MLB

Veteran starting pitching Chris Bassitt has agreed to a three-year, $63 million deal with the Toronto Blue Jays, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan.

Bassitt joins an already strong starting rotation that features Alek Manoah, Kevin Gausman and José Berríos. The Blue Jays are clearly looking to close the seven-game gap that separated them from the first-place New York Yankees in the American League East.

The New York Mets landed the best arm on the free-agent market when they signed Max Scherzer following the 2021 season. They didn't stop there in addressing their starting rotation and acquired Bassitt from the Oakland Athletics for pitching prospects J.T. Ginn and Adam Oller.

Adding the right-hander looked even more shrewd in retrospect. Jacob deGrom didn't make his 2022 debut until August due to shoulder trouble, and Scherzer missed nearly two months because of an oblique injury.

Bassitt didn't quite match the level that sent him to the 2021 All-Star Game, but he did provide a steady presence for New York on the mound. In 30 appearances, he went 15-9 with a 3.42 ERA and a 3.66 FIP. He also averaged 8.27 strikeouts per nine innings and 2.43 walks per nine.

The 33-year-old led the Mets in innings pitched (181.2) and was third on the staff in WAR (2.7), per FanGraphs.

Bassitt didn't have overwhelming velocity, but he kept opposing hitters on their toes with his six-pitch arsenal. According to Baseball Savant, he ranked in the 95th percentile in average exit velocity (85.7 mph) and 88th in hard-hit rate (32.8).

Bleacher Report's Joel Reuter ranked the Toledo, Ohio, native as the fifth-best starting pitcher in the 2023 free-agent class: "His overall numbers were not as strong as some of the others ranked lower than him on this list, but his long track record of recent success makes it far easier to bank on him continuing to pitch at a high level in 2023 and beyond."

Mets fans still scarred by the Wilpon era may still have reservations about team owner Steve Cohen and whether he's willing to keep spending to bring a World Series title to Flushing.

Cohen continued to address those concerns by handing Edwin Díaz a five-year, $102 million contract almost as soon as the offseason began. Justin Verlander subsequently signed for $86.7 million over two years.

In the case of Bassitt, it wasn't going to take a contract of that magnitude to bring him back, but this franchise is already on track to have one of MLB's biggest payrolls. The front office doesn't have a limitless well of money to spend on free agents.

The Mets' loss is the Blue Jays' gain.

The Atlanta Braves have acquired catcher Sean Murphy in a three-team trade with the Oakland Athletics that also involves the Milwaukee Brewers.

Here are the full details of the trade, which was first reported by Jeff Passan of ESPN:

• Braves get: Sean Murphy (C)
• Athletics get: Kyle Muller (LHP), Manny Piña (C), Royber Salinas (RHP), Freddy Tarnok (RHP), Esteury Ruiz (OF)
• Brewers get: William Contreras (C), Joel Payamps (RHP), Justin Yeager (RHP)

Of note, left-handed pitcher Kyle Muller was the Braves' No. 1 prospect on MLB.com.

Murphy finished last season with a .250 batting average, .759 OPS and 18 home runs with 66 RBI. He earned one 10th-place vote for MVP in the American League.

The 28-year-old won a Gold Glove award in 2021.

Murphy has 11 defensive runs saved over the last two years combined, per FanGraphs, and he set a career high with 5.1 wins above replacement last season.

The catcher could post even better numbers after the trade considering his struggles at RingCentral Coliseum in Oakland. Murphy had a .684 OPS in 162 career home games and an .820 mark in 168 games on the road. His batting average was 45 points higher away from home, and he had 12 more home runs and 10 more doubles.

Playing half his games at Atlanta's Truist Park could lead to a bigger breakout in 2023.

Catchers Travis d'Arnaud and Contreras both earned All-Star selections for Atlanta last season and combined to start 156 of 162 regular-season games behind the plate. Acquiring Murphy gives the Braves a defensive upgrade over Contreras and could allow d'Arnaud to spend more time as a designated hitter.

Considering d'Arnaud has never played more than 112 games in a season and a thumb injury limited him to 60 games in 2021, this move should help keep him fresh for the long season.

After going 101-61 last year, the Braves have the firepower to again contend for a World Series title.

Milwaukee gets a major upgrade over Victor Caratini and Omar Narváez at catcher with the addition of Contreras, who hit 20 home runs with a .278 average last year. It should help provide a jolt to the lineup after the Brewers fell short of the playoffs in 2022.

Oakland continues its rebuild after a 60-102 season, dealing Murphy ahead of his first year of arbitration while adding major league-ready prospects in Muller and Tarnok.

The market for the best MLB free agent on the board might be narrowing.

