MLB Rumors

Multiple MLB teams are reportedly "closely following" how the Chicago Cubs handle third baseman Kris Bryant this offseason, as it's expected the team will explore a trade.

Buster Olney of ESPN reported the Cubs may have trouble finding a taker in talks because Bryant is expected to make around $18 million next season in his final year of team control.

"You have to look at it this way. What would he get in salary [for 2021] on a one-year deal if he were a free agent right now?" one team official said. "He probably wouldn't get $18 million."

Bryant is coming off a miserable 2020 season that saw him hit .206/.293/.351 with four home runs and 11 RBI while appearing in just 34 games. His struggles came seemingly out of nowhere but were pronounced—enough to severely damage his reputation around the league a year ahead of free agency.

The Cubs had previously explored the Bryant trade market but were unable to find satisfactory terms for the 2016 NL MVP. It seems likely that they will have to wait until the 2021 season begins and teams can evaluate where his game is before potentially making a deal ahead of the deadline.

That said, the Cubs remain one of MLB's richest teams, and Bryant seems statistically destined for a bounce-back season. Now might actually be the time for the Cubs to try buying low on a long-term contract extension. Bryant averaged 5.6 wins above replacement over his first five seasons, per FanGraphs. There is little reason to think he's somehow fallen off a cliff from a skills standpoint heading into his age-29 season.

If Bryant would take something nearing a five-year, $100 million extension, the Cubs would be smart to take a gamble on him. Opposing teams should also look long and hard at buying Bryant at his lowest possible value.

Gary Sanchez's disappointing 2020 season could have the New York Yankees look in a different direction for a starting catcher next year.

Per Dan Martin, Ken Davidoff and Joel Sherman of the New York Post, the team is willing to listen to trade offers for the two-time All-Star. 

The report that Sanchez could be dealt comes after MLB Network's Jon Heyman noted the Yankees have spoken with free agent Yadier Molina. 

Martin, Davidoff and Sherman added that the Yankees "want a full understanding" of DJ LeMahieu's market before they commit "any significant" money elsewhere. 

Per Tim Dierkes of MLB Trade Rumors, Sanchez is projected to earn $6.1 million next season in his second year of arbitration. 

The Yankees used Kyle Higashioka as their starting catcher during the American League Division Series against the Tampa Bay Rays. 

Sanchez is one of the most talented offensive catchers in MLB, but he's struggled with consistency over the past three seasons. The 27-year-old hit .284/.354/.568 with a combined 53 homers and 132 RBI in 2016-17. 

Since the start of 2018, though, Sanchez's slash line is only .200/.296/.453 with 62 home runs and 154 RBI in 244 games. His defense has often come under scrutiny, as he's led all catchers in passed balls three times in the past four years. 

Sanchez has spent his entire professional career in the Yankees organization. He was signed by the team as an international free agent out of the Dominican Republic in July 2009. 

Right-hander Kevin Gausman is staying with the San Francisco Giants and accepting the club's $18.9 million qualifying offer for one year, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan:

The 29-year-old made 12 starts for the Giants in 2020, tossing 59.2 innings with a 3.62 ERA and 1.106 WHIP with 79 strikeouts on 16 walks. 

The move gives San Francisco a fourth starter under contract alongside Johnny Cueto, Logan Webb and Tyler Anderson. 

Bleacher Report's Joel Reuter ranked Gausman the 10th-best free agent this offseason, noting his age and a thin market for top-line starters made him an attractive option for teams. He becomes the second high-profile free-agent starter to accept a qualifying offer on Wednesday following Marcus Stroman's decision to return to the New York Mets. 

According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic and Fox Sports, Gausman received multiple multiyear contract offers from potential suitors before accepting his qualifying offer. 

In return, the Giants get a pitcher who can slot in anywhere from the No. 2 to No. 4 role in the rotation and help push along a rebuild that proved slightly ahead of schedule last season. 

San Francisco finished 29-31, good for third in a surprisingly competitive National League West behind the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres. 

The Cleveland Indians are expected to trade shortstop Francisco Lindor this offseason, but a potential deal is "unlikely to happen quickly," according to Jon Morosi of MLB Network.

Per Morosi, the timeline could be impacted by the New York Mets, who must first regroup after moving on from general manager Brodie Van Wagenen and several others in the front office last week.

Lindor is heading into his final year under team control before hitting free agency following the 2021 season.

The Indians have long signaled their unwillingness to sign Lindor to an extension, while even next year's salary could be too much for the organization.

