MLB free agency is nearing its conclusion, with many of the big names off the board and spring training right around the corner. But some impact players are still available.
Here’s a look at where things stand so far this offseason:
Scherzer was No. 42 on Yahoo Sports’ list of this winter’s top 50 free agents. He was injured for much of 2024, pitching just 43 1/3 innings with a 3.95 ERA, but the season prior, he helped the Texas Rangers win the World Series.
Atlanta Braves sign outfielder Jurickson Profar
After a relatively quiet offseason, the Braves are adding 2024 All-Star Jurickson Profar on a three-year, $42 million contract. Profar spent the previous season and a half with the San Diego Padres, hitting .280/.380/459 in 2024 and earning a Silver Slugger Award. He will make $12 million in 2025 and $15 million in each of the following two seasons.
Since winning the World Series in 2021, the Braves have struggled to get back to the top of the sport. They’ve reached the playoffs in the past three seasons but haven’t made it past the division series.
Follow along with Yahoo Sports as we track all the rumors, signings and more during MLB free agency:
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SP Michael King avoids arbitration, settles with San Diego Padres
King’s deal includes a $1 million salary for 2025 plus a $3 million signing bonus. There is also a mutual option for 2026 that is worth $15 million.
The 2025 contract includes incentives that could push his total earnings to $8 million.
The 29-year-old King came to San Diego in the Juan Soto trade in December 2023. He made 30 starts last season and recorded a 2.95 ERA with 201 strikeouts in 173 2/3 innings.
We have reached an agreement with RHP Michael King on a one-year contract for the 2025 season with a mutual option for 2026.
Free-agent infielder Jorge Polanco in agreement with Mariners, pending physical, sources tell me and @Chandler_Rome. Had been Astros target. Mariners acquired him from Twins last January.
Polanco deal guarantees him $7.75 million, per source. $7 million base salary for 2025 plus a $750K buyout on the player/mutual option. @Ken_Rosenthal was on it.
Dodgers make Kirby Yates deal official, DFA Ryan Brasier
Here is the state of the Los Angeles Dodgers: They just DFA’d Ryan Brasier, who has a 1.89 ERA in 68 appearances across two seasons with the team, because he is their sixth-best right-handed reliever.
Brasier, who is due $4.5 million for this season, will almost certainly draw trade interest, but the Dodgers now have Kirby Yates (officially), Blake Treinen, Michael Kopech, Brusdar Graterol and Even Phillips on the right-handed side alone.
The Los Angeles Dodgers have agreed to terms with RHP Kirby Yates on a one-year contract for $13 million. The Dodgers designated RHP Ryan Brasier for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster.
What to make of this deal for Scherzer and the Jays?
It wasn’t much of a mystery what kind of contract Scherzer would command after fellow veteran right-handers Alex Cobb, Charlie Morton and Justin Verlander all inked one-year, $15M pacts earlier this winter, but it took a while for Scherzer’s potential landing spots to crystalize. Ultimately, the Blue Jays emerged as the strongest candidates to secure the future Hall of Famer’s services, and a deal came together less than two weeks before pitchers and catchers report to spring training.
Having already addressed their needs for power and bullpen help with Anthony Santander and Jeff Hoffman, Toronto has now tabbed Scherzer as their salve for a rotation that also needed reinforcing. Add the December acquisition of second baseman Andrés Giménez to vastly improve the club’s infield defense, and the Jays have upgraded nearly every facet of their club this winter. Extending Vladimir Guerrero Jr. remains the most consequential decision facing Toronto this offseason, but the club has unquestionably gotten better across the board this winter.
Have the Jays improved enough to warrant consideration as legitimate postseason contenders coming off a last-place finish in 2024? If Scherzer can stay healthy for a full season, there’s a good bit to be excited about in the rotation, which features three other highly accomplished right-handers in Kevin Gausman, José Berríos and Chris Bassitt. If Bowden Francis’ surprising second-half breakout from last season was legit, this could end up being one of the stronger units in the American League. However, those are some pretty big “ifs.” Scherzer, who turns 41 in June, made only nine starts in 2023 and has navigated myriad ailments in recent years.
