10:09 p.m.: The Texas Rangers are in on Zack Greinke. Texas has been rumored as well to have some interest in its former pitcher Yu Darvish. Bringing Greinke over likely would mark the end of those rumors, however, given the financial commitment that would be involved in bringing over the D-Backs ace.
#Rangers, #Dbacks have had trade talks involving RHP Zack Greinke, according to @Sullivan_Ranger. Clubs have not confirmed. https://t.co/xWhuCkOvqT #HotStove pic.twitter.com/bOBbTXZTb1
— MLB (@MLB) December 13, 2017
9:27 p.m.: The St. Louis Cardinals are looking to add a big bat. They’re gunning hard for Marcell Ozuna, but it sounds far from a slam dunk.
While cards are in on Marcell Ozuna they have company. The dreaded mystery team has entered the picture.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) December 13, 2017
What do you think? Leave a comment.
9:25 p.m.: Things are getting busy as night falls, first with the Los Angles Angels trying to acquire Ian Kinsler.
Angels remain in on Kinsler
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) December 13, 2017
8:00 p.m.: Appears to be a bit of a reach, but also an indication that the Cardinals are adamant about acquiring a bat with power potential after missing out on Giancarlo Stanton.
#STLCards have spoken with #BlueJays about Donaldson at meetings, sources tell The Athletic. No indication a deal is close. To this point, Jays seemingly bullish about keeping Donaldson, looking to add. GM Atkins mentioned Jay Bruce, CarGo as possible fits to reporters today.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 12, 2017
6:10 p.m.: Wade Davis, who served as the Chicago Cubs’ closer last season, is one of the best available free-agent relievers on the market. And it looks like he is beginning to draw the attention of a couple National League teams, including another NL Central squad.
Sources: Cardinals are among the teams in on Wade Davis. They’re prioritizing late-inning help to complement Luke Gregerson signing. Rockies are in on Davis as well as they hunt for a closer.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 12, 2017
2:45 p.m.: We haven’t heard much about J.D. Martinez recently, but it sounds like that’s about to change.
Marquee free agent JD Martinez is scheduled to come to winter meetings to meet with at least one team, if not multiple teams, beginning tonight
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) December 12, 2017
Many predict he’ll ultimately wind up with the Boston Red Sox, and we’re just speculating here, but maybe they’re the team with whom he’ll meet. Who knows, though?
2:41 p.m.: The St. Louis Cardinals had a deal in place for Giancarlo Stanton before the slugger vetoed the trade and instead opted for New York. So it makes sense, with other Marlins outfielders available, St. Louis would circle back with Miami. And it appears the Cards are the leader in the clubhouse for Marcell Ozuna, who’s coming off a 37-home run season.
The #STLCards have emerged as the favorites to acquire #Marlins OF Marcell Ozuna but no decision yet
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) December 12, 2017
2:38 p.m.: If there’s a starting pitcher available for trade, chances are the New York Yankees have been in touch with the team shopping said pitcher.
#Yankees #Cubs among many teams to check in with #Royals about Danny Duffy. No traction seen yet with any team.
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) December 12, 2017
2:30 p.m.: Sounds like a lot of boxes will need to be checked if Manny Machado is to be traded this winter. Of course, that makes sense given his contract situation, as he’s set to hit the market following the 2018 season.
#Orioles definitely listening on Machado, but a suitor would have to give up so much for 1 yr of control that it would have to be a club that believes strong chance of signing him after this year. Perhaps #Phillies #stlcards fall into that category, few others.
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) December 12, 2017
2:45 p.m.: The Philadelphia Phillies, it seems, are going to do something big … soon. Whether that’s this winter or next offseason, we ‘re not entirely sure, but they sure have been linked to a lot of big-name players the last few days.
Phillies love Machado but there are many hurdles. They’d likely need to extend him to make it make sense (not easy). Also, source says he’d be “shocked” if phils would part with Sixto Sanchez or Kingery, possible targets.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) December 12, 2017
1:19 p.m.: Here’s a scary thought for the rest of baseball.
#Yankees approximately $30M under $197M luxury-tax threshold, sources tell The Athletic. Plenty of room to make other moves, and additional trades would create even more flexibility.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 12, 2017
12:35 p.m.: One of the next steps for the New York Yankees is to find a third baseman after trading Chase Headley to the San Diego Padres. Re-signing trade deadline acquisition Todd Frazier makes plenty of sense, but it’s far from a done deal.
Complication with #Yankees/Frazier reunion: He wants multi-yr deal. NYY would want to keep to 1 yr with Andujar close, Machado a fr agt next yr. Frazier loved playing close to home. Wonder if compromise is 1 plus option or 2 yrs?
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) December 12, 2017
11:45 a.m.: The latest on Miami Marlins outfielder Marcell Ozuna:
Count the Rockies, Blue Jays and Rangers – along with Cardinals and Nationals- expressing interest in Marcell Ozuna.
— clarkspencer (@clarkspencer) December 12, 2017
The Marlins are far from done when it comes to shedding payroll, it seems.