Bob Nightengale of USA Today noted the Indians are "strapped for money" and "intend to trade [Lindor] by Opening Day."

Despite a down 2020 season—.258/.335/.415 with eight home runs in 60 games—Lindor has been one of the best two-way players in baseball during his career. The four-time All-Star also has two Silver Slugger awards and two Gold Gloves on his resume, contributing with power, speed and elite defense.

Anthony Castrovince of MLB.com listed the Mets, Los Angeles Angels, St. Louis Cardinals, Philadelphia Phillies, Cincinnati Reds, Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees as potential landing spots.

However, this could be a Mookie Betts situation, where it might take months for him to actually be moved.

The Boston Red Sox have reportedly contacted free-agent outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr. about a long-term contract.

Rob Bradford of WEEI reported the Red Sox have expressed interest in Bradley despite extension talks being silent during the 2020 season.

Bradley is expected to be one of the most sought-after free agents on the market this winter. He hit .283/.364/.450 with seven home runs and 22 runs batted in during the abbreviated 2020 regular season while continuing to play stellar defense in the outfield. FanGraphs' WAR formula put Bradley's value at 1.4, which is as high as it was the entire 2019 season.

The Red Sox publicly said they hoped Bradley would re-sign, but it did not appear much discussion was happening toward the end of the regular season. 

"I think that's just something they communicated with y'all at this point," Bradley told media in September. "I'll be a free agent in a couple weeks. That's the cool thing about free agency, you get to weigh out your options."

Bradford's report said the Houston Astros and an unidentified AL Central team have put Bradley on their wish list in free agency, so it's possible Boston may have cost itself millions by waiting to negotiate.

Regardless, it's going to take a significant financial commitment to keep Bradley in Boston. 

Cleveland Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor is one of the most magnetic stars in baseball. His future is also one of the top storylines of MLB's offseason.

The 26-year-old is heading into his final year of arbitration and will be a free agent at the end of the 2021 season. Trade rumors have surrounded Lindor for the past year or so, and those wheels are turning once again.

Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported Thursday that "several rival teams" have been told the Indians are hoping to trade Lindor before Opening Day.

The Indians have traditionally operated on one of the lowest payrolls in baseball—they had the seventh-lowest payroll in 2020, per Spotrac. While the organization has made some overtures to Lindor regarding an extension, Cleveland's number has not been suitable enough for the star shortstop.

Lindor broke off extension talks in March, telling Jason Lloyd of The Athletic the two sides had "good conversations" but also indicating a deal was never within sight.

Perhaps the Indians were hoping Lindor might be open to lowering his ask after a 2020 campaign in which he had a career-low .750 OPS. Instead, Lindor has doubled down. He said during an interview with Zack Meisel of The Athletic that the Indians could afford to meet his price, saying "It's a billion-dollar team."

However, it would seem Cleveland is more interested in scoping out Lindor's value on the trade market and getting back value rather than failing to reach an agreement and watching him walk next winter.

But there is no telling just what that value will be.

There is no denying Lindor is one of the best shortstops in the game. He hit more than 30 homers in each season between 2017 and 2019 and stole more than 20 bases in the latter two years of that stretch.

Not to mention, Lindor also has a pair of Golve Glove Awards and a Platinum Glove to his name. A slick-fielding, switch-hitting shortstop who can slug would normally demand a massive haul, especially considering Lindor also brings a good deal of marketability with his charisma.

But the circumstances are a little different this offseason. Teams around the league are still grappling with losses suffered as a result of the pandemic.

Additionally, as Nightengale noted, Lindor is estimated to make around $21 million, and no team is going to take on that salary and give up a slew of prospects without having the payroll flexibility to sign the shortstop to an extension. So which teams might show interest?

The Los Angeles Dodgers could be in the mix. They have an interesting crop of prospects and plenty of flexibility and could also move current shortstop Corey Seager to second base while making Lindor his de facto replacement once Seager becomes a free agent after next season.

The New York Mets are another team to watch. Billionaire Steve Cohen is on the cusp of finalizing his purchase of the team, and the Mets have a combination of infield assets and controllable, MLB-ready outfield talent who might appeal to the Indians.

Regardless, Lindor is sure to have his share of suitors. Whether he moves this winter or closer to the trade deadline (or not at all) is another question entirely.

Stroman Likely to Decline Qualifying Offer   

New York Mets starter Marcus Stroman risked lessening his value on the open market when he elected to opt out of the 2020 season.

However, Mike Puma of the New York Post reported Stroman is "leaning toward" rejecting the Mets' $18.9 million qualifying offer (QO) from in favor of a multiyear deal in free agency.