Toronto will still need a lot to go right on both sides of the ball to compete in the unforgiving AL East, but credit to them for pushing aggressively to improve the roster, even after several failed free-agent pursuits earlier in the offseason. — Shusterman
Scherzer was No. 42 on Yahoo Sports’ list of this winter’s top 50 free agents. He was injured for much of 2024, pitching just 43 1/3 innings with a 3.95 ERA, but the season prior, he helped the Texas Rangers win the World Series.
Estévez spent last year with the Angels and Phillies, pitching to a 2.45 ERA with 50 strikeouts in 55 innings. In the postseason with Philadelphia, Estévez made three appearances, pitching 2 2/3 innings and surrendering two runs while recording four strikeouts.
Reds reportedly acquiring Taylor Rogers from Giants
Rogers has spent the past two seasons with San Francisco, posting a 3.06 ERA and throwing 128 strikeouts in 111 2/3 relief innings.
The Cincinnati Reds are finalizing a trade to acquire left-handed reliever Taylor Rogers from the San Francisco Giants, sources tell me and @kileymcd. Rogers, 34, is owed $12 million this season and adds a late-inning arm to Cincinnati’s bullpen. On the news: @ByRobertMurray.
Amid an offseason of uncertainty for the franchise due to the damage done to Tropicana Field by Hurricane Milton, the Rays have quietly gone about their business in hopes of upgrading a roster coming off the franchise’s worst finish since 2017.
This deal addresses an obvious short-term need in a similar fashion to the one-year pact with backstop Danny Jansen inked earlier this offseason. While Junior Caminero appears primed to seize the third-base job, shortstop projected as a position of weakness for the Rays. Taylor Walls is a tremendous defender but an abysmal hitter, and Jose Caballero profiles better in a utility role than as an every-day shortstop. The 21-year-old Carson Williams is one of baseball’s top overall prospects and spent all of 2024 at Double-A, but his strikeout issues suggest he might still be a year or two away from being ready to contribute in the big leagues. Kim represents an ideal bridge to Williams, whether he ends up opting out after 2025 or sticks around for both years of his deal.
A fantastic glove in his own right, Kim offers similar defensive upside to Walls and far greater upside with the bat. The unknown with Kim — and surely the reason the 29-year-old had to settle for a deal much lower than what many projected — is how he’ll bounce back from shoulder surgery, which cut his 2024 season short. Walls and Caballero will likely continue to cover short to open the season, but the hope is that Kim can return in May and upgrade the position in a meaningful way. It’s a sensible landing spot for Kim and a nice upside play for a Rays franchise whose limited budget generally precludes them pursuing free agents capable of 4-plus WAR seasons.
Rays agree to two-year, $29 million deal with infielder Ha-Seong Kim
Infielder Ha-Seong Kim is heading to the Tampa Bay Rays, agreeing to a two-year, $29 million contract with the team, per multiple reports. The deal reportedly includes an opt-out after the first season.
Kim, who spent the past four seasons with the San Diego Padres, is recovering from shoulder surgery but is reportedly expected to return to play in May. He is expected to take over at shortstop in Tampa.
Tigers reportedly in agreement with Tommy Kahnle
The Detroit Tigers and right-handed pitcher Tommy Kahnle are in agreement on a one-year, $7.75 million deal, per multiple reports. Kahnle spent the previous two seasons with the New York Yankees, posting a 2.38 ERA with 94 strikeouts in 83 1/3 innings pitched.
Source confirms: Tommy Kahnle in agreement with Tigers on one-year, $7.75M contract. First with terms: @ByRobertMurray
The former Texas Rangers closer has agreed to a one-year, $13 million contract with an additional $1 million in incentives for games played, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan.
The Dodgers are now on track for a $379 million payroll, per Fangraphs’ estimate, which would be the largest payroll in MLB history. The 110% CBT surcharge would mean this deal is more like a $27.3 million deal for them.
