New York Yankees

The New York Yankees are "definitely interested" in trading for Oakland Athletics first baseman Matt Olson, per Jack Curry of the YES Network.

"The Yankees have made inquiries about Matt Olson with the A's, but I'm hearing there hasn't been any detailed conversations about which players would be involved in a potential deal," Curry tweeted.

"Obviously, that can change with one call or one text. Yankees are definitely interested."

The 27-year-old hit .271 (.911 OPS) with 39 home runs and 111 RBI last season. It was an impressive year for Olson, a two-time Gold Glover who also made his first All-Star Game in 2021.

Olson is under team control for two more seasons, making him eligible for free agency in 2024 after a pair of arbitration years.

The Yankees were rolling with Anthony Rizzo and Luke Voit at first base by season's end, with the former player receiving the bulk of the work after the Bronx Brombers acquired him in a midseason trade with the Chicago Cubs.

Rizzo is a free agent now, while Voit is eligible for arbitration.

New York is looking to improve upon a 92-70 season that ended with an American League Wild Card Game loss to the Boston Red Sox. Questions litter the infield, and a shortstop would appear to be very high on the team's priority list.

Adding a left-handed power bat tailor-made for the Yankee Stadium short right field porch in Olson would be a major plus, and the fantastic glove is a bonus.

It appears that Olson is available with the A's looking to cut payroll and rebuild the franchise. SNY's Andy Martino reported on that in addition to the Yankees' potential interest in the first baseman on Nov. 8:

Somewhere in all that haze, though, is one near-certainty for the Yankees: Matt Olson, the All-Star first baseman for the Oakland Athletics, is there for the taking. Given Oakland’s history of trading big names as they become more expensive in salary arbitration, Yankee fans have already been salivating over Olson’s hypothetical availability. To that we can add reporting: Multiple league executives in touch with the A’s say that another reset is coming from the franchise, and Olson is one of several players who will likely be on the move.

The Yankees would also likely have competition for one of the greatest 30-and-under hitters in baseball, so it's certainly not a guarantee New York lands him. Plus, the asking price won't be cheap for Olson either.

Still, Olson could certainly be worth it as the Yankees try to make the World Series for the first time since 2009, which marks the team's only championship in the past 21 seasons.

The New York Yankees are reportedly exploring free-agent options for a left-handed first baseman, and that includes Atlanta Braves star Freddie Freeman.

Jon Heyman of MLB Network reports that New York met with Freeman's representatives, even though the likelihood is that he remains with the Braves.

Heyman added that re-signing Anthony Rizzo or pursuing a possible trade candidate in Oakland A's first baseman Matt Olson would be more realistic options for the Yankees.

Freeman has spent his entire 12-year career with Atlanta. After leading the team to its first World Series title since 1995, it can be expected that he would want to finish his career where he started.

But the Braves failed to lock up Freeman with an extension before the offseason, so testing the open market opens up a wealth of possibilities for the lefty slugger. Freeman followed up his 2020 NL MVP season with 31 home runs and 83 RBI while batting .300 this past year.

Despite making the playoffs for the fifth straight year, the Yankees are coming off a disappointing season in which the team failed to find any consistency. One of the glaring issues was the need for left-handed hitters in a righty-dominant lineup.

New York acquired Rizzo and outfielder Joey Gallo at this year's trade deadline in deals with the Chicago Cubs and Texas Rangers, respectively. Rizzo batted .249 and hit eight homers in 49 games in New York, while Gallo disappointed with a .160 average and 13 home runs in 58 games.

Freeman would fit nicely into the Yankees lineup, but he would likely require a big-money contract to pry him away from Atlanta. New York has multiple holes to fill in free agency, most notably at shortstop and in its starting pitching rotation.

Whether they land Freeman or not, the Yankees are poised to make a few splashes in free agency in hopes of setting themselves up to make their first World Series appearance since 2009.

Aaron Judge has one year of arbitration remaining before he can become a free agent, but the three-time All-Star would love the opportunity to spend his entire career with the New York Yankees. 

In an interview with Fanatics (h/t RealGM.com), Judge said "there's no better place to play" than in the Bronx as a member of the Yankees. 

"No other place I'd really ever want to play, just based on how the fans have embraced me, how they brought me in and treated me as one of their own," he added. "It's incredible."

