MLB Rumors

Major League Baseball's investigation into the Boston Red Sox allegedly stealing signs during their World Series-winning 2018 season is reportedly expected to conclude in March. 

Jon Heyman of MLB Network reported the delay is likely so MLB can "inform any affected parties ahead of [the] announcement."

The Red Sox already parted ways with manager Alex Cora for his part in the Houston Astros' sign-stealing scheme. Cora was the Astros' bench coach during their 2017 World Series run before taking over in Boston.

Ken Rosenthal and Evan Drellich of The Athletic reported in January that the Red Sox used their video replay room to steal signs from opposing teams during the 2018 season. MLB's investigation into the matter has been ongoing, with numerous twists and turns after the fallout from the Astros scandal.

The findings of MLB's investigation into Houston's sign-stealing scheme led to the firings of manager AJ Hinch and general manager Jeff Luhnow, who were both also suspended from MLB for one year, along with Cora's departure and the firing of New York Mets manager Carlos Beltran. Players across baseball have ripped commissioner Rob Manfred's handling of the scandal, most notably for him giving immunity to players in exchange for their cooperation with the investigation.

Red Sox players and management have denied their World Series victory was influenced by sign-stealing. Third baseman Rafael Devers is among the players who have denied cheating.

"No, no, I don't think so," Devers told reporters through an interpreter last month. "We didn't cheat. We have a lot of talent. We don't need to cheat, and we became champs without cheating.

"They can continue investigating, but that's why they haven't found anything, because we didn't cheat." 

Even though the Cleveland Indians appear ready to start this season with Francisco Lindor, the San Diego Padres reportedly still have their eyes on the four-time All-Star.  

Per The Athletic's Dennis Lin, the Padres "remain interested" in acquiring Lindor, but "the likelihood of such a deal remains unclear" at this point. 

Even though the Indians spent the offseason listening to offers for Lindor, when no suitable deal was offered, team president Chris Antonetti told reporters in January his expectation was the 26-year-old would be with the team to start 2020. 

The Padres were one of the teams frequently linked to Lindor during the offseason, though The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal noted in December they were facing a tight payroll situation that could make a deal difficult:

"The current payroll crunch for the Padres is even more severe, likely making it difficult for them to absorb Lindor’s salary unless (general manager A.J.) Preller somehow cleared a chunk the team’s remaining $61 million obligation to outfielder Wil Myers. The website rosterresource.com projects the Padres’ payroll to be $149.5 million. Ownership wants to be under $140 million, sources said."

San Diego already has Fernando Tatis Jr. at shortstop and Manny Machado at third base. Tatis has been seen in center field at times early in spring training, but manager Jayce Tingler told reporters he won't use the 21-year-old anywhere other than shortstop during games. 

Cleveland's front office has been shedding salary since the end of 2018, including dealing Corey Kluber to the Texas Rangers in December.

Lindor will earn $17.5 million this season and can become a free agent after the 2021 campaign. He has been named to the American League All-Star team in each of the past four years and owns a .288/.347/.493 slash line in 717 career games.  

The Boston Red Sox and catcher Jonathan Lucroy came to terms on a minor league contract Tuesday, according to MLB Network's Jon Heyman.

The 33-year-old has spent 10 seasons in the big leagues with the Milwaukee Brewers, Texas Rangers, Colorado Rockies, Oakland Athletics, Los Angeles Angels and Chicago Cubs. He was named an All-Star in 2014 and 2016.

Last season, Lucroy split 104 games between the Angels and Cubs, hitting .232 with eight home runs and 36 RBI.

While Lucroy's numbers have been down significantly over the past few seasons, he was once among the best offensive catchers in baseball.

His best season came in 2016 when he hit .292 with 24 home runs and 81 RBI in 142 games split between the Brewers and Rangers. From 2011-16, Lucroy averaged a .287/.347/.453 slash line with 14 homers and 65 RBI per season.

Lucroy was also once among MLB's best defensive catchers with a total Defensive Runs Saved of 80 behind the plate from 2010-16, per Baseball Reference. Over the past three seasons, however, his DRS is -40, including -14 last season.

Boston doesn't necessarily need him to reach his pre-2017 levels, but it would take competent offensive production from him in a backup role.

Starting catcher Christian Vazquez is coming off a career season in which he hit .276 with 23 home runs and 72 RBI. He was backed up by Sandy Leon, who is a quality defense catcher, but hit under .200 in both 2018 and 2019.

Leon has since signed with the Cleveland Indians, which leaves Kevin Plawecki penciled in as Vazquez's backup.

Plawecki hit .222 with three homers and 17 RBI with the Indians last season, and he owns a .218 batting average with 17 home runs and 92 RBI in 296 MLB games, which puts him on par with Leon.