Yates is coming off one of the best seasons by a reliever in 2024, with a 1.17 ERA that ranked behind only Cleveland Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase for the best mark among relievers.
MLB The Show announces cover athletes: Paul Skenes, Gunnar Henderson, Elly De La Cruz
For the first time ever, MLB The Show has three cover athletes: 2024 NL Rookie of the Year and Pirates ace Paul Skenes, 2023 AL Rookie of the Year and Orioles slugger Gunnar Henderson, and Reds All-Star shortstop Elly De La Cruz.
Is Steve Cohen right to complain about the Mets’ Pete Alonso negotiations?
Ryan Pressly to the Cubs
The Houston Astros stuck a deal on Sunday to send closer Ryan Pressly to the Chicago Cubs. Pressly waived his no-trade clause in order to make the deal happen.
The 36-year-old held a 3.49 ERA in 56 2/3 innings last season with the Astros. The longtime veteran earned two All-Star nods during his seven-year run in Houston, with the most recent coming in 2021.
The Chicago Cubs are finalizing a trade to acquire closer Ryan Pressly from the Houston Astros, pending medical review, sources tell ESPN. Pressly will waive his no-trade clause to Chicago to facilitate the move, and Houston will send money to help cover his $14 million salary.
Mets owner Steve Cohen gets candid about Alonso trade: “I don’t like what’s been presented to us”
The New York Mets have been making big moves this offseason, including signing Juan Soto to a mega contract. But one stubborn piece of the Mets’ offseason has been trying to bring back Pete Alonso.
At a fan fest event on Saturday, Mets owner Steve Cohen made it clear that negotiations are ongoing, but he is frustrated with the process.
“Personally, this has been an exhausting conversation and negotiation. I mean, Soto was tough — this is worse,” Cohen said.
With things dragging on, Cohen even hinted that the team might have to move on from Alonso if the two sides remain in limbo.
“As we continue to bring in players, reality is [it] becomes harder to fit in Pete to what is a very expensive group of players that we already have,” he said.
Jose Altuve open to changing positions if it helps bring Alex Bregman back
On the news that the Astros have reengaged with Alex Bregman, second baseman Jose Altuve was asked how he would help bring the longtime third baseman back to Houston.
“For Alex, I’ll do whatever,” Altuve said. That reportedly includes moving to the outfield and allowing Isaac Paredes, who was acquired in the Kyle Tucker trade with the Cubs, to take his spot at second base.
“For Alex, I’ll do whatever,” Jose Altuve said. “Whatever I have to do for him to stay, I’m willing to do.”
Yes, that includes moving to the outfield, Altuve said.
Alex Bregman’s career with the Astros appeared to be over after Houston signed free-agent first baseman Christian Walker. However, with Bregman’s market apparently stalled, the Astros have resumed talks with the third baseman, who has played all nine of his MLB seasons with Houston, The Athletic reports.
Bregman has reportedly attracted interest from the Red Sox, Blue Jays and Tigers. But his rumored pursuit of a contract in the five-year, $200 million range has apparently been an obstacle, as it was with the Astros.
Houston made a six-year, $156 million offer to Bregman, and that deal is still available, according to reports.
Bregman batted .260 with a .768 OPS, 26 home runs, 30 doubles and 75 RBI in 634 plate appearances last season for the Astros.
What to make of Profar’s deal with Atlanta?
Traditionally one of the more active teams each winter, Atlanta had been eerily quiet this offseason coming off its seventh consecutive trip to October. The Braves were one of just a handful of teams that had yet to sign a free agent to a guaranteed big-league deal this winter, but they finally got on the board with the addition of Profar on a three-year deal worth $42 million.