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman was asked earlier this week at the GM meetings if the two sides have talked about a long-term contract extension:

We have not. But, obviously, there’s a lot of time. Right now, I’ve been in human resource mode for the most part dealing with coaching interviews…and stuff like that. But all in due time we’ll clearly have to have a conversation with Aaron Judge’s agent, whether it’s on a one-year arbitration [agreement] or whether it’s a multiyear [deal]. We’ll have to just work through it all.

An extension for Judge could be a difficult thing to navigate. He's played at a high level in the big leagues when healthy, but injuries have been an issue. 

The 2021 season marked the first time since his rookie campaign that Judge hadn't missed at least 32 games. 

You would never know based on Judge's stat lines that he's ever been hurt. The 29-year-old has a .280/.391/.563 slash line in 545 games since 2017. He's averaged 31 homers per season during that span. 

Judge has been the face of Yankees baseball for the past five seasons. He's arguably the most popular player the franchise has had since Derek Jeter retired. He's a homegrown star who was a first-round draft pick in 2013. 

There's still time for the Yankees to talk with Judge about a long-term deal, but it's been made clear through his performance that he can lead the franchise now and in the future. 

Corey Seager and Marcus Semien, two of the top players on the MLB free-agent market, are reportedly "increasingly likely" to sign contracts before a potential lockout begins Dec. 1.

ESPN's Jeff Passan reported Friday there's a growing sense at least some high-profile deals will come together before the collective bargaining agreement expires given the future uncertainty, and he noted it's possible Seager and Semien headline the early deals with both infielders generating interest from the big-spending New York Yankees.

Players and teams face a unique dilemma with the free-agent market open for business but very little optimism a new CBA agreement will come together before Dec. 1, which would lead to a lockout that could last for months.

In turn, agents and front offices are beginning to engage in a game of cat and mouse, trying to determine whether it's better to lock in key contracts now or deal with uncharted waters when countless players are trying to find deals when the lockout ends—something that is expected around February, per Passan.

Seager and fellow shortstop Carlos Correa are generally considered the top two players available this offseason. If one of them signs before the lockout, it could set the market for whenever the negotiations resume ahead of the 2022 season.

The 27-year-old two-time All-Star missed a significant portion of the 2021 campaign while recovering from a fractured hand, but he was one of the league's top players down the stretch with a 1.153 OPS and eight home runs across 93 September at-bats for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Seager, who posted a .943 OPS during the coronavirus-shortened 2020 season, backed that up with a .915 OPS across 95 appearances this year.

"Yeah, absolutely," Seager told reporters. "I grew up here. I've spent a lot of time here. I believe in what these guys do. I believe in how we go about it. Absolutely."

Meanwhile, Semien hit the open market at a perfect time. His .873 OPS in 2021 was the second-highest mark of his career and he set new career-high totals in homers (45) and stolen bases (15).

The 2021 All-Star can also provide positional versatility with experience at second base, shortstop and third base, having earned a Gold Glove for his work at second for the Toronto Blue Jays this season.

If the Yankees can sign either Seager or Semien before the impending lockout, it would make the front office's job a lot easier when action resumes later in the offseason.

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.  

Two American League teams are reportedly hoping to pry All-Star center fielder Bryan Reynolds away from the Pittsburgh Pirates.

According to MLB Network's Jon Morosi, the New York Yankees and Seattle Mariners both have "significant interest" in Reynolds, although the Pirates feel "no pressure" to move him since he is under contract through 2025.

The 26-year-old Reynolds broke out and enjoyed a career year in 2021, setting personal bests in almost every major category en route to his first All-Star nod.

In addition to slashing .302/.390/.522, Reynolds blasted a career-high 24 home runs, drove in 90 RBI, scored 93 runs and tied for the Major League lead with eight triples.

Reynolds was one of the lone bright spots on a Pirates team that went 61-101 and finished last in the National League Central by 10 games.

After finishing fourth in the NL Rookie of the Year voting in 2019 when he hit .314 with 16 homers and 68 RBI, Reynolds dropped off in a big way during the COVID-shortened 2020 season.

The Baltimore native hit just .189 with seven home runs and 19 RBI in 55 games, but the struggles proved to be an aberration, as Reynolds bounced back last season.

