Houston Astros

The world champion Houston Astros are reportedly bringing back one of their veterans for the 2023 season.

According to The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal, free-agent outfielder Michael Brantley has agreed to re-sign with the Astros on a one-year, $12 million contract pending a physical.

ESPN's Jesse Rogers reported Brantley can earn an additional $4 million in incentives.

Brantley has spent the last four seasons with the Astros. The 35-year-old played the first 10 years of his career with the Cleveland Guardians before joining Houston.

A five-time All-Star, Brantley is a consistent hitter when healthy. He was limited to 64 games in 2022 before undergoing season-ending shoulder surgery in August, and he finished the year with five home runs and 26 RBI while slashing .288/.370/.416. In his 14-year career, he has a slash line of .298/.356/.439.

Re-signing Brantley is another solid move for Houston as it reloads for another run to the World Series. The Astros signed former Chicago White Sox slugger and 2020 American League MVP José Abreu to a three-year, $58.5 million contract in November. However, they lost reigning AL Cy Young Award winner Justin Verlander, who signed with the New York Mets in free agency.

Brantley provides Houston with added depth, as he can rotate in left field with Yordan Alvarez as well as at designated hitter. The veteran will look for a bounce-back performance in 2023.

Free-agent outfielder Michael Conforto is drawing interest from the Texas Rangers, New York Mets and Houston Astros, according to The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal.

The Miami Marlins have also shown interest in the former Met, per Jon Heyman of the New York Post.

Conforto missed all of the 2022 season while recovering from a shoulder injury that required surgery.

The 29-year-old spent the first seven years of his career with the Mets and is considered one of the best lefty bats in baseball. His best season came in 2017, when he slashed .279/.384/.555 with 27 home runs and 68 RBI in 109 games en route to his first-ever All-Star Game selection.

Before missing the 2022 campaign, Conforto hit .232/.344/.384 with 14 home runs and 55 RBI in 125 games.

While he's been productive for much of his career, there are still questions about how Conforto will perform in 2023 after being sidelined for an extended period of time. There's really no way of telling until someone takes a chance on him.

That said, Conforto's agent, Scott Boras, recently told reporters that the outfielder is "back to full health, hitting great and we're talking to a number of teams about him right now."

The Rangers have done a lot of work over the last two offseasons to upgrade their roster in order to compete in the AL West. But while they have added the likes of Jacob deGrom, Marcus Semien and Corey Seager, it's clear they could still use an outfielder bat or two.

Entering 2023, the Rangers are expected to deploy an outfield that includes Bubba Thompson, Leody Taveras and Adolis García. Conforto can play any outfield position, but he has spent much of his time playing in left and right field.

García currently occupies right field for the Rangers, so it's possible Conforto would play in left field if signed by the Rangers.

Conforto's impact on the Mets is pretty self explanatory considering he has spent his entire career in Queens up to this point. If he returns, he'll join an outfield group that includes Mark Canha, Brandon Nimmo and Starling Marte.

The Astros, meanwhile, are short a corner outfielder entering the 2023 campaign. Kyle Tucker is expected to be Houston's rightfielder, and Chas McCormick will likely play in center, but they could use Conforto in left field.

Adding Conforto to a lineup that already includes Yordan Alvarez, Jeremy Peña, Alex Bregman, Jose Altuve and José Abreu would help push the Astros closer to repeating as World Series champions next season.

In Miami, the Marlins are desperate for any offensive help they can get, and Conforto would join an outfield unit that includes J.J. Bleday, Bryan De La Cruz and Avisaíl García. However, the potential addition of Conforto alone likely wouldn't do much to vault Miami into playoff contention.

The Houston Astros have been at the center of free agency this winter, signing José Abreu and losing Justin Verlander to the New York Mets.

Expect them to remain at the center of baseball's offseason happenings.

According to The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal, the Astros "continue to look at free agents Andrew Benintendi, Michael Brantley and Michael Conforto as options for their outfield. After losing out on Willson Contreras, they might even explore signing two of the three."

All three would give the Astros a boost in their outfield, as only right fielder Kyle Tucker is a surefire starter.

Benintendi, 28, was a first-time All-Star in 2022 and hit .304 with five homers, 51 RBI, 54 runs and a .772 OPS in 126 games between the Kansas City Royals and New York Yankees last season.

While he doesn't offer a ton of pop, he does hit for average (.279 for his career) and would be a defensive upgrade in left field.

