San Francisco Giants

There is reportedly another suitor in the Kris Bryant sweepstakes.

According to Jon Heyman of MLB Network, the Colorado Rockies are "obviously aiming to compete in 2022" and are interested in signing the former Chicago Cubs and San Francisco Giants star to help them do just that.

Robert Murray of FanSided previously reported the Seattle Mariners were interested in Bryant even though he is not expected to sign before a possible Dec. 1 work stoppage.

Colorado would be hard-pressed to find a better immediate upgrade to its lineup in free agency than Bryant.

The 29-year-old is a four-time All-Star who won the 2015 National League Rookie of the Year and the 2016 NL MVP during his time with the Cubs. During his MVP-winning season, he also helped Chicago break a World Series championship drought that dated back to 1908, and he helped lead the Giants to the playoffs last season.

Bryant started his career as a third baseman, but part of his value is his ability to play anywhere in the outfield and at first base if needed. That versatility could allow the Rockies or any other team to pursue other options even if they signed Bryant.

He slashed .265/.353/.481 with 25 home runs and 73 RBI last season for the Cubs and Giants and is a playoff-tested veteran.

Colorado missed the playoffs in each of the last three seasons and finished in fourth place in the NL West at 74-87 in 2021. It has plenty of ground to make up in a daunting division that features contenders in the Los Angeles Dodgers, Giants and San Diego Padres, although signing Bryant would represent an addition for Colorado and a subtraction for San Francisco.

Such a move would also bring some star power back to the Rockies after they traded Nolan Arenado to the St. Louis Cardinals before the 2021 season. Trevor Story is also a free agent, although Heyman previously reported they are interested in re-signing the two-time All-Star shortstop.

Perhaps teaming up with Bryant in hitter-friendly Coors Field would be an intriguing situation for Story as the Rockies look to build a contender.            

The free-agent market for Max Scherzer is heating up, with multiple teams pursuing the three-time Cy Young winner. 

Per MLB Network's Jon Heyman, Scherzer is expected to make a decision before the current collective bargaining agreement expires at 11:59 p.m. ET on Dec. 1, with the Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Mets, San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Angels among those in the mix. 

Heyman added the Mets are "aggressively pursuing" Scherzer, but they could turn their attention to Kevin Gausman because Scherzer did show a preference for being on the West Coast during the 2021 season before the Washington Nationals traded him to the Dodgers in July. 

Given that Scherzer is 37 years old, there is an expectation he will presumably sign a short-term contract with a high average annual salary. 

Last month, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported Scherzer "seems likely" to re-sign with the Dodgers on a three-year contract worth around $35 million per season. 

When the Nationals were shopping Scherzer prior to the trade deadline, MLB.com's Mark Feinsand noted the right-hander "strongly prefers the West Coast" to waive his no-trade clause. 

The Dodgers wound up making the deal for Scherzer and Trea Turner with Washington. His familiarity with the organization could give them a leg up, but the other teams mentioned by Heyman have the potential to be heavy-hitters in 2022. 

The Giants won the NL West over the Dodgers last season with 107 wins. They have already lost Buster Posey, who retired, and they're still waiting to see what happens with Kris Bryant. 

The Angels would seem desperate to make the playoffs while they still have Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout, two generational talents, in the prime of their respective careers. They already signed Noah Syndergaard to upgrade their rotation, but it's unclear how much of an impact he will have. He threw only two innings late in the regular season after undergoing Tommy John surgery in March 2020. 

Mets owner Steve Cohen has shown a willingness to spend big if he thinks it will help his team compete for a playoff spot. They have already been aggressive this offseason, agreeing to deals with Starling Marte, Eduardo Escobar and Mark Cahna, per MLB.com's Anthony DiComo. 

Scherzer would give the Mets a fantastic one-two punch alongside Jacob deGrom at the top of their rotation. 

Despite his advanced age, Scherzer remains one of the best pitchers in Major League Baseball. He finished third in NL Cy Young voting this season after posting a 2.46 ERA, 0.86 WHIP and striking out 236 hitters in 179.1 innings over 30 starts between the Nationals and Dodgers.    

