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10:52 p.m.: One of the top free agents, Jay Bruce, is drawing interest from several teams.
Mets, rockies, jays and mariners are among teams eying jay bruce at present.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) December 12, 2017
7:37 p.m.: The Texas Rangers aren’t the only team that’s interested in Matt Harvey, apparently.
#Orioles discussing trading a reliever for #Mets’ Harvey, sources tell The Athletic. Brach ($5.2M) and Harvey ($5.9M) have similar arb projections per @mlbtraderumors. Both entering FA years. O’Day owed $9M each of next two seasons.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 11, 2017
3:37 p.m.: Here’s an interesting New York Mets-Texas Rangers rumor about two former uber-prospects, who, for one reason or another, haven’t yet put it all together.
Matt Harvey for Jurickson Profar has been discussed. Nothing firm.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) December 11, 2017
3:35 p.m.: Don’t forget about Yu Darvish, arguably the top available pitcher on the free agent market.
Wolfe: "Dallas is the first place they moved and they love it there. But he's also got a very open mind. He wants to play for a winning team, get back to the world series and redeem himself. He thinks next year will be the best of his career." https://t.co/1g7VQ9fljd
— Evan Grant (@Evan_P_Grant) December 11, 2017
2:55 p.m.: Giancarlo Stanton’s contract allows him to opt out following the 2020 season, but that doesn’t seem like an option, at least not at the moment.
Agent Joel Wolfe on Giancarlo Stanton’s opt-out clause following the 2020 season: “He has no desire to opt out.” Sounds like the plan is for him to be a Yankee through 2027.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 11, 2017
2:40 p.m.: Giancarlo Stanton officially is a member of the New York Yankees.
🎁🎁🎁 pic.twitter.com/B7GBgn8CM8
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) December 11, 2017
2:05 p.m.: The Yankees might not be done.
Yankees are interested in gerrit cole, who they once drafted. But initial impression is pirates arent trading him.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) December 11, 2017
If New York was able to add a pitcher like Cole, it would be a huge get. Starting pitching remains the only real question mark for the Yankees, and while Cole is coming off a couple of down seasons, he still has some terrific stuff and could be an impact arm.
1:20 p.m.: If nothing else, it seems like there will be no shortage of reliever activity in Orlando. A good chunk of Monday’s news centered around bullpen arms, and it sounds like the market is picking up for All-Star right-hander Brandon Kintzler.
Hearing “plenty of action” on Brandon Kintzler, one of top relief arms available. Should be busy week for RPs: Reed, Shaw also expected to see markets heat up.
— Chris Cotillo (@ChrisCotillo) December 11, 2017
12:50 p.m.: The market for Giancarlo Stanton wasn’t very big, according to Derek Jeter.
Jeter said there were only 3 offers on the table: Giants, Cardinals and Yankees.
— clarkspencer (@clarkspencer) December 11, 2017
11:50 a.m.: Carlos Santana lurks, and he figures to be a potentially valuable alternative for a team who gets beat out on a player like Eric Hosmer.
Indians offer to carlos santana was $36M, 3 yrs but it came before free agency and technically has been pulled. He loves cleveland, and they’d likely go higher. Also interested: red sox, padres, rangers, phillies.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) December 11, 2017
10:04 a.m.: Imagine Manny Machado in a St. Louis Cardinals uniform?
In cards story they are seen as team with best chance at machado — they have the prospects, the motivation and could fit him in — but of course O’s are still seen as unlikely to trade him (tho they are listening).
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) December 11, 2017
9:57 a.m.: The New York Yankees have a logjam in the outfield, and they just reportedly agreed to take on $265 million of Giancarlo Stanton’s contract, which means someone like Jacoby Ellsbury is left in limbo. It appears Ellsbury could be on the trade block, but there’s a wrinkle.
Yankees are believed willing to pay half or so of the 68M to go on ellsbury in a potential trade. Bigger hurdle: getting him to waive full no-trade clause (he wants to stay)
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) December 11, 2017
The money and perhaps, more importantly, the no-trade clause will make Ellsbury difficult to move, but as Ken Rosenthal points out, the Yankees could sweeten the pot to move him.
One way for #Yankees to trade Ellsbury, assuming he will waive no-trade: Attach quality prospects. New team effectively would “buy” the prospects to take on negotiated percentage of Ellsbury’s contract: $21.1M through ‘20, plus $5M buyout for ‘21.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 11, 2017
9:50 a.m.: The Boston Red Sox are expected to add a power bat, although it’s unknown whether they’ll do so through free agency or trade. If it’s the latter, Jackie Bradley Jr.’s run with the club soon could be over, according to USA TODAY’s Bob Nightengale.
The Boston #RedSox have let several teams know that CF Jackie Bradley is available in their pursuit of a power bat. #Cubs
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) December 11, 2017
8:35 a.m.: Stop us if you’ve heard this before, but the Baltimore Orioles are in need of starting pitching help. The O’s appear to be making that a priority this winter, and interestingly enough, New York Mets starter Matt Harvey could be on the radar.
Orioles are seen as one team that could consider matt harvey. @Ackert_NYDN said MH could be available.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) December 11, 2017
8 a.m.: The St. Louis Cardinals have to start picking up the pieces after Giancarlo Stanton vetoed a trade that would have sent him to The Gateway City. Apparently, the Cards will look to upgrade the bullpen, and they have Tampa Bay Rays closer Alex Colome in view, but they aren’t alone, per USA TODAY’s Bob Nightengale.
The #STLCards and #Rockies are aggressively pursuing #Rays closer Alex Colome in trade talks
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) December 11, 2017
7:45 a.m. ET: After weeks of inactivity, Major League Baseball’s offseason kicked it into high gear over the weekend.
The biggest dominoes that needed to fall did indeed topple, first on Friday when Japanese phenom Shohei Ohtani signed with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Less than 24 hours later, the New York Yankees swooped in and worked out a deal with the Miami Marlins for reigning National League MVP Giancarlo Stanton.
In the month since the World Series ended, there wasn’t much activity at all across baseball. Most figured teams (and players) were waiting on Ohtani and Stanton deals to happen. With those moves done, the baseball world turns its attention to the annual winter meetings which begin in earnest Monday in Orlando.
It’s there we’ll likely really see the pursuit of free agents like J.D. Martinez or Yu Darvish start to intensify. Plenty of eyes will be on Boston Red Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski. He’s never been one to sit on his hands, and the Yankees’ blockbuster acquisition of Stanton might lead Dombrowski and the Sox to return serve.
We’ll have updates all throughout the day, so be sure to check back often for the latest.
