The MLB off-season got a jolt on Tuesday when the New York Mets signed Yoenis Cespedes to a four-year, $110-million deal, and even in the face of ongoing CBA negotiations, reports indicate that the market’s biggest dominoes could continue to fall.
Here are the latest rumours from around baseball:
Blue Jays interested in Fowler
The Toronto Blue Jays are “showing strong interest” in free agent outfielder Dexter Fowler, according to Jon Heyman. The 30-year-old switch-hitter is coming off arguably his best professional season and is now the market’s top available outfielder, so his salary will be a substantial commitment for free agent suitors.
Fowler is a bonafide leadoff hitter and posted a career-best .393 on-base percentage in 2016. With the Blue Jays potentially losing both Edwin Encarnacion and Jose Bautista this off-season, filling the bases in front of Josh Donaldson is a sensible way to redistribute the offence. Fowler has played his entire MLB career as a centre-fielder, though, a position he’d likely need to move away from with Kevin Pillar already in-house as one of the league’s better defensive CFs.
Circling back on Bruce?
In what is seemingly becoming a monthly report, the Blue Jays have again been linked to Mets outfielder Jay Bruce. Most notably, the Blue Jays had agreed on a trade involving Bruce with the Cincinnati Reds back in February, a deal that fell apart at the last minute due to concerns over the medicals of a player involved.
Bruce’s $13-million salary becomes more easily expendable now that Cespedes has returned to a crowded Mets outfield. Veteran Curtis Granderson and his $15-million salary may also appeal to many teams. Bruce, 29, remains a very limited defender in the outfield, but posted 33 home runs with 99 RBI between Cincinnati and New York in 2016.
Astros emerging in Encarnacion chase
The Houston Astros were “serious bidders” on Cespedes, according to Buster Olney. Now that he’s off the market, Jerry Crasnick suggests that Houston may continue their pursuit for Encarnacion.
Houston has already made a handful of noteworthy moves with the additions of Josh Reddick, Brian McCann, Charlie Morton and Nori Aoki. In a lineup that already features Jose Altuve, Carlos Correa, Evan Gattis and George Springer, Encarnacion’s addition would make the Astros one of baseball’s most feared offensive teams.
Pirates opening up to a McCutchen deal
The Pittsburgh Pirates are exploring trades involving 2013 NL MVP Andrew McCutchen, Ken Rosenthal reports. McCutchen is reportedly not interested in switching to a corner-outfield role from his typical spot in centre, though.
McCutchen is coming off his poorest offensive season where he hit just .256 with a .766 OPS, but in the four seasons prior, the 30-year-old posted a cumulative .313 batting average and .926 OPS. He is due $14 million in 2017, the final guaranteed year of his contract, before a $14.75 million team option in 2018 ($1 million buyout).
Market forming for Hill
A total of six teams are interested in free agent Rich Hill, Jim Bowden reports. Hill should benefit from a relatively thin starting pitching market and is considered by some to be the top option available.
The Yankees, Dodgers, Rangers and Astros are listed as the four teams that are “in” on Hill, while the Red Sox and Orioles are interested to “a lesser degree.”
Hill has come a long way from making two starts for the Independent League’s Long Island Ducks in 2015, and quickly established himself as one of the league’s top arms in 2016. The left-hander was limited to 110.1 innings over 20 starts between the Athletics and Red Sox, but posted an excellent 2.12 ERA while striking out 10.5 batters per nine innings.
Cardinals interested in Turner
The St. Louis Cardinals are interested in free agent third-baseman Justin Turner, Jon Morosi reports.
Turner, 32, declined his qualifying offer from the Los Angeles Dodgers earlier in the off-season and is due to cash in after three strong years. The late bloomer set career highs with 27 home runs and 90 RBI in 2016, and with his glove worth seven Defensive Runs Saved (DRS) at third, Turner produced 5.6 Wins Above Replacement (WAR).
As Morosi notes, the Cardinals’ interest in Turner may hinge on their ability to move 34-year-old Johnny Peralta, who spent the majority of his time at third base in 2016 after being a primary shortstop for the past several seasons. Peralta is due $10 million in the final year of his deal and was limited to 82 games by a thumb injury last season.
Pirates open to moving the versatile Harrison
The Pittsburgh Pirates remain “open to” trading Josh Harrison, Ken Rosenthal reports. He adds that the Pirates pushed to re-sign Sean Rodriguez which, in turn, would have allowed them to deal Harrison and spread their finances elsewhere.
Harrison, 29, has not been able to recreate his breakout 2014 season but remains a valuable asset at multiple positions. He’s primarily played second base and third for the Pirates, but has also seen time at shortstop and in the corner outfields. That versatility is now where much of Harrison’s value lies as his OPS dropped to .699 in 2016, though he does offer strong defensive value at second with eight DRS last season.
Rosenthal notes that teams searching for a second-baseman are likely to prefer Detroit’s Ian Kinsler or Minnesota’s Brian Dozier on the trade market. Harrison is due $18 million guaranteed over the next two seasons before team options of $10.5 million in 2019 ($1M buyout) and $11.5 million in 2020 ($500K buyout).
