Braves acquired LHP Jaime Garcia from the Cardinals for RHPs John Gant and Chris Ellis, and INF Luke Dykstra.
The deal was originally reported by Mark Saxon of ESPN.com and it’s now official. Garcia is the third addition to the Braves’ rotation this offseason, joining Bartolo Colon and R.A. Dickey. The 30-year-old southpaw managed to stay healthy in 2016, but he disappointed with a 4.67 ERA over 30 starts and two relief appearances while allowing a career-high 26 home runs in 171 2/3 innings. The Braves are taking a chance on a rebound and perhaps the potential to turn him into a trade chip. As for the Cardinals, they managed to dump his salary and get three prospects in return.
The deal was originally reported by Mark Saxon of ESPN.com and it’s now official. Garcia is the third addition to the Braves’ rotation this offseason, joining Bartolo Colon and R.A. Dickey. The 30-year-old southpaw managed to stay healthy in 2016, but he disappointed with a 4.67 ERA over 30 starts and two relief appearances while allowing a career-high 26 home runs in 171 2/3 innings. The Braves are taking a chance on a rebound and perhaps the potential to turn him into a trade chip. As for the Cardinals, they managed to dump his salary and get three prospects in return.
According to Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports, Dexter Fowler's representatives believe he can get $18 million per season on a multi-year deal.
What a difference a year makes. Fowler ended up settling for a one-year, $8 million deal to return to the Cubs last offseason after draft pick compensation impacted his market, but the outlook is much rosier this time after he batted .276/.393/.447 with 13 homers, 48 RBI, and 13 steals over 125 games in 2016. Granted, Fowler wasn't nearly as productive after the start of June, but he's a switch-hitter with proven on-base ability. Heyman hears that the Cardinals, Blue Jays, and Giants are among the clubs believed to have interest.
What a difference a year makes. Fowler ended up settling for a one-year, $8 million deal to return to the Cubs last offseason after draft pick compensation impacted his market, but the outlook is much rosier this time after he batted .276/.393/.447 with 13 homers, 48 RBI, and 13 steals over 125 games in 2016. Granted, Fowler wasn't nearly as productive after the start of June, but he's a switch-hitter with proven on-base ability. Heyman hears that the Cardinals, Blue Jays, and Giants are among the clubs believed to have interest.
Astros and OF Nori Aoki avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $5.5 million contract.
Those contract numbers courtesy of the Houston Chronicle's Jake Kaplan. The club scooped Aoki off waivers from the Mariners at the beginning of the month, but it was unclear whether he would be non-tendered after the Astros signed Josh Reddick. He has dodged that fate. This past season, Aoki slashed .283/.349/.388 with 24 doubles and 63 runs scored over 417 at-bats. He turns 35 in January.
Those contract numbers courtesy of the Houston Chronicle's Jake Kaplan. The club scooped Aoki off waivers from the Mariners at the beginning of the month, but it was unclear whether he would be non-tendered after the Astros signed Josh Reddick. He has dodged that fate. This past season, Aoki slashed .283/.349/.388 with 24 doubles and 63 runs scored over 417 at-bats. He turns 35 in January.
Hanley Ramirez is hoping Red Sox will allow him to play a few games in winter ball in preparation for playing for Dominican Republic in World Baseball Classic.
The Mets re-signed backup catcher René Rivera. Rivera was Noah Syndergaard's personal catcher for most of 2016. Syndergaard had a 2.50 ERA in 140 1/3 innings (30 steals, 7 caught stealing) with Rivera catching and a 2.91 ERA in 43 1/3 innings (18 steals, 2 caught stealing) caught by others.
The Cubs tendered contracts to all four of their arbitration eligible players including Pedro Strop, Hector Rondon, Justin Grimm and Jake Arrieta. Four players not eligible for arbitration were not tendered contracts: lefties Zac Rosscup and Gerardo Concepcion along with righty Conor Mullee and inf Christian Villanueva, making them free agents. Overall, a total of 26 players were tendered contracts for 2017 including 22 not eligible for arb.
The Dodgers tendered contracts to arbitration-eligible players Yasmani Grandal, Josh Fields, Alex Wood, Vidal Nuno and Luis Avilan, and all other players on the 40-man roster. The club did not tender a contract to pitcher Louis Coleman.
If you've wondered whether Chris Carter was the first HR champ to get nontendered...correct! ESPN Stats & Info says the only thing close is the 1974 White Sox selling Dick Allen to the Braves because he said he was going to retire. Then the Phillies talked him into unretiring.
The Diamondbacks have reportedly agreed to a 2-year deal with catcher Jeff Mathis. Mathis was one of the game's top pitch-framers in 2016, ranking 4th among catchers in a stat known as "called strike rate above average." Marlins pitchers had a 3.28 ERA when Mathis caught them last season and a 4.26 ERA when others caught.