The Seattle Mariners may not be done acquiring impact players.

After ESPN's Jeff Passan reported the American League West team landed Adam Frazier via trade from the San Diego Padres, Robert Murray of Fansided reported the team is "interested" in free agent Kris Bryant even though he is not expected to sign before a possible work stoppage on Dec. 1 if a new collective bargaining agreement isn't signed.

Bryant is one of the best available free agents this offseason with a resume that includes the 2016 National League MVP, a World Series title, the 2015 NL Rookie of the Year and four All-Star appearances.

He is even more valuable because of his ability to play all over the field. He has seen time at third base, first base and every outfield spot during his career.

The 29-year-old slashed .265/.353/.481 with 25 home runs and 73 RBI last season while splitting time with the Chicago Cubs and San Francisco Giants. Chicago traded him to the Giants prior to last season's deadline before he hit free agency even though he was one of the franchise cornerstones who helped the team win a World Series during his tenure.

The early trade for Frazier and this connection suggests the Mariners could be aggressive this offseason.

Seattle hasn't made the playoffs since the 2001 season but impressed in 2021 on the way to a 90-72 mark. If it is able to build on that effort, the postseason in 2022 should be a realistic goal even in a difficult American League West that features the Houston Astros and Oakland Athletics.

Bryant's versatility also echoes Frazier's, which is notable since Mariners president Jerry Dipoto told reporters, "We felt like adding Adam made us a deeper team without stopping us from doing anything else we would have wanted to do. That's double the fun. We can continue to add to our team because Adam is so versatile.''

Bryant would be another versatile All-Star caliber player who would make the Mariners an even bigger playoff threat.            

The Toronto Blue Jays and right-handed starting pitcher Kevin Gausman have been in talks about a multiyear deal over the past few days, per Jon Morosi of MLB Network.

Morosi further noted that other teams are in the mix for Gausman, who has not decided upon his next MLB home as of yet.

Gausman, who is entering his age-31 season, went 14-6 with a 2.81 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 227 strikeouts in 192.0 innings for the San Francisco Giants last year. He made his first All-Star Game appearance and finished sixth in the National League Cy Young Award voting.

Gausman ranked 10th overall and No. 3 among pitchers on Anthony Castrovince of MLB.com's offseason free-agent list.

An ugly 2019 season that featured 5.72 ERA and 1.42 WHIP in 31 games (17 starts) appears to be in the rearview mirror.

Gausman followed that up by going 3-3 with a 3.62 ERA, a 1.11 WHIP and 79 strikeouts in 59.2 innings over the pandemic-shortened 2020 season.

In 2021, the nine-year MLB veteran helped anchor one of baseball's best staffs as the Giants earned a league-best 107-55 record.

Naturally, Gausman has multiple suitors for his next home. The New York Mets are one of them, and Joel Sherman of the New York Post reported Saturday that an MLB executive told him he'd be "shocked" if Gausman didn't agree to a deal with the team within 48 hours.

The Giants are still interested in Gausman, per Morosi, who also noted that the Los Angeles Angels and Seattle Mariners were in the mix too.

Regardless of where Gausman goes, it's clear he'll be cashing in big after a great 2021 season.

Free-agent starting pitcher Marcus Stroman reportedly has a long list of suitors this offseason.

MLB Network's Jon Morosi confirmed a report from Tim Dierkes, saying the Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, San Francisco Giants, New York Mets and Los Angeles Angels are among the teams interested in pursuing Stroman. Morosi added that the Seattle Mariners should be included in that list.

Stroman established himself as a dependable starter for the New York Mets this past season. He led the team with 10 wins, his first double-digit win season since 2017. The 30-year-old finished the year with a 3.02 ERA and 158 strikeouts in 179 innings pitched for one of the best statistical seasons of his seven-year career.

The Mets have already lost starter Noah Syndergaard and reliever Aaron Loup in free agency. If Stroman were to sign with another team, it would be a big blow to a New York team that lacks rotation depth behind ace Jacob deGrom.

