The CBA is settled, the winter meetings are here, and things are finally heating up on the MLB free agent front.
Here are the latest rumours from around baseball:
Blue Jays table offer to Fowler (Update)
Dexter Fowler checks a number of boxes on the Blue Jays’ wish list, and Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports reports that they have offered him a four-year contract in the range of $60 million. According to Heyman, the two sides remain ‘a decent ways apart’, as Fowler’s camp is looking for $18 million annually.
The Blue Jays continue to look at other options in the outfield market, but Fowler remains their No. 1 choice. It’s no surprise why, as the 30-year-old is coming off a season where he slashed .276/.393/.447 with 13 home runs and 13 stolen bases for the World Series champion Chicago Cubs. Not only would he fill in one of the vacant spots in the outfield, but the switch-hitter would slide nicely into the leadoff position.
Heyman says other outfield options for the Blue Jays are Angel Pegan, Michael Saunders or a reunion with Colby Rasmus.
Cleveland checking on Encarnacion
One by one, teams who showed interest in the former Blue Jay have found alternatives to fill their needs. The New York Yankees locked up Matt Holliday for a season and the Houston Astros gave Carlos Beltran $16 million.
The Texas Rangers are a team that continues to pop up in rumours, but besides them and Blue Jays, who else is chasing the biggest free agent available? Jeff Passan of Yahoo! Sports answered that question Monday morning.
If Cleveland can come up with the money to land Encarnacion, and that’s a big IF, it would be adding an RBI machine to a lineup that is already shaping up to be one of the most feared in baseball. They have been previously tied to Holliday, Beltran, Mitch Moreland and Mike Napoli as they continue to look for a power bat.
Saunders to Baltimore?
With Mark Trumbo testing the waters on the open market, the Orioles are beginning to look into a potential replacement for the outfielder. According to Orioles beat reporter Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com, Michael Saunders is emerging as a target to fill the void.
The Orioles are set in left field with a Hyun Soo Kim and Joey Rickard platoon while Adam Jones returns to his post in centre. After an all-star start to his 2016 campaign with the Blue Jays, Saunders stumbled mightily down the stretch with a .178/.282/.357 slash line in the second half. Which Saunders will show up to spring training next season is a mystery, but now that former Orioles utility man Steve Pearce has signed with Toronto, the need for a right-fielder is even more desirable.
Royals are listening
Just one year ago, the Royals were World Series Champions. After missing the playoffs in 2016, they are looking to find homes for at least one of their upcoming free agents, including centre fielder Lorenzo Cain. Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports wrote that while Cain and closer Wade Davis are the most likely assets they could move, but they are open to discussing deals for others.
Mike Moustakas, Alcides Escobar, Danny Duffy and Eric Hosmer will also be free agents a year from now. Right-handers Yordano Ventura and Ian Kennedy are signed to long-term deals but could be moved for the right price.
Rosenthal says they won’t have the budget and flexibility to retain most of their free agents next season and are open for business. With a solid closer and talented centre-fielder on the trade block, GM Dayton Moore could be busy during the winter meetings.
Twins dangling Dozier
One of the lone bright spots for the Twins last season were the monster numbers put up by their 29-year-old second baseman. Brian Dozier hit 42 home runs, stole 18 bases, had a .340 on-base percentage and is owed a combined $15 million over the next two seasons before he hits free agency — making him an attractive option for several clubs.
The Twins would be looking for a big return for their powerful middle-infielder and likely try to add to their young core of Byron Buxton and Miguel Sano if they were to move their best hitter.
Marlins searching for saves
The Marlins are pursuing the closer market quite heavily and their latest offer, reported by Rosenthal, is believed to be five years and $80 million for Kenley Jansen. The market for high-leverage relief pitchers has sky-rocketed in recent years and with Jansen, Aroldis Champan and Mark Melancon as free agents, there could be some record-breaking contracts handed out.
The lucrative contract offer and willingness to move their 14th overall pick shows how serious they are in adding a superstar closer. Jansen recorded 47 saves and a 1.83 ERA for Los Angeles last season and if he did end up in Miami, it would reunite him with former Dodgers manager Don Mattingly.
The Giants, Yankees and Nationals have also been reported as suitors for one of the big three closers.