AL East

The New York Yankees are ready to make a splash in free agency, and they're reportedly willing to exceed the luxury tax threshold this winter, according to MLB Network's Jon Heyman. 

The club is also talking to the "five big shortstops" in free agency, Heyman adds. 

Heyman's report comes after Yankees general manager Brian Cashman told reporters Tuesday that the team's payroll would increase next season. He also said owner Hal Steinbrenner hasn't given him a "set budget" for 2022.

The Yankees are reportedly focused on adding an elite shortstop this winter to replace Gleyber Torres, who has been moved back to second base. The top five players available at the position include Carlos Correa, Trevor Story, Corey Seager, Javier Baez and Marcus Semien. 

It's unclear what kind of contract those players are looking for. However, Correa reportedly turned down a five-year, $160 million contract offer from the Houston Astros, which means he's probably searching for more. 

The Athletic's Jim Bowden released his predictions for what each shortstop will get this winter: 

• Seager: 10 years, $320 million
• Correa: 10 years, $300 million
• Story: Seven years, $204 million
• Baez: Six years, $172 million
• Semien: Five years, $148 million

The Yankees will face intense competition for any of those shortstops, and any of those contracts would put New York over the luxury tax threshold. In addition to help at shortstop, the Yankees could also use reinforcements in center field and at catcher. Gary Sanchez and Kyle Higashioka have underperformed behind the plate, and Brett Gardner, who has platooned center and left field in the Bronx his entire career, is now a free agent. 

However, the team doesn't appear to be concerned about exceeding the luxury tax after a disappointing finish to the 2021 season. Despite having the fifth-highest payroll in baseball last season ($208.9 million), the Pinstripes were embarrassed in a 6-2 loss to the Boston Red Sox in the American League wild-card game.  

The New York Yankees are reportedly expected to be big players in free agency this season, especially at the shortstop position.

ESPN's Buster Olney reported Wednesday that "some evaluators in the industry" believe the Yankees will pursue elite shortstops, including Corey Seager.

There has perhaps never been a more stacked group of free-agent shortstops in one offseason, as Seager, Carlos Correa, Trevor Story, Marcus Semien and Javier Baez are all set to be available on the open market.

While the Yankees reached the playoffs for the fifth consecutive season in 2021, it was considered a disappointing campaign for the franchise.

New York entered the season as the favorite to win the American League, but it could only muster a third-place finish in the AL East at 92-70, eight games behind the division-winning Tampa Bay Rays.

To make matters worse, the Yanks fell to the division runner-up Boston Red Sox in the AL Wild Card Game, marking the first time they weren't among the final four teams standing in the American League since 2016, when they last missed the postseason.

Shortstop was a major problem area for the Yankees last season, as Gleyber Torres struggled both offensively and defensively before getting shifted to second base.

Torres played far better in all phases as a second baseman, so it stands to reason he will remain there in 2022.

New York's primary shortstop option with Torres at second was Gio Urshela, but he is much better and a more natural fit at third base. That should lead New York to go all-out to sign a high-end shortstop this offseason.

Seager was the one specifically mentioned by Olney, and it can be argued that he is the best shortstop and overall player on the market.

The 27-year-old is a two-time All-Star and two-time Silver Slugger Award winner, plus he was named the National League Championship Series MVP and World Series MVP when the Los Angeles Dodgers won it all in 2020.

Seager is also a left-handed batter, which would play well at Yankee Stadium and give New York's lineup more balance.

Although Seager missed significant time last season because of a hand injury, he was highly productive when healthy, hitting .306 with 16 home runs, 57 RBI and 54 runs in 95 games.

Correa is another elite option after enjoying a career year with the Houston Astros, while Story and Semien are perhaps just a slight step down and then followed by Baez.

Boston Red Sox chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom confirmed Tuesday that the team will pursue a new contract for Kyle Schwarber in free agency, per MLB Network's Jon Heyman. 

The news comes after Schwarber declined his $11.5 mutual option for the 2022 season. 

Schwarber's future in Boston was put into question after slugger J.D. Martinez opted in for the 2022 season. However, Bloom said last week that the Red Sox had been engaged in contract discussions with the veteran outfielder despite Martinez's decision to opt in. 