Stroman would be a strong addition to any team's rotation. The Angels, who landed both Syndergaard and Loup, are clearly looking to improve their pitching this offseason. The Giants have also been aggressive in the arms race, re-signing starter Anthony DeSclafani to a three-year deal Monday and finalizing a deal to bring back Alex Wood.

The teams in need of a top starting pitcher have many top options to choose from. In addition to Stroman, this year's free-agent class includes high-profile starters Zack Greinke, Clayton Kershaw, Max Scherzer and Kevin Gausman.

The Seattle Mariners, Toronto Blue Jays and Los Angeles Angels have joined in on the pursuit of free-agent right-hander Kevin Gausman, per MLB Network's Jon Morosi. 

The San Francisco Giants also remain involved and would like to retain him, Morosi adds. 

Even after the Jose Berrios extension, the Blue Jays are looking to add to their rotation, which also includes Hyun Jin Ryu and Alek Manoah. With the likelihood the team loses Robbie Ray in free agency, it should come as no surprise that Toronto is interested in Gausman. 

As for Seattle, the Mariners could use some depth on the mound alongside Logan Gilbert, Marco Gonzales and Chris Flexen. The team can't continue to rely on Justus Sheffield in 2022 after a 2021 campaign in which he finished with a 6.83 ERA, 1.842 WHIP and 63 strikeouts in 80.1 innings. 

And even after signing Noah Syndergaard, the Angels aren't stopping their pursuit of starting pitching just yet, which should come as little surprise. L.A. had one of the worst pitching staffs in 2021, recording a 4.69 ERA, the ninth worst in MLB, and a 1.38 WHIP.

While Shohei Ohtani will likely continue to serve as L.A.'s top pitcher, Gausman represents a much-needed veteran presence in a young rotation that will likely include Patrick Sandoval, Jose Suarez, Jaime Barria and Reid Detmers.

As for the Giants, it's crucial the team locks up Gausman. Logan Webb and Anthony DeSclafani are locked in for 2022, but starters Johnny Cueto and Alex Wood could be playing elsewhere next season. 

Gausman had a tremendous 2021 season for the Giants, going 14-6 with a 2.81 ERA, 1.042 WHIP and 227 strikeouts in 192.0 innings across 33 starts. He also finished sixth in National League Cy Young voting. 

The 30-year-old is 64-72 over his nine-year career and owns a 4.02 ERA and a 1.283 WHIP. In addition to the Giants, he has also played for the Baltimore Orioles, Atlanta Braves and Cincinnati Reds.  

Free-agent starting pitcher Steven Matz could have a new home shortly.

Jon Heyman of MLB Network reported Monday that a deal for Matz "could come soon," as he has drawn interest from the Chicago Cubs, San Francisco Giants, Detroit Tigers, Los Angeles Angels and Toronto Blue Jays. Heyman had reported over the weekend that the Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Mets and St. Louis Cardinals were also interested in the 30-year-old lefty.

Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reported later Monday that the Mets are one of eight teams to offer Matz a contract:

Matz pitched for the Blue Jays in 2021, going 14-7 in 29 starts with a 3.82 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 144 strikeouts. A New York native, he spent the first six seasons of his career with the Mets. Last season was a bounce-back campaign for Matz as he went 0-5 in six starts in 2020 with a 9.68 ERA.

In 141 games with 136 starts, Matz has a career record of 45-48 with a 4.24 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 696 strikeouts.

Out of all the teams reportedly pursuing Matz, the Giants have been one of the more active clubs at the start of free agency, with their eyes set on improving their pitching. ESPN's Jeff Passan stated Monday that San Francisco is being "incredibly aggressive" in trying to shore up its rotation.

They've already re-signed starter Anthony DeSclafani to a three-year deal on Monday and are reportedly finalizing a deal to bring back Alex Wood. Kevin Gausman is a free agent, so pursuing Matz could be an insurance move for the Giants.

