MLB Hot Stove Central.

[Greenbacks]

Joel Sherman of the New York Post confirms the Rays have signed free agent catcher Wilson Ramos to a two-year contract.

It's worth $12.5 million guaranteed and incentives could push the total to $18.25 million, according to USA Today's Bob Nightengale. Ramos was probably looking at a five- or six-year deal in free agency before he suffered ACL and meniscus tears in his right knee on September 26 at Nationals Park. He'll be in rehab mode when the 2017 season begins and will then try to rebuild his value in Tampa Bay over the next year-and-a-half. Ramos figures to split time between catcher and DH with the Rays. He is an excellent hitter when healthy.

 

[Greenbacks]

 

[Greenbacks]

 

[Greenbacks]

Fernando Rodney has agreed to a one-year, $2.75 million contract with the Diamondbacks, per Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports.

Heyman says there are "many, many" performance-based incentives included in the deal. Rodney posted a rough 5.89 ERA over his final 36 2/3 innings this past season with the Marlins, but he got off to a good start in San Diego and might have a little something left in the tank as he heads to the desert. The plan is for him to open the 2017 season as the Diamondbacks' closer. Good luck with that.

 

[Greenbacks]

According to Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports, the Rangers have re-signed outfielder Carlos Gomez.

He'll get a one-year, $11.5 million contract, per FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal. It's a bit surprising Gomez couldn't find a multi-year deal in this weak free agent market, but his dreadful tenure with Houston likely scared teams away. Gomez batted .284/.362/.543 with eight homers and five steals in 33 games down the stretch this past season with Texas, after getting released by the Astros in early August. He will probably open the 2017 campaign as the Rangers' starting center fielder.

 

[Greenbacks]

 

[Greenbacks]

Cubs acquired RHP Wade Davis from the Royals for OF Jorge Soler.

Medicals weren’t a sure thing after Davis’ forearm issues from last season, but the Cubs were apparently satisfied with what they saw. If healthy, Davis is a tremendous pickup for the back-end of this bullpen. The 31-year-old wasn’t as dominant by his usual insanely lofty standards in 2016, but he owns an incredible 1.18 ERA in 185 appearances over the last three seasons. He’s going into his final year of team control.

 

[Greenbacks]

FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal reports that Ian Desmond is headed to the Rockies.

Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports says the deal is worth $70 million while Joel Sherman reports that it's a five-year contract. Jim Bowden of ESPN.com reports there's an option for a sixth year which could bring the total outlay to $83 million. Alrighty then, Rockies. It's an unexpected fit, for a number of reasons. The Rockies already have a surplus of outfielders, so this potentially opens the door for Charlie Blackmon to be traded. Rosenthal also notes that Desmond will likely split time between first base and the outfield. It should be stated that the Rockies will have to give up the No. 11 overall pick (the highest unprotected pick) in 2017 to sign Desmond since he rejected a qualifying offer from the Rangers. That's not ideal. On the bright side, he'll be in a fantastic spot for fantasy value.

 

[Greenbacks]

 

[Greenbacks]

 

[Greenbacks]

 

[Greenbacks]

Nationals acquired OF Adam Eaton from the White Sox for RHP Lucas Giolito, RHP Reynaldo Lopez, and RHP Dane Dunning.

Washington was determined to make a splash at this week's Winter Meetings, and this is a big one. Eaton was a 6.0 fWAR player for the White Sox in 2016, slashing .284/.362/.428 with 14 home runs and 14 stolen bases in 157 games while playing strong defense in right field. He won't rate as well in center with the Nationals, but it's a tremendous addition to the lineup and the 28-year-old is on a very team-friendly contract that can potentially run through 2021. That's why it took three of the best young starting pitching prospects in the game to acquire him.

 

[Greenbacks]

Travis Wood's agent Darek Braunecker said his client is receiving interest from 10 teams.