MLB Network Radio's Steve Phillips reported Monday the San Francisco Giants and Minnesota Twins are seen as the favorites in the sweepstakes for star shortstop Carlos Correa.

While a few of the top free agents have signed new deals, adopting a more patient approach has worked in Correa's favor.

The pacts for Trea Turner (11 years, $300 million) and Xander Bogaerts (11 years, $280 million) have helped shape his market value. You wouldn't expect Correa to get less money than Turner or Bogaerts considering he's better than both.

The Giants and Twins aren't in a strong position to negotiate either.

San Francisco has shown a willingness to spend, but that doesn't matter much if star players don't sign. Having already missed out on Aaron Judge, not landing Correa will make this a bitterly disappointing offseason.

Minnesota, meanwhile, has to pay the same tax often required of smaller-market franchises when a talent as good as Correa is in the picture. Last year, that meant agreeing to a contract that allowed him to walk after only one season.

If Correa prefers a return to the Twins, then he might have to act fast. The Star Tribune's LaVelle E. Neal III reported the team might look toward other targets such as shortstop Dansby Swanson if there isn't a resolution within the next few days.

In general, it feels as though a final decision could come soon because there isn't much more benefit in waiting for Correa. The shortstop market has largely taken shape already, and you would've expected a mystery team to emerge by now.

Former MLB pitcher TJ House publicly came out as gay on Thursday and announced he's engaged to his partner, Ryan Neitzel.

The 33-year-old wrote on Facebook he had "struggled my entire life with being comfortable in my own skin" and that "shame has kept me quiet all these years, but Love has finally set me free":

You see, I was 23 years old and living out my childhood dream playing professional baseball in Cleveland. I dedicated all my energy into it, using it as my drug too numb what was really going on inside. Don't get me wrong, I loved every moment of my playing days, and I would go the same route again if I had the chance (with one big change). But even with all the money, fancy cars, nice clothes and a little tiny bit of fame, I would go home every night wishing I could change. Deep down I wanted something more, I wanted to be loved not for what I did, but who I was.

House said he felt empowered by Congress' passage of the Respect for Marriage Act, which, if signed, will compel states to recognize same-sex marriages that were granted elsewhere.

The left-hander is the third former MLB player to come out, joining Glenn Burke and Billy Bean.

Bean became an ambassador for inclusion with MLB in 2014. He told Outsports' Ken Schultz that House's announcement was "a great day for the league and baseball."

House spent four seasons in the majors across spells with the Cleveland Guardians and Toronto Blue Jays. In 29 career appearances, he went 5-7 with a 4.44 ERA and 90 strikeouts over 119.2 innings.

The San Francisco Giants have yet to shut the door on a reunion with starting pitcher Carlos Rodón, according to the San Francisco Chronicle's Susan Slusser.

The Giants sealed an agreement with Sean Manaea on a two-year, $25 million deal Sunday, per the New York Post's Jon Heyman. However, Slusser reported that deal doesn't preclude the team from continuing to pursue Rodón.

NBC Sports Bay Area's Alex Pavlovic reported on Nov. 30 the Giants "do not expect Rodón to return" because the cost to sign him figures to be so high.

Heyman reported Rodón was looking to get at least $30 million annually over six years, while Slusser reported he's "seeking a minimum of seven years on a $100 million-plus deal."

Given how this offseason has unfolded, the fanbase might feel even more pessimistic about the two-time All-Star coming back to the Bay Area.

While San Francisco was a finalist for American League Most Valuable Player Aaron Judge, it looks like the franchise was little more than a stalking horse.

The Giants also showed some interest in Japanese pitcher Kodai Senga, only to watch him reportedly agree to a five-year, $75 million pact with the New York Mets. Mike Puma of the New York Post reported they made a formal offer to Brandon Nimmo as well before he re-signed with the Mets.

It's impossible to ignore the narrative that's taking shape.

Although Manaea feels like a replacement for Rodón, the need to sign another starter is still there with Anthony DeSclafani tentatively penciled in for the starting rotation. DeSclafani was limited to five starts in 2022, allowing 14 earned runs over 19 innings, before undergoing season-ending ankle surgery in June.

Getting a contract done with Rodón would also go a long way toward countering the current perception of San Francisco. That might require him to significantly lower his demands, though.

The longer the offseason goes, the less leverage the southpaw will have. For now, he and his agent, Scott Boras, probably aren't panicking about the lack of a new deal.

The New York Yankees entered the offseason with one goal in mind beyond re-signing Aaron Judge and keeping him in pinstripes forever: bolster a bullpen that was obliterated by the Houston Astros in the ALCS.

