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 […]

Adam Wainwright Plans To Return In 2020

St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Adam Wainwright plans to return to the team in 2020, according to president of baseball operations John Mozeliak. The 38-year-old right-hander bounced back in 2019 to post better numbers than his three previous seasons, going 14-10 with a 4.19 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and 8.0 K/9 in 171 2/3 innings over […]

Phillies Decline Option On Jason Vargas

The Philadelphia Phillies declined their 2020 option on starting pitcher Jason Vargas and will instead pay him a $2 million buyout to make him a free agent. The team also declined the options for relief pitchers Jared Hughes and Pat Neshek. Vargas went 7-9 with a 4.51 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 124 strikeouts in 149 […]

Pirates Pick Up Starling Marte's Option

The Pittsburgh Pirates will pick up their $11.5 million 2020 option on outfielder Starling Marte, according to sources. It was a no-brainer move after Marte set new career highs in home runs (23), RBI (82), runs (97), slugging percentage (.503) and OPS (.845). He also finished with a 2.9 Wins Above Replacement, which was tied […]

J.D. Martinez Doesn't Opt Out Of Deal

Boston Red Sox outfielder/designated hitter J.D. Martinez chose not to opt out of his contract with the team, so he can earn $62.5 million over the next three years: $23.75 million for 2020 and $19.375 million for both 2021 and 2022. As long as he doesn't have a lengthy stay on the injured list, Martinez […]

Kole Calhoun's Option Declined

The Los Angeles Angels declined their $14 million option for the 2020 season on outfielder Kole Calhoun on Monday, making him a free agent. Calhoun got off to an atrocious start in 2019 but bounced back with a solid second half to finish with a .232/.325/.467 slash line, a career-high 33 home runs, 74 RBI, […]

Cubs Moving On From Brandon Morrow

The Chicago Cubs declined the 2020 option on relief pitcher Brandon Morrow (elbow) on Monday, making him a free agent. Relief pitchers Tony Barnette and Kendall Graveman also had their options declined. Morrow pitched only half of the 2018 season before landing on the injured list with right biceps inflammation, and he didn't pitch at […]

Twins To Decline Martin Perez's Option

The Minnesota Twins will decline the $7.5 million 2020 option on starting pitcher Martin Perez, making him a free agent. They'll instead pay him a $500,000 buyout. The 28-year-old left-hander finished 10-7 with a 5.12 ERA, 1.52 WHIP and 135 strikeouts in 165 1/3 innings over 29 starts and three relief outings for the Twins […]

Braves Decline Julio Teheran's Option

The Atlanta Braves declined their $12 million option for the 2020 season on starting pitcher Julio Teheran on Monday, making him a free agent. Teheran will instead receive a $1 million buyout. The 28-year-old Colombian went 10-11 with a 3.81 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 162 K's in 174 2/3 innings (33 starts) for the Braves […]

Eric Thames Becomes Free Agent

The Milwaukee Brewers declined the 2020 $7.5 million option on first baseman Eric Thames on Monday, making him a free agent. Milwaukee paid him a $1 million buyout instead, but general manager David Stearns said the team is open to bringing him back. If Thames goes elsewhere, Ryan Braun could see even more time at […]

Braves Bringing Nick Markakis Back

The Atlanta Braves re-signed outfielder Nick Markakis to a one-year, $4 million deal on Monday, according to sources. This comes after the team declined his $6 million option and gave him a $2 million buyout. The 35-year-old continued to hit for a high average (.285) because of a high contact rate, but he didn't do […]

Robert Gsellman, Seth Lugo Could Enter Rotation

New York Mets general manager Brodie Van Wagenen said that relief pitchers Robert Gsellman and/or Seth Lugo could be shifted to starting roles in 2020 with Zack Wheeler potentially moving on in free agency. Lugo and Gsellman have both been more effective in relief, but both could be effective streamers in the right matchups in […]

Pirates To Pick Up Chris Archer's Option

The Pittsburgh Pirates will pick up the 2020 option on starting pitcher Chris Archer worth $8.25 million, according to a source. The 31-year-old dealt with injuries in 2019 and disappointed with a 3-9 record and 5.19 ERA in his first full season with the Bucs. Pittsburgh is hoping that Archer working with a new pitching […]

Braves Decline Tyler Flowers' Option, Re-Sign Him

The Atlanta Braves are re-signing catcher Tyler Flowers to a one-year, $4 million deal on Monday, according to a source. This comes after the team declined his $6 million 2020 option and offered him a $2 million buyout. Flowers split time with Brian McCann, who has since retired, in 2019 and hit .229/.319/.413 with 11 […]

Blue Jays Acquire Chase Anderson

The Toronto Blue Jays acquired starting pitcher Chase Anderson from the Milwaukee Brewers on Monday in exchange for minor league first baseman Chad Spanberger. Anderson, 31, was 8-4 with a 4.21 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 124 strikeouts in 139 innings (27 starts, five relief outings) for the Brew Crew in 2019. He posted a career-best […]

No Timetable For Yoenis Cespedes

New York Mets outfielder Yoenis Cespedes (ankle) continues to rehab from his injuries the past year, and general manager Brodie Van Wagenen said it's "too early to tell" if Cespedes will play in 2020. "I don't have enough information to predict when he's going to be back." He didn't play at all in 2019 and […]

Cubs Pick Up Anthony Rizzo's Option

As expected, the Chicago Cubs picked up first baseman Anthony Rizzo's $16.5 million option for the 2020 season on Sunday, according to a league source. 2019 was Rizzo's second straight season with under 30 home runs -- he previously had four straight seasons with 30-plus round-trippers -- but he was otherwise consistent for fantasy owners […]

Nationals Want To Re-Sign Stephen Strasburg

The Washington Nationals want to re-sign starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg after he opted out of the final four years and $100 million of his contract. The word is that Washington is willing to give the right-hander a nice annual raise from $25 million per season. The sticking point could be the years, but the two […]

Dodgers Decline Option On Jedd Gyorko

The Los Angeles Dodgers declined infielder Jedd Gyorko's option for the 2020 season, making him a free agent. The 31-year-old had a miserable year in 2019, splitting time with the Dodgers and Cardinals. Gyorko dealt with injuries and hit .174/.248/.250 in a part-time role for both Los Angeles and St. Louis. He had only two […]