Despite entering the winter as the premier free agent starting pitcher with plenty of reported suitors, Yu Darvish has lingered on the market, still unsigned.
However, there might be more to it than Darvish simply not receiving the type of contract he desires.
The right-hander has made it clear he would like to return to the Los Angeles Dodgers and is biding time to see if the team can clear payroll to make a deal happen, according to Andy McCullough of the Los Angeles Times.
Darvish, 31, was shipped to the Dodgers from the Texas Rangers just before last July’s trade deadline. He helped the club down the stretch and early in the post-season, but was tagged with two losses in the World Series, including a decisive Game 7 defeat at the hands of the Houston Astros.
The Dodgers — whose 2018 contractual commitments currently stand at $185 million, according to Cots Baseball Contracts — have reportedly been trying to get their payroll below the $197 million Competitive Balance Tax.
Clearing room for Hosmer?
The Kansas City Royals cleared about $5 million in salary with their Monday trade of Brandon Moss to the Oakland Athletics and may use the savings toward their pursuit of Eric Hosmer, according to Rustin Dodd of The Kansas City Star.
“The economic part of it is very real to us,” Royals general manager Dayton Moore told The Star.
Dodd writes that the Royals are believed to have made a long-term offer to Hosmer in the neighbourhood of $140 million. The first baseman has spent his entire seven-year career with Kansas City and, despite coming off a career year, has not garnered interest from many teams on the free agent market.
The San Diego Padres have been linked to the 28-year-old, who posted an .882 OPS and 4.1 wins above replacement in 2017.
CarGo sticking in Colorado?
Carlos Gonzalez is one of the many free agents who remains unsigned. He’s been linked to several clubs over the course of the off-season, including the Toronto Blue Jays, but could now remain with the Colorado Rockies.
The club is reportedly considering bringing back either Gonzalez or first baseman Mark Reynolds, or signing free-agent infielder Todd Frazier, reports Thomas Harding of MLB.com.
Gonzalez, 32, struggled mightily last year, when he slashed .262/.339/.423 with 14 home runs, while generating -0.2 wins above replacement. He’s been a fixture with the Rockies since 2009.
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