They appear poised to do that in the form of an offer to San Francisco Giants lefty Carlos Rodón, per Jon Heyman of The New York Post.

It would mark the second time the Yankees have been in a battle with the Giants over a free agent, the first being the aforementioned Judge. Is it worth getting into a front-office battle with the across-country team over a lefty with just two distinct pitches?

The short answer: is yes, but the Yankees should know that Rodón is not the solution to the problem.

Pitching Depth, Injury History

The Yankees bullpen gave up a combined ERA of 3.97 per game, 30 hits and 18 runs, 15 of which were earned. Yankees pitchers were roughed up by Houston's offense en route to a nine-run differential across the four-game series.

Rodon had a very good 2022, going 14-8 with a 2.88 ERA while striking out 237 hitters and establishing a 1.03 WHIP. All while leaning on the fastball and slider, proving variance in pitching is not necessary if you can do two things very well.

In a marketplace set by the monstrous deals for Justin Verlander and Jacob deGrom, he is going to do very well financially, perhaps even with the Yankees. But it will not be the solution to New York's problems.

The team ranked fourth in innings pitch in 2022, according to MLB.com, with 79.2. Gerritt Cole (200.2), Nestor Cortes (158.1) and Jameson Taillon (177.1) were well north of 150 innings themselves.

Rodón is already 30 years old and has an injury history. He underwent Tommy John surgery in 2019 and even before that, had a history of arm fatigue earlier in his career. As late as 2021, there were very real questions about his future in the Majors.

Add that to an already exhausted bullpen with an innings and strikeouts deficiency to boot, and a $30 million AAV and there is reason to be cautious on the Yankees part. Especially considering they rank second in overall payroll and will be subject to a Competitive Balance Tax.

There are other pitchers, such as Chris Bassitt, Nathan Eovaldi and Noah Syndergaard, available who could be acquired to do the same thing for a more sensible financial burden. Bassitt turned down a $19 million option to remain with the Mets, but the Yankees would be able to acquire him for far less than the AAV Rodón is expected to demand.

Ditto Syndergaard, who can likely be acquired on a shorter, more cost prohibitive deal if his 2022 deal with the Angels is any indication.

The Yankees are not so far into the offseason and free agency that it cannot acquire multiple pieces to help strengthen its rotation rather than riskily overspending for Rodón without a guarantee of a World Series berth.

This is one instance where playing the waiting game and not jumping at the first big-name free agent at a position of need should benefit the Yankees in the long run.

The Pittsburgh Pirates reportedly have a massive price tag in mind for teams interested in center fielder Bryan Reynolds, who has requested a trade.

Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported that news Sunday.

"Yes, the Pirates are willing to entertain moving center fielder Bryan Reynolds, if only because clubs are almost always willing to listen to trade offers. Teams interested in Reynolds, however, say the price tag is similar to what it was in the past—exceedingly high.

"One rival official, in what surely was an exaggeration, said the Pirates want a 'Soto-type package' for Reynolds. Another said Reynolds is 'super expensive.' A third described him as 'unlikely to move.'"

The Soto-type package remark is in reference to last season's blockbuster deal between the Washington Nationals and San Diego Padres, which sent star outfielder Juan Soto to California alongside first baseman Josh Bell for six players, including veteran first baseman Luke Voit, some recently promoted top prospects (CJ Abrams, MacKenzie Gore) and ones waiting for their call-up (Robert Hassell III, James Wood, Jarlin Susana).

Hassell and Wood are No. 22 and 34 on the latest MLB prospect rankings. Gore and Abrams were sixth and eighth on the 2021 list, respectively.

Rosenthal made clear that the executive's remarks were "surely an exaggeration," and it's highly unlikely that the Pirates would get a deal like that in return for Reynolds.

Soto already has a trio of top-10 MVP finishes and two All-Star Game appearances, and he's just entering his age-24 season.

Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette initially reported news of Reynolds' trade request.

Jon Heyman of the New York Post added context.

The Pirates confirmed Reynolds' trade request publicly and suggested they didn't plan to adhere to the ask.

"While it is disappointing, this will have zero impact on our decision-making this off-season or in the future. Our goal is to improve the Pirates for 2023 and beyond. With three years until he hits free agency, Bryan remains a key member of our team. We look forward to him having a great season for the Pirates."

Reynolds, who turns 28 years old in January, has played for the Pirates for all four of his MLB seasons. He earned his first All-Star Game appearance in 2021 and followed that up with 27 home runs, 62 RBI and a .262 batting average (.807 OPS). At this time, he isn't eligible to become a free agent until after the 2025 season.

Shortstop Dansby Swanson remains one of the top free agents on the open market, and he's being linked to a perennial National League contender.

