MLB Free Agency

Eddie Rosario's surprise non-tender by the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday could turn into a win for the Boston Red Sox.

Per MLB Network's Jon Morosi, the Red Sox have "some interest" in Rosario. 

Morosi noted that Boston manager Alex Cora served as general manager for the Puerto Rico team—of which Rosario was a part—during the 2017 World Baseball Classic. 

Per USA Today's Bob Nightengale, five teams had interest in trading for Rosario but didn't want to pay his projected $10 million arbitration salary. 

Rosario spent his entire professional career with the Twins dating back to 2010 when he was a fourth-round draft pick by the club. 

After spending five years in the minors, Rosario made his Major League Baseball debut in May 2015. He quickly established himself as a tremendous power hitter, starting with leading the league with 15 triples as a rookie. 

Since the 2017 season, Rosario has averaged 24 homers and 76 RBI with a .281/.317/.493 slash line. 

The Red Sox are in the market for an outfielder with Jackie Bradley Jr. eligible for free agency and Andrew Benintendi coming off an injury-plagued season in which he hit .103/.314/.128 in 14 games.

Boston is in need of a quick makeover after finishing last in the American League East in 2020. The offense did finish a respectable 11th in runs scored, but those questions in the outfield could make a player like Rosario a welcome addition to the roster if the two sides can work out a deal.  

Kyle Schwarber's time with the Chicago Cubs has come to an end.

On Wednesday, the slugger was not tendered a contract for the 2021 campaign. That made him a free agent before he was set to earn approximately $8 million via the arbitration process.

It isn't particularly surprising that the Cubs non-tendered Schwarber even if he will forever be viewed as a franchise icon by fans.

After all, the Ricketts family, who owns the team, has not hesitated to publicly complain about the club's financial picture even though Forbes listed the Cubs as the fourth-most valuable franchise in MLB prior to the 2020 season.

Not bringing Schwarber back will save money, though Gordon Wittenmyer of NBC Sports Chicago reported the Cubs were having conversations about bringing back the left fielder.

Schwarber struggled during the shortened 2020 campaign and slashed .188/.308/.393 with 11 home runs and 24 RBI. Still, there is plenty to like about his game and potential.

For one, he is just 27 years old.

He also turned heads in 2019 with a .250/.339/.531 slash line, 38 home runs and 92 RBI after drilling a combined 56 home runs during the 2017 and 2018 seasons. Even the chance that he could return to the form he displayed in 2019 should in theory be worth $8 million for a major-market team such as Chicago.

Schwarber will also always be remembered fondly by fans for what he did in 2016.

It appeared as if his season was over in April when he tore the ACL and LCL in his left knee. However, he returned for the World Series against the Cleveland Indians to play designated hitter during the Cubs' road games.

All he did was slash .412/.500/.471 and tally three hits in the decisive Game 7, the last of which started the winning rally in the 10th inning. The Cubs snapped their 108-year championship drought and may not have done so without him.

Even if he doesn't return on a new contract, he will forever be seen as a Chicago icon because of that.

As former Cleveland Indians star Corey Kluber searches for a new home in free agency, the Boston Red Sox are reportedly showing interest, according to MLB Network's Jon Morosi.

Kluber was dealt to the Texas Rangers ahead of last season, but the 34-year-old appeared in just one inning and was later diagnosed with a torn teres major muscle in his right shoulder. The latest setback followed Kluber's injury-riddled 2019 campaign, when he fractured his right arm in May and was limited because of abdominal tightness in his return. 

Per Morosi, Kluber is "said to be progressing well" in his rehab from the torn muscle and is expected to start throwing bullpen sessions this month.

Kluber, a two-time Cy Young Award winner and three-time All-Star from 2016-18, had his best season in 2017. He led the league with 18 wins (a year before tacking on 20) and an 81.8 win-loss percentage, while posting a league-best 2.25 ERA. He pitched five complete games and three shutouts, leading the league in both categories, and paced pitchers with a 0.869 WHIP, earning the American League Cy Young Award one season after finishing third in voting, and three seasons after winning his first. 

In 2018, his last full campaign before two seasons lost to injury, he went 20-7 through 33 games with a 2.89 ERA and a league-best 215.0 innings, in which he struck out 222 batters. He finished third in Cy Young voting again that season. 

The Red Sox could use help on the hill this season given the uncertainty with their starting rotation.  

Eduardo Rodriguez missed the 2020 season after he developed myocarditis related to COVID-19. The Boston Globe's Alex Speier reported earlier in November that the 28-year-old, who Boston signed to a one-year, $8.3 million contract Tuesday, is hoping for "a regular offseason" before throwing "200 innings." 

But the outlook isn't as bright for seven-time All-Star Chris Sale, who was lost in 2020 due to Tommy John surgery, isn't projected to be ready until mid-summer, according to Steve Hewitt of the Boston Herald.

Without two of their centerpieces, the 24-36 Red Sox ranked third-worst in the league with a 5.58 ERA and gave up a league-high 98 home runs and 252 walks. Even if Kluber is still rebounding from injury, he would provide a facelift for Boston, even if on a short-term basis. 

As lifetime St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina explores free agency, a number of teams have expressed interest. 

On Twitter, MLB insider Hector Gomez shared Laura Bonnelly's interview with Molina on Mas Que Pelota in which the 38-year-old said that while the New York Yankees, New York Mets, San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Angels "have shown interest," he wants to stay with the Cardinals. 

Though he's been hanging around the big leagues since 2004, much of Molina's success has come more recently, with his nine All-Star nods coming since 2009—including two as recently as 2017 and 2018. Molina is also a nine-time Gold Glove award winner and boasts four Platinum Gloves in addition to a Silver Slugger, and of course a pair of World Series championships.

In 2020, he slashed .262/.303/.359, with 38 hits, 16 RBI and four home runs through 145 at-bats, appearing in 42 games for St. Louis.

But for all the interest that Molina says is expressed by multiple teams, one report suggests the Cardinals hold the upper hand in this sweepstakes. 

Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch wrote that Molina is looking for a two-year deal. The Cardinals are aware of his wishes, and while they haven't made an offer, his long history with the franchise will play into any contract negotiations, per Goold: 

"From the outside looking in, other teams see the Cardinals as the most likely to mix emotions with financials to sign Molina, and that other teams aren't. [Owner] Bill DeWitt Jr. told me this past week that he hopes they can bring back both Molina and Adam Wainwright, and [president of baseball operations John] Mozeliak has said that the negotiations with Molina are going to have to include both an emotional/legacy element and a financial element."

To other teams, a two-year deal that ties a franchise to a player until after his 40th birthday may be a breaking point, but Molina's connection to the Cardinals may help him get his wish to play for another two seasons.