MLB Rumors

The 2020-21 MLB offseason has already begun, with a number of teams having to make decisions with respect to club options.

It remains to be seen what the free-agent market will look like this winter, especially because of the possible financial losses sustained in the pandemic. What is known, however, is Houston Astros center fielder George Springer will have little problem finding suitors.

Springer recovered from a slow start to post another terrific season in 2020. The 31-year-old had 14 homers, 32 RBI and an .899 OPS before clubbing four more homers and driving in nine runs during the playoffs.

Springer already has a pair of Silver Slugger awards to his name, and his ability to hit with power from the leadoff spot should be enticing to any number of teams.

The Astros would figure to be in the mix to re-sign Springer. Houston has two other free-agent outfielders in Michael Brantley and Josh Reddick, but Springer has been a member of the team's core group of players since 2014.

However, Patrick Creighton of ESPN 97.5 hears Springer "does not want" to return to Houston.

Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reported in May the Astros made it clear to Springer extending him was near the top of the priority list. But the two sides never came to terms on a new pact, and now Springer's future is in question.

Astros general manager James Click said in his postseason press conference Houston holds Springer in very high regard, adding he feels the New Britain, Connecticut, native is one of the best players in franchise history:

"First of all, let me just say that we cannot say enough good things about George Springer," Click said. "He's one of the best players ever to wear an Astros uniform. He's a tremendous human being, a tremendous leader in the clubhouse. We wouldn't be doing our jobs if we didn't pursue players like that, whether they were from another organization or from here."

This would seem to indicate the Astros will at least engage with Springer and make him an offer this offseason. Whether he reciprocates the interest is another matter.

The Astros were already in a bit of a payroll crunch heading into offseason, and they also face the prospect of signing shortstop Carlos Correa to an extension. Springer is likely going to command a hefty price, one that might be out of Houston's price range.

In any case, Springer might be hoping to move on to a new phase in his career.

Cardinals in Discussions With Yadi   

The St. Louis Cardinals have decisions to make regarding a pair of franchise icons this offseason. Right-hander Adam Wainwright will be a free agent, as will longtime catcher Yadier Molina.  

Both players have interest in returning to St. Louis, and it appears the Redbirds are interested in trying to retain the veterans, notably Molina.

Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported Cardinals brass and Molina's camp are having "continuing discussions." Goold added Molina—who had previously suggested he could retire after 2020—is open to seeing his value on the open market, though he would like to remain with the Cardinals.

Molina gradually developed into a star after getting his break with St. Louis in 2004. He won his first Gold Glove in 2008 and followed with the first of nine All-Star appearances in 10 years in 2009.

The 38-year-old has corralled his share of accolades with the Cardinals. Molina even made his case for another Gold Glove this season after throwing out 45 percent of would-be base stealers and ranking 12th in pitch framing, per Baseball Savant.

Molina is coming off a pair of underwhelming offensive seasons. He has posted sub-90 weighted runs created plus (wRC+) numbers in each of the past two years, per FanGraphs, and offers little in terms of production at the plate because of a drop-off in slugging.

Still, it would not be a surprise to see the Cardinals try to bring "Yadi" back on a cheap, one-year deal, if possible. Molina is a fan favorite and one of the more fiery veteran leaders in baseball, and St. Louis might like to see him retire in a Cardinals jersey.

All stats obtained via Baseball Reference, unless otherwise noted

Former Houston Astros manager A.J. Hinch may have another opportunity to get back on the bench relatively soon.

According to ESPN's Buster Olney, Hinch is in the process of finalizing a deal to become the next manager of the Detroit Tigers.

That should come as no surprise, as Olney reported earlier Thursday evening that Hinch was the favorite for the job, which opened up after the retirement of Ron Gardenhire:

The 46-year-old was thought of as a candidate to land the Chicago White Sox job before the team announced Tony La Russa on Thursday. 

Hinch, who was suspended for the 2020 season and subsequently fired by the Astros following an MLB investigation into electronic sign-stealing, was reinstated following the conclusion of the World Series. He's now free to join any club.

Should he choose the Tigers, he'll have arguably a bigger challenge than when he took over in Houston. 