According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, Swanson "appears to be a possibility" for the Los Angeles Dodgers, who finished with the best record in MLB last season. Heyman also noted that the Chicago Cubs remain interested in Swanson, who married United States women's national team and Chicago Red Stars star Mallory Pugh on Saturday.

Swanson earned his first All-Star selection last season after establishing himself as one of the best young shortstops in the majors. The 28-year-old hit .277/.329/.477 with 25 home runs and 96 RBI. His 177 hits ranked fourth in the NL and tied for eighth in MLB.

Los Angeles has an opening at shortstop after Trea Turner signed a massive 11-year, $300 million deal with the Philadelphia Phillies last week.

Signing with the Dodgers would give Swanson an opportunity to reunite with veteran first baseman Freddie Freeman, who was his teammate with the Atlanta Braves for the first six seasons of Swanson's career. Together, they helped lead the Braves to a World Series title in 2021.

Freeman, who was once the face of the Braves franchise, signed with Los Angeles last offseason and had another MVP-caliber season. The 33-year-old led MLB with 199 hits and his .325 batting average ranked second in the NL. He also added 21 home runs and 100 RBI. There's a chance Swanson would enjoy similar success if he's added to Los Angeles' star-studded lineup.

Joining the Cubs would present a different challenge, as Chicago is set for a rebuild after tearing down its roster in recent years. Three-time All-Star catcher Willson Contreras left the team to sign with the rival St. Louis Cardinals this past Wednesday. If Swanson were to sign with the Cubs, he would be tasked with carrying the team's offense.

Whichever team lands Swanson is sure to benefit from adding him, as he has proven he can be a top contributor for a contender.

If the New York Yankees really want to send a message they are serious about getting over the hump in their quest to get back to the World Series, they need to make a significant push to sign Carlos Correa.

It's not 100 percent certain the Yankees have an interest in Correa, but ESPN's Buster Olney recently floated the possibility that something could be happening:

Everything about the Yankees' offseason was, understandably, centered around re-signing Aaron Judge. They were able to accomplish their mission by getting the 2022 American League MVP to agree to a nine-year, $360 million deal, per The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal.

New York began the offseason by re-signing Anthony Rizzo to a two-year deal worth at least $40 million.

Even though the $400 million spent in free agency to bring back two key players sounds good, the Yankees are slightly worse on paper than they were when the 2022 season ended.

Jameson Taillon left the Bronx to accept a four-year, $68 million deal from the Chicago Cubs. Even though he wasn't a huge factor in the postseason, Gerrit Cole was their only starter who threw more innings than Taillon in 2022.

There are major holes in the lineup that still need to be filled. They received below-average offensive production at shortstop, left field and designated hitter.

Shortstop is the easiest position for the Yankees to upgrade because there are two All-Stars still available: Correa and Dansby Swanson.

There have been no rumblings about Swanson going to New York. Correa ending up in New York still feels like a long shot, but it really shouldn't at this point.

The biggest obstacle preventing the Yankees from pursuing Correa is the competitive balance tax. Hal Steinbrenner has been actively avoiding the tax for years.

Per Spotrac, the Yankees' tax payroll for 2023 is the second-highest in MLB at $221.2 million. The luxury-tax line for next season is $233 million.

Let's assume Correa signs a deal that pays him close to his 2022 salary with the Minnesota Twins ($35.1 million). It would bring the Yankees' payroll up to $256.3 million. They would be taxed 20 percent of their overage total as a first-time offender (roughly $7 million).

The Yankees have around $40 million coming off their luxury-tax payroll in 2024. The CBT jumps up to $237 million in 2024, so any potential penalty they might incur will only be a significant issue for one year.

If the Yankees can't afford a $7 million payment, the Steinbrenner family should sell the franchise.

Even ignoring the small financial penalty for the organization, the upgrade on the field is so significant to offset it.

Correa has been worth 10.6 FanGraphs' wins above replacement over the past two seasons combined. He has a .279/.357/.479 career slash line and averages 28 homers per 162 games played.

Yankees shortstops are projected to be worth a total of 3.7 fWAR in 2023. Anthony Volpe, their top prospect, is projected to be their top player at the position with a .240/.317/.420 slash line.

Volpe's pending arrival doesn't need to complicate things for the Yankees. They can move either him or Correa to third base, which would also allow manager Aaron Boone to bench Josh Donaldson.

Donaldson is 37 and looked his age last season with a .222/.308/.374 slash line.

The Yankees need to be all-in for the next few years while they still have Judge and Gerrit Cole in their prime. It doesn't do them any good to sit on their hands and hope Giancarlo Stanton and Luis Severino are going to stay healthy.