Brantley, 35, is a five-time All-Star and still hits for average (.288 in 64 games last season), though his power numbers have diminished in recent years, as he managed just eight homers in 121 games during the 2021 campaign.

Shoulder surgery cut his 2022 campaign short. If Brantley re-signs, it would likely be on a one-year deal, but he's been a fixture for this Astros team since 2019.

Finally, the 29-year-old Conforto would offer the most power of the bunch, as he posted three straight seasons of 27 or more homers from 2017 to 2019. He didn't hit that mark in 125 games in 2021, however, hitting .232 with 14 homers, 55 RBI, 52 runs and a .729 OPS for the New York Mets.

Offseason shoulder surgery and a rejected qualifying offer followed, and Conforto sat out the entire 2022 season. Signing him would come with the calculated gamble that some of his pop will return.

Reigning American League Cy Young winner Justin Verlander's price tag may be more expensive than the Houston Astros are willing to spend.

Per Jon Heyman of the New York Post, Verlander and the Astros are "far apart" in contract talks with the 39-year-old seeking a deal worth $130 million over three years.

Heyman listed the New York Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets as potential landing spots for Verlander if things go south with the Astros.

A three-year, $130 million deal would match what Max Scherzer got from the Mets last offseason. The contract made him the highest-paid player in Major League Baseball by average annual salary ($43.3 million).

The Mets' interest in Verlander may be a contingency plan in the event they don't re-sign Jacob deGrom. Heyman reported on Thursday that people in the Mets' organization believe deGrom "prefers to return" to New York.

The Yankees are still waiting on Aaron Judge to make a decision. They have a need for another frontline starter with Gerrit Cole and Nestor Cortes. It would also make them better and potentially weaken an Astros team that has knocked them out of the playoffs three times since 2017.

The Dodgers saw last season the downside of not having a true No. 1 starter in the playoffs. They have so much depth on the roster that they won 111 games in the regular season, but they didn't get more than five innings from any of their starters in the NLDS loss to the San Diego Padres.

There are some differences between the two star pitchers that make Houston's apparent apprehension understandable. Scherzer signed his deal heading into his age-37 season and has never had a major shoulder or elbow injury in his career.

Verlander will turn 40 on Feb. 20 and missed the entire 2021 season due to Tommy John surgery. The nine-time All-Star returned in near-peak form in 2022 with an MLB-best 1.75 ERA and 0.83 WHIP over 175 innings in 28 starts. He earned his third career AL Cy Young award.

The Astros are operating from a position of strength. Even if Verlander signs elsewhere, they will still have Framber Valdez, Cristian Javier, Luis Garcia and José Urquidy in the rotation. They could potentially use the money they would have spent on Verlander to sign another free-agent starter if they decide to move on.

Another one of baseball's biggest stars could be headed to Los Angeles.

An MLB executive believes that if Justin Verlander doesn't re-sign with the Houston Astros that he'll "probably" sign with the Los Angeles Dodgers, per Jon Heyman of the New York Post.

Heyman lists the Dodgers as the favorite, with the New York Mets and New York Yankees as the second-favorites.

The Dodgers reportedly met with Verlander on Monday, and MLB Network's Jon Morosi reported on Tuesday that he believes the Dodgers "have the best chance at this moment" to sign the veteran hurler.

"I believe the Dodgers have the best chance at this moment to sign Justin Verlander." 👀

- @jonmorosi | #MLBNHotStove pic.twitter.com/fK8qIarXaC

— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) November 29, 2022

Verlander put together arguably the best season of his career in 2022, posting an 18-4 record with a 1.75 ERA, 0.83 WHIP and 185 strikeouts in 175 innings across 28 starts en route to a Cy Young award and the Comeback Player of the Year award.

It was an especially impressive season for Verlander after he missed all but one game in 2020 and all of the 2021 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery.

The 39-year-old had been with the Astros since midway through the 2017 season, when he was traded to Houston by the Detroit Tigers. He played for the Tigers from 2005 through a large portion of the 2017 campaign, winning one Cy Young award and an MVP award.

The Dodgers have always been in the market for top-tier talent. They acquired Mookie Betts in a trade with the Boston Red Sox before signing him to a 12-year, $365 million extension in June 2020.

Additionally, L.A. signed superstar first baseman Freddie Freeman to a six-year, $162 million deal in June 2022. The Dodgers also boast a roster that includes two talented players in Gavin Lux and Max Muncy.

If Verlander joins the Dodgers, he'll only add to an impressive rotation that includes Julio Urías, Tony Gonsolin, Dustin May and Walker Buehler.