Hinch won at least 84 games in each of his first two seasons with the Astros. The Tigers haven't won more than 80 games since 2016. What Detroit does have, however, is a stable of young pitchers and position players ready to continue developing in the major leagues.

Led by Casey Mize, Tarik Skubal, Matthew Boyd and Matt Manning the Tigers' starting rotation of the future has as much potential as any in baseball. Corner infieldeer Spencer Torkelson is rated the No. 4 overall prospect by MLB Pipeline while outfielder Riley Greene lands at No. 25 on the Top 100. 

Yet the American League Central isn't exactly up for grabs just yet. 

Both the Chicago White Sox and Minnesota Twins have seen their teams develop into strong title contenders while the Cleveland Indians remain a threat even as they continue to retool their roster. 

That would seemingly give Hinch a bit longer of a leash to work with as the Tigers rebuild. Whether or not he's up for the task is the biggest question remaining. 

Philadelphia Phillies star J.T. Realmuto is expected to draw interest from both the New York Yankees and New York Mets in free agency, but Jim Salisbury of NBC Sports reported the catcher "would like to remain in Philadelphia and is not particularly keen on playing in New York." 

However, Salisbury indicated Realmuto would still go "where the record-setting money is" if a team were to outbid the Phillies this offseason.

The 29-year-old is expected to be one of the top players on the open market this year after hitting 11 home runs in 47 games during the shortened 2020 season, adding a .266 batting average and a career-high .840 OPS.

Realmuto already had two All-Star selections, two Silver Sluggers and a Gold Glove award on his resume entering the year.

With his impact both offensively and defensively, there will be no shortage of interested teams creating a significant bidding war.

Salisbury previously reported the catcher will try to break Joe Mauer's record for a catcher of $23 million per year, while he reportedly was also looking for a deal that will make him more than $200 million overall.

The Phillies haven't given many indications they want to pay that much, with managing partner John Middleton noting the uncertainty about future revenue will hold the team back.

"I have no idea what we're going to be allowed," he said in early October regarding fans at the stadium, per Todd Zolecki of the team's official site. "Obviously, that will determine our revenues, and revenues determine what you can do and what you can't do."

Realmuto might want to stay in Philadelphia, but it will apparently require a competitive offer.

The 2020 World Series is nearing its conclusion, which means the focus will soon shift to the MLB offseason.

The two biggest free-agent dominoes fell before anybody had a chance to make a play. Mike Trout signed a 12-year, $426.5 million extension with the Los Angeles Angels, and Mookie Betts got a 12-year, $365 million deal from the Los Angeles Dodgers after they acquired him from the Boston Red Sox.

Add in the COVID-19 pandemic, and it could be another winter when teams are keeping their spending pretty tight. The Betts contract seemingly points to the fact that general managers are still willing to shell out big money for elite players.

The Philadelphia Inquirer's Scott Lauber reported as much as it relates to two-time All-Star catcher J.T. Realmuto:

"Even in a pandemic, though, a player's value is determined by demand. Although the aging curve for catchers tends to be steep, Realmuto also sits atop the market, with outfielder George Springer and pitcher Trevor Bauer. Most industry observers believe they won't feel the pinch as much as the free-agent middle class, and it wouldn't hurt Realmuto if the big-spending Yankees are shopping for a catcher."

Realmuto had a .266/.349/.491 slash line along with 11 home runs and 32 RBI in 47 games. Lauber posited the 29-year-old could be looking to earn more than $23 million annually, which would set a record for a catcher.

For Philadelphia Phillies fans, principal owner John Middleton offered a somewhat worrying comment when asked about Realmuto, per the Associated Press' Rob Maaddi:

"Can you tell me what the governor and the mayor of Philadelphia are going to allow us to have next year in the way of fans because if you do, you know something that I don't. I have no idea what we're going to be allowed. And obviously that's going to determine revenues and revenues determines what you can do and what you can't do."

NBC Sports Philadelphia's Jim Salisbury reported in September the New York Yankees are expected to pursue Realmuto. MLB.com's Mark Feinsand noted that the Yankees signaled a willingness to explore Gary Sanchez trades during this season, so they might be amenable to a change at catcher.

