MLB rumors: Latest news from the off-season on free agency and more
By Tom Downey, Chat Sports
The 2015 National League and American League Most Valuable Player awards were handed out Thursday. Washington Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper was the unanimous winner in the NL, and Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Josh Donaldson took home the AL award.
Check out the latest MLB news and rumors below.
• MLB announced its Opening Day schedule for 2016. There will be three games on April 3, with the Pittsburgh Pirates facing off against the St. Louis Cardinals in the first game of the day. The Toronto Blue Jays then play the Tampa Bay Rays. The New York Mets and the Kansas City Royals end the day in the World Series rematch.
• The Houston Astros announced they acquired infielder Jonathan Villar from the Milwaukee Brewers.
• MLB will soon announce new regulations for expanded netting at ball parks, reports USA Today’s Bob Nightengale.
• Chat Sports: The four MLB fan bases with the most class
• The San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Dodgers have looked into trading for Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Shelby Miller, reports ESPN’s Buster Olney.
• The Chicago Cubs have interest in re-acquiring pitcher Jeff Samardzija, reports MLB.com’s Phil Rogers. Samardzija was drafted by the Cubs in 2006 and played for them until 2014.
• Andy Van Slyke, a former major league outfielder and father of Dodgers outfielder Scott Van Slyke, alleged to CBS Sports that pitcher Clayton Kershaw wanted outfielder Yasiel Puig traded.
• The Chicago White Sox are open to trade offers for outfielder Avisail Garcia, reports CSN Chicago.
• Chat Sports: Three players the Royals could target to replace Alex Gordon
• The Astros and Miami Marlinshave inquired about Philadelphia Phillies reliever Ken Giles, reports Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports.