Tyson Ross missed pretty much all of 2016 with a sore shoulder and had surgery to address TOS in October. The year before he led the NL in walks and he's always had a high risk delivery. I can't blame the Padres for walking away from $9MM+ for him.
The Yankees have non-tendered lefty reliever Jacob Lindgren. Lindgren, 23, was the Yankees' top draft pick (55th overall) in 2014 out of Mississippi State. He made the big leagues in 2015, but has been beset by injuries, including an elbow ligament that required Tommy John surgery and will likely keep him out until 2018.
The Nationals traded with the Padres to get catcher Derek Norris. Norris had the lowest batting average (.186) and 3rd-lowest OPS (.583) among the 24 players with at least 300 at-bats last season. However, his 15 defensive runs saved ranked 2nd among MLB catchers, trailing only Buster Posey's 23. The Padres were 54-59 when Norris started, 14-35 when he didn't.
Source confirms a report the Cubs have agreed to terms with lefty reliever Brian Duensing on a one year deal. Duensing will be part of a group of lefty relievers competing for jobs potentially vacated by Travis Wood, Aroldis Chapman and Mike Montgomery -- the latter pitcher could be the Cubs 5th starter. Duensing was injured for part of 2016 but has a 3.72 career strikeout to walk ratio versus lefties.
Buster Olney of ESPN reports that the Astros have agreed to a one-year, $16 million contract with Carlos Beltran.
The Astros have won out over the Yankees, Red Sox and Blue Jays who were also active in the bidding for the veteran slugger. Beltran returns to the Astros where he had a magical half-season in 2004, slashing .258/.368/.559 with 23 homers, 53 RBI and 28 stolen bases following a mid-season trade from the Royals. He's expected to function primarily as the designated hitter for the Astros, but could see time in the corner outfield as well.
Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal confirms Mark Melancon has received multiple four-year offers for at least $60 million.
Rosenthal said those offers came from the Giants, Nationals and "perhaps one other" club. The Giants' offer is reportedly the strongest. Things seem to be moving quickly on Melancon and it wouldn't be a surprise if he signed during the Winter Meetings, which start tomorrow in Maryland.
Rosenthal said those offers came from the Giants, Nationals and "perhaps one other" club. The Giants' offer is reportedly the strongest. Things seem to be moving quickly on Melancon and it wouldn't be a surprise if he signed during the Winter Meetings, which start tomorrow in Maryland.
ESPN's Jim Bowden reports a deal between the Dodgers and free agent Rich Hill "will get done."
Bowden said an official announcement is expected on Sunday. According to Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register, Hill's new deal is expected to be in the neighborhood of three years and $48 million. That's a big raise for Hill, who inked a one-year, $6 million pact with Oakland last offseason. The 36-year-old had his best season in 2016, contributing a stellar 2.12 ERA over 110 1/3 innings.
Bowden said an official announcement is expected on Sunday. According to Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register, Hill's new deal is expected to be in the neighborhood of three years and $48 million. That's a big raise for Hill, who inked a one-year, $6 million pact with Oakland last offseason. The 36-year-old had his best season in 2016, contributing a stellar 2.12 ERA over 110 1/3 innings.
According to Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports, the Tigers are unlikely to trade Miguel Cabrera.
Per Heyman, "there's never been anything close." Moving Cabrera was never a likely outcome considering how much money Cabrera is owed over the next seven seasons ($212 million). While it looks like Cabrera is staying put, the Tigers are reportedly still open to trading Justin Verlander and perhaps even Victor Martinez. Cabrera is coming off another brilliant season (.318, 38 HR, 108 RBI) and should be in Detroit for the long haul.
Per Heyman, "there's never been anything close." Moving Cabrera was never a likely outcome considering how much money Cabrera is owed over the next seven seasons ($212 million). While it looks like Cabrera is staying put, the Tigers are reportedly still open to trading Justin Verlander and perhaps even Victor Martinez. Cabrera is coming off another brilliant season (.318, 38 HR, 108 RBI) and should be in Detroit for the long haul.
Jerry Crasnick of ESPN reports that the Mariners have agreed to a two-year, $11 million contract with Mark Rzepczynski.
The 31-year-old southpaw will get $5.5 million each season. Rzepczynski compiled a 2.64 ERA, 1.57 WHIP and 46/29 K/BB ratio over 47 2/3 innings between the Athletics and Nationals in 2016. He'll work as a left-handed specialist in the late innings, helping to get the ball to Mariners' closer Edwin Diaz.
The 31-year-old southpaw will get $5.5 million each season. Rzepczynski compiled a 2.64 ERA, 1.57 WHIP and 46/29 K/BB ratio over 47 2/3 innings between the Athletics and Nationals in 2016. He'll work as a left-handed specialist in the late innings, helping to get the ball to Mariners' closer Edwin Diaz.