This presents another New York team with an opportunity to make a major statement.

Steve Cohen is in the process of purchasing the New York Mets. They would be in the market for a catcher if they decline the $10 million club option for Wilson Ramos. Signing Realmuto would be a great way for Cohen to show his reign will be a welcome contrast to that of the Wilpons.

Generally, the Mets don't win bidding wars against the Yankees. Realmuto will be an exception.

The Bronx Bombers could also use their free-agent budget on other targets.

The Yankees signed Gerrit Cole to a record-breaking nine-year, $324 million contract last year. One ace doesn't make an entire starting rotation, though, and GM Brian Cashman might have to replace Masahiro Tanaka too.

Cincinnati Reds pitcher Trevor Bauer used Twitter to ramp up speculation about his fit in the Big Apple:

Nick Krall, who just took over as the Reds' president of baseball operations, acknowledged losing Bauer is a possibility, per the Cincinnati Enquirer's Bobby Nightengale:

"We had a very good pitching staff this year. We're going to lose some free agents. We've got to figure out a way to replace those innings and get quality innings. Offensively, we underperformed somewhat. There are some things we can work with to hopefully get our offense back on the right track and more consistent with what we can do. ...

"Trevor is a free agent and he can do whatever he feels he can do. But we also have Anthony DeSclafani that's one of the starters as well, whether it's replace one of those guys with those guys again or replace those guys from outside, we have to figure out what we're capable of doing when we pursue free agents through the offseason."

The Athletic's Dennis Lin downplayed the likelihood of the San Diego Padres entering the Bauer sweepstakes. Ownership reportedly doesn't want to raise payroll too much, and the Padres should be able to count on Adrian Morejon, Luis Patino and MacKenzie Gore.

The most logical fit is another team Bauer referenced on Twitter:

The Angels haven't had a true ace since the Reagan administration. Los Angeles went after Cole but couldn't match the Yankees' offer.

Even before the team fired general manager Billy Eppler, Dave Dombrowski was mentioned as a candidate to take over in that role. His specialty is spending big in free agency and flipping prospects for MLB-tested talent.

Bauer's arrival would help the Angels address what is clearly the biggest hole on their roster.

Once the price to keep Cole climbed as high as it did, the Houston Astros seemed to remove themselves from consideration. They head into this offseason with George Springer, Josh Reddick and Michael Brantley all out of contract.

"There's a chance none of them return, though the Astros are expected to make a run at re-signing Springer and/or Brantley," MLB.com's Brian McTaggart wrote.

Because of his age, Springer should be the top priority. He turned 31 on Sept. 19, while Brantley and Reddick are both 33. Springer is also the best player of the three. He slugged .540 during the regular season and had four home runs and 10 RBI in 13 playoff games.

As much as the Astros attempt to paint themselves as underdogs, the franchise carried the third-highest payroll into 2020 Opening Day after sitting ninth in 2018 and 2019, per Cot's Baseball Contracts.

The front office probably has a limit to what it's willing to offer Springer, who will draw a lot of interest as the best outfielder available. Still, Houston should be able to bring him back as it looks to add another World Series title.

The Boston Red Sox reportedly have interviewed Luis Urueta for their open managerial position, per Enrique Rojas of ESPN Deportes.

Urueta is a coach for the Arizona Diamondbacks in addition to his role as the manager of Gigantes del Cibao in the Dominican Republic winter league, per Rojas.

The 39-year-old also managed Colombia in its World Baseball Classic debut in 2017, going 1-2 in a tough Pool C alongside the United States, Dominican Republic and Canada.

He's been with the D-backs organization in various capacities since 2007, including managing the Diamondbacks' Arizona Fall League team.

Urueta played minor league ball in the D-backs organization as well before moving on to the pros in Italy from 2004-06.

Per Bill Koch of the Providence Journal, the Red Sox spoke with Urueta after parting ways with Alex Cora last January before ultimately deciding to promote bench coach Ron Roenicke, whose 2021 option was not picked up after Boston finished last in the American League East.

The Sox let Cora go after MLB's investigation implicated him in the 2017 Houston Astros' illegal sign-stealing practices. Cora was the bench coach for that World Series-winning team.