The Padres — with whom Profar starred in his breakout 2024 season — have also yet to sign a major-league free agent this winter, and they surely would’ve loved a reunion with Profar. But San Diego’s ongoing ownership dispute and bloated payroll apparently made retaining Profar difficult. Instead, he joins a Braves team that had an unsettled left-field depth chart that projected to feature the largely unproven Jarred Kelenic and recent signee Bryan De La Cruz in a platoon of sorts. Now that duo can cover right field until Ronald Acuña Jr. returns from ACL injury, at which point Acuña should join Profar and center fielder Michael Harris II to form one of the more dangerous outfield trios in the National League.
The switch-hitting Profar and his excellent on-base skills will provide some much-needed balance to a Braves lineup that severely underwhelmed in 2024. While Profar’s plate discipline has always been stellar, it was a notable uptick in power production supported by huge strides in his batted-ball quality that fueled his 2024 breakout that he has now parlayed into an eight-figure deal. Although he’ll no longer be a main character in the Dodgers-Padres rivalry, Profar could continue to play a key role for a team hoping to dethrone the champs in 2025.
Jurickson Profar signs with Braves
Outfielder Jurickson Profar has signed a three-year, $42 million deal with the Atlanta Braves, the team announced Thursday.
Last season with the San Diego Padres, Profar posted a career year, batting .280, hitting 24 home runs and driving in 85 runs with 10 stolen bases. Among National League left fielders, his 4.3 fWAR was highest, and he was above the 90th percentile in expected wOBA (.364) and expected batting average (.283). He was also the sixth-best hitter by wRC+ in the NL.
Anthony Santander’s deal with Blue Jays includes $61.75M in deferred money, opt-out
Anthony Santander’s five-year, $92.5M includes $61.75M deferred, according to a copy of the deal viewed by The Athletic. Present-day overall value by union’s calculation is $68.6M with a $13.7M AAV.
Santander deal includes opt out after third year. If he opts out, Jays can void it by increasing salary by $2.5M in each of final two years and exercising option for 2030 at $17.5M.
In a surprising turn of events, the Atlanta Braves have made a big splash in free agency by signing infielder Jurickson Profar to a lucrative 3-year, $42 million deal. Profar, who spent last season with the San Diego Padres, is known for his versatility and defensive prowess, making him a valuable addition to the Braves’ roster.
Meanwhile, the Toronto Blue Jays have also made a major move by signing star pitcher Max Scherzer to a deal, bolstering their pitching staff and solidifying their status as contenders in the American League. Scherzer, a three-time Cy Young Award winner, brings a wealth of experience and talent to the Blue Jays, who are looking to make a deep playoff run next season.
Both signings are sure to shake up the landscape of the MLB and will be worth keeping an eye on as the season approaches. Stay tuned for more updates on free agency moves and roster changes as teams prepare for the upcoming season.
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MLB free agency, Braves, Jurickson Profar, 3-year deal, $42 million, Max Scherzer, Toronto Blue Jays, baseball signings, MLB news
Three months into the MLB offseason, Alex Bregman remains a free agent.
The 30-year-old third baseman is one of the top position players on the market, as he has been all winter long. The Houston Astros trading reliever Ryan Pressly to the Chicago Cubs on Sunday suggested that they were shedding payroll to make room for Bregman, but there hasn’t been much movement since.
USA Today’s Bob Nightengale went on Tuesday night’s episode of “Area 45 with Bijani and Creighton” to break down where things stand between Bregman and the Astros. The six-year, $156 million deal they offered him in December is reportedly still on the table, but at least one other suitor is in the same ballpark.
According to Nightengale, the Toronto Blue Jays are “still big on” Bregman and have offered him a six-year contract as well. That stands in opposition to the Boston Red Sox, who have been hesitant to give Bregman a long-term deal.
The Astros do not seem to be intimidated by the Blue Jays’ pursuit of Bregman, though, considering Texas does not have state income taxes. Bregman’s tax bill would be far higher in Toronto than it would be in Houston, so Nightengale has theorized that the Astros wouldn’t feel threatened by a bid on Bregman worth less than $180 million.
Bregman and his agent, Scott Boras, are seemingly holding out for a $30 million average annual salary. Perhaps Toronto could beat Houston to that magic number, putting the ball in Bregman’s court.
