The offseason stays comparatively gradual for Main League Baseball and we’re getting into the “vacation break” zone the place usually not plenty of stuff occurs round Christmas and the New 12 months. There’s nonetheless loads of unfinished enterprise, nevertheless, so possibly this yr might be completely different and the range will really get scorching once more.
Within the meantime, let’s dive into the newest rumors, beginning with the man who may assist jar issues unfastened by signing.
Newest on Yoshinobu Yamamoto
The Phillies have made a proper provide to beginning pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto, per a number of reviews (mlb.com). Experiences point out the Phillies really feel like they made a powerful provide, although in addition they aren’t anticipated to be the excessive bidder and are not the favorites to signal him.
One of many few massive free agent offers we have seen accepted thus far this offseason got here from the Phillies, as they re-signed beginning pitcher Aaron Nola to a seven-year, $172 million deal.
In taking a look at their present rotation, Yamamoto would make the Phillies totally stacked. They have already got Nola, Zack Wheeler, Ranger Suárez, Taijuan Walker and Christopher Sánchez. In the event that they signed Yamamoto, Suárez put collectively a full season of which he appears to be like succesful and Nola returned to kind after a down 2023, they’d have 4 frontline starters. Hell, Walker has been an All-Star earlier than.
The Phillies have stiff competitors right here, although. The Dodgers, Yankees and Mets are concerned within the bidding whereas groups just like the Giants, Crimson Sox and Blue Jays have additionally been talked about.
Talking of the Dodgers, they nonetheless have eyes for Yamamoto even after signing Shohei Ohtani and buying and selling for Tyler Glasnow. On the wooing entrance, Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times initially reported that Yamamoto was planning to attend Thursday nights’ Rams-Saints NFL recreation at SoFi Stadium together with Shohei Ohtani. Nevertheless, that report was later retracted regardless of the Rams initially “anticipating” Yamamoto to be there.
The Dodgers have rotation questions for 2024, and Yamamoto as the highest beginning pitcher available on the market would very immediately tackle that shortcoming. The addition of Yamamoto would nearly definitely make the Dodgers not solely World Collection favorites however about as heavy a favourite as one group might be through the offseason.
The Seattle Mariners have mentioned a commerce with the Cleveland Guardians that will ship first baseman Josh Naylor to Seattle, reports MLB Network. It seems the Mariners wish to beef up their offense by way of commerce as a substitute of primarily free company.
Naylor, 26, remains to be beneath group management for 2 extra years earlier than free company. In 121 video games final season, he hit .308/.354/.489 (133 OPS+) with 31 doubles, 17 homers, 97 RBI, 52 runs, 10 steals and a couple of.5 WAR.
If Naylor is traded, it will be troublesome to view it as way more than a wage dump and Naylor is not even anticipated to interrupt the financial institution right here in his second yr of arbitration. It will possible be a precursor to a commerce of Shane Bieber and presumably additionally Emmanuel Clase.
Ought to the Mariners land Naylor, he would make for a high quality 1B/DH combo with Ty France.
Yankees add González on minor-league deal
The Yankees have signed outfielder Luis González to a minor-league contract, according to Ken Rosenthal.
González, 28, was NL Rookie of the Month in Could 2022. In 98 video games for the Giants that season, he hit .254/.323/.360 (95 OPS+) with 17 doubles, two triples, 4 homers, 36 RBI, 31 runs and 10 stolen bases. He had again surgical procedure final spring and returned to hit .248/.350/.352 in 31 minor-league video games to conclude the season. He’ll function organizational depth.
And no, this isn’t the identical one who blooped a Mariano Rivera pitch into left area in Recreation 7 of the 2001 World Collection to provide the Diamondbacks their first franchise title.
