Edinson Volquez Wants To Keep Playing

The Texas Rangers and pitcher Edinson Volquez are working on a deal now that Volquez has changed his mind on retiring. Volquez made 11 appearances (four starts) for Texas last year and was not effective, posting a 6.75 ERA, 2.00 WHIP and 5.6 K/9 in his 16 innings. It's unlikely that he's making starts in […]

Padres Have Interest In Jon Gray

The San Diego Padres have interest in Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Jon Gray, who is among a select group of controllable starters who could be traded this offseason. The 28-year-old went 11-8 with a 3.84 ERA and 150 strikeouts in 25 starts for the Rockies last season. A broken foot cost him the final month […]

Braves Still Planning To Use Mark Melancon As Closer

The Atlanta Braves are still planning on using relief pitcher Mark Melancon as the closer to start next season, even after signing Will Smith on Thursday. Melancon, who also pitched for the Giants last year before coming over to Atlanta, had a 3.86 ERA and 11 saves in his 23 appearances for the Braves. He […]

Mike Trout Wins MVP, Foot Back To 100 Percent

Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout (foot), who won the American League MVP for the third time in his career on Thursday night, said his foot is back to 100 percent after his September surgery. He will start baseball activities soon and should be ready to go for spring training in plenty of time. You […]

Jake Odorizzi Staying With Twins

Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Jake Odorizzi accepted the team's one-year, $17.8 million qualifying offer on Thursday, according to sources. Barring a contract extension, the right-hander will be a free agent after the 2020 season. Odorizzi had one of his best seasons in the bigs last year, going 15-7 with a 3.51 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and […]

Jose Abreu Accepts Qualifying Offer

Chicago White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu accepted the one-year, $17.8 million qualifying offer on Thursday, according to sources. Barring an extension, Abreu will be a free agent after the 2020 season. The 32-year-old Cuban quietly led baseball with 123 RBI in 2019 and also slugged 33 home runs, hit .284 and scored 85 runs […]

Braves Sign Will Smith

The Atlanta Braves have signed left-handed relief pitcher Will Smith, formerly of the San Francisco Giants, to a three-year contract worth $39 million. The deal includes a club option for 2023 worth $13 million. Smith recorded 34 saves for the Giants last season along with a 2.76 ERA and 96:21 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 65 1/3 […]

Gerrit Cole Not Short On Suitors

The Yankees, Angels, Rangers and Phillies are among the teams that have already shown interest in starting pitcher Gerrit Cole. The Nationals could be interested in him if they can't re-sign Stephen Strasburg, while the Astros haven't given up either. Cole is certain to set a record for a starter in free agency after leading […]

Yankees Eyeing Starting Pitching

The New York Yankees have "checked in" with starting pitchers Gerrit Cole, Stephen Strasburg and Zack Wheeler so far this offseason, according to general manager Brian Cashman. Madison Bumgarner is another starter the Yanks have kicked the tires on. Cole and Strasburg are the top two free-agent hurlers on the market this season. Cole led […]

Blue Jays Have Met With Yasmani Grandal

The Toronto Blue Jays are among the teams that have met with catcher Yasmani Grandal. Grandal bet successfully on himself in 2019 by signing a one-year deal in Milwaukee, and he's now the most coveted free-agent catcher on the market after slugging 28 home runs for the Brew Crew. His left-handed bat would fit really […]

Phillies Looking At Mike Moustakas

The Philadelphia Phillies have third baseman Mike Moustakas on their radar, according to multiple sources. The Phillies have a good history with Scott Boras, the agent for Moustakas, and they could look to add a third baseman this winter to allow top prospect Alec Bohm more development in the minors. Moose has done well the […]

Anthony Rendon On Dodgers Radar

The Los Angeles Dodgers have third baseman Anthony Rendon on their radar this offseason. Rendon will be one of the most coveted free agents this winter behind starting pitcher Gerrit Cole. Justin Turner has offered to change positions in order for the Dodgers to bring in a free-agent third baseman like Rendon or Josh Donaldson. […]

Padres Interested In Madison Bumgarner

The San Diego Padres have interest in starting pitcher Madison Bumgarner and will meet with his agent, Ed Cerulo, at the general manager meetings this week. The Padres have also been connected to starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg, while Bumgarner is attracting interest from a handful of teams, including the Phillies and Yankees. The veteran southpaw, […]

Odubel Herrera Will Have To Earn Roster Spot

Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Odubel Herrera, who was suspended for 85 games last summer for a domestic-violence incident, must earn his spot on the roster next spring training, according to general manager Matt Klentak. Scott Kingery, Adam Haseley and Roman Quinn are all options to start in center field over Herrera, and the Phillies could also […]

Rangers Making Push For Josh Donaldson

The Texas Rangers are making an aggressive push for third baseman Josh Donaldson. The Los Angeles Times' Jorge Castillo also reported that the Dodgers, Nationals, Phillies and Braves are pursuing the 2015 American League MVP and three-time All-Star. Donaldson will turn 34 in December and is coming off a rebound season with Atlanta in which […]

Miguel Andujar May Switch Positions In 2020

New York Yankees third baseman Miguel Andujar, who played in just 12 games in 2019 due to a shoulder injury, could be moved around the field in 2020. He could be an option at an infield corner spot, at designated hitter or even in the outfield. Andujar will turn 25 in March, had an .855 […]

Yadier Molina Seeking Contract Extension?

