MLB

Clayton Kershaw is reportedly returning to the Los Angeles Dodgers for his 16th season.

According to the New York Post's Jon Heyman, Kershaw has agreed to a new one-year deal that will approach $20 million for the 2023 season.

Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic first reported the three-time National League Cy Young winner was "nearing" an agreement on a one-year deal with the Dodgers.

It's not a surprise that Kershaw decided to remain in Los Angeles. The 34-year-old has spent his entire career with the franchise and doesn't seem like he's ever come close to leaving. They drafted him No. 7 overall in the 2006 MLB draft, and he made his big-league debut as a 20-year-old midway through the 2008 season.

If there was a moment when it seemed like Kershaw could play elsewhere, it was last offseason when the Dodgers opted not to give him a qualifying offer. He wound up re-signing with the team on a one-year, $17 million contract, though.

Even though injuries and missed time have to be factored in when accounting for Kershaw's value at this point in his career, the 2014 NL MVP remains dominant in the games he does play.

Kershaw finished the 2022 campaign with a 2.28 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and 137 strikeouts in 126.1 innings over 22 starts. He has missed time every year since 2016, with the exception of the COVID-19-shortened 2020 season.

The Dodgers have had no problems accommodating Kershaw when he does have to go on the injured list. They have had the best roster in Major League Baseball for several years and show no signs of slowing down.

A rotation that could feature Kershaw, Walker Buehler, Julio Urías and Tony Gonsolin is formidable. They may have to find ways to replace Andrew Heaney and Tyler Anderson, but the Dodgers front office hasn't been shy about spending money if the right players are available.

The Houston Astros declined the $10 million mutual option on Trey Mancini's contract for the 2023 season on Thursday, per Brandon Scott of Sports Radio 610.

It was something of a surprise given the fact that the Astros acquired Mancini from the Baltimore Orioles at the 2022 season's trade deadline to better their team for a deep playoff run.

Yet he struggled for the eventual World Series champions and slashed .176/.258/.364 with eight home runs and 22 RBI in 51 regular-season games before going 1-for-21 in the playoffs.

He spent most of his time in Houston in left field but also saw time serving as the team's designated hitter.

Before joining the Astros, Mancini spent the first six-and-a-half seasons of his career with the Orioles. He made his Major League Baseball debut in 2016 but didn't become a full-time player in Baltimore until the 2017 campaign.

Mancini's best season with the Orioles came in 2019 when he slashed .291/.364/.535 with 35 home runs and 97 RBI in 154 games. He hasn't been as great in recent seasons, but he is still an effective player and would be a valuable asset for any contending team.

It's unclear where he will end up, but Mancini said in August that he would "of course" welcome a return to the Orioles.

The 30-year-old should draw some strong interest in free agency.

Veteran outfielder Tommy Pham needs a new home for the 2023 season.

The Boston Red Sox announced that both the franchise and Pham declined the $12 million mutual option on his contract Thursday, making him a free agent. He will receive a $1.5 million buyout.

Boston acquired Pham from the Cincinnati Reds at the 2022 trade deadline.

His stint in Cincinnati was marked by a fantasy football dispute with then-San Francisco Giants outfielder Joc Pederson that turned physical. He received a fine and a three-game suspension for slapping Pederson.

Pham seemed to find his footing when he arrived in Boston before tapering off toward the end of the year. In 53 games with the Red Sox, the nine-year veteran slashed .234/.298/.374 with six home runs and 24 RBI. Comparatively, he hit .238/.320/.374 with 11 homers and 39 RBI in 91 games in Cincinnati.

Pham was drafted in 2006 by the St. Louis Cardinals but made his major league debut in 2014 after spending nine seasons in the minors. He developed into a consistent producer at the plate, and in 2017, he became the first Cardinals hitter since 1900 to record at least 20 home runs, 20 doubles, 20 stolen bases and a .300 batting average in the same season.