MLB suspended Cora for one year, but he's eligible to return to a team's bench for the 2021 season. There is interest in his services, with the Red Sox and Detroit Tigers considering him, per Rojas.

Boston is also looking into a pair of ex-MLB players in Will Venable and Don Kelly, per Rojas. Venable is the Chicago Cubs' third-base coach, and Kelly is the bench coach for the Pittsburgh Pirates.

The Chicago White Sox conducted an interview with Tony La Russa and view him as a "top candidate" to replace manager Rick Renteria, according to Bruce Levine of 670 The Score. 

La Russa, 76, has spoken with general manager Rick Hahn and executive vice president Kenny Williams in recent days. 

Levine noted the club hopes to have a new manager in place within the next two weeks. 

The former St. Louis Cardinals and Oakland Athletics manager previously led the White Sox from 1979-86, winning the American League West in 1983 before he was fired. 

La Russa retired from managing after winning the World Series with St. Louis in 2011—his second with the Cardinals third overall—and has spent time advising the Arizona Diamondbacks, Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Angels. 

In conversations with White Sox brass, the front office reportedly asked "pointed questions about La Russa's vision and his readiness to handle the White Sox's talented young players", Levine reported, adding the club wants the next manager to provide input on offseason moves. 

After announcing Renteria's departure after a 35-25 season that ended with an exit from the American League Wild Card Round, Hahn was very specific when asked what he looks for in a replacement. 

"I think the best candidate or the ideal candidate is going to be someone who has experience with a championship organization in recent years," Hahn said. "Recent October experience with a championship organization would be ideal. But we're going to keep an open mind." 

The GM mentioned not all candidates would be available to interview right away, as some were still taking part in the postseason. Another oft-mentioned candidate, AJ Hinch, is suspended until the conclusion of the World Series as part of MLB's punishment for the Houston Astros' cheating scandal. 

It's unclear if the Sox have met with any other candidates at this point, though Hahn said Chicago is positioned as an ideal opening after reaching the postseason for the first time since 2008 with a young core featuring Tim Anderson, Yoan Moncada, Lucas Giolito and Luis Robert ready to contend. 

The New York Yankees hoped the Gerrit Cole signing would help solidify the rotation and spark the Bronx Bombers to a World Series.

Instead, the Yankees came up short in the American League Division Series, losing to the Tampa Bay Rays in five games. New York now heads into a challenging offseason.

Aaron Boone's roster lacked quality starting depth and, with both Masahiro Tanaka and James Paxton headed to free agency, it would seem the Yankees could prioritize starting pitching again this offseason. However, star second baseman DJ LeMahieu will also be a free agent. LeMahieu is sure to command a large contract, presenting another conundrum for the Yankees.

But while free agency is likely to loom large in the minds of Yankees fans, the catching situation might also be something to watch.

Gary Sanchez tore onto the scene when he hit 20 homers in just 53 games and followed by being named to the AL All-Star in 2017. Sanchez also seemed to bounce back from a poor 2018 campaign by hitting 34 homers and posting an .841 OPS. But Sanchez had another poor year at the dish in 2020, and he eventually gave way to Kyle Higashioka in the playoffs. 

Now, it is fair to wonder whether Sanchez is still regarded New York's future backstop.

Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reported that the Yankees were "open" to the idea of trading Sanchez ahead of the August deadline, though Brian Cashman apparently did not receive a desirable offer.

Sanchez's power is evident. He has 115 homers in 421 career games. But the 27-year-old is also coming off a season when he had a career-low .618 OPS and 69 OPS+ while striking out in over 33 percent of his plate appearances.

Sanchez is also a liability as a defensive catcher, ranking 51st out of 62 qualified catchers in pitch framing, per Baseball Savant. He also posted -4 defensive runs saved (DRS), per FanGraphs.

It remains to be seen how the Yankees would proceed behind the plate if they did shop Sanchez. While Higashioka impressed during his brief regular-season stint and also had an .896 OPS against the Rays in the ALDS, he has yet to appear in more than 30 games in a single season.