Given Plawecki's light-hitting nature, Lucroy stands a decent chance at landing a spot on Boston's 26-man roster to start the 2020 season, provided he comes through with a halfway decent performance in spring training.

Even if Lucroy flops, signing him to a minor league deal is a no-risk move for the Red Sox, considering the lack of high-quality catchers that are readily available.

Retired MLB superstar Alex Rodriguez has reportedly emerged as a candidate to become a major stakeholder in the New York Mets after the club's proposed $2.6 billion sale to Steve Cohen fell through.

Thornton McEnery of the New York Post reported on Friday that Rodriguez is considering a plan similar to the one used by former New York Yankees teammate Derek Jeter to acquire the Miami Marlins. A-Rod and his fiancee, singer Jennifer Lopez, would be the faces of a large ownership group with several wealthy investors.

"[Rodriguez] genuinely loves the Mets," a source told McEnery. "He and J.Lo have talked about him buying a team ever since Jeter got the Marlins."

Cohen stepped away from discussions to acquire 80 percent of the franchise after the Mets' current ownership group, led by majority owner Fred Wilpon, pushed to retain control for five years.

The New York native and billionaire hedge fund manager remains involved in the process, however, and a banker involved in the sale process told the New York Post he should still be considered a major player.

"No chance A-Rod pulls that off, especially with Steve Cohen still out there playing safety on this thing," the source said. "This auction will not get close to $3 billion, and it will be lucky to get over $2 billion. Steve knows that, he's talking to people and he's waiting for the Wilpons to come back begging for $2.6 billion and no five-year window."

Could Alex Rodriguez and Jennifer Lopez own the New York Mets!? Not so fast. Everybody take a chill pill.

I'll explain what he's trying to do and how Derek Jeter did this first: pic.twitter.com/k1YT6UuBk7

— David P. Samson (@DavidPSamson) February 14, 2020

The Mets are hopeful that removing the five-year demand for the complete transfer of power pushes the value to $3 billion, per McEnery.

Rodriguez and Lopez have the financial foundation to make a serious bid if they can attract a group to help reach the asking price. Lopez, a Bronx native, worth an estimated $400 million, while his net worth checks in at $350 million. They got engaged last March.

"He's a businessman and a baseball man based in New York," a source close to A-Rod told McEnery. "Why wouldn't he be looking at this?"

If the couple is successful, Rodriguez, who played 12 seasons for the Yankees, would suddenly become a division rival with Jeter and the Marlins in the NL East.

That said, Kevin Draper of the New York Times reported Wilpon and his son, Mets chief operating officer Jeff Wilpon, have showed a "lack of urgency" to complete a sale and would like to "own the team forever." Whether they can navigate "internecine family battles" will determine if they get their wish, though.

It creates a situation with far more questions than answers about the club's ownership future, but A-Rod's interest adds an intriguing subplot.

Not only was Carlos Beltran considered a driving force behind the Houston Astros sign-stealing scandal, but former teammates also said he refused to change when confronted by Brian McCann.

"He disregarded it and steamrolled everybody," a member of the 2017 Astros said of Beltran's response to McCann's concerns, per Ken Rosenthal and Evan Drellich of The Athletic. "Where do you go if you're a young, impressionable player with the Astros and this guy says, 'We're doing this'? What do you do?"

Beltran was the only player named in the official MLB report on the investigation, which said he and a group of players first came up with the system to decode opposition signs.  

The 42-year-old was hired to manage the New York Mets this offseason, but the two sides parted ways after details emerged about his role in the scandal.

In 2018 and 2019, Beltran worked as a special adviser to general manager Brian Cashman with the New York Yankees, but his "overall impact was minimal" aside from helping with film review, according to Rosenthal and Drellich.

A Yankees official said when he asked Beltran about any alleged sign-stealing with the Astros, he told him it was "nothing no one else is doing."

McCann, who was reportedly not involved in the scandal, also had conversations in which he denied any cheating by the team.

Astros manager AJ Hinch was fired after MLB suspended him for a year, explaining in an interview earlier this month that he wishes he put an end to everything:

"I wish I would have done more. Right is right and wrong is wrong, and we were wrong."

See Tom Verducci's exclusive interview with A.J. Hinch on MLB Tonight at 6pm ET. pic.twitter.com/ISKaxNnwgT

— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) February 7, 2020

It seems that no one was able to stop Beltran and others from carrying on with the scheme, which included banging on trash cans from the dugout to tip off hitters.

Despite spring training games starting in a little more than a week, the Chicago Cubs are reportedly still active on the trade market—which include talks involving their third baseman, Kris Bryant.