The 34-year-old was traded to the Tampa Bay Rays midway through the 2018 season. He was then shipped to the San Diego Padres in December 2019, and he spent two seasons with the club before departing as a free agent in 2022.

By letting Pham walk in free agency, the Red Sox will lose some outfield depth as well as a veteran presence in their dugout. There are multiple teams that could use Pham's consistent production, so he will likely have his fair share of suitors on the open market.

The Los Angeles Dodgers announced Thursday they've declined the $16 million club option in the contract of third baseman Justin Turner for the 2023 MLB season.

However, USA Today's Bob Nightengale reports that the Dodgers are still interested in Turner returning in 2023 on a lower salary.

Turner has played for the Dodgers since 2014 when he signed as a free agent following previous stops with the Baltimore Orioles and New York Mets.

The 37-year-old California native has been a key cog in the L.A. lineup ever since, highlighted by two All-Star selections and helping lead the team to the 2020 World Series title. He also claimed this year's Roberto Clemente Award, which combines a player's on- and off-field accomplishments.

His offensive numbers dipped a bit in 2022 as his OPS dropped to .788, his lowest mark since 2013 with the Mets, but the team didn't miss a beat thanks to its remarkable depth.

Turner previously tested free agency ahead of the 2021 season before re-signing with Los Angeles.

"It was definitely flattering to be courted like that from other teams," he said at the time. "But at the end of the day, it all worked out how it was supposed to and I'm back in Dodger blue, like I was supposed to be."

For his career, Turner has compiled a .289/.366/.466 slash line with 164 home runs and 41 stolen bases in 1,393 appearances across 14 years.

The veteran infielder's age and fading numbers suggest his career may be entering its latter stages, so the Dodgers decided against taking a $16 million risk. It wouldn't be a surprise if he eventually re-signs with L.A. on a more team-friendly deal.

Turner should also have suitors on the free-agent market if leaving Los Angeles is a consideration. Even if he's not the middle-of-the-order force he was during his peak seasons, he can still be a solid complementary contributor at this stage.

If he does sign elsewhere, the Dodgers will likely look to free agency or a trade to pick up a designated hitter with Max Muncy taking over at third on a full-time basis.

The Tampa Bay Rays have declined their $13 million option for veteran center fielder Kevin Kiermaier.

USA Today's Bob Nightengale noted the St. Louis Cardinals showed interest in Kiermaier in the past and could make a run at him.

The 32-year-old becomes a free agent and is bound to have a market thanks to his defensive record. He's a three-time Gold Glove winner and one of MLB's top defenders at any position.

"I'm in a unique position with what my defensive skill set is, and I'll never shy away from that," he told reporters in 2021. "I believe I'm the best defensive outfielder in the game. I'd put my talents up with anyone, and I'm very confident in saying that."

Kiermaier's durability and offense—or lack thereof—have lowered his value, though.

He has crossed the 150-game threshold just once and averaged 108 appearances per season since 2014—excluding the 2020 campaign shortened by the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2021, he was sidelined with a quad strain and then again because of a sprained left wrist. Last season, a hip injury required season-ending surgery in August.

Even if Kiermaier logs a full 162-game schedule in 2023, his contributions at the plate could be limited. For his career, he has a .715 OPS and a 98 OPS+, per Baseball Reference. Among qualified hitters since 2014, he's 343rd in wOBA (.308) on FanGraphs.

Sometimes players discover a new level offensively thanks to a swing change or adapting their approach in the batter's box. Josh Donaldson is a prime example of the former, while Marcus Semien falls in the latter category.

For Kiermaier, it would seem the ship has sailed to be a radically different hitter. Any breakthrough that might have happened would have come by now.

Despite his glaring flaws, Kiermaier figures to be an attractive target for a contender in need of a defensive upgrade in the outfield.

Justin Verlander is officially set to join a stacked MLB free-agent class this offseason.

The veteran pitcher declined the $25 million option for the 2023 season on his contract Thursday, according to MLB Network's Jon Morosi.

