2:24 p.m.: The Angels continue their aggressive offseason by testing the waters on former Cincinnati Reds infielder Zack Cozart.
Source: #Angels interested in free agent Zack Cozart to play 3B. Cozart also talking to other clubs.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 14, 2017
2:20 p.m.: The White Sox, who have been at the center of Manny Machado talks, also could sell off some pieces, namely outfielder Avisail Garcia.
The #SFGiants and #Bluejays have talked to the #Whitesox about acquiring outfielder Avisail Garcia, but nothing close
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) December 14, 2017
1:35 p.m.: Meanwhile, it appears Zack Grienke isn’t going anywhere for now.
Greinke to rangers talk is said to be “pretty dead.” Arizona is offering to offset some of the $127M over 4 yrs. how much is the question. 3 others still in mix.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) December 14, 2017
1:30 p.m.: The Twins aren’t messing around, folks. Minnesota reportedly has its sights set on Japanese ace Yu Darvish.
Twins starter target remains Darvish. Now that they’ve got their back-end reliever, Yu may be their next order of business.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) December 14, 2017
12:56 p.m.: Jon Heyman has the latest on Eric Hosmer — with an extra nugget about the Red Sox’s pursuit of J.D. Martinez.
Padres feeling slightly better lately about their chances with Hosmer. Their visit went well, they made an offer and see a real fit even if they’re a year away due to his youth. Kc, possibly Boston (tho they may go for jd) are other threats.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) December 14, 2017
12:54 p.m.: Here’s a name we haven’t heard today: The Blue Jays reportedly have interest in free agent outfielder Lorenzo Cain.
Jays have interest in Lorenzo Cain. They’re believed to prefer a four-year deal. However he’s thought to have strong market.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) December 14, 2017
12:19 p.m.: Didn’t we tell you not to sleep on the Red Sox?
Boston is engaged in talks with both free agent outfielder J.D. Martinez and free agent first baseman Eric Hosmer and hopes to sign both players, Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald reports, citing a source at the winter meetings.
Dave Dombrowski’s comments Monday suggested his club only would have room for one big bat, so this is quite the eyebrow-raising development.
12:06 p.m.: Sure, baseball can be a cruel business, but here’s a nice reminder that general managers do have hearts:
#STLCards John Mozeliak, on trading Stephen Piscotty to the Bay Area, where he'll be closer to his mother (who is fighting ALS): "There were certainly some opportunities to move him elsewhere, and when you’re looking at how to break a tie, clearly that did play into it."
— Jenifer Langosch (@LangoschMLB) December 14, 2017
11:52 a.m.: The Pelican has left the building, folks.
Dave Dombrowski just walked out of the door of the Dolphin hotel. His Winter Meetings are over…surprisingly without a move made. But they'll do something. #RedSox
— Chris Cotillo (@ChrisCotillo) December 14, 2017
Dombrowski not frustrated he didn't get anything done here.
"I didn't really anticipate much different," Dombrowski said, adding that he told some people before he got here there's a long time between the Winter Meetings and the start of spring training.— Christopher Smith (@SmittyOnMLB) December 14, 2017
Of course, this doesn’t preclude the Red Sox and president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski from making a move, as there still are plenty of options on the table for Boston.
11:35 a.m.: The Twins apparently have found their reliever, agreeing to a one-year deal with Fernando Rodney worth $6 million, according to Sirius XM’s Craig Mish.
11:30 a.m.: We have an official trade, as Stephen Piscotty’s move to the Oakland Athletics has been finalized.
The Cardinals have traded OF Stephen Piscotty to the Oakland Athletics for SS Yairo Muñoz and 2B Max Schrock.
— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) December 14, 2017
10:52 a.m.: The Cardinals acquired Marcell Ozuna on Wednesday, but they might not be done, as they reportedly have turned their attention to Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Josh Donaldson.
#STLCards keep pushing for Donaldson, sources tell The Athletic. #BlueJays remain disinclined to move Donaldson, planning to compete in 2018. Asking price high. No indication deal is close.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 14, 2017
10:51 a.m.: Any deal involving Manny Machado will have to wait until after the winter meetings, according to the Baltimore Sun’s Eduardo Encina.