Patrick Mooney of The Athletic reported there is a "sense of urgency" for the team to make a move, though that may not include Bryant. The three-time All-Star has been the subject of trade rumors all winter without a deal ever appearing close to done.

Bryant hit .282/.382/.521 with 31 home runs and 77 runs batted last season in a bounce-back from his injury-plagued 2019. His trade value is also arguably higher than at any point in the offseason after he lost a service-time grievance to the Cubs. The 28-year-old will not be eligible for free agency until after the 2021 season.

The Boston Red Sox already pulled off the most shocking trade of the offseason, sending Mookie Betts and David Price to the Los Angeles Dodgers for outfielder Alex Verdugo and prospects Jeter Downs and Connor Wong. That deal has largely been derided because it was a financially motivated move from a big-spending club.

A Cubs trade of Bryant would not quite be the same—he's not on the same level of Betts, a perennial MVP candidate—but it wouldn't be too dissimilar. The Cubs ranked third in salary last year and could easily make Bryant one of baseball's highest-paid players when he hits the open market. But their willingness to shop him to other teams makes it clear they're not entirely sold on keeping Bryant as a part of their foundation.

On paper, entertaining trade offers for Bryant appears to be a mistake. Only Mike Trout and Betts have produced more wins above replacement than Bryant over the last five seasons, per FanGraphs. While his numbers the last two seasons pale in comparison to his first three, Bryant still produced 4.8 WAR in 2019. 

Any team that potentially trades for him could be buying low on a foundational superstar. 

Though the potential trade to send right fielder Mookie Betts from the Boston Red Sox to the Los Angeles Dodgers hasn't gone through yet, there has been "progress," according to Jon Heyman of MLB Network.

Heyman added the "sides seem hopeful."

The deal was initially expected to include the Minnesota Twins, who were giving up pitcher Brusdar Graterol, but concerns over his medical history stalled talks. Chad Jennings of The Athletic reported Saturday the Twins "are out of the Betts/[David] Price trade talks."

However, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, the three teams remain active in discussion, but it's possible there are two separate deals: one between the Twins and Dodgers and another between the Dodgers and Red Sox.

Alex Speier of the Boston Globe reported that the Red Sox are "considered unlikely to end up with Graterol."

Los Angeles was initially expected to receive Betts and pitcher David Price while sending outfielder Alex Verdugo to Boston and pitcher Kenta Maeda to the Twins, but the Graterol reports "spooked" the Red Sox, per Jeff Passan of ESPN.

From Passan: "The Red Sox, sources said, were spooked by a medical review of Graterol, the hard-throwing 21-year-old right-hander who has undergone Tommy John surgery and missed time in 2019 because of a shoulder injury."

Heyman reported Sunday that Graterol could now end up with Los Angeles as part of a separate deal for Maeda, noting that other team doctors have "no big issue" with the pitcher's medical reports.

Per Caesars Palace, the Dodgers' World Series odds rose from 7-1 to 4-1 after reportedly acquiring Betts—a four-time All-Star, four-time Gold Glove winner and 2018 AL MVP—and Price.

Los Angeles has won 104, 92 and 106 games the past three seasons and reached two World Series but it still looking to win its first title since 1988.

Jessica Mendoza will no longer be a special adviser to the New York Mets. 

On Friday, Andrew Marchand of the New York Post reported she resigned from her position with the National League East team. Marchand also noted she will no longer be involved with ESPN's broadcast of Sunday Night Baseball but will remain with the company "doing weekday games, among other things."

Mets general manager Brodie Van Wagenen released a statement saying "We are excited for her expanded role at ESPN and fully understand and support her need to fully invest her time in all the new platforms."

We are happy for Jessica Mendoza who will be expanding her role at ESPN. To focus more on those new responsibilities she will no longer be a Special Advisor to the @Mets. pic.twitter.com/FUyHiPVOMm

— Brodie Van Wagenen (@RocBVW) February 7, 2020

This comes after Marchand reported in January that ESPN was "working toward removing" her from the Sunday broadcast even though she is "expected to be an integral part" of the network's baseball coverage.

Mendoza was criticized for her stance on former Houston Astros pitcher Mike Fiers and how he revealed the team's sign-stealing scandal by talking to Ken Rosenthal and Evan Drellich of The Athletic.

While appearing on ESPN's Golic and Wingo, Mendoza said of Fiers: "To go public with it and call them out and start all of this, it's hard to swallow."

“To go public with it and call them out and start all of this, it’s hard to swallow.”