Both the Yankees and Mariners would benefit greatly from adding Reynolds if either is able to acquire him from the Pirates.

The Yankees were without starting center fielder Aaron Hicks for nearly the entire 2021 season because of a left wrist injury. That forced them to play veteran Brett Gardner far more than expected, and it also resulted in Aaron Judge seeing a lot of action in center.

Gardner is now a free agent, and while Hicks is still under contract, it isn't certain how well the 32-year-old will bounce back from a torn tendon sheath in his wrist.

Additionally, Reynolds is a switch hitter, which would add some much-needed versatility to a Yankees lineup that was heavy on right-handed hitters last season.

The Mariners leaned heavily on Jarred Kelenic as their starting center fielder last season, and he largely struggled from an offensive perspective, hitting just .181 with 14 homers and 43 RBI.

The 22-year-old was essentially forced into a full-time role because 2020 AL Rookie of the Year Kyle Lewis was limited to 36 games by a torn meniscus.

Reynolds, Kelenic and Lewis are all center fielders by trade, but they have positional versatility in the outfield and could give the M's an elite outfield defense.

Despite making the playoffs last season, the Yankees fell short of expectations, as they lost in the AL Wild Card game. The Mariners were just the opposite in that they far exceeded expectations by narrowly missing the postseason with a 90-72 record.

If the Pirates decide to part with Reynolds, he could be a key figure in helping the Yankees win their first World Series since 2009 or helping the Mariners reach the playoffs for the first time since 2001.

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.

Free-agent pitcher Justin Verlander held a workout on Monday, and both New York teams reportedly had an eye on the former Houston Astros ace.

Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports that the Mets sent two scouts to see Verlander. He added that an executive from another team said the two-time Cy Young Award winner "looked good."

Sherman also said that the New York Yankees had a scout in attendance as Verlander's workout was held at a facility owned by Eric Cressey, the team's director of player health and performance.

Verlander hasn't pitched a full season since 2019, the last time he won the Cy Young. He pitched one game in 2020 before being shut down because of a forearm strain. The 38-year-old underwent Tommy John surgery in September of that year and he missed all of 2021 while recovering.

Verlander was reportedly among the 14 free agents to receive qualifying offers before Sunday night's deadline. The one-year qualifying contract would be worth $18.4 million. A team is entitled to draft pick compensation if a player rejects the offer and signs elsewhere.

When healthy, Verlander is one of the best pitchers in MLB. Two seasons ago, the right-hander led the league in innings pitched (223.0) and wins (21), had 300 strikeouts (12.2 per nine innings) and a 2.58 ERA. The eight-time All-Star helped lead the Astros to a World Series title in 2017, the first of his career, and another appearance in 2019.

A healthy Verlander would be a big boost to either New York team's pitching staff.

The Yankees lacked depth in their starting rotation last season. Gerrit Cole was the team's ace, but he fell apart late in the season, including in New York's loss to the Boston Red Sox in the AL Wild Card Game. Behind Cole, Yankees starters failed to perform consistently.

For the Mets, pairing Verlander with Jacob deGrom would give them one of the strongest duos in baseball. DeGrom was limited to 15 starts in 2021 because of elbow issues, but he had a 1.08 ERA and 146 strikeouts in 92 innings.

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.  

Now that the Atlanta Braves have been crowned World Series champions, teams are gearing up to make moves on the open market, and the 2021 free-agent class is loaded.  

However, there's going to be some competition for MLB's most prominent stars. Regardless, let's take a look at the latest rumors regarding outfielder Nick Castellanos, the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees. 

Rockies targeting All-Star OF Nick Castellanos?

The Colorado Rockies are interested in adding to their outfield this winter, and Nick Castellanos is among the players the club is reportedly targeting, according to The Athletic's Jim Bowden. Michael Conforto and Starling Marte are also on their list. 

The Cincinnati Reds announced Thursday that Castellanos exercised the opt-out clause in his contract and will become a free agent this offseason. He had two years and $34 million remaining on his four-year, $64 million deal.

Castellanos is coming off one of his best seasons in MLB. He hit .309/.362/.576 with a career-high 34 home runs and 100 RBI in 138 games. 

Aside from Charlie Blackmon, who has spent his entire 11-year career in Colorado, the Rockies lack star power in the outfield. During the 2021 campaign, the club relied on Raimel Tapia, Yonathan Daza, Garrett Hampson and Sam Hilliard in the outfield. 

