MLB Rumors

New York Mets general manager Billy Eppler is reportedly "less likely" to target free agents who receive qualifying contract offers from their current teams.

Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported Thursday the Mets are wary of losing draft picks as compensation for those possible signings, which could impact their pursuit of New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge or San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Carlos Rodón.

The Mets have been frequently mentioned as a possible landing spot for Judge, who launched 62 home runs in 2022, but that's more related to the big-spending ways of team owner Steve Cohen than a glaring need in the outfield.

New York's projected outfield starters for 2023 are Jeff McNeil, Starling Marte and Mark Canha. That's not to say the longtime Yankees slugger wouldn't upgrade that group, but there are certainly bigger issues for the front office to address heading into the offseason.

The club must solidify its starting rotation, especially if Jacob deGrom leaves in free agency, vastly improve the bullpen and potentially find new starters at second base and catcher.

That's a lot of money to spend, either via free-agent signings or trade acquisitions, before even considering whether to offer upward of $300 million to Judge.

The Mets could still pursue the four-time All-Star, but it'll more likely happen if his free-agent process drags out a bit to give them time to fill other holes first and get some financial clarity.

Meanwhile, Rodón seems like an ideal fit on paper as a high-end lefty starter who could complement Max Scherzer and deGrom, if re-signed.

The 29-year-old Miami native recorded a 2.88 ERA and 1.03 WHIP with 237 strikeouts in 178 innings for the Giants this season. That followed up a 2021 season with the Chicago White Sox where he compiled a 2.37 ERA.

Ultimately, if the Mets aren't interested in relinquishing draft picks as part of their free-agent efforts, it's going to limit the number of impact players they'll be able to pursue.

It wouldn't be a surprise if that stance changes at some point over the winter if the club's roster-building process isn't yielding the desired results.

The New York Yankees aren't planning to make any major changes following their sweep to the Houston Astros in the American League Championship Series.

SNY's Andy Martino reported the Yankees are likely to retain general manager Brian Cashman, whose contract is expiring. And as long as Cashman stays, manager Aaron Boone "is expected to come back, too."

"The only way it seems that this could go sideways for either of them is if fan vitriol becomes so toxic that [team owner Hal] Steinbrenner decides he must initiate a GM change that no one believes he wants to make," Martino reported.

Any season that doesn't end in a World Series triumph is typically considered a disappointment among Yankees fans. Maintaining the status quo may not cut it when the franchise hasn't won a title since 2009. In Boone's case, the absence of a single appearance in the Fall Classic across five years is glaring.

In situations like this, there's always the danger of being a prisoner of the moment.

Cashman is a proven GM with four rings. Since he took over in 1998, the Bronx Bombers have missed the playoffs just four times. The 55-year-old has consistently done well to not only pursue the marquee stars fans are accustomed to seeing in pinstripes, but also developing homegrown talent through the farm system.

In Boone's case, he has guided New York to two 100-win seasons and came one victory of that threshold in 2022. Excluding the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign, the Yankees have won at least 92 games every year under Boone. By comparison, they had four straight 80-win seasons under Joe Girardi before going 91-17 in 2017, his last year in charge.

At the same time, you can make a legitimate case to fire both Cashman and Boone.

The 2022 playoffs exposed how top-heavy the Yankees offense had become. The lineup was heavily dependent on Aaron Judge, and the team was toast with him posting a .490 OPS across the postseason.

Meanwhile, Boone's handling of the bullpen drew criticism for the second playoffs in a row. Using the rival Boston Red Sox as a source of inspiration with your back against the wall is the kind of thing that's bound to get mocked as well.

Maybe Steinbrenner's faith in Cashman and Boone will be repaid next October.

For now, ownership will likely be perceived as feeling satisfied with falling short of a championship as long as it doesn't jeopardize the bottom line.

The Chicago White Sox are expected to interview Ozzie Guillén next week for their vacant managerial position, per Michael Allardyce of NBC Sports Chicago.

The White Sox have already had discussions with Guillén, Allardyce added, and his name has been mentioned as a potential candidate since it was announced that Tony La Russa would not return in 2023.

La Russa stepped down as manager of the White Sox on Oct. 3 because of health concerns that left him unable to manage games since the end of August. He was having an issue with a pacemaker he got in February, and he announced the day he stepped down that he was also dealing with a new ailment.