Sources have intimated that St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina could be seeking an extension to his contract and would be willing to take a pay cut from his current $20 million per season. It was believed that the final year of Molina's current contract in 2020 would be his final in the majors, but […]

Marcell Ozuna To Reject Qualifying Offer

St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Marcell Ozuna plans to reject the team's one-year, $17.8 million qualifying offer to become a free agent, but his representatives met with the Cardinals on Tuesday to explore a multi-year contract. Ozuna has had early interest from at least half a dozen teams, including the Reds, according to two sources. The […]

Marlins Like Jose Abreu

The Miami Marlins are interested in first baseman Jose Abreu, although losing a draft pick in order to acquire him could dissuade them from pursuing him. The expectation is that Abreu will re-sign with the White Sox, where he hit .284/.330/.503 with 33 home runs, 85 runs and 123 RBI in 2019. Abreu has had […]

Blue Jays Discussing Mike Moustakas

The Toronto Blue Jays have discussed adding third baseman Mike Moustakas this offseason, as well as Japanese hitters Yoshitomo Tsutsugo and Shogo Akiyama. Toronto is looking to add a bat at second base, first base and center field. Moustakas, a left-handed hitter, can play first, second or third base and would offer the most offensive […]

Blue Jays Have Legitimate Interest In Jake Odorizzi

The Toronto Blue Jays met with the representatives for starting pitcher Jake Odorizzi on Tuesday, and they will have legitimate interest in the right-hander if he rejects the $17.8 million qualifying offer from the Twins. Odorizzi was very solid for fantasy owners in 2019, going 15-7 with a 3.51 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 178 strikeouts […]

Padres To Work On Extension For Fernando Tatis Jr.

The San Diego Padres intend to open discussions with shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. on a long-term contract extension this offseason. The idea would be to buy out Tatis' arbitration years, which would mean a deal of at least six years and likely longer. The superstar shortstop won't turn 21 until Jan. 2, but he finished […]

Adam Wainwright Back in St. Louis for the 2020 Season

The St. Louis Cardinals re-signed starting pitcher Adam Wainwright to a one-year contract. Financial terms have not yet been revealed, but this move was mostly a formality, as Cardinals President of Baseball Operations John Mozeliak told reporters a while ago that Wainwright would be sticking with the only major league team he's even played for. […]

Cole Hamels Open To One-Year Deal

Free-agent starting pitcher Cole Hamels, who wasn't offered a qualifying offer from the Cubs, said he's open to a one-year deal this winter and wouldn't mind returning to the Phillies if it's in the cards. The 35-year-old left-hander is a free agent for the first time in his career after the final year of his […]

Yankees, Brett Gardner Discussing Reunion

The New York Yankees and free-agent outfielder Brett Gardner are already talking about a deal to keep him in pinstripes. Gardner is the longest-tenured Yankee and set career highs in home runs (28) and OPS (.829) during the 2019 season. He slashed .251/.325/.503 and also scored 86 runs, drove in 74 and stolen 10 bases […]

Braves Making Madison Bumgarner A Priority

The Atlanta Braves have made free-agent starting pitcher Madison Bumgarner a priority this offseason and are planning to quickly communicate with the veteran left-hander, according to league sources. The Braves also discussed Bumgarner at last summer's trade deadline. Bumgarner had a career-high 3.90 ERA last season, but he also threw 207 innings and led the […]

Martin Prado Likely To Retire

Miami Marlins third baseman Martin Prado has told friends that he will likely retire this offseason. The 36-year-old played in just 104 games in 2019 and managed 94 games in 2017 and 2018 combined due to injuries. He hit a meager .233/.265/.294 with two home runs and 15 RBI for the Fish last season and […]

Howie Kendrick Drawing Interest From Marlins, Rays

Free-agent infielder Howie Kendrick is drawing a lot of early interest on the free-agent market, most notably from the Rays and Marlins. He's from Florida but lives in the Phoenix area in the offseason. Coming off an extremely productive season and winning the World Series, Kendrick is likely looking for just a one-year deal on […]

Red Sox, Mookie Betts Haven't Had Extension Talks

The Boston Red Sox haven't engaged outfielder Mookie Betts in contract-extension talks yet this winter, according to chief executive officer Sam Kennedy. It'll be interesting to see what the Red Sox do with Betts as they attempt to get under the luxury tax threshold in 2020. Things became more difficult when outfielder J.D. Martinez chose […]

Russell Martin Plans To Return In 2020

Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Russell Martin, who is 36 years old, is already working out and plans to return for his 15th season in 2020. Martin has played for 10 postseason teams in his 14 years in the big leagues, but he's yet to win a World Series and remains hungry. The Dodgers will once […]