Morosi noted that it was an expected result since it will allow Verlander to perhaps pursue a longer and more lucrative contract on the open market.

Verlander agreed to a one-year, $25 million deal with this player option for 2023 in November 2021, although there was something of a workload contingency for the option to go into effect.

He triggered it in August when he surpassed the 130-inning threshold, which was notable given his recent injury concerns.

"I wasn't pitching to get to 130 innings," he told reporters at the time. "When we were doing the contract, [Astros owner] Jim [Crane] told me they wanted 130 innings for my player option. I was asking for a straight player option and they said they'd like 130 innings, and that was that. I thought that was a very fair number the way I like to pitch."

Verlander pitched just one game during the shortened 2020 campaign and missed the entirety of the 2021 season thanks to Tommy John surgery. He also missed time in 2022 with a calf injury and will be 40 years old during the upcoming season.

While durability and age may be fair reasons for concern, he is a future Hall of Famer and one of the best pitchers of his generation. He also looked as dominant as ever for much of the 2022 campaign when he was on the mound, which likely contributed to this decision since he could make more money on the open market as a free agent.

Even with the calf injury, he was perhaps the best pitcher in the American League, leading the AL with 18 wins, a 1.75 ERA and a 0.82 WHIP, while striking out 185 batters in 175 innings.

He also help the Astros win the World Series, marking his second championship during his time in Houston.

Verlander has been with the Astros since they landed him in a trade with the Detroit Tigers in 2017, and he has solidified what may have already been a Hall of Fame resume.

He showed no signs of slowing down last season, and provided the Astros make a fair offer, it is difficult to envision him signing elsewhere despite opting out.

Record-breaking New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge reportedly headlines a group of nine MLB players expected to receive contracts of at least $100 million this offseason.

One player, New York Mets closer Edwin Diaz, already joined the nine-figure club by signing a $102 million extension. ESPN's Jeff Passan reported other members of the group expected to join Diaz and Judge via free agency, which opens Thursday at 5 p.m. ET:

• SS Trea Turner (Los Angeles Dodgers)
• SS Carlos Correa (Minnesota Twins)
• SS Xander Bogaerts (Boston Red Sox)
• SS Dansby Swanson (Atlanta Braves)
• OF Brandon Nimmo (New York Mets)
• SP Carlos Rodón (San Francisco Giants)
• SP Jacob deGrom (New York Mets)

Nimmo is the only name on the list that may catch some people by surprise given his modest counting stats across seven seasons with the Mets. He's recorded just 63 home runs and 23 stolen bases in 608 career appearances.

That said, the 29-year-old center fielder gets on base at a high rate (.385 career on-base percentage) and plays solid defense (six outs above average in 2022, per FanGraphs).

Agent Scott Boras said Wednesday a "majority" of teams have already called him about Nimmo.

"You are looking at a guy that there are no center fielders in our game that are available," Boras told reporters. "And then you add leadoff to that and then you add ... on-base percentage to that, and he's an excellent defender and then also he can play in New York. When you have those elements that are there, he becomes a very integral part of what we found for a team to win 100 games. He's a very proven commodity and there are very few that can replace him."

Otherwise, two intriguing storylines early in free agency will be whether the Yankees can keep pace in the Judge sweepstakes and which star shortstop signs first to set the market at the position.

New York can't afford to lose Judge and expect to remain a top-tier contender in the American League. He carried the club's offense for extended stretches in 2022 en route to setting the new AL home run record with 62.

As Boras alluded, there aren't many great options available in center field, and even the dropoff from Judge to Nimmo is rather significant. So the ability to re-sign the 6'7'' slugger is a make-or-break situation for the Yanks.

Meanwhile, all four of the top-tier shortstops available should surpass the $100 million mark if they're willing to sign long-term deals.

Swanson, who's often ranked fourth on the list and could sign first to help set the baseline for the others, finds himself in a similar situation to Freddie Freeman last offseason. He's spent his entire career with the Braves but hits the market without a new deal.

