MLB rumors: News on free-agent contracts, trades and more
The off-season hot stove is warming up with trade rumors and free agency decisions coming down the pipeline. The rumor mill has picked back up after a brief lull when the passage of a new collective bargaining agreement was in question, but now that the new CBA is in place free-agent dealings will commence.
The biggest free agent taken off the market so far has been outfielder Yoenis Cespedes, who re-signed with the New York Mets this week for four years and $100 million. Top-tier relievers Kenley Jansen and Aroldis Chapman are still available.
• Mets show willingness to spend by giving Yoenis Cespedes premium deal
Keep up to date on the latest MLB news and rumors below:
• Reds slugger Joey Votto prefers to stay in Cincinnati, MLB.com reports. He has a full no-trade clause.
• The Giants are interested in Tigers outfielder J.D. Martinez, who is available in trades, according to Yahoo Sports’s Jeff Passan.
• The Padres opted to non-tender oft-injured pitcher Tyson Ross.
• The Nationals non-tendered outfielder Ben Revere. Revere's performance dipped in 2016, but could bounce back if he finds a fit with another team.
• To replace Revere, the Nationals remain focused on trying to trade for Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen, but have a list of other centerfielders they could pursue if a deal for McCutchen doesn't materialize, FanRag Sports’s Jon Heyman reports.
• The Dodgers are also interested in McCutchen, according to ESPN’s Buster Olney,
• The Brewers have non-tendered first baseman Chris Carter after unsuccessfully dangling him in trades, according to reports.
• The Cubs announced they agreed to a one-year deal with reliever Brian Duensing.
• The Nationals announced they acquired catcher Derek Norris from the Padres in exchange for minor league pitcher Pedro Avila.
• The Royals have received multiple inquiries on outfielder Jarrod Dyson, ESPN's Jerry Crasnick reports, but would need to find a replacement to split rightfield time with Paulo Orlando if they traded him.
• The Braves have inquired about starting pitchers Chris Sale and Chris Archer, but are not interested in Sonny Gray, Crasnick reports.
• The Mets have not opened discussions with Jacob deGrom about a contract extension, Newsday's Marc Carig reports.