Source: marlins are working to trade ozuna and tazawa to get to $85-90M payroll first. Can’t rule out continuing firesale after that but the first thing is to get payroll in order.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) December 12, 2017
11:18 a.m.: Here’s an interesting one: The Atlantic’s Ken Rosenthal is reporting the Baltimore Orioles are shopping third baseman Manny Machado. The wrinkle, according to Rosenthal, is Machado wants to move back to shortstop.
This one will be fascinating to watch, as Machado is set to become a free agent after the 2018 season as part of arguably the most star-studded free agent class in baseball history.
11:15 a.m.: The New York Yankees, it appears, have just gained some financial flexibility.
I hear #Yankees have traded Mitchell and Chase Headley to the #Padres
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) December 12, 2017
Headley is owed $13 million for the 2018 season.
10:45 a.m.: The New York Yankees, as we mentioned yesterday, still should look to shore up their starting rotation. They have the prospects to make a deal, especially after the Giancarlo Stanton trade potentially could make someone like Clint Frazier available.
Well, here are two potential options, per USA TODAY’s Bob Nightengale.
The New York #Yankees, trying to swing a trade for a starter, have #Tigers Michael Fulmer and #Dbacks Patrick Corbin on their radar in early talks
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) December 12, 2017
10:36 a.m.: Scott Boras has a cozy relationship with Washington Nationals ownership — with 10 clients on last year’s roster — and apparently Boras is going to back to that well. Whether Boras actually sees Washington as a potential destination for Jake Arrieta or he just wants to create a market remains to be seen.
But apparently there’s been dialogue.
Scott Boras is trying to engage the #Nationals on Jake Arrieta, sources say. The Nats already have $385M invested in Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg. But that hasn’t stopped Boras from making his pitch to Ted Lerner.
— Jerry Crasnick (@jcrasnick) December 12, 2017
10:26 a.m.: The Texas Rangers missed out on Shohei Ohtani, so now they’re looking elsewhere for pitching help. Just about everyone assumes they’ll look into a reunion with Yu Darvish, but Texas also could address the need through the trade market. The Detroit Tigers are open for business with just about everyone on the roster available, including All-Star starter Michael Fulmer.
Hearing that Rangers have, indeed, been among the teams that have checked in on Michael Fulmer. Not surprising. He checks all boxes, though there is some medical risk. And he’d probably be expensive in trade talks, so lot of complexity to anything getting traction https://t.co/7YnrxFlyX1
— Evan Grant (@Evan_P_Grant) December 12, 2017
The Rangers and New York Mets also discussed swapping Jurickson Profar and Matt Harvey, according to multiple reports Monday.
10:20 a.m.: The market for free agent first baseman Carlos Santana is looking pretty strong. Cleveland.com reported Tuesday morning the slugger’s agents are in “deep discussions with several teams.” The Indians — who made Santana the $17.4 million qualifying offer — are still in the hunt, according to the report.
8:25 a.m.: Yu Darvish is considered by many as the top starting pitcher on the market, but don’t forget about Jake Arrieta. He certainly would help in the Phillies’ ongoing rebuild.
Phillies are considering Jake Arrieta. Not perfect match since they are a year from possible contention but many of their execs know him well from when they were with the Orioles.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) December 12, 2017
Arrieta is a Scott Boras client, however, and as you’d expect, the price tag is sky-high … or at least the asking price is. ESPN.com cited an MLB executive who said Boras is looking for a $200 million contract for the right-hander. The agent also has said publicly he hopes to secure a deal similar to the one the Detroit Tigers gave Justin Verlander in 2013: seven years, $180 million.
8:15 a.m.: The San Diego Padres haven’t had a winning season since 2010, but they do have some young talent and could be primed for a turnaround in 2018. If you add someone like Eric Hosmer to the mix, that certainly would help those efforts.
Padres, thinking big, remain strongly in mix for Hosmer.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) December 12, 2017
7:40 a.m. ET: Monday in Orlando mostly was about the newest New York Yankees slugger.
The Yankees on Monday officially introduced Giancarlo Stanton, kicking off the annual baseball get-together. Other than that, though, there wasn’t much in way of player movement, but there was no shortage of rumors.
Which brings us to Tuesday. As the Yankees — who came within one game of the World Series — load up, and the two-time defending American League East champion Boston Red Sox wait to strike, the rest of the American League East almost looks ready to start conceding already. There have been rumors about the Baltimore Orioles taking calls on Manny Machado, and the Tampa Bay Rays reportedly are getting plenty of attention centering around ace Chris Archer. Even the Blue Jays could sell off pieces, and former MVP Josh Donaldson likely would be a valuable trade chip.
Meanwhile, in the National League East, the Miami Marlins’ latest rebuild is in full effect, with outfielders Christian Yelich and Marcell Ozuna getting most of the attention.
Hopefully we’ll start to learn more Tuesday. Be sure to keep it right here, as we’ll be combing through the news and rumors to bring you all the latest with instant analysis throughout the day.