The 78-year-old had managed the White Sox for the last two seasons, going 174-150 in that span. Chicago reached the American League Division Series in 2021, falling to the Houston Astros in four games, and failed to make the postseason this year after finishing 81-81.

La Russa also managed the White Sox from 1979-1986 and spent time managing the Oakland Athletics and St. Louis Cardinals before returning to Chicago.

Guillén told NBC Sports Chicago earlier this month that he was interested in taking the White Sox managerial role, per Allardyce.

"It is not in my plans. I don't know if it is in the White Sox' plans," he said. "Even if they think I can help them for next year, I'm very open to listening to it."

He added: "I will respect the game. I will respect the organization. But meanwhile, I'm fine where I am and do what I do."

Guillén has not managed a Major League Baseball club since 2012, when he led the Miami Marlins to a 69-93 record before being fired after his only season with the franchise.

The 58-year-old began his managerial career with the White Sox in 2004, serving as the team's manager through the 2011 campaign. He went 678-617 in that span and led the team to a World Series title in 2005, when he was also named Manager of the Year.

The White Sox have cast a wide net in the early stages of their latest managerial search. Atlanta Braves third base coach Ron Washington, Astros bench coach Joe Espada and Kansas City Royals bench coach Pedro Grifol are among those in the mix for the position, per Jon Heyman of the New York Post.

Atlanta Braves third base coach Ron Washington, Kansas City Royals bench coach Pedro Grifol and Houston Astros bench coach Joe Espada are reportedly among the top candidates in the Chicago White Sox's wide-ranging search for a new manager.

Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported the update Friday, with a rival MLB executive saying the White Sox wrapped up the 2022 season as the "most underachieving team in the last 50 years."

"You know I don't comment on rumors," team owner Jerry Reinsdorf told Heyman when asked about the managerial vacancy.

Chicago entered the season as the favorite to win the AL Central, and FanGraphs projected the club with the eighth-best odds to win the World Series at 5.3 percent.

The South Siders didn't come close to reaching those expectations. They posted an 81-81 record and a negative run differential (minus-31) while finishing 11 games behind the Cleveland Guardians in the division and five games behind the AL's final wild-card spot.

Tony La Russa, who was hired by the White Sox in October 2020, stepped away from the team in August to focus on his health. He stepped down from the managerial role in early October, saying his recovery from heart problems would extend into the 2023 season.

Miguel Cairo managed the club on an interim basis for the remainder of 2022, but so far doesn't appear among the main targets to fill the full-time role.

Washington is the name that stands out among the candidates listed by Heyman for a club that could use a culture shift.

The 70-year-old former Texas Rangers manager has established himself as a no-nonsense leader with a work ethic that's unsurpassed around MLB.

He's well known for his relentless infield work, and the impact of his daily pregame drills with the Braves aren't simply an intangible.

Atlanta third baseman Austin Riley, who posted a minus-nine defensive runs saved (DRS) at third base over his first two MLB seasons, has compiled a plus-19 DRS over the past two years, per FanGraphs.

"Working with Wash every day, he's watching every little thing," Riley told Scott Miller of the New York Times last October. "Every ball he's hitting, he's making sure you're making the right moves."

Washington also owns a strong managerial track record, racking up a 664-611 record and a pair of World Series appearances across eight seasons with the Rangers (2007-14). He won a World Series ring last year with the Braves, who hired him in 2017.

The White Sox have the talent to contend, and the former MLB infielder is the type of manager who would ensure the work is being put in to reach the club's full potential.

Chicago hasn't announced a timetable for making a decision about filling the vacancy.

The San Francisco Giants are expected to be among the most aggressive teams in the free-agent market this winter, with Aaron Judge and Trea Turner among their targets.

Bob Nightengale of USA Today wrote the Giants are "willing to do anything for a return to the postseason."

“We do have the flexibility to be involved in every possible option on the table," Giants president Farhan Zaidi said.

The Giants were 13th in payroll for the 2022 season and finished the year with baseball's highest salary total on the injured list. Carlos Rodón ($21.5 million), Brandon Belt ($18.4 million), Evan Longoria ($14.5 million), Alex Wood ($12.5 million) and Anthony DeSclafani ($12 million) all finished the 2022 campaign out of the lineup.

The salaries of Belt and (likely) Longoria will be coming off the books, giving an already-lean salary sheet an even bigger opportunity to improve.

