agreed to a one-year contract with leftist Jon Lester. Lester will be the team’s 4th holder, behind Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg and Patrick Corbin, and will push Joe Ross and Erick Fedde down on the depth chart. Lester had a difficult year of 2020 with the Cubs, playing 61 entries with an ERA of 5.16. He can still be sure he will eat starters – Lester made at least 31 matches every year from 2008-19, plus another 12 in the 2020 season of 60 games.