-@jessmendoza on former Astros pitcher Mike Fiers revealing the Astros sign-stealing scheme. pic.twitter.com/LSQY6B0dSC

— UNSPORTSMANLIKE Radio (@UnSportsESPN) January 16, 2020

Following the criticism, she clarified in a statement that the league "will benefit greatly because this sign-stealing matter was uncovered" and only disagreed with the way Fiers broke the news by talking to the media and not "going directly through your team and/or MLB."

pic.twitter.com/NLoCXYZcej

— Jessica Mendoza (@jessmendoza) January 16, 2020

It is notable she was an adviser for the Mets at the time because Carlos Beltran, who played for the Astros in 2017, was New York's manager. He and the Mets parted ways following the league's investigation into Houston.

According to Marchand, ESPN did not take Mendoza's comments about Fiers into account when electing to remove her from Sunday Night Baseball, although it "left ESPN executives further contemplating her dual role with the network and the Mets."

The Mets announced they hired the 39-year-old last March to focus on "areas of player evaluation, roster construction, technological advancement and health and performance."

In addition to becoming the first female analyst for a nationally televised MLB playoff game, the California native was a member of the United States softball team that captured gold at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens and silver at the 2008 Games in Beijing. 

The outfielder was also named the USA Softball Athlete of the Year in 2006.

The Houston Astros reportedly are planning to sign 21-year-old Cuban star Pedro Leon in July, per Jeff Passan and Kiley McDaniel of ESPN:

Some big, confirmed 2020 international signing news from Jeff & I. This rumor has been hot and heavy with scouts since yesterday's workout. There's a number of Cuban players on the market with seven figure talent and they're all expected to sign on July 2nd 2020 when pools reset. https://t.co/Ay6T85kX4e

— Kiley McDaniel (@kileymcd) February 7, 2020

Leon hit .325 with four homers, 14 RBI, 15 runs and a .910 OPS in 22 games for Huracanes de Mayabeque of the Cuban National Series in the 2017-18 season.   

According to Jesse Sanchez of MLB.com, Leon had a chance to show off his skills in the Dominican Republic for teams on Thursday:

Cuban outfield prospect Pedro Leon had a showcase in the DR today. Leon, who is eligible to sign, is expected to wait until the next int’l period to sign. #Astros have emerged as the front runners. pic.twitter.com/DUoNfTBTVP

— Jesse Sanchez (@JesseSanchezMLB) February 6, 2020

OF Pedro Leon (21) Live BP Today. pic.twitter.com/jdUc90Km4y

— Francys Romero (@francysromeroFR) February 6, 2020

Per Passan and McDaniel, the Astros will wait until July 2—when the international pool money resets—to sign Leon.

Finding potential gems like Leon in the international market will be important for a Houston team that is without its first- and second-round picks in each of the next two drafts, a punishment for their sign-stealing scheme.  

Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com put into perspective just how harsh that penalty could end up being for the Astros by looking back at past drafts:

"They got Carlos Correa No. 1 overall in 2012 and Alex Bregman No. 2 in 2015. Kyle Tucker, who is just establishing himself now, was the No. 5 pick that year. They also got George Springer in the first round (No. 11 in 2011). It's true the Astros won't be giving up a top of the Draft pick like that—they were slated to pick 30th in 2020 and with a solid big league roster, chances are their 2021 first-rounder will be late as well—but going from picking No. 30 to picking No. 72 this June will vastly impede their ability to find top talent."

If Leon hits as a prospect, it will lessen the blow of those punishments. Using their international pool money wisely will be huge for Houston in the next two offseasons. 

Billionaire Steve Cohen reportedly is walking away from his $2.6 million purchase of the New York Mets because of the Wilpon family's last-second attempts to make alterations to their existing agreement.

Thornton McEnery of the New York Post reported the deal is "on life support," and Cohen is "deeply unhappy" about the Wilpon's actions in attempting to close the deal.

However, Jon Heyman of MLB Network reported Cohen is hopeful the Mets will revisit the deal.

"The parties are subject to confidentiality obligations, including a mutual non-disclosure agreement, and therefore cannot comment," the Mets said in a statement.

The Mets announced in December that Cohen was in negotiations to increase his stake in the Mets to 80 percent. A transition would take place over the course of the next five years, with Jeff and Fred Wilpon staying on in their respective roles during that time.

The $2.6 billion valuation would be the largest sale in MLB history. Fred Wilpon and Nelson Doubleday Jr. bought matching 50 percent shares of the Mets in 1986. Wilpon bought out Doubleday's half in 2002, taking full control of the franchise.

The Wilpons sold minority stakes in the Mets to pay off lawsuits that transpired due to their involvement with Ponzi scheme mastermind Bernie Madoff. 

Joel Sherman of the New York Post reported the Wilpons were looking to make a sale because they could not agree to a succession plan within the family. The children of Sol Katz, the brother-in-law of Fred Wilpon, reportedly did not want to partner with Jeff Wilpon moving forward.

It's unclear if the Mets will seek another buyer if this deal falls through.