The 2019-20 offseason is well underway and we are still waiting for the first free agent to sign with a new team. Several free agents have re-signed with their previous club (Nick Markakis, Adam Wainwright, etc.), but no one has signed elsewhere yet. That will happen soon enough. Until then, we have the latest hot stove rumors as the GM meetings continue in Scottsdale.
Yankees getting calls about Andujar
Teams are calling the Yankees with trade interest in third baseman Miguel Andujar, GM Brian Cashman said during a radio interview earlier this week, according to NJ.com's Brendan Kuty. Andujar, the 2018 AL Rookie of the Year runner-up, was limited to 12 games in 2019 due to shoulder surgery, which gave Gio Urshela the opportunity to grab the third base job. From Kuty:
"I'm definitely getting a lot of interest in Miguel Andujar while I'm sitting down here," Cashman told The Michael Kay Show on ESPN Radio on Wednesday while in Scottsdale, Ariz., for the MLB GM Meetings.
"I've got clubs asking me, 'What are you going to do with him? We'd have an interest in him. Mark us down.'"
Cashman admitted on Wednesday that the Yankees have kicked around the idea of moving Andujar to another position in order to keep his bat in the lineup and the defensively superior Urshela at third base. The 24-year-old Andujar authored a .297/.328/.527 batting line with 27 homers and an American League rookie record 47 doubles a year ago. He is under team control through 2023.
Odorizzi may take qualifying offer
Jake Odorizzi is "strongly considering" accepting the qualifying offer, reports The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal. The deadline to accept or reject the qualifying offer is 5 p.m. ET Thursday. If Odorizzi accepts, he would return to the Twins on a one-year deal worth $17.8 million. If he declines, he could be attached to draft pick compensation in free agency. Ten players received qualifying offers.
The qualifying offer has hurt several free agents in recent years -- Dallas Keuchel and Craig Kimbrel both remained unsigned into June this year -- and Odorizzi can avoid potential headaches by accepting. He'd get a high salary one-year deal, return to a team he knows well and is comfortable with, then get a chance to test free agency next offseason with no draft pick compensation attached. The risk is Odorizzi's free agent stock may never be higher than it is right now.
Ryu hopes for four-year deal
Free agent lefty Hyun-Jin Ryu hopes to sign a three- or four-year contract this offseason, according to a report from the Yonhap News Agency. Also, Ryu said it would be "special" to play with countryman Shin-Soo Choo of the Rangers. Choo is under contract with Texas through 2020. "I think it'd be special to be playing with a fellow Korean on the same team," Ryu said.
Ryu finished second in the NL Cy Young voting this year. He turns 33 in March, however, and has a long injury history that includes major shoulder surgery that sidelined him all of 2015 and most of 2016. As good as he is -- and he is very good -- the age and injury history may limit Ryu's offers. A high dollar two-year deal may be more likely than a longer term three or four-year deal.
Little interest in Giles
According to Scott Mitchell of TSN Sports, there has been little movement in the Ken Giles market at the GM Meetings this week. The Blue Jays closer is a prime trade candidate as he enters his final season of team control. The free agent class is not deep in relievers -- Will Smith is the best available -- and clubs could shift their attention to Giles once the top free agent bullpen arms come off the board.
Of course, Giles was dogged by elbow trouble throughout 2019. He made one trip to the injured list and was also not available on several days during the season. With only year of control remaining, interested teams may be wary of giving up a big prospect package for Giles, only to have his elbow blow out and miss the entire season. Quality relievers are always in demand though. It's just a question of whether the Blue Jays like the offers they do get.
Dodgers have Rendon on radar
The Dodgers have star third baseman Anthony Rendon on their radar, according to MLB Network's Jon Heyman. Heyman says incumbent third baseman Justin Turner has volunteered to change positions. Turner has played third base almost exclusively the last five years, but he played quite a bit of second base earlier in his career, and some first base as well.
Los Angeles has not spent lavishly on free agents since president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman took over in 2014. The largest contract handed out during his tenure is the five-year, $80 million extension the Dodgers gave closer Kenley Jansen three years ago. Rendon could cost three times as much. He is a superstar though, and the Dodgers are as win-now as any team in the game, and he would make them quite a bit better. This is as good a time as any to splurge on a top free agent.
Rockies open to moving Gray, Padres interested
The Rockies are willing to listen to offers for right-hander Jon Gray, reports MLB.com's Jon Morosi, and the Padres are among the interested teams. An intra-division trade may be difficult, but San Diego has a great farm system and prospects to spare given their 40-man roster crunch. "For us, you want to make sure you maximize your resources. Make smart decisions in the next few weeks," Padres GM A.J. Preller told Morosi.
Gray, 28, is one of the best pitchers in Rockies history, and he is under team control through 2021 as an arbitration-eligible player. He has the power bat-missing stuff teams crave and you can be sure many clubs will think they can help him reach his full potential simply by getting him out of Coors Field. The Padres have been looking for high-end starters for more than a year now. Gray may not be Stephen Strasburg, but he is awfully good.
Mariners open to dealing Haniger
The Mariners are opening to trading outfielder Mitch Haniger, who is drawing interest this offseason, according to The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal. The team wants to keep left-hander Marco Gonzales, however. Haniger, 28 and under team control through 2022, performed at an All-Star level from 2017-18. He was having a down 2019 before a ruptured testicle ended his season on June 6.
The free-agent market offers several quality outfielders, including Nicholas Castellanos and Marcell Ozuna, but Haniger figures to have more appeal to some teams because he's cheaper and a well-rounded player. Both Castellanos and Ozuna are defensive liabilities. Haniger is good enough play center field, if needed. The Indians jump to mind as a possible landing spot for Haniger.
Marlins have interest in Abreu
The Marlins hope to make upgrades on offense this offseason and they have interest in free agent first baseman Jose Abreu, according to MLB Network's Jon Heyman. The club may also look at free agent outfielders, but they do not want to lock themselves into long-term contracts that block prospects. Miami scored 615 runs in 2019, second fewest in baseball (Tigers with 582).
The White Sox and Abreu, who received the $17.8 million qualifying offer, are said to have mutual interest in a long-term contract. In addition to his on-field production, Abreu is regarded as a strong leader and mentor to young players, who undoubtedly factors into the Marlins' interest. Also, Abreu makes his home in Miami, as do many MLB players from the Caribbean.
Ranger could add three starters
The Rangers could look to add as many as three starting pitchers this offseason, according to Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. "I think the number is yet to be determined. It depends on acquisition cost, whether it's a free agent or trade. We're open to a lot of different things," GM Jon Daniels told Wilson. Mike Minor and Lance Lynn are the only locks for Texas' 2020 rotation.
This is expected to be a busy offseason for the Rangers, who somewhat surprisingly won 78 games this past season and will move into a new ballpark, Globe Life Field, next year. They want to open that new facility with a contending team. Texas is expected to make a run at Gerrit Cole. Other free agent targets could include Kyle Gibson, Cole Hamels, Jake Odorizzi, and Zack Wheeler.
