MLB Hot Stove Central.

[Greenbacks]

MLB Network's Jon Morosi reports the Yankees are "well-positioned to make a play" for free agent Edwin Encarnacion.

The Yankees are looking for a veteran power bat and just lost out on Carlos Beltran, who signed a one-year deal with Houston earlier today. The Astros had been a contender for Encarnacion, but likely took themselves out of the running by signing Beltran. With Boston also bowing out of the race, the Yankees and Blue Jays figure to be his top suitors. Talks for Encarnacion should intensify at the Winter Meetings, which begin Sunday in Maryland.

 

[Greenbacks]

According to TR Sullivan of MLB.com, the Rangers are "far from optimistic" a deal will get done with free agent Ian Desmond.

This comes on the heels of a report from MLB Network's Jon Morosi, who said the Rangers' talks with Desmond had "intensified" in recent days. The Rangers are obviously keen on re-signing him, but Desmond won't come cheap after a productive year that included 22 HR, 86 RBI and 21 steals. Desmond turned down the Rangers' one-year qualifying offer, which means Texas will get a compensatory pick if he signs elsewhere.

 

[Greenbacks]

Jon Morosi of MLB Network reports the Rockies are "showing continued interest" in free agent Mark Trumbo.

His market has been slow to develop but could pick up once Edwin Encarnacion finds a new home. Trumbo is tied to draft-pick compensation and is a poor defensive player, which might also limit his options. Per Eduardo Encina of the Baltimore Sun, Trumbo is projected to land a four-year deal in the range of $57 million. That would be identical to the deal Nelson Cruz signed with Seattle two years ago. Trumbo's power would play well at Coors Field. He's clubbed eight homers in 12 career games at Colorado.

 

[Greenbacks]

Albert Pujols underwent successful surgery on Friday to release his right plantar fascia.

The surgery was performed by Dr. Robert Anderson in North Carolina. The typical recovery time for this surgery is estimated at four months, which will impact his availability early in spring training as well as his regular off-season routine. This news should push Pujols down a couple of rounds in early fantasy drafts.

 

[Greenbacks]

Padres non-tendered RHP Tyson Ross.

The 29-year-old right-hander made just one start before he was shut down for the season with a shoulder issue. He eventually required surgery in October for thoracic outlet syndrome which puts his status in question for the start of the 2017 season. Still, it's a bit of a surprising move after Ross pitched to a 3.16 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 9.2 K/9 over 522 innings since joining the club in 2013. He'll be an interesting commodity on the free agent market.

 

[Greenbacks]

Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports reports that the Yankees have agreed to a one-year, $13 million contract with Matt Holliday.

The veteran slugger, who will turn 37 next month, slashed .246/.322/.461 with 20 homers and 62 RBI in 426 plate appearances with the Cardinals in 2016 while missing time due to a fractured left thumb. He's expected to see the majority of his at-bats in the designated hitter role with the Bombers.

 

[Greenbacks]

MLB.com's Mark Bowman reports that if the Braves trade for a top starter, Chris Archer is the "most likely" target.

It's been reported that the Braves are one of the main suitors for Chris Sale, but Bowman says the White Sox are insisting on Dansby Swanson being included in any deal and the Braves consider that a non-starter. That said, it doesn't sound like Atlanta is close to anything on Archer, either, with Bowman adding that so far "the Rays' ask far exceeds the Braves' comfort zone." It could all be posturing at this point, of course.

 

[Greenbacks]

Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports reports that Pedro Alvarez is on the Red Sox' radar.

Heyman says that Boston is "favoring a short-term deal" as they look to fill David Ortiz's vacated designated hitter spot, so they appear likelier to sign an Alvarez, Matt Holliday or Mike Napoli rather than an Edwin Encarnacion. Alvarez batted .249/.322/.504 with 22 homers over just 376 plate appearances for the Orioles this past season.

 

[Greenbacks]

Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe hears that the Astros would listen to offers for Evan Gattis.

The Astros acquired Brian McCann earlier this offseason and also reportedly have a deal in place for Carlos Beltran, so it's not a surprise that they're willing to listen on Gattis. The slugger hit 32 home runs last season, although he sported a .319 on-base percentage and is very much an all-or-nothing hitter. Gattis will make $5.2 million in 2017 and will be arbitration-eligible for a final time next winter.

 

[Greenbacks]

MLB Network's Jon Morosi reports that the Blue Jays and Indians are showing interest in Mitch Moreland.

Morosi says that "others" are interested, as well. Moreland batted just .233/.298/.422 overall last season, but he popped 22 home runs and won a Gold Glove for his work at first base. The 31-year-old isn't the first choice for either the Jays or Indians, but he qualifies as a decent Plan B.