"We've been engaged with Kyle. We're going to stay engaged," Bloom said, per MassLive's Matt Vautour. "Obviously knowing that J.D. is here changes how we look at the lineup and our position player group generally. But we played some of our best baseball with both of those guys. They certainly both fit. It just gives us more clarity going forward as to which paths we might take going forward as we reshape and put together this position player group for 2022."

Schwarber had one of the best seasons of his career in 2021 and was even better in the second half of the year after being traded from the Washington Nationals to the Red Sox.

The 28-year-old slashed .291/.435/.522 with seven home runs and 18 RBI in 41 regular-season games with Boston. He was also effective in the postseason, slashing .205/.286/.432 with three home runs and six RBI in 11 games. 

If Schwarber returns to the Red Sox, it's unclear what position he will play, as Boston played him at first base toward the end of the 2021 campaign and into the playoffs. 

The Athletic's Jim Bowden predicted Schwarber will sign a contract somewhere in the three-year, $54 million range. ESPN's Kiley McDaniel predicted a three-year, $45 million deal. 

It's unclear which other teams are interested in Schwarber.  

Former New York Mets manager Luis Rojas has interviewed with the New York Yankees for one of their vacant base coaching positions, per The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal and Lindsey Adler.

Rojas reportedly made a "positive impression," Rosenthal added.

The Mets declined to pick up Rojas' 2022 option after two incredibly disappointing seasons in Flushing. The 40-year-old went 103-119 as manager and the club missed the playoffs in both seasons.

Like the Mets, the Yankees also had a disappointing 2021 season, getting knocked out of the playoffs with an embarrassing 6-2 loss to the Boston Red Sox in the American League Wild Card Game. Many thought manager Aaron Boone would be out of a job by season's end, but general manager Brian Cashman handed him a three-year extension.

The Yankees decided to part ways with other coaches instead. They have an opening for a first base coach as Reggie Willits left the club to become a volunteer assistant coach for the University of Oklahoma baseball program. New York also has an opening for a third base coach after deciding not to renew the contract of Phil Nevin.

Rojas also interviewed for the San Diego Padres managerial position last month, according to Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune. However, the club hired Bob Melvin as skipper instead.

Rojas still has the option to remain with the Mets if he chooses. According to ESPN, the club offered him an unspecified role after not picking up his option.

Rojas first served as manager for the Mets' Dominican Summer League team in 2007 before managing the Gulf Coast League Mets in 2008. He also coached Low-A Savannah from 2012 to 2014 and High-A St. Lucie from 2015 to 2016 before serving as skipper of Double-A Binghamton in 2018. He was named the Mets' quality control coach for the 2019 campaign.  

J.D. Martinez is staying put.

The Boston Red Sox slugger reportedly exercised his player option Sunday with the team for the 2022 campaign that is worth $19.4 million, per Jon Heyman of MLB Network. 

JD Martinez market could markedly improve next winter if there’s a universal DH and perhaps even no qualifying offer. The QO would have hampered the JD this year, which Boston would have surely given had he opted out of $19.375M. @Ken_Rosenthal has full explanation

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) November 7, 2021

"I'm right in the middle," Martinez said in September when revealing he hadn't made up his mind on the option, per Rob Bradford of WEEI. "It's a balancing line, and I'm right in the middle. I haven't made a decision. I don't worry about that stuff, but right now I'm right in the middle."

Boston signed him to a five-year deal that featured multiple opt-out clauses ahead of the 2018 season. It could not have worked out better for the American League East team.

Martinez was an All-Star in three of his first four years with the Red Sox with the only exception coming during the shortened 2020 campaign when there was no All-Star Game. The team also won a World Series in its first year with him in the lineup in part because he slashed .300/.403/.520 with three home runs and 14 RBI in those playoffs.

That 2018 campaign was also the best individual effort of his career.

He slashed .330/.402/.629 with 43 home runs and 130 RBI while taking home the Silver Slugger. Just that season alone for a team that won the championship would have been enough to make him a Red Sox legend, but he was impressive again in 2019 when he slashed .304/.383/.557 with 36 home runs and 105 RBI.