New York drafted Austin Wells in the first round this past June, but Wells' professional baseball journey is only just beginning, and the Yankees are not going to rush that process. Feinsand suggested the Yankees could pursue J.T. Realmuto, though he might be out of New York's price range, especially if Cashman hopes to retain LeMahieu and one of Tanaka and/or Paxton.

That said, Sanchez could have value on the open market. In spite of his defensive deficiencies, Sanchez has two more years of arbitration before hitting the open market in 2023. Sanchez is a controllable asset and one of the best-hitting players at the position when he is playing well.

Perhaps the Yankees attempt to leverage Sanchez in exchange for a young and promising pitcher who can help the rotation in 2021. In any case, Cashman seems more open to dealing Sanchez than he has been in the past.

La Russa Excited to Interview With White Sox   

It has been 34 years since Tony La Russa managed on the South Side of Chicago, but he could be headed back to the Windy City with the White Sox looking for a new manager.

The longtime Oakland Athletics and St. Louis Cardinals manager, currently working in the Los Angeles Angels organization, has been granted permission to interview for Chicago's vacant manager position, per Bob Nightengale of USA Today. Bruce Levine of 670 The Score reported La Russa is "seriously looking forward" to speaking with White Sox leadership about the job. 

Chicago's AL club made headlines when it fired Rick Renteria after he helped lead the team to its first postseason appearance since 2008. Renteria was criticized for his management of the bullpen in a wild-card loss to the Oakland Athletics, and White Sox general manager Rick Hahn said the team is looking for a manager with championship experience, per James Fegan of The Athletic. 

La Russa certainly has championship experience. He led the A's to a World Series title in 1989, a run that included three consecutive World Series appearances between 1988 and 1990. La Russa then won two more championships with the Cardinals in 2006 and 2011.

Fegan reported the White Sox are not attempting to rush the process, and the likes of AJ Hinch and Alex Cora are also expected to receive attention from Chicago.

However, La Russa also has a relationship with White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf. He managed the team from 1979 to 1986, and Fegan reported the two had been spotted together at White Sox games in recent years.

It is possible the White Sox will turn to a familiar face as they hope to take the next step in 2021.

Pedro Grifol Impresses Tigers   

The Detroit Tigers are another AL Central team looking to fill a managerial vacancy after Ron Gardenhire stepped down earlier this year.

Jon Morosi of MLB.com reported Kansas City Royals bench coach Pedro Grifol impressed in his recent interview with the Tigers, adding Grifol has "advanced into the top tier of candidates" for the position.

Morosi noted Grifol has a history with Tigers GM Al Avila, who previously considered Grifol to be the team's manager before Detroit hired Gardenhire ahead of the 2018 season.

Grifol has been a candidate for a number of other positions, and Morosi reported he is regarded as an excellent communicator. That could be a boon for a Tigers team still in the early stages of rebuilding and developing young talent.

All stats obtained via Baseball Reference unless otherwise noted.

The Chicago White Sox have the young talent in place to compete for the playoffs for years to come, and they are reportedly interested in a Hall of Famer to lead the process.

After the White Sox announced they were parting ways with manager Rick Renteria on Monday, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported the team plans on reaching out to Baseball Hall of Fame manager Tony La Russa.

La Russa has not managed since 2011 but is apparently "quite intrigued" by the possibility.

Nightengale noted Jerry Reinsdorf, who is the White Sox chairman, is a close friend with La Russa.

What's more, general manager Rick Hahn told reporters: "The ideal candidate will be someone who has experience in a championship organization in recent years."

The 76-year-old La Russa certainly has championship experience. He started his managerial career with the White Sox in 1979 before moving to the Oakland Athletics in 1986 and the St. Louis Cardinals in 1996. He had a winning record at all three stops and has a 2,728-2,365 mark throughout his career.

He also won a World Series championship in 1989 with the A's and in 2006 and 2011 with the Cardinals, in addition to six pennants. La Russa has won four Manager of the Year awards. Since retiring from managing, the Florida native has worked in a front-office capacity for the Arizona Diamondbacks, Boston Red Sox and the Los Angeles Angels, with whom he is current a senior adviser of baseball operations.

Chicago has not won a playoff series since 2005 and is looking for a manager to turn it from a playoff contender to a championship contender, much like the crosstown Cubs did when they moved from Renteria to Joe Maddon. Now the Angels manager, Maddon led the Cubs to the 2016 World Series crown, their first since 1908.

