Spring training games kick off on Thursday with 22 days until the 2022 open, but there are a few big names left in the free agent market and the trading market has remained just as active since the lockout was lifted last week.
A surge of activity occurred on Wednesday morning:
And we’re just getting started. Let’s collect the loudest rumors that appeared on Wednesday.
What’s new with Freeman?
Due to the fact that the Braves acquired Matt Olson to play at first base and, especially, subsequently signed him with a monster extension, they are not in the Freddie Freeman draw. The Blue Jays peddling Chapman seem to take them out of the mix in something like musical chairs in an infield situation. The Yankees signed Rizzo, so they were out too.
The remaining team that matters the most to Freeman is the Dodgers. He grew up in the area (Orange County as an Angels fan, but that’s close enough, right?), they have possibly the deepest pockets in baseball, and their roster is built to absorb him quite easily.
There were rumors that the Flight were after him, but they can’t match the prowess of the Dodgers in spending. John Heyman of MLB Network adds the Red Sox as another fan, but we’ll believe anything but the Dodgers when we see it.
Does Jace also check out J-Ram?
The Blue Jays “talked” to the Guardians about Jose Ramirez, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, although he notes that this move is “unlikely”. Given that Ramirez is under command control until 2023 and the Guardians are (yet?) not in tank mode, the most likely outcome here is that he will stay put.
Still, it’s a juicy rumor. Ramirez hit .266/.355/.538 (141 OPS+) with 32 doubles, five triples, 36 homers, 103 RBI, 111 runs, 27 steals and 6.7 WAR last season. He was mostly a third baseman, but he could handle second base as well, and that’s where the Jays showed their interest.
If the Jays did land Ramirez, they would have Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s infield in first place, Ramirez in second, Beau Bichette and shortstop and Matt Chapman in third.
Yankees in discussion with A
As sales continue, expect starting pitchers Shawn Manea and Frankie Montas to get a lot of bites here in the next few days.
In possibly related news, Robert Murray of Fanside reports “Yankee” and “A” are “talking”. He mentions Manaea and Montas, although he doesn’t specifically say that the Yankees discuss it with the A’s.
It would make sense. The Yankees have a lot of rotation questions after ace Gerrit Cole. Montas finished sixth in AL Cy Young voting last season, while Manea is a quality southpaw in the middle of the rotation.
Marlins want Laureano?
Center fielder Ramon Laureano could also make it into the top five. On that note, the Marlins “control” the Laureano market, by Marlins writer Joe Frisaro.
Remember, Laureano is serving an 80-game suspension for failing a drug test last season. It has 28 games left.
Laureano, 27, hit .246/.317/.443 (111 OPS+) with 21 doubles, 14 homers, 12 steals and 2.6 WAR in 88 games last season. He is a great midfield defender with good power and pace. He is under the control of the team until 2024, and then should become a free agent.
The Tigers added pitching depth to left-hander Andrew Chafin and right-hander Willy Peralta.
Chafin signed a two-year, $13 million contract.for Joel Sherman of the New York Post). Chafin, 31, had an outstanding season with the Cubs and A’s last year. In 71 games (43 with the Cubs, 28 with the A’s), he posted a 1.83 ERA and .93 BOOK with 64 strikeouts against 18 inadvertent walks in 68 2/3 innings. Left-hander Gregory Soto stays closer, so Chafin will be the best left-hander.
Peralta agreed to a minor league contract that would earn him $2.5 million if he got into a major league club. Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free-Press reports.. The 32-year-old Peralta had a 3.07 ERA in 93 2/3 innings for the Tigers last year and is looking to challenge for fifth in the starting lineup.
Rangers add southpaw strength to Miller
The Rangers signed Utilities veteran Brad Miller. according to Rosenthal.
Miller, 32, hit .221/.321/.453 (107 OPS+) with 20 homers in 331 games for the Phillies last season. He has good brute strength and has been hitting right-handers hard for a long time. He played all over the diamond, and it’s possible that the Rangers could play him most of the time at third base.
If they don’t add anyone else, after this offseason, the Rangers’ Opening Day roster could look something like this:
1. Willie Calhoun, DH
2. Markus Semien, 2B
3. Corey Seeger, SS
4. Nate Lowe, 1B
5. Adolis Garcia, CF
6. Brad Miller, 3B
7. Mitch Garver, C
8. Kole Calhoun, RF
9. Nick Solak, LF
Dodgers add Green due to bullpen depth
The Dodgers signed former All-Star Shane Green to a minor league contract. Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports. Green, 33, was an All-Star with the Tigers in 2019 before being traded to the Braves, where he was a big part of the bullpen in 2020. Last season, he fell out of favor in Atlanta and was released. Then the Dodgers took him at the end of August, and at the end of September they themselves released him.
It’s just a deep signing for the Dodgers.