While Martinez was somewhat inconsistent during the shortened 2020 season, he bounced back in 2021 with 28 long balls and 99 RBI while helping the Red Sox reach the ALCS, where they were eliminated by the Houston Astros.

The 34-year-old also had stints with the Houston Astros, Detroit Tigers and Arizona Diamondbacks and has proved he can hit for both power and average at different times in his career. 

He is a three-time Silver Slugger and four-time All-Star and will look to add to his accolades with at least one more season in Boston.

Martinez may have a larger market of suitors if he becomes a free agent after the 2022 season since the universal designated hitter may be on the way. That could help him transition into the latter portion of his career as someone who can solely focus on maintaining his offensive abilities.

The Toronto Blue Jays are reportedly giving second baseman Marcus Semien the $18.4 million qualifying offer, per MLB Network's Jon Heyman.

Heyman also noted Robbie Ray will receive the one-year offer from Toronto. 

Every player who receives the one-year qualifying offer has until Nov. 17 to accept or reject it. 

A player can still re-sign with his old team if he rejects the offer, but he will also be allowed to negotiate with other clubs as a free agent. 

If the player signs with another team, his previous club will receive a draft pick as compensation. 

Semien is coming off a career-best season, posting a triple slash of .265/.334/.538 with 45 home runs, 102 runs batted in and 15 steals. He slid over to second base after signing the one-year contract with the Blue Jays. However, he has maintained he sees himself more as a shortstop.

"I still see myself as a shortstop. I've been playing the position for so long. Now I go over there to second, and I'm hitting more home runs, so it's all good. I've never had my name in any record book, so it's really cool," Semien told reporters. 

The Oakland Athletics chose not to offer Semien a qualifying last offseason, leading him to sign a one-year, $18 million deal in Toronto. 

Extending Semien this qualifying offer is a matter of semantics; it's a near-guarantee that he will receive a massive long-term contract on the open market.

The Blue Jays are undoubtedly interested in bringing Semien back, but this protects them in the form of draft compensation if he priced himself out of their market. 

Ray's decision is fascinating to examine. It would seem unlikely that he takes the one-year tender. The 30-year-old is coming off the best season of his career, leading the AL in ERA (2.84), innings pitched (193.1), strikeouts (248) and WHIP (1.05).

But that came after a 2020 season split between the Blue Jays and Arizona Diamondbacks in which he walked 45 batters in 51.2 innings. 

Ray has historically been someone who will throw a lot of pitches because he racks up plenty of strikeouts and walks. Before this season, the southpaw has never averaged fewer than 3.5 walks per nine innings in a season since making his MLB debut in 2014. He averaged 5.1 free passes per nine innings in 69 appearances from 2018-20. 

This isn't a particularly strong market for free-agent starting pitchers. Ray, Kevin Gausman and Marcus Stroman are arguably the top three available. Max Scherzer, Clayton Kershaw and Carlos Rodon have high ceilings, but concerns about age and/or durability could limit the potential offers they will receive. 

Ray's age and durability will make him an attractive option for teams seeking help in the rotation. It's up to him to decide if it's worth testing the market to get a long-term deal or take the one-year deal from Toronto. 

The New York Mets are on to the next person in their search for a new head of baseball operations.

Per Andy Martino of SNY.tv, New York Yankees assistant general manager Jean Afterman declined an interview request from the Mets.

Martino noted the Mets asked for permission to speak with Afterman even though they "had the impression" she wasn't interested in leaving the Bronx.

The Mets have been struggling to find someone to run their front office despite casting a wide net for the job.

Theo Epstein, Billy Beane and David Stearns were their top targets, but Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reported Oct. 18 all three men were no longer being considered. 

Other notables who have either turned down the job or declined an interview include Milwaukee Brewers general manager Matt Arnold, Los Angeles Dodgers assistant general manager Brandon Gomes and St. Louis Cardinals general manager Mike Girsch. 

Afterman has been in the Yankees front office since 2001 when she was hired as assistant general manager. She added the title of senior vice president to her resume in 2012.

Sandy Alderson is running the Mets' baseball operations department until they hire a president. He was hired as team president by owner Steve Cohen in September 2020. 