While Blackmon played most of the 2021 season in right field, he could shift to left or center in 2022 if the Rockies were to acquire Castellanos, who is primarily a right fielder. Also, with MLB likely to implement a universal designated hitter next season, either Blackmon or Castellanos could serve that position. 

However, the Rockies will face tough competition for the 29-year-old. The Miami Marlins, Texas Rangers and Chicago Cubs have also reportedly been linked to the star outfielder, which means a bidding war could be on tap. 

Yankees looking for improvements at several positions?

The New York Yankees are reportedly looking for upgrades at catcher and in center field, according to Bowden. The Bronx Bombers are also reportedly interested in adding a starting pitcher. 

The Yankees could absolutely use help at catcher after inconsistent seasons from Gary Sanchez and Kyle Higashioka. Sanchez slashed .204/.307/.423 with 23 home runs and 54 RBI in 2021. He also remains a defensive liability. Higashioka was even worse, hitting .181/.246/.389 with 10 home runs and 29 RBI. 

Sanchez has popped up in trade rumors in each of the last four seasons, and New York's desire to upgrade at the position has been known for a long time. However, it's unclear which players the Yankees might be targeting. 

Yan Gomes, Martin Maldonado, Stephen Vogt and Sandy Leon are among the catchers currently headed for free agency. Christian Vazquez, Mike Zunino and Roberto Perez could hit the open market if their club options are declined. 

As for center field, the Yankees could use an upgrade from Brett Gardner, who is far removed from his 2017 21-homer season. During the 2021 season, he hit .222/.327/.362 with 10 home runs and 39 RBI. 

New York also used Aaron Judge and Tyler Wade in CF at points last season. 

Ian Desmond, Starling Marte and Kevin Pillar are among the centerfielders available on the open market. However, it's unclear if the Yankees are interested. 

The Yankees actually had one of the better pitching staffs in 2021, with a 3.74 ERA, which was sixth-best in baseball. However, they could use depth behind Gerrit Cole and Jordan Montgomery, with Corey Kluber entering free agency and Jameson Taillon recovering from an ankle injury. It's also important to mention that Luis Severino is an injury risk, which further jeopardizes New York's depth.  

There are several talented free-agent starting pitchers available, too, including Zack Grienke, Clayton Kershaw, Max Scherzer, Marcus Stroman and Kevin Gausman. 

Red Sox focusing on bullpen depth, but in the market for a shortstop?

The Boston Red Sox will reportedly focus on improving their bullpen this winter, according to Bowden. However, they "also could be a sleeper in the shortstop market," Bowden adds. 

"Don't get me wrong, they love Xander Bogaerts," Bowden writes. "The thinking is they could sign a shortstop and move him to second base, or perhaps even consider moving Bogaerts there." 

The Red Sox bullpen was inconsistent throughout the 2021 season. It ranked eighth in strikeout percentage (25.6 percent) and 13th with a 3.99 ERA, according to The Boston Globe, but had the sixth-highest walk rate (10.8 percent) and seventh-worst WHIP (1.39). 

Boston could lose Garrett Richards, Adam Ottavino and Hansel Robles in free agency, while Ryan Brasier, Matt Barnes, Hirokazu Sawamura, Josh Taylor, Garrett Whitlock and Tanner Houck are among the relievers set to return. 

Regardless of who walks and who returns, the Red Sox have needed bullpen help for a while. Luckily, there are many talented relievers available, including Trevor Rosenthal, Andrew Miller, Craig Kimbrel, Joe Kelly and Brad Hand. 

Boston reportedly had its eyes on Hand, Alex Colome and Joakim Soria before the 2021 season. Colome and Soria will be free agents this winter.

As for shortstop, Bogaerts signed a six-year, $120 million deal in 2019, but he has the ability to opt out after the 2022 season, and he reportedly plans to do so, according to ESPN's Joon Lee. So, it's no surprise the team is interested in adding some insurance at the position.

The Red Sox have no shortage of options, either. Carlos Correa, Trevor Story, Marcus Semien, Corey Seager, Javier Baez and Andrelton Simmons are among the players set to hit the open market. However, they'll face some tough competition for any of those players.