"Business is business, man. It's not always the fun part about the game," Swanson said last week on 92.9 The Game. "I wish it was just one plus one, but it never seems to be that way."

Freeman left to sign with the Los Angeles Dodgers, and Swanson may follow him out the Truist Park door, leaving Atlanta with a void at shortstop.

All told, a lot of money is going to get spent over the next few months and, given the high-end talent available, the clubs willing to open their checkbooks could put themselves at the forefront of the 2023 championship chase.

New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman told reporters on Wednesday he's been "listening and engaging" on potential trade talks this offseason, including interest from around baseball regarding the team's current infield depth.

"We don't have a right fielder," he added of the team's needs. "We don't have a left fielder. I'd always like to improve the pitching. We have some kids pushing in on the infield, so there'll be, I would think, probably a lot of exciting opportunities that could play out next spring in the middle infield."

The right-field vacancy comes down to the pending free agency of superstar slugger Aaron Judge, whose decision this winter will have a huge impact on the team's future plans.

"Optimally, if you could wave a magic wand, we would secure Aaron Judge and retain him and have him signed and happy and in the fold as soon as possible," Cashman told reporters. "But he's a free agent. He's earned the right to be a free agent. So he'll dictate the dance steps."

And he'll have plenty of dance partners after an epic 2022 season that saw him hit .311 with 62 homers, 131 RBI, 133 runs, 16 stolen bases and a 1.111 OPS. Judge carried New York's offense for long stretches this season, and his departure would be a huge blow.

The Yankees already have a projected payroll of $181 million for next season, per Spotrac, and a deal for Judge isn't going to be cheap, alongside other needs in left field (Andrew Benintendi is a free agent) and potentially first base (Anthony Rizzo is a free agent) and the rotation (Aroldis Chapman, Zack Britton and Chad Green are hitting free agency).

Add in the possibility of chasing one of the elite starters on the market, including Justin Verlander, Carlos Rodón and Jacob deGrom, and the wage sheet could start ticking up very quickly, depending on New York's approach to free agency.

Given that infield depth, however, a trade might handle some of those needs without having to dip into the expensive waters of free agency. Still, the team's entire offseason plan will probably hinge, at least in part, on Judge's decision.

"I can't sign a right fielder, right, that's not Aaron Judge?" Cashman told reporters after he was asked what he planned to do while waiting out Judge's decision. "I'm not going to do that in the near term."

New York Yankees fans worried after general manager Brian Cashman told reporters Tuesday he had no comment when asked if the team had spoken to free agent Aaron Judge since the end of the season can breathe a sigh of relief.

"Have we engaged them since the end of the season? The answer is yes," Cashman said of Judge and his agent, Page Odle, on Wednesday, per Jon Morosi of MLB Network.

Cashman's comments come after Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported on Monday a club executive said he is more "confident" the Bronx Bombers can sign the slugger than he was in the past.

"The belief is that the Yankees will be willing to top Judge's $36 million a year asking price from back in spring," Heyman added.

It isn't much of a surprise that the 30-year-old will be looking for more money than he was before the 2022 campaign started. After all, all he did was set the American League record with 62 home runs while slashing .311/.425/.686 with a league-best 131 RBI and 111 walks.

It was one of the best offensive performances in Major League Baseball history and will surely land him the AL MVP.

On Tuesday, Cashman said the team would also consider bringing back Anthony Rizzo and Andrew Benintendi, even if Judge is the primary focus.

"If you could wave a magic wand, we would secure Aaron Judge and retain him and have him signed and happy in the fold as soon as possible," Cashman said. "He's a free agent. He's earned the right to be a free agent, so he'll dictate the dance steps."

That means other teams, such as the San Francisco Giants, will also have the opportunity to pursue the biggest prize on the free agency market, but New York has at least talked to Judge in the early stages of the offseason.

Now it will be up to the front office to offer a deal that is enough to convince him to stay.