New York parted ways with acting general manager Zack Scott on Monday, per Martino. He had been on administrative leave after a DWI arrest in August. 

The Mets finished the 2021 season with a 77-85 record and in third place in the National League East. They have missed the playoffs in each of the past five seasons.   

Former Boston Red Sox player and broadcaster Jerry Remy died Saturday of lung cancer. 

He was 68. 

This weekend we lost our beloved Jerry Remy - a former player, broadcaster, Red Sox Hall of Famer & friend.
 
For over 40 years, the RemDawg captured the hearts of Red Sox Nation. Our thoughts & countless memories are with Jerry’s wife, Phoebe, their family & our friends at NESN. pic.twitter.com/tae6tY9c1Q

— Red Sox (@RedSox) October 31, 2021

We mourn the passing of @RedSox Hall of Famer and beloved broadcaster, Jerry Remy. He was 68. pic.twitter.com/sKiwSZJtNA

— MLB (@MLB) October 31, 2021

Red Sox principal owner John Henry released the following statement:

We are saddened by the loss of a beloved player, broadcaster and 13-year cancer warrior. Jerry's love and connection to baseball didn't allow anything to stand between the game and him, including for many years cancer. He devoted his entire career to baseball and whether from his seat in the clubhouse or his perch above the field in the broadcast booth, he took generations of rising Red Sox stars and a multitude of fans along for the ride with him. During his lifetime, he witnessed great triumphs and terrible tragedies handling all of it with grace, dignity, and a huge heart. He left an indelible mark on this club and on an entire nation of Red Sox fans.

I lost a great teammate and friend today. A true gamer and important part of all of Red Sox Nation. R.I.P. Remdog. ⁦@RedSox⁩ pic.twitter.com/fav5fmhH7w

— Fred Lynn (@19fredlynn) October 31, 2021

Words can’t express my feelings right now so sad to hear about the passing of my former teammate and friend Jerry Remy. Scoot you’ll be dearly missed RIP 💔#Remdog pic.twitter.com/i9d2xGNw9j

— Wade Boggs (@ChickenMan3010) October 31, 2021

Rest In Peace, Jerry Remy. What a special person you were to not only me, but to Jenny as well. I can recall nights on the road when I would be struggling at the plate and RemDog would come to my hotel room for a glass of wine and to talk ball. One of a kind. We’ll miss you. ♥️⚾️

— Will Middlebrooks (@middlebrooks) October 31, 2021

Remy played for the California Angels (1975) and Red Sox (1978-84) in his career, hitting .275 with seven homers, 329 RBI, 605 runs and 208 stolen bases. He was an All-Star in the 1978 season. 

"In baseball, he was a very, very hard worker. He made himself an outstanding player. He carried those same work habits over to the broadcast booth," Hall of Famer and Remy's former teammate, Carl Yastrzemski, said in a statement. "We were a couple of lockers down from each other so we would talk a lot. We became very good friends. This is a sad day."  

But Remy became a Boston legend as a broadcaster for NESN, where he spent 34 seasons calling Red Sox games. 

Thank you for 21 years of friendship. I am nowhere today without you. Showed me the right @MLB way. I know I will text you 3 times a day still. I am lost. #RIPRem @RedSox @NESN pic.twitter.com/GB9wU8TKQl

— Don Orsillo (@DonOrsillo) October 31, 2021

https://twitter.com/StephenKing/status/1454845128653393932

The Jerry Remy the world knew was not that naturally outgoing. Sean McDonough tapped into something and thus the RemDawg was born and we all benefited, Jerry Remy included. And weren’t he and Eck together priceless? Proud to say I have one of his 7 career HRs in my ‘77 scorebook.

— Bob Ryan (@GlobeBobRyan) October 31, 2021

What Tommy Heinsohn was to the Celtics and Boston, Jerry Remy was to the Red Sox. Rest easy, Jerry. You were a local treasure.

— Chris Mannix (@SIChrisMannix) October 31, 2021

He was first diagnosed with cancer in 2008 and had multiple relapses in the following years. He took a leave of absence in August to undergo treatment. 