Judge and Turner are the crowned jewels of the MLB free-agent class, with both almost certainly looking at $300-plus million in guarantees on the open market. Judge set the American League record with 62 home runs during the regular season and grew up in California.

"There's a pot of gold there," Yankees general manager Brian Cashman told reporters of Judge. "It's yet to be determined what the gold—how much it weighs—but it's a pot of gold, no doubt about it. So good for him. It was already a big pot and, obviously, it'll be bigger."

Turner is arguably the sport's most complete shortstop, posting back-to-back 20-20 sesaons before hitting free agency for the first time. Nightengale noted Turner may be interested in returning to the East Coast, which may raise his price among the West Coast teams looking to ink him to a long-term contract.

The Giants have holes across their roster, so it would not be a surprise if they switched gears and focused on adding depth across the roster if they strike out on the biggest names.

Multiple high-profile MLB teams are reportedly expected to pursue a top shortstop on the free-agent market during the offseason.

According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the Chicago Cubs, St. Louis Cardinals, Philadelphia Phillies and San Francisco Giants are all expected to be on the hunt for a star shortstop.

Heyman named Trea Turner of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Dansby Swanson of the Atlanta Braves, Xander Bogaerts of the Boston Red Sox and Carlos Correa of the Minnesota Twins as the top shortstops expected to hit the market and drum up a ton of interest once the 2022 season concludes.

Depending on what happens with the aforementioned shortstops, the Dodgers, Braves, Red Sox and Twins could be players in the shortstop market as well, since they will need replacements if their star shortstops sign elsewhere.

This marks the second consecutive year that shortstop is arguably the most stacked position in free agency, as Correa, Corey Seager, Javier Baez, Trevor Story and Marcus Semien were among the headliners of the 2021 class.

In terms of total value, Seager got the biggest deal at $325 million over 10 years. Baez, Semien and Story also did well for themselves, while Correa settled for a three-year deal with an opt-out clause after this season.

Part of the reason for Correa not landing a big contract was the fact that he waited until after the lockout to sign, which may have impacted his market.

That won't be an issue this offseason, which is why Turner, Swanson, Bogaerts and Correa are all expected to do well in free agency.

Turner, 29, has spent parts of the past two seasons in L.A. after a trade from the Washington Nationals and is in the midst of a fantastic season that has seen him hit .300 with 20 home runs, 97 RBI, 98 runs scored and 26 stolen bases.

As a two-time All-Star, one-time batting champion and one-time World Series champion with top-end speed, Turner promises to be highly sought after.

The 28-year-old Swanson is enjoying a career year with a .276 average, 22 homers and 92 RBI, and he helped the Braves win the World Series last season.

Bogaerts, who turns 30 on Saturday, is a four-time All-Star and two-time World Series champion during a 10-year career that has been spent entirely in Boston.

With a .309 batting average, Bogaerts is in the hunt for the American League batting titles, which would be the first of his career.

Correa, who is the youngest of the free-agent shortstops after just turning 28 this month, was a two-time All-Star and one-time World Series champion during his time with the Houston Astros, and has played well for the Twins this season, hitting .286 with 21 homers and 61 RBI.

Of the teams rumored to be heavily interested in the free-agent shortstops, the Cardinals are the only surefire playoff team this season, while the Phillies are battling for the final wild-card spot in the NL.

The Giants missed out on the playoffs after winning over 100 games last season, and the Cubs are in the midst of a rebuild.

Any of those teams would receive a huge boost upon signing one of the top shortstops and would perhaps close the gap between themselves and top NL teams like the Dodgers, Braves and New York Mets.

The Detroit Tigers will reportedly hire Scott Harris as the team's newest president of baseball operations, per ESPN's Jeff Passan.

Harris has spent the past three seasons as the general manager of the San Francisco Giants.

Al Avila had been the Tigers' executive vice president of baseball operations and general manager for seven years before being fired in August. Detroit has already been eliminated from the playoffs and entered Monday with a 55-91 record, fourth-worst in the majors.

It will be the seventh straight year without a playoff appearance for the Tigers, who haven't had a winning record since 2016.

Harris will try to turn things around after some up-and-down seasons in San Francisco.

The Giants missed the playoffs in 2020 and are just 69-77 in 2022, but the team had the best record in baseball last year at 107-55. Several unheralded additions like Kevin Gausman, Anthony DeSclafani, Darin Ruf and LaMonte Wade Jr. helped key the surprising success.