Puma reported some executives in the industry feel Stroman should accept the offer given the uncertainty of the market as well as his decision to sit out. But the reality is that Stroman might be regarded as the second-best starter on the market behind Trevor Bauer. The Medford, New York, native is just 29 with a 3.76 career ERA. His career peripherals are encouraging as well.

Stroman has a 3.64 career fielding independent pitching mark. Although he lacks velocity and is not the same kind of strikeout guy as some of the other pitchers on the market, Stroman has a 58.6 career ground ball rate, per FanGraphs, and rarely gives up home runs. Not to mention, he made his first All-Star team in 2019.

Considering the constant need for starting pitching, Stroman will almost assuredly get a multiyear deal. He might not get the same average annual value as the QO, but perhaps the right-hander prefers the long-term security, especially after already sitting out a year.

The Mets would likely be thrilled for Stroman to take the QO given all their struggles in the rotation last season. But it appears the 29-year-old will test the waters in free agency.

All stats obtained via Baseball Reference unless otherwise noted.

As MLB free agents consider any qualifying offers from their teams last season, four clubs were pegged by rivals to spend "significantly" this offseason.

According to Andy Martino of SNY, the Toronto Blue Jays, Chicago White Sox, San Francisco Giants and New York Mets are among the teams expected to stretch their payroll this winter. 

For the Mets, any concerns about free-agency spending are largely relieved following the pending sale of the team to billionaire Steve Cohen.

MLB.com's Anthony DiComo reported that Cohen believes the deal may close on Friday. Cohen's checkbook would give the Mets spending power for major stars like J.T. Realmuto and George Springer, the latter of whom is from the area (Connecticut) and has expressed a desire to leave the Houston Astros. 

The idea that the Giants could be big spenders this offseason is in contrast to their past two offseasons. Since Farhan Zaidi took over as president of baseball operations, San Francisco has not guaranteed a player more than $9 million annually, according to NBC Sports' Alex Pavlovic. Two weeks ago, Pavlovic reported that the team would be avoiding adding power to the lineup. 

"With the way our offense performed this year, I think we can be really selective and targeted and maybe look for more complementary players than anybody who is going to come in and play everyday, because we've got a lot of good options there," Zaidi said.

The Giants finished 29-31 and missed the postseason for the fourth consecutive season, while the Mets did the same with a 26-34 record for their worst winning percentage since 2017. 

The White Sox, after hiring Tony La Russa as manager, should be looking to add to their already-talented roster, seeking someone to push them further in the postseason after their 35-25 season, their first playoff one since 2008. As free agency begins, the team has more than $32 million to spend after parting ways with Edwin Encarnacion, Alex Colome, James McCann and Gio Gonzalez (h/t Bruce Levine of 670 The Score). 

As for the Blue Jays, the New York Post's Joel Sherman also reported they are one of a few teams that was not as adversely affected financially as other teams during the COVID-19 pandemic on account of being owned by Rogers Communications. According to Sherman, Toronto, which finished at 32-28 for third place in the AL East before being swept in the Wild Card Round by the eventual American League champion Tampa Bay Rays, has "begun free agency aggressively." 

The Boston Red Sox have narrowed their list of options as they look to hire a new manager.

MLB Network's Jon Heyman reported Sam Fuld, Alex Cora, James Rowson, Don Kelly and Carlos Mendoza are still in the running. According to Heyman, Cora and Fuld have emerged as the strongest contenders, with the latter "having a very real chance."

One would presume Cora to have the inside track.

The Red Sox fired him in January for his role in the Houston Astros' sign-stealing scandal. He was subsequently suspended for the entire 2020 season, having been cleared after an investigation into sign-stealing allegations against Boston.

The fact the Sox are at least considering Cora signals their willingness to welcome him back. The optics of re-hiring him won't be as bad, either, after the Detroit Tigers hired former Astros manager AJ Hinch, who earned a one-year suspension for 2020 as well.

However, Heyman noted Fuld and Red Sox chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom already have some experience together from their days with the Tampa Bay Rays.

Bloom worked in Tampa Bay's front office before leaving for Boston in October 2019. Fuld, a New Hampshire native, spent three seasons with the Rays as a player from 2011-13. He currently serves as the Philadelphia Phillies' director of integrative baseball performance.

In addition, Bloom may not feel too much allegiance to Cora since he didn't have any role in initially hiring him, and their tenures didn't overlap much.

Still, it might be tough to look past Cora's existing rapport with a lot of the current players and the 2018 World Series championship that the franchise won with him at the helm.