He last appeared at Fenway Park on Oct. 5 to throw out the first pitch for the AL Wild Card Game versus the New York Yankees, a 6-2 Red Sox win.

New York Mets president Sandy Alderson has requested to interview Boston Red Sox executive vice president and assistant general manager Raquel Ferreira for the club's vacant GM job, per SNY's Andy Martino.

The Mets have also requested to interview Minnesota Twins assistant GM Daniel Adler and Los Angeles Dodgers assistant GM Jeff Kingston.

Kingston will remain with the Dodgers, Martino reported.

Ferreira first began working with the Red Sox in 1999, per a 2019 piece published by The Undefeated. She went from holding a role as an administrative assistant to becoming an executive.

In 2015, Ferreira became the third female vice president of baseball operations in MLB history. She was promoted to her current role in 2019. 

Miami Marlins general manager Kim Ng became the first female GM in MLB history in 2020. Ferreira would become the second if hired by the Mets.

Adler, meanwhile, has been in the Twins organization since 2017. He was the director of baseball operations for two years before being promoted to assistant GM in 2019.

The 34-year-old has an MBA from Harvard and worked for MLB's labor relations department. He has also worked for the Jacksonville Jaguars as director of football research.

David Stearns, Matt Arnold, Michael Girsch, Billy Beane, Mark Shapiro, Brian Sabean, Scott Harris and Brandon Gomes are among the many executives linked to the Mets general manager position who won't join the club ahead of the 2022 season. 

Mets owner Steve Cohen could also make an internal hire, Martino wrote. Assistant general manager Ian Levin and vice president of amateur/international scouting Tommy Tanous have been considered for the vacant position, per Mike Puma of the New York Post. 

The Mets have been in limbo at GM since Jared Porter was fired in January after it was revealed he engaged in inappropriate conduct in 2016, which included sending "explicit, unsolicited texts and images" to a female reporter, according to ESPN's Mina Kimes and Jeff Passan.

Assistant general manager Zack Scott was elevated to acting GM and was viewed as a replacement for Porter before an August DWI charge put his status with the club in question. Scott remains on administrative leave, and his position won't be sorted out until his legal situation is resolved. 

Even though the eyes of Major League Baseball fans are trained squarely on the World Series, the end of the Fall Classic will bring about many questions for all 30 teams. 

This is certainly going to be a busy offseason, especially given the uncertainty around the labor negotiations and the likelihood of a work stoppage when the current CBA expires on Dec. 2.   

That is going to have a significant impact on when business will get done. Free agency officially starts five days after the World Series ends, but history has shown that teams don't usually make deals for marquee players until the winter meetings at the earliest. 

All of that is worth keeping in mind for the future. For now, though, there is plenty of buzz going on about some of the biggest players who could be on the move this offseason. 

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Xander Bogaerts Preparing to Hit Free Agency After 2022

After trading Mookie Betts to the Los Angeles Dodgers prior to the start of the 2020 season, the long-term future of the Boston Red Sox was tied directly to Xander Bogaerts and Rafael Devers turning into All-Stars. 

That mission was accomplished in 2021, as both players were named to the Midsummer Classic and played key roles in the Red Sox reaching the American League Championship Series. 

Devers and Bogaerts remain under contract to the Red Sox next season, but things get murky beyond that. 

Per ESPN's Joon Lee, Bogaerts is planning on using the opt out in his contract after next season to become a free agent. 

The Red Sox signed Bogaerts to a six-year, $120 million contract before the 2019 season. The deal includes a $20 million player option for 2023, per Spotrac. 

Timing is a crucial part of free agency. Bogaerts would almost certainly attract a lot of attention if he could opt out this offseason, but he would also be competing with the likes of Corey Seager and Carlos Correa as the top shortstop. 

The top potential free-agent shortstops after next season include Tim Anderson and Trea Turner, but there's a steep drop to in talent after those two players. Dansby Swanson, who only has one full season with an OPS over .800 in his career (2020), would likely be No. 3. 

Bogaerts will be 30 years old after next season, but he's remained a quality defensive shortstop even as he's gotten older. The three-time All-Star ranked eighth among all qualified shortstops in FanGraphs defensive value (8.3) and ninth in out of zone plays (106) in 2021. 

