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We are fast approaching the start of spring training, and nearly every big name free agent is up for it. That said, it’s still the offseason, and that means rumors can be found. We found them and put them together for Monday. Here they are:
Yankees head to Wilson deal
Yankees move up on contract with left-hander Justin Wilson, by Jon Heyman of MLB Network.
Wilson, 33, has spent the last two seasons with the Mets. In 68 appearances in Queens, he posted a 2.91 ERA (143 ERA +) and a 2.39 strikeout / step ratio. Wilson relies primarily on two throws: a mid-90s fastball and a cutter, a combination that has allowed him to remove quality contact in recent years.
Wilson would be the second notable addition the Yankees have made to their field recently, joining right-hander Darren O’Day, who the Yankees signed after transferring Adam Ottavino in a trade with the Red Sox.
The Padres have one of the majors busiest offseason. This continued on Monday, with veteran San Diego inking Keone Kela for a one-year contract by Jon Heyman of MLB Network.
Kela, 28 in mid-April, was not among CBS Sports’ top 60 free agents in the majors as winter entered. The reasons for his exclusion were simple: He had been limited by COVID-19 and injury to just two innings in 2020, and had been involved in too many off-field incidents in 2019 to merit inclusion.
Nonetheless, Kela was an effective relief when he was hearty and warm. In 231 career big-league appearances, he’s posted a 139+ ERA and a 3.20 strikeout / step ratio. Much of Kela’s arsenal consists of just two courts: a mid-90s fastball and a swing-and-miss break ball.
Kela is the second relief veteran the Padres added last week, joining former Braves closest, Mark Melancon.
The Rockies announced Monday they signed veteran first baseman CJ Cron to a minor league pact.
Cron, 31, entered the winter ranked as the 43rd best available free agent. Here is what we wrote at the time;
Cron played just 13 games before needing end-of-season knee surgery. He’s still one of the best early-stage players out there, a statement that says more about the scarcity of good options available than him. Cron is a usable option, notice you, one that can deliver over 20 circuits and OPS + in the 100-110 range. Unfortunately, the early “usable” base players tend to change uniforms frequently. Cron sure has, as he has played with four teams in the past four years. Expect it to become five out of five soon enough, then six out of six, and then …
Cron plans to compete with another recent signing, Greg Bird, for playing time at first base.
The Brewers made a potential addition to their field on Sunday, signing former All-Star closest Brad Boxberger to a minor league deal, by ESPN.
Boxberger, 33 in May, played 23 games for the Marlins last season, racking up 151+ ERA and a 2.25 strikeout / step ratio in 18 innings. The weather hasn’t been too kind to Boxberger since making the 2015 All-Star Game: even including his success in 2020, he compiled a 4.27 ERA and more than five out of nine steps during his last 151 innings.
The Brewers have a largely flexible enclosure, as only Ray Black lacks options. That said, Milwaukee is certain to carry Josh Hader, Devin Williams, Brent Suter and Freddy Peralta if they are healthy. Boxberger could then be competing with Justin Topa and / or JP Feyereisen for a spot in the opening day pen.
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