 

[Greenbacks]

USA Today's Bob Nightengale reports that the Dodgers are the "most aggressive" team in trade talks with the Twins involving Brian Dozier.

Twins general manager Thad Levine indicated recently that team wasn't going to trade Dozier unless they were "really inspired" by an offer, but of course that could just be GM-speak. Dozier has a very team-friendly contract that will pay him $15 million over the next two seasons, but the Twins might want to capitalize while his value is at its highest following a 42-homer season.

 

[Greenbacks]

Blue Jays signed INF/OF Steve Pearce to a two-year, $12.5 million contract.

Pearce gets a nice payday after slashing .288/.374/.492 in 302 plate appearances this summer between the Rays and Orioles, while appearing defensively at first base, second base, third base, and both corner outfield spots. He carries durability issues and will turn 34 years old next April, but the guy has always mashed left-handed pitching when healthy and he brings a good amount of offensive and defensive versatility to Toronto's roster.

 

[Greenbacks]

According to Jim Bowden of ESPN, the teams currently in on free agent Kenley Jansen are the Nationals, Marlins, Yankees, Giants, Cubs, and Dodgers.

It's going to be a big-time bidding war that could last well into the offseason. Jansen, thought to be seeking close to $100 million, registered a stellar 1.83 ERA, 0.67 WHIP, and 104/11 K/BB ratio in 68 2/3 innings this past year for the Dodgers. Aroldis Chapman and Mark Melancon are also out there in free agency as elite-level closer options. When one domino falls, the others will soon.

 

[Greenbacks]

According to Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports, the Indians have "checked in on" free agent Edwin Encarnacion.

It's a perfect fit for what the Indians need -- a power-hitting righty in a lefty-heavy lineup -- but Cleveland is not typically in the running for big-time free agents because of budgetary constraints. So the price may have to fall some from where it is now. Jim Bowden of ESPN calls the Rangers "the team to watch" on Encarnacion. Toronto's recent signing of Steve Pearce (and Kendrys Morales earlier) signals the end of a possible reunion there.

 

[Greenbacks]

Les Shapiro of Mile High Sports Radio AM 1340 is being told the Giants are wrapping up a deal with free agent closer Mark Melancon.

It's not the greatest source, but there have been many other rumblings connecting Melancon to the Giants over the last couple of weeks. Jorge Castillo of the Washington Post reported Monday morning that the Nationals made a four-year offer to Melancon worth less than $60 million and that it probably wasn't going to be enough to get a deal done because Melancon and his agent already had better proposals on the table. There could very well be legs here on a deal with San Francisco.

 

[Greenbacks]

According to Joel Sherman of the New York Post, the "perception of outside executives" is that the Astros and Nationals are trying hardest on a Chris Sale trade.

Those execs place the Braves as the next-likeliest suitor. Getting the White Sox to trade Sale is going to take a bevy of young talent, but all three of these organizations are rich in that department. Sale, 27, posted a 3.34 ERA, 1.037 WHIP, and 233/45 K/BB ratio across 226 2/3 innings this past season for the Southsiders. He's on a team-friendly contract that carries options through 2019.

 

[Greenbacks]

Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch hears the Cardinals "have kept tabs on possible trade options" such as Lorenzo Cain of the Royals.

Cain is due to become a free agent after the 2017 season and the Royals probably aren't going to be able to afford to sign him to a long-term extension, so a trade this winter does seem possible. Goold also hears the Cardinals are eyeing Adam Eaton of the White Sox. On the free agent side, St. Louis has been connected strongly to Dexter Fowler.

 

[Greenbacks]

Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports hears the Angels have checked in on free agent Justin Turner.

But the big question here is whether Anaheim has the money to make a competitive offer given that Turner is one of the most sought-after free agents out there and is known to be drawing interest from a number of high-budget teams. Heyman believes a reunion with the Dodgers remains the most likely scenario.

 

[Greenbacks]

Giants signed RHP Mark Melancon to a four-year, $62 million contract.

Melancon still needs to take a physical, but general manager Bobby Evans made the deal official on Monday. It was a virtual certainty that the Giants were going to bring in a closer this winter after all the problems they had in the ninth inning in 2016. They didn't want to pay up for Kenley Jansen or Aroldis Chapman but were willing to hand Melancon what is currently the largest contract ever for a reliever. Melancon will turn 32 in March.

 

[Greenbacks]

Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports that the Nationals have found the Pirates' asking price for Andrew McCutchen to be "too high."

Sherman adds that the Nats are currently more focused on the Chris Sale trade talks than those for McCutchen at this point. Of course, it could all be posturing at this point to see if they can get the Pirates to drop their asking price a bit. The Rangers and Dodgers are also reportedly talking to Pittsburgh about Cutch.