That might sound like typical agent-speak, but Wood figures to do very well for himself in this market after posting a 2.95 ERA and 1.13 WHIP over 61 innings of relief for the Cubs in 2016. He has experience as a starter and some teams might be viewing him as a rotation option for 2017, but a bullpen role is probably best.

 

[Greenbacks]

Mariners acquired RHP Chris Heston from the Giants for a player to be named later.

Seattle will hope Heston can bounce back from a dismal, injury-riddled 2016 that saw him register a 4.54 ERA at Triple-A Sacramento and a 10.80 ERA in the major leagues. He did perform well in 2015, delivering a 3.95 ERA in 177 2/3 innings for San Francisco while whiffing 141 batters. Heston will compete for a spot in the Mariners' rotation next spring.

 

[Greenbacks]

According to John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle, the Yankees have expressed interest in free agent reliever Sergio Romo.

Shea says "several teams" have also made the call. Romo battled elbow problems in 2016 and only pitched 30 2/3 regular-season innings for the Giants, but he still managed a 2.64 ERA and boasts a career ERA of 2.58 with a career K/9 of 10.2. The veteran righty will turn 34 years old next March.

 

[Greenbacks]

ESPN's Buster Olney reports the Marlins have signed catcher A.J. Ellis to a one-year, $2.5 million deal.

Ellis will head to Miami to act as J.T. Realmuto's backup catcher. The veteran hit just .216/.301/.298 in 2016 between the Dodgers and Phillies, but his clubhouse rep is exceptional and he's had some decent seasons in the past.

 

[Greenbacks]

FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal reports that the Yankees have agreed to terms with Aroldis Chapman on a five-year, $86 million contract.

Mark Melancon set a new record for a reliever contract earlier this week with his $62 million deal, but Chapman's contract obviously blows it out of the water. Rosenthal says the deal includes an opt-out after the first three years, a full no-trade clause for the first three years and a limited no-trade for the final two years. ESPN's Marly Rivera said the limited no-trade portion stipulates that Chapman can't be dealt to a team in California. Chapman will return to being the Yankees' closer, with Dellin Betances moving back to a setup role.

 

[Greenbacks]

FanRag Sports' Jon Heyman reports that the Cardinals will sign Dexter Fowler to a five-year deal worth at least $80 million, pending a physical.

Fowler has been confirmed to be in St. Louis to take a pre-signing physical. The center fielder turned down a $17.2 million qualifying offer from the Cubs and was believed to be seeking a four-year deal for about $18 million per year. It appears the Cardinals trumped the field by offering a fifth year and at least $16 million annually. One year after the Cubs poached Jason Heyward and John Lackey from the Cardinals, they get a measure of revenge by prying Fowler away from the World Series champs. Fowler gives the Cardinals a badly-needed upgrade in center field and should find a home near the top of the lineup. He owns a .366 career on-base percentage. Randal Grichuk will move from center to left field with Matt Holliday out of the picture.

 

[Greenbacks]

Koji Uehara has reached a deal to join the Cubs, per Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports.

We're still awaiting confirmation regarding the particulars, but a report out of Japan pegs it as a one-year deal in the neighborhood of $4.5 million. This represents a bit of a bargain for the veteran set-up man as long as he stays on the mound. He figures to be the eighth-inning bridge to new Cubs closer Wade Davis. Uehara has a career 2.53 ERA and 0.86 WHIP in 437 2/3 innings. His ERA bumped up to 3.45 this season despite an elite 12.06 punchouts per nine innings. He is a right-handed pitcher, but has actually fared better versus left-handed batters.

 

[Greenbacks]

SB Nation's Chris Cotillo reports that the Angels showed interest in Cardinals second baseman Kolten Wong at the Winter Meetings.

Cotillo adds, however, that the Cardinals are "asking a lot" and "unlikely to move him" this offseason. Wong batted just .240/.327/.355 with five home runs and seven stolen bases in 121 games this past year for St. Louis, but he plays good defense and remains an intriguing all-around talent at age 26. It doesn't make much sense for the Cardinals to sell low. Lock him in as their starter at the keystone for 2017.