MLB Rumors: Reds Contact Indians Over Francisco Lindor Trade

The Hot Stove has simmered down some this week after a busy stretch at the Winter Meetings.

The Yankees introduced starter Gerrit Cole on Wednesday after signing him to a blockbuster nine-year, $324 million deal last week. With top free agents like Cole, Stephen Strasburg, Madison Bumgarner and Anthony Rendon off the market, trade talks are taking center stage. 

Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor continues to dominate the rumor mill as teams try to figure out if Cleveland will trade its franchise star. The Dodgers reportedly contacted the Indians about Lindor earlier this week, but they're not the only team allegedly interested in him.

Will Lindor start the 2020 season in Cleveland or in a new city? Check out the latest news and rumors around baseball:

• Third baseman Maikel Franco and the Royals have agreed to a one-year, $2.95 million deal with $1.05 million in incentives. (Jon Heyman, MLB Network)
• Right-hander Julio Tehran and the Angels have agreed to a one-year deal. (Jeff Passan, ESPN)
• The White Sox have agreed to a deal with free-agent pitcher Gio Gonzalez. (Jon Heyman, MLB Network)
• The Reds are the latest team to contact the Indians about Francisco Lindor, although "it's unclear if there's any traction." (Mark Feinsand, MLB.com)
• The Brewers have agreed to a one-year, $5 million deal with free-agent first baseman Justin Smoak. The deal includes an option for 2021. (Robert Murray)
• Agent Scott Boras is "deep in negotiations" with teams interested in free-agent pitchers Hyun-Jin Ryu and Dallas Keuchel. (Mark Feinsand, MLB.com) 
• The Angels have had multiple conversations with Boras about Ryu and Keuchel. (Maria Torres, Los Angeles Times)
• Free-agent outfielder Steven Souza Jr. is drawing interest from the Rangers, Rays, Cubs and Giants. Souza missed the entire 2019 season after undergoing season-ending surgery to repair an ACL tear, LCL tear, partial PCL tear and posterior lateral capsule tear in his left knee. He suffered the injury after awkwardly stepping on home plate during an exhibition game at Chase Field on March 26. (Jon Morosi, MLB Network)
• Teams have reached out to the Mets to ask about outfielder Yoenis Cespedes's availability in trades. Nothing is "close or imminent." The trade talks come after New York restructured Cespedes's contract last week. (Anthony DiComo, MLB.com)