The 2015 MLB winter meetings get underway in Nashville, Tennessee, on Monday, which should see a number of high-profile names come off the board and perhaps some blockbuster trades.
Continue for updates.
Trevor Cahill Reportedly Re-Signs with Cubs
Monday, Dec. 7
Buster Olney of ESPN reported Cahill's agreement with the Cubs, adding the pitcher "enjoyed his experience" with the team.
Parra Could Land With Royals
Monday, Dec. 7
Jon Morosi of Fox Sports reported the Royals are "interested" in Gerardo Parra if the club is unable to re-sign Alex Gordon.
Mariners, Red Sox Reportedly Discussing Deal for Starter
Monday, Dec. 7
Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports reported Seattle and Boston are talking, adding the target is Clay Buchholz or Wade Miley, noting it was "not clear."
Yankees Considering Cabrera
Monday, Dec. 7
Morosi reported the Yankees "are interested in free agent Asdrubal Cabrera to play second base but continue to say they have tight budget."
Napoli Receiving Interest from Multiple Teams
Monday, Dec. 7
CBS Sports' Jon Heyman reported, "[The Boston Red Sox] have had some contact on old friend Mike Napoli." However, he also mentioned the Seattle Mariners, Cleveland Indians, Texas Rangers and "maybe" the Pittsburgh Pirates, among other teams, as potential suitors as well.
Tigers Interested in Gordon
Monday, Dec. 7
Heyman reported the Detroit Tigers are "looking" at Gordon.
Tigers, Angels Looking at Cespedes
Monday, Dec. 7
Heyman reported the Tigers are "looking" at free-agent outfielder Yoenis Cespedes. Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News also reported the Los Angeles Angels "may" pursue Cespedes.
The Cuban slugger hit 35 home runs and drove in 105 runs last season, splitting his time with the Detroit Tigers and New York Mets. His 6.7 wins above replacement were more than his last two seasons combined.
The Angels would make an interesting fit given their need for corner outfield help. Mike Trout was surrounded by a largely uninspiring group last season, as Kole Calhoun tops out as slightly above average and David Murphy didn't do much after coming over from Cleveland.
Signing Cespedes to a long-term deal would be an interesting choice, nonetheless, given the Angels' recent struggles in free agency. The club would almost certainly rather not have completed Albert Pujols' massive deal, and last season they gave away Josh Hamilton despite still owing him tens of millions of dollars.
Cespedes' 2015 campaign is an outlier. His body of work suggests he's a very good player but not a building-block talent. But his agents are very astutely going to point to his 2015 numbers and force a team to pay him an MVP-caliber salary. If the Angels are the team that winds up with Cespedes, it might be their third major financial mistake in recent winters.
Rays Considering Baez
Monday, Dec. 7
"The Rays trade talks with the Cubs are said to be focused on getting INF Javier Baez in return for pitching, a major-league source told the Times," reported Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. "There is no confirmation of any deal, or a clear sense of how far along they are or likely to reach agreement."
Nationals Looking to Trade Storen
Monday, Dec. 7
Bill Ladson of MLB.com reported the Washington Nationals may look to trade closer Drew Storen at the winter meetings. Storen, 28, went 2-2 with a 3.44 ERA and 1.11 WHIP last season, converting 29 of his 34 save opportunities.
He was in the midst of a strong campaign before the Nationals traded for Jonathan Papelbon at the trade deadline. Before the trade deadline, Storen gave up just seven runs in 38.1 innings and had converted 29 of 31 safes. After the deadline, Storen coughed up 16 runs (14 earned) in his 16.2 innings and saw his season end when he broke his thumb punching a locker.
“I think Storen is going to pitch much closer to the guy before the last month of the season than the guy in the last month,” general manager Mike Rizzo said, per James Wagner of the Washington Post. “It’s important for him to pitch well, for us and I think it’s important for him personally. I think he’s got good stuff, and there’s no reason he should not pitch well.”
There are two general schools of thought here. One being the most obvious: The Nats have to choose between Storen and Papelbon. It was apparent that Storen was unhappy with being unseated from his closer's role, especially while in the midst of a career-best campaign. Papelbon was an oil-water mix with the clubhouse, with a dugout confrontation with Bryce Harper bringing things to a head.
Rizzo has publicly stated the current plan is for both Papelbon and Storen to be in the bullpen in 2016. That seems unlikely. As for why Storen's the more likely exit, it's simple: He's going to recoup far more value via trade. Not much analysis needed there.
Reds Make 'Everyone' Available
Monday, Dec. 7
Heyman reported have put their entire roster on the trade block, including third baseman Todd Frazier. Closer Aroldis Chapman, who has reportedly been traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers, second baseman Brandon Phillips and Frazier are largely seen as Cincinnati's most attractive pieces.
Frazier, 29, hit .255/.309/.498 with 35 home runs and 89 RBI last season. He also continued his emergence as a beloved figure in Cincinnati by winning the Home Run Derby, and he added a career-high 43 doubles to continue becoming a strong power hitter.
Chapman, 27, is perhaps baseball's best closer. He shut the door on 33 of 36 save opportunities, posting a 1.63 ERA and 1.15 WHIP. Heading into the last year of his contract, Chapman will likely become the highest-paid closer in baseball history next winter.
Phillips, 34, hit .294/.328/.395 with 12 home runs, 70 RBI and 23 steals. The running numbers were particularly surprising given Phillips had just seven steals the previous two seasons combined and hadn't topped 20 steals since 2009.
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