Less than three weeks remain until Spring Training gets underway, compressing the timeline that Bregman, the Astros and the Blue Jays have to complete negotiations.
Bregman won a Gold Glove in 2024 after falling short his first three times as a finalist. He also hit .260 with 26 home runs, 75 RBI, a .768 OPS and 4.1 WAR on the year.
Between 2018 and 2019, Bregman hit . 291 with a .970 OPS, averaging 36 home runs, 44 doubles, 108 RBI, eight stolen bases and an 8.4 WAR per year in that short span. Over the last four seasons, he has hit .262 with a .795 OPS, averaging 22 home runs, 28 doubles, 80 RBI, two stolen bases and a 3.9 WAR annually.
If Bregman returns to Houston, trade acquisition Isaac Paredes could move from third base to second base. That would bump Jose Altuve to left field, which he recently admitted he is willing to do.
Should the Blue Jays come out on top in the Bregman sweepstakes, they would further stack an infield that already includes All-MLB first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr., All-Star shortstop Bo Bichette and Gold Glove second baseman Andrés Giménez.
The Red Sox and Detroit Tigers are still involved as well, to varying degrees. But if Bregman is dead-set on landing a long-term contract, Houston and Toronto appear to be his most likely landing spots.
CUBS UNWILLING TO SPEND BIG: While Chicago is reportedly interested in Alex Bregman, reports suggest that ownership does not want to go into the luxury tax in 2025. READ MORE
VLADDY RECOVERS IN RANKINGS: The Blue Jays had another player pop up on one of MLB Network’s Top 10 Right Now lists, with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. moving back up to No. 4. READ MORE
BLUE JAYS PROSPECTS PRAISED: Arjun Nimmala and Trey Yesavage were Toronto’s lone representatives on The Athletic’s list of the top 100 prospects in baseball. READ MORE
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According to recent reports, star infielder Alex Bregman has received a lucrative 6-year contract offer from the Toronto Blue Jays. The offer is said to be worth a substantial amount, highlighting the team’s strong interest in acquiring Bregman’s talents.
Bregman, who currently plays for the Houston Astros, is known for his exceptional hitting and fielding abilities. The 27-year-old has been a key player for the Astros and has consistently been a top performer in the league.
If Bregman were to accept the Blue Jays’ offer, it would undoubtedly be a major coup for the team and a significant boost to their roster. Fans are eagerly awaiting Bregman’s decision and hoping that he will choose to join the Blue Jays and help lead them to success in the upcoming seasons.
Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story as we await Bregman’s decision on the contract offer from the Toronto Blue Jays.
Max Scherzer is signing with the Toronto Blue Jays on a one-year, $15.5 million deal, per Jon Heyman on Twitter. The Cubs were reportedly among the teams scouting Scherzer’s return to action, but that’s not a level they were going to approach on a deal like this. Of note, Scherzer’s deal just beats out the one Justin Verlander signed with the Giants (one year, $15 million).
Scherzer, a future Hall of Famer, has generally still been effective when he’s been able to take the mound, but in recent years, that hasn’t been often enough. The Blue Jays, looking to compete in 2025 (it may be the last year they hav Vlad Guerrero Jr.), will hope Scherzer stays healthy enough to at least give them 100 strong mid-rotation innings.
According to recent reports, star pitcher Max Scherzer is set to sign a deal with the Toronto Blue Jays. This news comes as a major coup for the Blue Jays, who have been actively pursuing Scherzer in hopes of bolstering their pitching rotation.
Scherzer, a three-time Cy Young Award winner, is widely regarded as one of the best pitchers in baseball. His addition to the Blue Jays’ roster would provide a significant boost to their chances of competing for a playoff spot next season.
While the details of the contract have not been officially announced, it is expected that Scherzer will command a hefty salary, reflecting his status as one of the premier pitchers in the league.
Fans of the Blue Jays are no doubt excited by the prospect of seeing Scherzer take the mound for their team, and anticipation is high for what he can bring to the table. Stay tuned for more updates as this story develops.
