MLB Rumors

While there's nothing close to an agreement between the two sides and other teams are involved, the New York Mets "continue to be engaged" on free agent starter Trevor Bauer, according to Andy Martino of SNY. 

The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal reported earlier this week that the Mets were concerned that signing the star, who has been accused of bullying on social media, would "renew questions about the team's culture" following the public disclosure of sexual harassment by former general manager Jared Porter.

According to Martino, the Mets originally planned to forego the chase for the defending Cy Young award winner in an effort to stay under the league's $210 million luxury tax threshold, but it now appears they'd be willing to swap in that course of action. 

On Friday, New York Daily News reporter Kate Feldman went public about harassment she faced after Bauer fought with her on Twitter in August. Bauer has also been called out for his behavior in the past. In 2019, a Texas State University student said she felt harassed by tweets directed toward her from Bauer. 

Bauer released a statement on Friday, claiming that he was "by no means a bully." 

Rosenthal reported Friday that the Mets were "more focused" on adding Bauer to the roster following outfielder George Springer's decision to sign a six-year, $150 million deal with the Toronto Blue Jays. According to Rosenthal, the decision ultimately came down to money, and the Mets were unwilling to move beyond $120 million.

That could present an interesting dilemma as they try to land Bauer, who is looking to earn $35 million annually, per MLB.com's Mark Feinsand. Further, the Mets are at $166.9 million for the 2021 season, and Spotrac suggests Bauer is due a four-year, $117.1 million contract. 

Last season, Bauer posted a 1.73 ERA and fanned 100 batters with 17 walks through 73 innings, giving up 14 earned runs and nine home runs. He would be a worthy addition to a Mets club that has been ordered to build like "a major-market team" by new owner Steve Cohen. 

The New York Yankees announced Monday that they have traded pitchers Adam Ottavino and Frank German to the Boston Red Sox for a player to be named later and cash considerations.

Lindsey Adler of The Athletic first reported the deal.

Per Mark Feinsand of MLB.com, it's the first trade between the teams "since the 2014 trade deadline, when New York acquired Stephen Drew for Kelly Johnson."

Ottavino, 35, had a rough 2020 season, finishing 2-3 with a 5.89 ERA, 1.58 WHIP and 25 strikeouts in 18.1 innings and 24 total appearances. It was an unusually poor showing from the 35-year-old, who has a career 3.53 ERA and was far better for the Yankees in 2019 (1.90 ERA and 1.31 WHIP in 73 appearances). 

For both teams, the move made financial sense, with the Red Sox potentially gaining a nice addition to their bullpen who they could flip midseason if they become sellers. 

What's more surprising is the Yankees and Red Sox doing business together. The hated rivals have made just two trades together since 1998 and have very rarely done business together. You could hardly blame the Red Sox for not calling up their rivals since famously trading them Babe Ruth in 1919 for $100,000, a deal so bad it was blamed for Boston's 85-year title drought. 

The teams have had large droughts between trades before. According to CBS Sports' R.J. Anderson, the teams went 14 years between deals together in the 1970s and 80s before swapping Don Baylor and Mike Easler in 1986. Deals have been even rarer this century, as the rivalry was reignited in a big way, namely through Boston's drought-ending 2004 title, which included a reverse sweep of the Yankees in the AL Pennant. 

The Red Sox have won four titles this century, as opposed to two for the Yankees. 

Brett Gardner's time with the New York Yankees may not be over after all. 

Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reported the Yankees are "clearly" Gardner's preferred destination as he explores free agency this winter. The 37-year-old has spent his entire MLB career in the Yankees organization after being selected in the third round of the 2005 draft.

New York declined a $10 million option for the 2021 season to retain Gardner, so it's likely any reunion would result in him taking a pay cut. Gardner hit .223/.354/.392 with five home runs and 15 runs batted in during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season. FanGraphs' formula gave Gardner only 0.6 wins above replacement, as he saw his offensive performance take a precipitous drop.

The Yankees have been cautious throughout the offseason, seeking lower-cost deals in order to stay under the competitive balance tax. They signed Corey Kluber and traded for Jamison Tallion to shore up their pitching rotation but could use a left-handed bat to balance their righty-heavy lineup.

Gardner is more of a platoon outfielder at this point in his career, but he's a well-regarded teammate who has been a mainstay in New York. If the Yankees want someone who will be relatively low-cost and fit the bill in case of injury, Gardner should slot in—likely at around half the cost of his original 2021 salary. 

The Philadelphia Phillies may have competition from a familiar foe in the J.T. Realmuto free-agent sweepstakes.

Per Robert Murray of FanSided, the Atlanta Braves are "circling" the two-time All-Star catcher.

As Realmuto's camp continues to negotiate with teams, MLB Network's Jon Heyman reported Wednesday that Philadelphia's most recent offer was around $110 million.