Duquette said #Orioles will continue to entertain trade discussion regarding Machado but will re-evaluate situation upon returning to Baltimore. No deal anticipated today.
— Eduardo A. Encina (@EddieInTheYard) December 14, 2017
10:48 a.m.: Patience, Red Sox fans… The Boston Globe’s Alex Speier explains why it might behoove Boston to take their time in their pursuit of free agent outfielder J.D. Martinez.
Waiting on JD Martinez makes a ton of sense for the Sox. Several evaluators see no clearly defined market beyond the Sox for him, aside from Dbacks – but AZ likely would need to move $ to sign him. NL teams with $ like SF lack DH, an issue esp at back end of deal.
— Alex Speier (@alexspeier) December 14, 2017
9:56 a.m.: The Minnesota Twins reportedly are in hot pursuit of a reliever.
Twins, who’d been in on cishek, are looking at reed, Watson, belisle, Rodney and other top remaining relievers
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) December 14, 2017
9:29 a.m.: As Heyman mentioned earlier, the Cardinals reportedly are right in the hunt for Machado.
The #Stlcards also have strong bid to #Orioles for Manny Machado, but not quite as aggressive as #Whitesox proposal
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) December 14, 2017
9:21 a.m.: We have our first reported move of the day, as right-handed reliever Steve Cishek is joining the Chicago Cubs, per The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal.
#Cubs in agreement with free-agent right-hander Steve Cishek, pending physical, sources tell The Athletic.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 14, 2017
9:20 a.m.: Manny Machado to the Yankees seems unlikely, according to Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports, while the Cardinals and White Sox remain contenders.
Orioles have been seeking big package with two young starting pitchers if possible. Cards chisox yanks have that but no one sees Angelos trading MM to yanks.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) December 14, 2017
8:38 a.m.: ESPN’s Buster Olney slipped in this early-morning nugget on the Red Sox, who apparently are “well-positioned” to acquire either J.D. Martinez or Eric Hosmer.
They appear well-positioned to land one of the big free agent boppers — Martinez or Hosmer.
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) December 14, 2017
8:15 a.m.: The White Sox reportedly are serious about keeping Machado around if they land him.
The #WhiteSox have no intention of flipping Manny Machado if they land him, they say, insisting he fits into their long-term plans
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) December 14, 2017
8:01 a.m.: Keep an eye on the Orioles today. The Baltimore Sun reported Wednesday that the O’s want “at least two cost-controllable starters” in return for Machado, but their pursuit of pitching could come in separate deals, as well.
The Baltimore #Orioles, who hope to trade Manny Machado by the end of the week, are also strongly pursuing #Royals starter Danny Duffy
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) December 14, 2017
7:54 a.m.: Speaking of San Diego… the Padres reportedly are interested in Chase Headley, who just joined the Angels via trade from the Yankees.
Padres are still talking to the Angels and a couple others about chase headley
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) December 14, 2017
7:48 a.m.: Could the Boston Red Sox lose out on free agent first baseman Eric Hosmer — to the San Diego Padres?
The San Diego #Padres have become clear-cut favorites to sign 1B Eric Hosmer after two face-to-face meetings with #Redsox still lurking
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) December 14, 2017
7:47 a.m.: Here’s the latest on Manny Machado, per USA TODAY’s Bob Nightengale: There are a few teams in the mix, but the Chicago White Sox believe they are the front-runner.
The #Yankees, #SFGiants and #Phillies also are among the bids for #Orioles Manny Machado
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) December 14, 2017
The #Orioles are moving aggressively on Manny Machado trade talks and now believe they can move him by the end of the week with the strength of their offers
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) December 14, 2017
7:45 a.m. ET: Major League Baseball’s winter meetings are almost over, but teams appear to be making the most of them.
Wednesday saw a steady stream of moves out of Orlando, including Marcell Ozuna leaving the Miami Marlins to join the St. Louis Cardinals and four-time All-Star Ian Kinsler leaving Detroit to join the busy Los Angeles Angels.
There still are plenty of free agents and trade targets left on the board, though, most notably Baltimore Orioles star Manny Machado. Thursday is the final day of the meetings, so will we finally see Machado move?
Keep it here throughout the day to find out, as we’ll have all the latest rumblings and deals across baseball as they happen.