1 day agoMLB.com’s Mark Feinsand writes that the Toronto Blue Jays appear to be the most serious about signing free-agent right-hander Max Scherzer, according to sources. The three-time Cy Young winner would join righties Kevin Gausman, Jose Berrios and Chris Bassitt in Toronto’s starting rotation, which also has Bowden Francis and Yariel Rodriguez as options. Scherzer is a future Hall of Famer, but he’s 40 years old and is coming off another injury-filled season in which he made only nine starts for the Texas Rangers, going 2-4 with a 3.95 ERA. He recently threw for teams in Florida, where one source said he looked good. Scherzer is unlikely to ever be a 200-inning workhorse again, but he could provide 140-150 quality innings in what could be his final season. “Toronto has been hot for him for about two months,” one source said. “[The Blue Jays] certainly feel like the favorites to get him.”—Keith Hernandez – RotoBaller Source: MLB.com – Mark Feinsand
According to recent reports, the Toronto Blue Jays are emerging as the favorites to land star pitcher Max Scherzer in free agency. The Blue Jays have been aggressive in their pursuit of the former Cy Young winner, and their deep pockets could give them the edge in securing his services.
Scherzer, who is considered one of the top pitchers in baseball, would be a huge addition to the Blue Jays rotation. With a powerful lineup already in place, adding Scherzer to the mix would make Toronto a formidable contender in the American League.
While other teams have also expressed interest in Scherzer, including the New York Mets and San Francisco Giants, the Blue Jays appear to be in the driver’s seat. With the financial resources and the desire to win, Toronto could be the perfect landing spot for the veteran pitcher.
Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story as the Blue Jays look to solidify their rotation for the upcoming season.
The Toronto Blue Jays have made a major move in their quest for a World Series title by signing star pitcher Max Scherzer to a $15.5 million contract. The deal, which is pending a physical, is expected to be finalized in the coming days.
Scherzer, a three-time Cy Young Award winner and eight-time All-Star, brings a wealth of experience and talent to the Blue Jays’ pitching staff. The 37-year-old right-hander is known for his fierce competitiveness and dominant stuff on the mound, and he will be a key addition to a rotation that already includes ace Hyun Jin Ryu.
With Scherzer in the fold, the Blue Jays are poised to be serious contenders in the American League East and beyond. Fans can look forward to seeing one of the game’s best pitchers in action at Rogers Centre this season. Stay tuned for more updates as the deal is finalized and Scherzer officially joins the Blue Jays roster.
Free-agent right-hander Max Scherzer and the Toronto Blue Jays have agreed to a one-year, $15.5 million contract, sources told ESPN’s Jeff Passan on Thursday.
The future Hall of Famer, who turned 40 last July, is coming off an injury-plagued season with the Texas Rangers in which he made just nine starts and went 2-4 with a 3.95 ERA. He didn’t make his first start until June 23 following surgery in the offseason to repair a herniated disk in his back. He then missed all of August with shoulder fatigue, returning to make one start in September before a hamstring injury ended his season.
Once a durable workhorse who made 30-plus starts each season from 2009 through 2018, Scherzer has now missed significant time each of the past three seasons, making 23 starts in 2022 while missing time with an oblique strain and making 27 starts in 2023 due to a strained shoulder and back spasms.
When he did pitch, the stuff was diminished, even from the previous season. His fastball averaged 92.5 mph, the lowest of his career and down from 93.7 mph in 2023. His strikeout rate dropped to 22.6%, down from 28.0%, and well below his 2021-22 season, when he was over 30%. He allowed a .724 OPS, higher than the MLB average of .711.
Scherzer was a free agent for the third time in his career. Ahead of the 2015 season, he signed a seven-year, $210 million contract with the Washington Nationals that proved to be one of the best signings ever for a free-agent pitcher. Scherzer won the second and third Cy Young Awards of his career, finished in the top three in three other seasons and helped the Nationals win the World Series in 2019, going 3-0 with a 2.40 ERA that postseason, and started Game 7 of the World Series while pitching through a neck injury.