The Angels have also been focused on adding arms this offseason. Los Angeles signed starter Noah Syndergaard to a one-year deal last week and added reliever Aaron Loup on a two-year contract on Monday.

The addition of Matz would bolster any team's starting rotation, especially if he can duplicate his success from the 2021 season. He could also be the most reliable starter who wouldn't command major money. In addition to Gausman, this year's free-agent class includes high-profile starters Zack Greinke, Clayton Kershaw, Max Scherzer and Marcus Stroman.

Baltimore Orioles first baseman Trey Mancini and San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey were named the American and National League Comeback Players of the Year on Monday:

Mancini's story was one of the most inspiring in the entire sports world in 2021, as he returned to the field after missing the 2020 campaign because of Stage 3 colon cancer. Posey also missed the 2020 season after choosing to step away from the game because of concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Orioles called Mancini winning this award "inevitable from the moment he took the field on Opening Day" and shared a story of his comeback:

As Andrew Golden of the Washington Post detailed, Mancini was diagnosed in March 2020 and underwent chemotherapy until September of that year. He also underwent surgery to remove a malignant tumor.

Orioles fans gave him an emotional standing ovation for his first at-bat at Camden Yards of the season.

"It was 25 percent capacity at the time, but it felt like a full stadium," Mancini said, per Golden. "The city really rallied around me last year and was so supportive. For it to come full circle and for me to be back in a game … it was really special."

He did more than just return, though, and was a key part of Baltimore's lineup. Mancini slashed .255/.326/.432 with 21 home runs and 71 RBI while appearing in 147 games and notably advanced to the championship round of the 2021 Home Run Derby at Coors Field in Colorado before falling to Pete Alonso.

As for Posey, he helped lead the Giants to the best record in the league at 107-55, which was quite the improvement from their 29-31 mark during the shortened 2020 campaign without him.

The catcher slashed .304/.390/.499 with 18 home runs and 56 RBI while making his seventh career All-Star Game and taking home his fifth Silver Slugger. He now has the 2021 Comeback Player of the Year to add to an illustrious resume that includes an NL MVP, three World Series titles, a Gold Glove and a batting title.

Posey won't be adding to that on-field resume any longer after electing to retire this offseason.         

The San Francisco Giants announced they re-signed starting pitcher Anthony DeSclafani to a three-year contract.

The right-hander went 13-7 with a 3.17 ERA and a 3.62 FIP in 31 starts in 2021, per Baseball Reference. His 4.1 WAR were second among Giants pitchers behind Kevin Gausman (5.2).

DeSclafani wasn’t the only pitcher the team had contract talks with on Monday, though. According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, the team also is finalizing a deal with Alex Wood. The southpaw reportedly will get a two-year deal and earn “north of $10 million” per season.

Following a disastrous two-year spell across 2019 and 2020, Wood had a 3.48 FIP and averaged 9.9 strikeouts per nine innings across 26 outings, according to Baseball Reference.

No team overachieved more than San Francisco in this past season. The Giants won 107 games and claimed its first National League West title since 2012.

Addressing the starting rotation this offseason is imperative toward continuing that success in 2022. The franchise entered the offseason with DeSclafani, Gausman and Wood all hitting free agency.

Passan reported Monday the team was "incredibly aggressive" in examining its available options. Prior to the news about DeSclafani and Wood, the San Francisco Chronicle's Susan Slusser reported Alex Cobb might be on his way to the Bay Area.

One benefit of Brandon Belt accepting the one-year, $18.4 million qualifying offer is that it allowed San Francisco to have a better picture of its payroll flexibility when laying out contract offers to DeSclafani, Wood and others.

In general, running it back with the same roster from a year ago can have its benefits. The risk for regression is nonetheless there, especially when a team goes above and beyond its expectations. That's especially true in the case of a player like DeSclafani, who had the best year of his career in 2021.

The threat of a work stoppage looms across MLB, which gives front offices an incentive to conclude what business it can now. In a few weeks, the offseason could ground to a halt.

From that perspective, already lining up DeSclafani and Wood's returns is a great start for the Giants and sends a message about their intentions for next season.