Prior to his time in San Francisco, Harris spent seven years with the Chicago Cubs and was in the front office during the team's World Series run in 2016. He ended his time with the team as the assistant general manager under GM Jed Hoyer and team president Theo Epstein.

The fast-rising executive will now look to turn around a Tigers franchise that has struggled at the major league level and has just one prospect (Jackson Jobe) ranked inside the top 50 across baseball, per MLB.com.

MLB executives reportedly predict "one of the best free-agent classes in recent memory" with several high-profile players planning to use opt-out clauses in their contracts to hit the open market.

Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported Thursday it's a group that includes New York Mets starting pitcher Jacob deGrom, Houston Astros starting pitcher Justin Verlander, Minnesota Twins shortstop Carlos Correa, Boston Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts and San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Carlos Rodon.

Those players with options in their contracts for 2023 are expected to join a star-studded free-agent group also slated to include New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge and Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Trea Turner.

Having so many notable names available in free agency will represent the first major test for MLB's collective bargaining agreement.

The league and the Players Association came to terms on a new CBA in March following a 99-day lockout. One of the biggest concerns raised by the union throughout the process was the "artificial restraints on free agency."

That came after the free-agent market became sluggish in recent years, which was basically a two-pronged problem.

On one hand, teams with the talent to contend were trying to avoid reaching the league's Competitive Balance Tax, MLB's version of a luxury tax, and opted for cheaper depth options.

On the other, a fair number of clubs fully embraced tanking, so they had no interest in signing free agents who would add significant payroll when the World Series wasn't a realistic target.

It left a small number of teams to compete for most of the market's biggest names, which led to long free-agent stays and contracts below expected value.

Initial returns from the new CBA were promising. Over $1 billion was spent on player contracts in the first 10 days after the deal was announced.

So now the focus shifts to this winter, where the money should once again be flying around if the CBA is working as intended for the players.

DeGrom and Verlander are two of the generation's best pitchers and could command salaries in the same ballpark as the $43.3 million starting pitcher Max Scherzer received from the Mets last offseason, which is the current highest salary in MLB, per Spotrac.

Hitters like Judge and Turner should also break the bank in the new CBA environment. The Yankees slugger has recorded 51 home runs so far in 2022, which is 15 more than any other player, and the Dodgers infielder is one of the sport's most well-rounded players.

The likes of Bogaerts, Correa and Rodon may not quite match the salaries of those top four, but they're also in line for lucrative contracts of their own.

All that said, if this year's free-agent market fails to live up to expectations in terms of team spending, grumblings about the CBA will likely begin anew.

As questions continue to linger about the future of MLB home run leader Aaron Judge, who's a free agent at season's end, rival executives reportedly expect him to remain with the New York Yankees.

Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported Thursday that "most" within baseball think the Yanks will find a way to re-sign the four-time All-Star outfielder.

"They have to keep him, don't they?" an unnamed general manager told Heyman.

In June, Judge and the Yankees agreed on a one-year, $19 million contract for 2022 to avoid a hearing for his final year of arbitration. The slugger said no further discussions would be held about a long-term deal.

"That's for when the season's done," Judge told reporters.

The 30-year-old California native has bolstered his value with a terrific season. He's compiled a .296/.399/.664 slash line with 51 home runs and 15 stolen bases in 127 appearances. No one else in baseball has more than 36 homers.

Judge has played his entire career with New York, which selected him in the first round of the 2013 draft. He reached the major leagues in 2016 and won the AL Rookie of the Year Award in 2017 after hitting 52 longballs in his first full season.

His foray into free agency could be a watershed moment for the modern-day Yankees.

In the 1990s and early 2000s, the Yanks under George Steinbrenner were willing to spare no expense to chase World Series titles.

The financial balance of power has shifted toward the Los Angeles Dodgers and, more recently, the New York Mets over the past decade, though.

With Judge putting himself in line to receive a monster contract, the Yankees will likely have to step up if they're going to outbid those bid-spending rivals and others.

Although discussions about the Yanks' lack of spending are a bit overblown—they still rank third with a $252.2 million payroll this season, per Spotrac—it's reasonable to question whether they'll keep Judge no matter the price. There may be a limit.

If the likely AL MVP leaves over the winter, there will be incredible pressure on the front office to make other moves during the offseason to keep the club in championship contention next year and beyond.

Staying with the Yankees still seems like the most probable outcome for Judge, though.