Last week, Jayson Stark of The Athletic noted the Phillies were talking with Realmuto about a five-year deal worth just over $100 million.

Multiple Phillies players, including Bryce Harper and Archie Bradley, have publicly stated their desire to have the team re-sign Realmuto.

"J.T. Realmuto needs to be our catcher next year—plain and simple," Harper told reporters after the Phillies' regular-season finale in September 2020.

The Braves don't necessarily need a new starting catcher. Travis d'Arnaud is coming off a career year in 2020 with a .321/.386/.533 slash line, nine homers and 34 RBI in 44 games.

However, Atlanta could dramatically improve its chances of staying atop the National League East, while significantly hurting the Phillies' playoff hopes, if it can sign Realmuto.

The 29-year-old made back-to-back All-Star teams and won two straight Silver Slugger awards in 2018 and 2019. He has hit .282/.336/.466 with 8

The Toronto Blue Jays took one coveted free agent off the market when they signed George Springer, but they reportedly could keep adding a star to their roster.

According to MLB.com's Mark Feinsand, the Blue Jays aren't completely out of the hunt to sign Trevor Bauer. The right-hander was crowned the National League Cy Young Award winner following the pandemic-shortened season in which he posted a 1.73 ERA and a 0.79 WHIP with 100 strikeouts through 73 innings.

The Blue Jays made a major free-agent purchase on Tuesday, signing Springer to a six-year, $150 million deal—the largest contract in Blue Jays history. 

Bauer, who spent the bulk of his nine-year career in Cleveland before parts of two seasons with the Cincinnati Reds, shed some light on what he's looking for in his free-agent fit in a video he released last week. Among the factors the California native are the opportunities to form a "partnership" and have "open discussion" with his new team, and he expects to be "fairly compensated for the value" he provides. 

"I want to be happy," the 30-year-old said in the video. "I've spent a lot of time in my life being unhappy as a person, as a baseball player, as a teammate." 

The defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers are one of the teams most recently rumored to be interested in Bauer, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan. 

In Toronto, Bauer would slot into a rotation that includes Hyun-Jin Ryu—and little else behind him. Coupled with the offensive power of Springer, signing Bauer could push the Blue Jays ahead of the rest of the AL East and make them a real postseason threat. Toronto finished third in the division last season and earned a playoff berth with their 32-28 record. 

The Los Angeles Dodgers reportedly are showing some level of interest in 2020 National League Cy Young winner Trevor Bauer.

Per ESPN's Jeff Passan, the Dodgers are "monitoring" the market for Bauer and could get involved in talks with him if his price lines up with what they are willing to spend. 

Bauer is the biggest free-agent domino still standing, with no indication that he will be arriving at a decision any time soon. 

The 2018 All-Star said in a video post last month that he had a meeting with the Toronto Blue Jays. It's unclear if Toronto will invest another large contract in free agency after MLB Network's Jon Heyman reported on Tuesday it agreed to a six-year, $150 million deal with George Springer. 

Heyman noted the Dodgers are also looking at right-handed hitting infielders, with Justin Turner at the top of their wish list. 

Turner, Joc Pederson and Enrique Hernandez are the three key players from Los Angeles' World Series team last season who are still free agents. 

Heyman reported last month that Bauer is seeking a five- or six-year deal worth between $36-40 million per season. 

Bauer, 30, is coming off the best season of his career. He led the NL with a 1.73 ERA and had 100 strikeouts in 73.1 innings over 11 starts for the Cincinnati Reds. 

The San Diego Padres have made bold, aggressive moves for Yu Darvish, Blake Snell and Joe Musgrove this offseason. The Dodgers aren't starved for starting pitching with Walker Bueler, Clayton Kershaw, Dustin May and Julio Urias, but they can't afford to rest on their laurels with the Padres on their heels in the NL West. 

Reports of Luis Castillo's impending trade to the New York Yankees have been greatly exaggerated.

"[The rumors] are completely false," Cincinnati Reds general manager Nick Krall told Mark Sheldon of MLB.com. "We intend to have [Castillo] as a member of our rotation for 2021."

Rumors of a potential Castillo trade had been floated across social media over the weekend, largely circulated under false pretenses and then picked up by fans. No credible reports of the impending trade existed, but the rumors reached such a fever pitch that Krall felt the need to pour water on the fire.

Castillo, 28, went 4-6 with a 3.21 ERA and 1.23 WHIP during the COVID-shortened 2020 season. He does not become a free agent until 2024 and will make just $4.2 million in 2021 after avoiding arbitration to sign a one-year contract.

While the Reds have been active in trade discussions this winter, Castillo is likely low on the list of players they're seeking to move. He's still cheap, highly effective and under team control, so barring an offer that bowls them over, it makes sense to wait out the market.