Former MVP outfielder Andrew McCutchen is flying under the radar on the MLB free-agent market, but he could provide a depth boost for just about any team heading into the 2023 season.

McCutchen captured the NL MVP award in 2013 as a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates, with whom he also earned five All-Star selections across his first nine MLB seasons.

He's since made stops with the San Francisco Giants, New York Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies and, most recently, the Milwaukee Brewers.

The 36-year-old Florida native is coming off a 2022 campaign with the Brew Crew when he compiled a .237/.316/.384 slash line with 17 home runs and eight stolen bases in 134 games. His .700 OPS was a career-low mark.

While McCutchen has mostly played corner outfield or designated hitter in recent years, he has expressed confidence in his ability to still play center field, his longtime position with the Pirates where he won a Gold Glove in 2012.

"It's definitely a position I know I can still play," McCutchen said in July. "The outfield is the outfield, but it's something I've done for a lot of my career, so of course I'm the most comfortable out there at that position."

The continued positional versatility combined with a bat that still has some pop gives him value as he enters what's likely the twilight of his terrific career.

Here's a look at a few potential landing spots for the four-time Silver Slugger Award winner.

---

Brewers

Sticking with the Brewers would give the club a little flexibility as it awaits the full-time arrival of their top outfield prospects, including Garrett Mitchell, Jackson Chourio, Sal Frelick and Joey Wiemer. It's a talented group, but re-signing McCutchen would remove some of the pressure on them to potentially make a high-end impact in 2023.

In terms of veterans, Christian Yelich and Hunter Renfroe are likely locked into starting jobs barring an offseason trade. It leaves center field as the one open spot in the club's outfield.

If a few of those aforementioned rising stars make Milwaukee's final roster, it would likely mean more sporadic playing time for McCutchen, who could see his most consistent work at DH. If the prospects start in the minors, the veteran will be more involved.

It's unclear whether the Brewers are interested in a reunion given his modest production last season, though.

---

Pirates

Heading back to the Pirates may signal McCutchen's career is winding down. A veteran of his caliber typically joins a contender to chase a World Series ring. The Buccos aren't in that category right now, but he obviously has a long history in the Steel City.

The club legend would probably see a majority of his starts at designated hitter, but he could still garner some playing time in the outfield when Bryan Reynolds, Cal Mitchell or Jack Suwinski needs a day off.

Signing with Pittsburgh is something that may wait until later in the offseason to see whether McCutchen can attract interest from a club closer to contention.

He'd surely be welcomed back with open arms if the Pirates are his ultimate destination.

---

Astros

McCutchen isn't the offensive force he was during his peak years with the Pirates, but he's a worthwhile depth addition for the reigning champion Astros. He can bring veteran leadership to the clubhouse even if he's not in the lineup every night.

Kyle Tucker and Chas McCormick are likely locked into starting jobs in the corner outfield spots for Houston. Jake Meyers is penciled in for center field, but there could be playing time available if he starts slowly in 2023.

McCutchen could back up all three outfield spots and also draw the occasional start at DH when Yordan Alvarez needs a breather.

Perhaps most importantly, it would represent a golden opportunity for him to add a World Series ring to an otherwise terrific career résumé.

Houston Astros star Justin Verlander won his third American League Cy Young Award on Wednesday, while Sandy Alcantara became the first Miami Marlins pitcher to win the National League honor.

Alcantara earned all 30 first-place votes to secure the trophy over finalists Max Fried and Julio Urías.

UNANIMOUS 🏆

Sandy Alcantara received all 30 first place votes for the NL Cy Young Award! pic.twitter.com/LOV7gFKUyW

— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) November 16, 2022

Verlander also unanimously beat out finalists Dylan Cease and Alek Manoah.

Justin Verlander UNANIMOUSLY wins the AL Cy Young Award, receiving all 30 first place votes! pic.twitter.com/yP4GNk6q74

— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) November 17, 2022

Los Angeles Angels two-way star Shohei Ohtani finished fourth in AL voting.

Alcantara led all pitchers with 8.0 wins above replacement, per Baseball Reference, thanks mostly to his impressive durability, highlighted by a major league-best 228.2 innings. He tallied 23.2 more innings than anyone else, while his six complete games doubled the next-best number.

No team in baseball posted more than five complete games this year.

The 27-year-old was lights-out, finishing 14-9 with a 2.28 ERA and 0.98 WHIP plus 207 strikeouts.

Though Urías had more wins (17) and an NL-best ERA (2.16), Alcantara's ability to consistently carry his team made him the top choice.

