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Welcome to 2021. The new year has arrived and we’re still waiting for one of the best free agents of the offseason to sign. Only 10 of our top 60 free agents signed up, including only one in the top 14 and none of the top four. Here are the latest rumors about hot stoves on the first day of the year.
In his last video on social networks, Trevor Bauer has confirmed that he has a (virtual) meeting with the Blue Jays scheduled for Thursday. “I have a call with the Blue Jays. I’m going to check in with them and talk to their pitching coach (Pete Walker) and their high performance coach (Angus Mugford) and see what they have to offer,” he said. Bauer said. Our RJ Anderson ranked Bauer as a No.3 free agent.
The Blue Jays have been connected to all the big free agents (Bauer, DJ LeMahieu, JT Realmuto, George Springer) in recent weeks and they are one of the few teams to spend big this winter. Their current projected rotation includes Hyun-Jin Ryu, Robbie Ray, Tanner Roark, Nate Pearson and Ross Stripling. Stripling could return to the bullpen or Pearson could go to Triple-A to host a Bauer signing.
Tanaka could return to Japan
A source close to Masahiro Tanaka told NJ.com’s Randy Miller that there was a “good chance” the right-hander would return to the Rakuten Golden Eagles, his former team in Japan, if he failed to secure a new one. deal with the Yankees. Jason Coskrey from Japan Times Tanaka note said the chances of him returning to Japan are “not zero” in a recent television appearance.
Our RJ Anderson ranked Tanaka as a # 10 free agent this offseason. Tanaka played seven years with the Golden Eagles before joining the Yankees, including going 24-0 with a 1.27 ERA in 27 starts in 2013, his final year in Japan. The Yankees need another starting pitcher, and a meeting makes sense. Either way, it looks like Tanaka doesn’t want to spend the next few years moving from an MLB team to an MLB team.
Padres talking with Profar, Yates
After adding Yu Darvish and Blake Snell (and Ha-Seong Kim), the Padres are now in talks with right-hander Kirby Yates and super-utility man Jurickson Profar about possible meetings, reports Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune. Yates missed most of 2020 with a bone spur in his elbow and is considering a one-year contract. Acee says San Diego is also talking to other guys who are closer.
The Padres don’t have much left on their to-do list during the offseason, although they can use another reliever and another bench player, so Yates and Profar are obvious adjustments. At 28, it would make sense for Profar to look for a starting job elsewhere rather than accepting a job or part-time position with the Padres. San Diego has a full infield and its current outfield includes Trent Grisham, Wil Myers and Tommy Pham.
Astros, little ones interested in Castro
Astros, Cubs are interested in free agent receiver Jason Castro, say MLB Reporter Robert Murray and Patrick Mooney of Athletic. A return to Houston, where Castro began his career, seems less likely than it was a few weeks ago, Murray notes. Our RJ Anderson didn’t rank Castro among his top 60 free agents. The left-handed swinger stands out more by his glove than by his bat.
The Cubs sent Victor Caratini to the Padres in the Darvish trade, so they need to at least make a backup behind Willson Contreras. Contreras, of course, is himself on the commercial block, so Chicago may be on the hunt for two new Seekers before it’s all said and done. The Astros are committed to backing defensive pillar Martin Maldonado behind home plate, although they also need a backup.
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