He was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2021 in the final year of that contract and then signed a three-year deal, $130 million deal with the New York Mets, the highest annual average value for a player at the time (matched a year later by Justin Verlander and then surpassed by Shohei Ohtani in 2024). The Mets made the playoffs that first year as Scherzer posted a 2.23 ERA, but he was traded to the Rangers in 2023 — and helped them to a World Series title, although injuries limited him to just 9.2 innings in three postseason starts (he did pitch three scoreless innings in his one World Series start).
The eight-time All-Star is 216-112 in his career with the three Cy Young Awards and 75.4 WAR. Among active pitchers, only Verlander has more wins and only Verlander and Clayton Kershaw have a higher WAR.
ESPN’s David Schoenfield contributed to this report.
Sources close to the Blue Jays organization have confirmed that the team has reached a deal with free agent pitcher Max Scherzer. This blockbuster signing is sure to bolster the Blue Jays’ starting rotation and make them a serious contender in the upcoming season. Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story. #BlueJays #MaxScherzer #MLBFreeAgency
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3:05pm: The Blue Jays have been known for a while to have interest in free agent first baseman Pete Alonso. Andy Martino of SNY reports today that talks between the two sides are “advancing,” though he cautions that nothing is done yet and it can’t be certain that a deal will be completed.
Though nothing is done yet, it would be quite an interesting offseason pivot for the Jays if they could get the deal over the line. For the first few months of the winter, the club was defined by coming up just short in their pursuits of free agents like Juan Soto, Max Fried, Corbin Burnes and Roki Sasaki. When combined with last winter’s near miss on Shohei Ohtani and a disappointing 2024 season, frustration was high among the fanbase.
The volume of the murmuring decreased somewhat in recent days as the Jays signed outfield Anthony Santander to provide the lineup with a power boost. But even after that deal, it didn’t seem as though the Jays were done. They reportedly still have payroll space and have been recently connected to players like Alonso, Jurickson Profar and Max Scherzer.
If Alonso is ultimately brought north of the border alongside Santander, the two would make for fairly similar additions. Both players have power as their clear best trait, with their other contributions a bit more muted.
Alonso has clubs 226 home runs over the past six seasons, which puts him second only to Aaron Judge for that span. But despite that huge power, he has lingered unsigned in free agency as spring training is just over the horizon.
That is perhaps due to the other parts of his profile. His 9.9% career walk rate is a bit above average but not by much. He doesn’t have huge speed on the basepaths. The reviews on his defense have been mixed, with Alonso having earned +2 Defensive Runs Saved in his career but getting a grade of -24 from Outs Above Average. His offense has also been relatively lower of late. He slashed .261/.349/.535 through 2022 for a wRC+ of 137, but then hit .229/.324/.480 for a 121 wRC+ over the past two years.
That’s still really strong production but it’s possible that it contributed to a gap between what Alonso and his reps were expecting from free agency and what clubs were willing to offer. The power-only right-handed slugger is a profile that hasn’t been paid well in a while and Alonso’s recent dip may not have helped him.
Many expected him and the Mets to reunite but the club didn’t seem too keen on that. Even as Alonso and his reps have pivoted to considering short-term deals recently, the Mets apparently capped their offer in the range of $68-70MM over three years. That amounts to something close to $23MM annually, a lower average annual value than Cody Bellinger, Blake Snell and Jordan Montgomery were able to get even though they remained unsigned into February/March of last year.
It’s unclear what kind of terms Alonso and Jays are discussing, but he would be a sensible fit for them, despite his flaws. The Jays had some strengths last year but power was a clear weakness. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was the only guy on the club to get to the 20-homer plateau. The team-wide tally of 156 long balls was 26th out of the 30 clubs in the league, ahead of only the Marlins, Rays, Nationals and White Sox.
Their walk rate, however, trailed only six teams. Their defense was considered quite strong, with DRS having them tops in the majors and OAA considering them the fourth-best. Therefore, adding a player who mostly provides power was a sensible target coming into the offseason.