Hitting is one thing that Bogaerts has never struggled to do. He has a .290/.353/.459 career slash line and has slugged at least .493 in each of the last four seasons. 

As long as Bogaerts has another strong season in 2022, there's no reason for him not to see what the market has to offer him. 

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Anthony Rizzo Hopeful for Yankees Reunion

A disappointing 2021 season has left the New York Yankees with a lot of things to evaluate as they look to improve next year. 

First base is one area that could have an opening, depending on what the Yankees want to do with Anthony Rizzo. 

If Rizzo has his way, he will be wearing pinstripes next season. Bob Klapisch of the Newark Star-Ledger cited a family member as saying that Rizzo is "quite eager" to return to New York in 2022. 

According to a family member, Anthony Rizzo is quite eager to return to #Yankees in 2022. That’s an important first step, assuming NYY want him back. Have to assume they do.

— Bob Klapisch (@BobKlap) October 25, 2021

The Yankees will have nine free agents this offseason. Rizzo, Corey Kluber and Brett Gardner are the most prominent in that group. It seems unlikely that Gardner, whose .689 OPS in 2021 was his worst since he was a rookie (.582 in 2008), will be back. 

Kluber could go either way. The two-time American League Cy Young winner was effective when he pitched (3.83 ERA), but injuries limited him to 80 innings over 16 starts. He's only pitched 116.2 innings over the past three seasons combined and will turn 36 on April 10. 

Rizzo was a solid hitter in 2021 between his time with the Yankees and Chicago Cubs. The three-time All-Star had a .248/.344/.440 slash line in 141 games. 

The first-base market looks strong at the top, with Freddie Freeman and Brandon Belt leading the way.

Belt is a volatile player because of his injury history. He has missed at least 25 games in six of the past eight seasons, including 65 in 2021. Given that he will turn 34 on April 20, betting on him staying healthy going forward seems like a high risk. 

Freeman is one of the most durable players in MLB. The reigning NL MVP has only missed four games in the past four seasons combined. 

The Yankees could also bet on Luke Voit staying healthy. He's been a productive offensive player when he's been able to play. The 30-year-old has a .267/.357/.510 slash line in five MLB seasons, but that only covers 351 games because of injuries. 

Rizzo can't be counted to produce at the same level he did at his peak with the Cubs, but he just might end up being the safest option for the Yankees at first base because he rarely gets hurt. 

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Cubs Reportedly Shopping Willson Contreras

The Cubs are mired in the early stages of a rebuild that started last season by trading most of the remaining core from their 2016 World Series roster, including Rizzo, Javier Baez, Kyle Schwarber and Kris Bryant. 

One of the few holdovers from that squad is Willson Contreras, though his future with the club is very much uncertain. 

Per The Athletic's Sahadev Sharma, Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer "will almost certainly shop" Contreras this offseason if the two sides can't agree to a long-term extension. 

Contreras is a difficult player to evaluate for a new contract because his career has been mired by inconsistency. He ranked 39th among all catchers last season in framing, per Baseball Savant.

It looked like Contreras made significant strides in that area during the 2020 season, when he ranked 10th overall.

The Venezuela native threw out a career-low 21 percent of basestealers in 2021, per Baseball Reference. It was his first time finishing worse than the league average in that category. 

Contreras' bat does put him among the better backstops in MLB. The two-time All-Star ranked fourth out of 15 catchers with at least 400 plate appearances in homers (21), fifth in slugging percentage (.438), sixth in on-base percentage (.340) and fifth in weighted on-base average (.337), per FanGraphs.

The 29-year-old made $6.65 million in 2021 and has one more year of arbitration remaining before becoming a free agent. 

Given the state of the Cubs roster coming off a 71-91 season, there's little incentive for the front office to keep Contreras. He plays a demanding position where few players can age gracefully. 

Buster Posey resurrected his career with the San Francisco Giants in part because of how he was managed. The 2012 NL MVP routinely only played two of three games in most series during the regular season. 

Contreras' up-and-down MLB career to this point does make him a risky gamble for any team. His upside is high enough to make him worth betting on, especially for a potential contender looking to upgrade its lineup.