MLB Hot Stove Central.

[Greenbacks]

Cubs signed RHP Koji Uehara to a one-year, $6 million contract.

Uehara missed almost two months during the middle of the 2016 campaign due to a pectoral strain. In 47 relatively healthy innings with the Red Sox, the 41-year-old right-hander held a 3.45 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 63/11 K/BB ratio. He has shown the ability to flummox opposing batters even into his 40's, but has not pitched more than 50 innings in either of the past two seasons. He should prove a useful arm for the defending World Series champs, assuming he can stay healthy.

 

[Greenbacks]

Mike Dunn's new three-year deal with the Rockies is worth $19 million, per USA Today's Bob Nightengale.

It will also include a $6 million vesting option (or $1 million buyout) for 2020. That's a rich payout for a guy who logged only 42 1/3 innings in 2016, but Dunn was one of the top remaining free agent relievers on this market and the Rockies' bullpen has badly needed upgrading. Dunn, 31, boasts a .228/.309/.330 career slash line against left-handed batters.

 

[Greenbacks]

Jeurys Familia's domestic assault charge was dismissed Thursday in a New Jersey court.

Familia will not face any more criminal proceedings stemming from a Halloween-night incident with his wife in Fort Lee, New Jersey. But there will now be an internal investigation conducted by Major League Baseball, and a suspension could be coming. Addison Reed may very well be asked to open the 2017 season as the Mets' closer after posting a dominant 1.97 ERA and 91/13 K/BB ratio across 77 2/3 innings in 2016.

 

[Greenbacks]

According to Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports, the Orioles have signed free agent catcher Welington Castillo.

It's a one-year, $6 million deal with a $7 million player option for a second year. Castillo has been linked to the Orioles ever since being non-tendered by the Diamondbacks. Now that it's done, we know that Matt Wieters' tenure in Baltimore is officially over. Castillo, who turns 30 in April, batted .264/.322/.423 with 14 home runs and 68 RBI over 113 games with the Diamondbacks this past season. Baltimore should be a good spot for fantasy purposes.

 

[Greenbacks]

White Sox signed LHP Derek Holland to a one-year, $6 million contract.

Scott Merkin of MLB.com reported that the two sides were close while Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News passed along the contract details. Holland hasn't made 30 starts in a season since 2013, but the suddenly-rebuilding White Sox could flip him at the trade deadline if he has a resurgence. He probably would have better odds at that in the National League. The 30-year-old southpaw posted a 4.95 ERA and 67/35 K/BB ratio over 107 1/3 innings this past season.

 

[Greenbacks]

 

[Greenbacks]

Jon Morosi of MLB Network reports that the Dodgers and Twins remain in talks about a trade involving Brian Dozier.

Acquiring Dozier would be the cherry on top of the Dodgers' offseason, as they have been able to retain key pieces like Kenley Jansen, Justin Turner, and Rich Hill. The Twins are going to ask for the moon after Dozier's huge 2016. That he's owed $15 million over the next two seasons only enhances his trade value. The two sides are talking, but Morosi hears that nothing is imminent.

 

[Greenbacks]

So close, yet so far away.

 

[Greenbacks]

Pirates RHP Daniel Hudson agree to 2-year, $11M deal

 

[Greenbacks]

Mr. and Mrs. Harper

 

[Greenbacks]

 

[Greenbacks]

Red Sox have made it official: Clay Buchholz to the Phillies for minor-league 2B Josh Tobias, who batted .291/.362/.422 with nine homers in 491 at-bats last season between two Class A levels.

 

[Greenbacks]

Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports reports that the Indians have landed Edwin Encarnacion on a three-year contract with an option for a fourth year.