The Yankees have largely been quiet in this slow-moving winter but have glaring needs in their starting rotation behind Gerrit Cole. They signed Corey Kluber to a one-year contract last week, a move that comes with heavy risk because of the two-time Cy Young winner's recent history of arm trouble. Kluber has made only eight starts the last two seasons.

Jordan Montgomery and Domingo German are penciled into the projected rotation but also come with major questions. Montgomery has failed to impress throughout his four-year MLB career, while German missed all of 2020 while serving a suspension for domestic violence.

It seems almost certain the Yankees will continue to explore adding more pitching help, with Masahiro Tanaka's return seeming like a solid bet.

Adding a potential co-ace like Castillo appears increasingly unlikely as the offseason progresses. 

The Toronto Blue Jays have yet to make a big splash in free agency, but they are reportedly keeping a close eye on the top three players still available. 

Per MLB.com's Jon Morosi, the Blue Jays are still in contact with the representatives for Trevor Bauer, J.T. Realmuto and George Springer. 

Toronto has been linked to a number of players, both free agents and trade candidates, this offseason.

MLB.com's Anthony Castrovince noted Toronto finished second in the Francisco Lindor trade sweepstakes. The four-time All-Star was dealt to the New York Mets last week. 

MLB Network's Jon Heyman reported the Blue Jays made a four-year, $78 million offer to DJ LeMahieu before the All-Star second baseman re-signed with the New York Yankees. 

Bauer is the top pitcher on the free-agent market after winning the 2020 National League Cy Young Award with the Cincinnati Reds. He led the NL with a 1.73 ERA and had 100 strikeouts in 73.1 innings over 11 starts. 

Springer and Realmuto are the best position players still available after LeMahieu chose to stay with the Yankees. Springer, 31, is a three-time All-Star who owns a .270/.361/.491 career slash line in seven seasons with the Houston Astros. 

Realmuto spent the past two seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies. He made back-to-back All-Star teams in 2018 and 2019 as well as won the Gold Glove and Silver Slugger Awards in 2019. 

Last season, the 29-year-old posted a career-high .840 OPS in 47 games.

The Blue Jays' postseason window opened in 2020 with the development of young players like Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Cavan Biggio, Bo Bichette, Lourdes Gurriel Jr., Teoscar Hernandez and Rowdy Tellez. 

Adding a prolific veteran to that core would help Toronto close the gap on the Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays in the AL East. 

Boston Red Sox outfielder Andrew Benintendi could be traded "soon," according to a report from Sean McAdam of Boston Sports Journal, though the deal reportedly won't be with the Miami Marlins. 

The Texas Rangers, Houston Astros and Oakland Athletics have reportedly "checked in," while one of McAdam's sources calls the Pittsburgh Pirates "a potential fit."

The latter is based on Boston's connection with Bucs general manager Ben Cherington, who was the executive vice president and general manager of the Red Sox from 2011-15 and had served a number of roles in the organization dating back to 1999. 

Jim Bowden of CBS Sports reported Saturday that Boston was looking for prospects in exchange for Benintendi, with an emphasis on young outfielders or pitchers. 

The 26-year-old had a rough 2020 season, hitting just .103 with an RBI and four runs in 14 games and 52 plate appearances. It was a far cry from the player who had 20 homers, 20 stolen bases and 90 RBI in 2017 or the one who hit .290 with 16 dingers, 87 RBI, 21 stolen bases and 103 runs in 2018. 

The Cincinnati native went from being a young core player for the Red Sox to one who is clearly no longer in the team's long-term plans, though it's hard to imagine Boston getting back the haul of prospects they might like for a player coming off a lost season. 

Boston's counterargument might be that Benintendi is under club control for two full seasons, but that argument holds less merit if teams aren't convinced the 2018 Benintendi will return. 

The Red Sox, who might also lose center fielder Jackie Bradley Jr. in free agency, is going to need to address its outfield in a serious way if Benintendi and Bradley depart. The better move than selling low on Benintendi might be to hope for a resurgent season in 2021. 

The Miami Marlins are among the teams that reportedly are looking to trade for Chicago Cubs catcher Willson Contreras. 

Craig Mish of SportsGrid reported the Marlins have the assets the Cubs are looking for as they attempt to "go young" and retool their roster after the departure of president of baseball operations Theo Epstein. The Cubs already traded Yu Darvish to the San Diego Padres last month.

Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported the Los Angeles Angels have also considered adding Contreras. 

The Cubs are clearly under some level of mandate to slash payroll despite winning the NL Central in 2020. The franchise has made the playoffs in five of the last six seasons, the longest run of sustained success in club history.

New president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer, an Epstein disciple, may be attempting to replicate the stripping of the roster Epstein did when building the current Cubs core and looking to replenish the farm system while staying competitive.

Contreras, who has one year of arbitration remaining, made the All-Star team in 2018 and 2019 and is one of the best hitting catchers in baseball. He has the seventh-highest WAR among catchers between 2017 and 2020, per FanGraphs.