Quick Hits: Astros Owner Crane Has Given Green Light To Fill Roster Needs
Coaching and Front-Office News:
Mets won’t hire a new general manager this offseason but will retain Jeremy Hefner as their pitching coach under new manager Carlos Mendoza, per Will Sammon of The Athletic.
Injury News & Updates
Mets 2B/OF Jeff McNeil (partially torn UCL in non-throwing elbow) and RF Starling Marte (groin muscle issues) are not expected to need surgery this offseason, per Will Sammon of The Athletic.
Rumors
Astros don’t have “a ton” of financial flexibility this offseason, general manager Dana Brown told reporters, but Brown also said that owner Jim Crane will do “whatever it takes to win” and might agree to specific expenditures.
Brown said that the bullpen and backup catcher are his “priorities.” He’d also like to add “a legit third starter or better” but is not focused on adding to the teams’ outfield mix.
Per Chandler Rome of The Athletic, the Astros met with free-agent C Martín Maldonado’s agent this week and there appears to be mutual interest in Maldonado returning to the club as Yainer Diaz’s backup (and, perhaps, mentor).
The Astros have also talked to free-agent RHP Hector Neris’s agents. Extension talks with 2B Jose Altuve and 3B Alex Bregman have yet to begin, agent Scott Boras, who represents both, told reporters.
Blue Jays are one of several teams that have contacted the Cardinals about a trade for OF Dylan Carlson, per Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post Dispatch.
Brewers are open to trade offers for the majority of the players on their roster, per Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.
Cubs will give UT Christopher Morel work at first base in winter ball this offseason, president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer told reporters. Morel has played every position except pitcher, catcher, and first base in his first two major-league seasons.
Cubs used seven players at first base this season, of which only two, late-blooming prospect Matt Mervis and third baseman Patrick Wisdom, remain on the 40-man roster.
Mervis, who is a year older than Morel, struggled in his first major-league exposure this year (43 OPS+ in 99 plate appearances), but the left-handed Mervis and right-handed Morel (who has impressed with a 110 OPS+ in his first 220 major-league games) would fit into a platoon at the position.
Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi told reporters that “centerfield is going to be a priority” for the team this offseason and that the team will also look to add depth at shortstop.
Zaidi said that the team still hopes that prospect Marco Luciano will claim the shortstop job but that “it makes sense for us to have some insurance.”
The Giants are also considering upgrading on J.D. Davis at third base, which likely means an interest in reuniting free-agent 3B Matt Chapman, a Boras client, with former A’s manager Bob Melvin.
The Mets want to add multiple starting pitchers this offseason but might not shop at the top of the market, president of baseball operations David Stearns told Tim Healey of Newsday.
Stearns also reiterated to reporters that he does “not anticipate” trading 1B Pete Alonso ahead of his walk year, while Alonso’s agent, Scott Boras, told reporters that he was “not in contract hibernation” when it came to discussing an extension for “the Polar Bear.”
Will Sammon of The Athletic reports that the Mets are still undecided about tendering DH/1B Daniel Vogelbach a contract before next Friday’s deadline.
Nationals would like to add both starting and relief pitching, along with a middle-of-the-bat, general manager Mike Rizzo told reporters.
Orioles want to add a starting pitcher for the “front half of the rotation” and a late-inning reliever, the latter ideally with closing experience, according to general manager Mike Elias.
Padres interviewed former Angels manager Phil Nevin for their managerial vacancy on Wednesday, per Dennis Lin and Britt Ghiroli of The Athletic. Nevin spent six and a half seasons with the Padres as power-hitting corner infielder in the early 2000s.
Pirates are “focused on starting pitching, both in free agency and trade,” general manager Ben Cherintgon told reporters, adding that the team “would like to add to our position-player group, too.”
Cherington also said that he has had multiple conversations with OF/DH Andrew McCutchen’s representatives since the end of the regular season.
Reds, Angels, and Diamondbacks are among the suitors for free-agent 3B Jeimer Candlario. The Reds’ interest speaks to the possibility of them trading some of their surplus of talented young infielders to upgrade their rotation.
Royals general manager J.J. Picollo told Jon Morosi of the MLB Network that free-agent RHP Zsck Greinke has yet to decide if he wants to continue pitching. Greinke turned 40 in October but is just 21 strikeouts shy of 3,000 for his career. He’d likely return to the Royals if he does decide to play another season.
White Sox are likely to scale back their payroll in 2024, two years after surpassing $190 million for the only time in franchise history, per Dan Hayes of The Athletic.
To that end, the team is looking for a short-term commitment with a slick-fielding veteran shortstop to serve as a stopgap until shortstop prospect Colson Montgomery is ready, per Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times.
Yankees have discussed free-agent CF Kevin Kiermaier, per Brendan Kuty and Chris Kirschner of The Athletic.
Roster Moves
Royals outrighted OF/3B Nate Eaton to Triple-A.
From Trade Rumors Front Office:
Yankees: GM Brian Cashman said recently he’s seeking a center fielder and a left fielder, preferably left-handed. The team also needs an offensive boost. Shohei Ohtani and Juan Soto are of interest but Bellinger is more likely. Cashman has done recent large deals with Boras for Carlos Rodon and Gerrit Cole.
Giants: The Giants are focusted on adding a strong defender in center field this winter, according to president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi. The club has been attempting to land a major free agent for years now. There is a Dodgers-Zaidi-Bellinger connection as well. It’s entirely possible the Giants will put their resources into Ohtani or a top starting pitcher, which could in some cases reduce but not eliminate the likelihood of them signing Bellinger.
Zaidi has dealt with Boras recently on smaller scale deals such as those for Michael Conforto and Sean Manaea. He also had an agreement last winter with Boras client Carlos Correa, before the team killed the deal due to injury concerns. Boras surely didn’t enjoy that, but will have to move past it to get the best possible deal for Bellinger.
Cubs: Bellinger enjoyed his comeback season in Chicago and a reunion certainly makes some sense. The presence of center field defensive wizard Pete Crow-Armstrong is a factor in the team’s long-term thinking, even though PCA has yet to prove himself at the big league level. The Cubs don’t have much going on at first base, and right fielder Seiya Suzuki is only under contract for three more years, so Bellinger still fits. Cubs GM Jed Hoyer did Bellinger’s pillow contract with Boras, of course, but the club’s larger free agent deals have been with other agencies.
Blue Jays: Bob Nightengale recently suggested the Blue Jays “have strong interest” in Bellinger. With Kevin Kiermaier a free agent, they’ve got center field open. Right fielder George Springer is signed for three more years and first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is under control for two more. Springer’s $150MM deal is the franchise record. GM Ross Atkins did a decent-sized contract for Boras client Hyun Jin Ryu four years ago.