The deal is worth $60 million guaranteed, according to FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal. The club option for 2020 is worth $25 million and carries a $5 million buyout, so the deal could max out at $80 million. While it might not be the deal that many expected for Encarnacion at the start of the winter, it's a tremendous move for the Indians. This franchise doesn't typically go this route with free agents, but they are positioned to win right now. Encarnacion, who turns 34 next month, will essentially fill the spot that free agent Mike Napoli had in 2016. Encarnacion turned down a qualifying offer from the Blue Jays, so the Indians will surrender their first-round pick (No. 25 overall) in 2017.

 

[Greenbacks]

Jim Bowden of ESPN and SiriusXM reports that the Rangers "are now considered front-runners" to sign Mike Napoli.

Texas lost out on Edwin Encarnacion, but they're a natural landing spot for Napoli now with potential openings both at first base and in the designated hitter spot. Napoli played for the Rangers from 2011-12 and for part of 2015 and is coming off a campaign where he batted .239/.335/.465 with a career-high 34 home runs and 101 RBI.

 

[Greenbacks]

Braves and OF Ender Inciarte avoided arbitration by agreeing to a five-year, $30.525 million contract extension with a $9 million club option for 2022.

Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports first reported the agreement, and the team has now officially announced it. Inciarte is arbitration-eligible for the first time this offseason as a Super Two player, so the deal buys out all of his arbitration years plus potentially two free agent years. These kind of contracts almost always wind up being huge bargains for the team as long as the player stays healthy, and this situation is no different. Inciarte is a career .292/.337/.385 hitter and a Gold Glove center fielder who just turned 26 in October.

 

[Greenbacks]

MASN's Roch Kubatko is hearing from a source that Ben Revere is close to signing with a team.

Kubatko's source says an agreement could be announced sometime Friday, though there's very little clarity about where the 28-year-old speedster might be headed. Kubatko has ruled out the Orioles, and the Nationals seem doubtful to bring Revere back after non-tendering him in early December and acquiring Adam Eaton. That leaves 28 other possibilities. Revere struggled mightily with Washington in 2016, batting just .217/.260/.300 in 103 games, but he was a valuable commodity for a number of years prior to that.

 

[Greenbacks]

According to Robert Murray of FanRag Sports, the Pirates have re-signed free agent starter Ivan Nova to a three-year, $26 million contract.

Pittsburgh proved to be the ideal place for Nova to spread his wings in the second half of 2016, and now he's back there with a locked-in rotation spot and a very positive fantasy outlook for 2017. Nova registered a brilliant 3.06 ERA and 52/3 K/BB ratio in 64 2/3 innings last season with the Pirates after an August 1 trade away from the Yankees. He had spent the first six-and-a-half years of his major league career in New York. The 29-year-old right-hander will try to continue learning and growing under legendary Bucs pitching coach Ray Searage.

 

[Greenbacks]

FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal reports that the Pirates are still trying to acquire Jose Quintana from the White Sox.

Pittsburgh just re-upped with free agent starter Ivan Nova on a three-year, $26 million deal, but that does not mean the club's Opening Day rotation is set for 2017. In fact, that Nova deal could make it easier for the Bucs to part with one of their young starting pitching prospects -- like Tyler Glasnow -- in a blockbuster trade that would bring in Quintana. And who wouldn't want Quintana? The left-hander registered a 3.20 ERA in 206 innings last season for the White Sox and is under contractual control through 2020 at some very team-friendly rates. He has reached the 200-inning plateau four years in a row with Chicago.

 

[Greenbacks]

Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports writes the Padres have considered signing Jered Weaver to fill out their starting rotation.

The 34-year-old Weaver is coming off back-to-back subpar seasons but was a Cy Young-caliber starter for several years in his peak. The Padres' rotation is wide open, featuring a cast of journeymen jockeying for spots. Recently-signed veterans Jhoulys Chacin and Clayton Richard likely hold two slots. Returnees Christian Friedrich, Luis Perdomo and Paul Clemens round out the bottom portion. Weaver would add some veteran stability and leadership while eating some innings as the team rebuilds. The Padres have also been linked to Jake Peavy in recent days.

 

[Greenbacks]

Let the countdown begin.....Opening Day.....

days.