Verlander also stood out for his incredible season, finishing 18-4 while leading the majors with a 1.75 ERA and 0.83 WHIP. He added 185 strikeouts in 175 innings, while his 220 ERA+ was easily the best of his career.

Only twice in 28 starts did the right-hander allow more than three earned runs.

The 39-year-old has been one of the best pitchers in baseball throughout his career, but few gave him the chance to bounce back at this level after he underwent Tommy John surgery and made just one appearance over the last two years. He proved all doubters wrong with an outstanding regular season and then helped the Astros win the World Series.

Cease had a strong case for the award, including his 227 strikeouts and memorable hot streak during the summer (11 GS, 65.2 IP, 0.82 ERA, 0.96 WHIP from June 14 to Aug. 11), but he wasn't as consistent as Verlander.

Verlander is now one of only 11 pitchers with three Cy Young Awards, adding to his Hall of Fame résumé.

Houston Astros owner Jim Crane is hoping the team doesn't lose ace pitcher Justin Verlander in free agency this offseason, but he knows it will take a massive deal to retain him.

Crane told MLB.com's Brian McTaggart that he believes Verlander is seeking a contract similar to that of New York Mets starter Max Scherzer, who signed a deal with the highest average annual value in MLB history last season at $43.3 million ($130 million over three years).

"I know him well, so we’ve been pretty candid," Crane said. "He’s looking at the comp, which I think there’s only one or two. … J.V.’s probably got a few years left, and he wants to make the most of it. I think he’s going to test the market on that."

Verlander, who will turn 40 in February, turned down a $25 million contract option to test the open market.

While Crane didn't mention what the franchise would be willing to offer Verlander to retain him, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle recently reported that Crane is hoping to offer him a deal in the range of two years and $30-35 million annually. Rome added that while "multiple people familiar with Crane’s thinking said he’s set something of a limit in negotiations with Verlander," there's still a chance Crane would be willing to exceed those numbers.

The veteran right-hander enjoyed a stellar 2022 season in which he went 18-4 with a 1.75 ERA, a 0.83 WHIP and 185 strikeouts to establish himself as the favorite to win his third American League Cy Young Award. He then helped lead Houston to a World Series championship, defeating the Philadelphia Phillies in six games.

Verlander's 2022 campaign was a bounce-back performance after his lost 2020 and 2021 seasons. He made one start in 2020 before being shut down and forced to undergo Tommy John surgery, which caused him to miss the entirety of the following year.

Losing Verlander in free agency would be surprising for Houston, but the team should be able to manage the loss thanks to its deep starting rotation that includes Framber Valdez, Cristian Javier and Lance McCullers Jr.

Relief pitcher Rafael Montero has reportedly agreed to a deal to remain with the Houston Astros in free agency.

ESPN's Jeff Passan reported Saturday that Montero and the Astros came to terms on a three-year, $34.5 million contract.

The 32-year-old Montero spent parts of the past two seasons in Houston and was a key part of an Astros bullpen that dominated during the 2022 playoffs en route to a World Series championship.

Montero was arguably the Astros' best reliever last season, appearing in a team-high 71 games and going 5-2 with a 2.37 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 73 strikeouts over 68.1 innings.

The eight-year MLB veteran was also strong during the postseason, posting a 1-0 record with a 1.93 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 10 strikeouts in 10 appearances.

Montero pitched for the New York Mets, Texas Rangers and Seattle Mariners over his first seven seasons and largely struggled, recording an ERA under 4.00 in only one of those seasons.

In 40 appearances for the Mariners during the 2021 season, Montero had a bloated 7.27 ERA, but he got right following a trade to Houston, allowing no earned runs in four appearances to close the year.

Montero finally put together the best full season of his career in 2022, and he was rewarded with a contract that will pay him $11.5 million annually.

On the heels of winning the 2022 World Series, Montero was among the top Astros players to hit free agency, along with starting pitcher Justin Verlander, first baseman Yuli Gurriel and outfielder Michael Brantley.

With Montero returning, Will Smith is the only notable reliever from last season's team who is not under contract with the Astros.

Montero, Héctor Neris, Ryne Stanek, Phil Maton, Bryan Abreu, Seth Martinez and closer Ryan Pressly are all expected to be back next season barring trades, meaning Houston should have one of the elite bullpens in baseball once again.

The Astros were slated to be one of the top World Series contenders in 2023 regardless of Montero's status, but the return of a bullpen linchpin undoubtedly helps their cause.