The White Sox have the pieces to contend with the likes of Jose Abreu, Tim Anderson, Luis Robert and Eloy Jimenez, so it's understandable that their next manager would be a win-now hire.

Bringing La Russa back would represent a fairly stunning one given how long ago he managed, but the White Sox are at least looking into the possibility.

When the San Diego Padres acquired right-hander Mike Clevinger from the Cleveland Indians, they believed the right-hander could be the final piece to their championship puzzle.

Multiple teams made a run at the 29-year-old ahead of the Aug. 31 deadline, but the Friars eventually won out. They sent Josh Naylor, Cal Quantrill, Austin Hedges and a slew of prospects to Cleveland in exchange for Clevinger and Greg Allen, giving the Padres the ace they needed to make a run in October. 

Indeed, Clevinger seemed like a good fit in San Diego early. He won his first start with his new club and, after a somewhat shaky second outing, blanked the San Francisco Giants in a complete-game shutout on Sept. 13.

But things took a turn for the worse.

Clevinger left his Sept. 23 start against the Los Angeles Angels after just one inning. It was later revealed he was dealing with biceps tightness, rendering his status uncertain heading into the postseason.

Although he was left off San Diego's roster in the Wild Card Round, he returned to start Game 1 of the National League Division Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Once again, though, he was pulled after just one inning and a noticeable decline in velocity.

However, it seems Clevinger avoided a serious injury.

Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune reported the player is expected to need "nothing more invasive than arthroscopic surgery" and should make a "full recovery" for the start of the 2021 season. 

This is good news for San Diego in the short term, though the long-term outlook paints a slightly different picture. 

Clevinger threw 200 innings for the first time in his career in 2018 but subsequently dealt with injuries that limited him to just 21 starts in 2019. He does not have a ton of mileage, but the right arm has had its share of issues in recent years.

That said, the Padres acquired him in part because he had value beyond 2020. The Jacksonville, Florida, native is still under team control for another two seasons, and San Diego is just coming into its own as a legitimate contender in the National League.

Clevinger can be dominant at his best. He showed as much in 2019, when he went 13-4 with a 2.71 ERA and 169 strikeouts in 126 innings for the Cleveland Indians. 

The Padres will hope a minor operation and months of rehab will help Clevinger return to ace status.

J.T. Realmuto Seeking Huge Deal   

Philadelphia Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto will be one of the top players on the market this winter, and he is looking to command a huge deal in free agency.

Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reported the 29-year-old's asking price could be "in the $200 million range," which would break the previous record for guaranteed money—held by Joe Mauer at $184 million—by a player at his position.

It remains to be seen whether that money will come from the Phillies.

They are in transition after former general manager Matt Klentak stepped down. Scott Lauber of the Philadelphia Inquirer reported Phillies owner John Middleton would prefer team president Andy MacPhail to retire early. 

Phillies right fielder Bryce Harper has been adamant the team re-sign Realmuto throughout the year. But the decision will ultimately come down to the team's new leadership, which is still in flux. Realmuto himself said in July there had been no progress on an extension.

Regardless, the Del City, Oklahoma, native will likely get the record-breaking money he reportedly desires.

Realmuto and Chicago White Sox catcher Yasmani Grandal tied for the highest fWAR at the position in 2020, per FanGraphs, and Realmuto led all catchers in weighted runs created plus (wRC+) after hitting 11 homers with an .840 OPS.

In addition to consistently being one of the top hitting catchers, Realmuto is also one of the best defensive backstops in baseball. He is second in pitch-framing in 2020, per Baseball Savant, and has thrown out 36 percent of would-be base stealers for his career.

Catcher is a premium position. It is rare to find a guy who can be a perennial All-Star, yet that is exactly the kind of player Realmuto has been in his career.

The odds are pretty high he will make record-breaking money, considering teams like the New York Mets, Yankees and Washington Nationals could all make a play for him in free agency.

Whether the Phillies fully commit to re-signing Realmuto will be determined in the near future.

All stats obtained via Baseball Reference, unless otherwise noted.