They already made one such addition with Santander. Like Alonso, his power is a greater strength than his defense, speed or on-base ability. But the Jays are seemingly willing to go after the weakest part of their 2024 club and attack it.
Fitting everyone into the lineup would be a bit of a challenge. The Jays already have a first baseman in Guerrero. With Alonso on the club, the two would presumably share first base and the designated hitter spot somewhat regularly. Guerrero has played a bit of third base in his career but only 14 games in the past five seasons. Most of those came last year as the club was playing out the string on a lost season.
Without Alonso on the club, corner outfielders Santander and George Springer make sense as the top candidates to receive lengthy stints in the DH spot. As mentioned, Santander is not a great fielder. Springer has been a good defender in his career but is now 35 years old and he’s naturally sliding a bit in that department. Adding Alonso would limit the ability of the Jays to use Springer or Santander in the DH spot, unless they are willing to put Guerrero at third more often than expected. As of now, Ernie Clement profiles as the club’s best option at the hot corner. Since he’s more of a glove-first guy capable of playing other positions, it’s possible he could be deployed in more of a utility role. Speculatively speaking, it’s possible the Jays could start some games with Guerrero and Alonso at the corners, with Clement subbing in at third late in the game if the club is ahead and wants to prioritize defense. At that point, either Guerrero or Alonso could head to the bench, with the other at first.
It’s an interesting gambit and time will tell if the two sides get anything done. The Jays apparently still have some money to spend and have some options available. Whether that’s Alonso, Profar, Scherzer, someone else or some combination, it appears they are still busy in trying to salvage the offseason after a few misses earlier on.
Signing Alonso would also require the club to forfeit a draft pick and $500K of international bonus pool space because he rejected a qualifying offer from the Mets. The Jays already gave up pool space to sign Santander but added $2MM in the ill-fated Myles Straw deal when they were courting Sasaki, so they probably aren’t especially worried about that part. Since they already surrendered their second-best pick in the upcoming draft to get Santander, signing Alonso would mean also forfeiting their third-highest pick. The Mets would receive a compensation pick for Alonso leaving, but as a club that paid the competitive balance tax last year, that pick wouldn’t come until after the fourth round.
The Toronto Blue Jays are reportedly making progress in talks with the New York Mets regarding first baseman Pete Alonso. According to sources close to the negotiations, the discussions are said to be “advancing” as both teams look to finalize a potential deal.
Alonso, a two-time All-Star and 2019 National League Rookie of the Year, would bring a power bat to the Blue Jays lineup and provide much-needed depth at first base. The 26-year-old slugger is known for his prodigious home run hitting ability and would be a valuable addition to a team looking to make a deep playoff run.
While nothing has been officially confirmed yet, the fact that talks are progressing is a positive sign for both teams. Stay tuned for more updates as this story develops.
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Blue Jays, Pete Alonso, trade talks, MLB, advancing negotiations, potential deal, Mets, Toronto, New York, baseball news, player trade rumors, sports updates.
Astros setup man and former closer Ryan Pressly is one year away from free agency and has been said to be on the trade block this offseason. Teams have “checked in” on his availability, according to The Athletic. Further reporting from The Athletic indicates that the Cubs have “emerged as a serious suitor” for Pressly. The two teams would have to finalize a deal and then Pressly would need to waive his no-trade clause in order for a deal to come to fruition, but for now it sounds like a real possibility he’s dealt there.
Pressly was closer for the Astros from 2021-23 and recorded the final out of the World Series in 2022, but he was removed from the role last season in favor of free agent signee Josh Hader.
The Mets, Alonso’s longtime team, reportedly offered him a three-year contract worth between $68 million and $70 million earlier this month. Alonso was said to have offered a short-term deal to the Mets and only the Mets, so it’s possible a contract with the Blue Jays would be a long-term agreement. Toronto has had a hard time getting players to take their money the last two years.
Houston reportedly offered Bregman six years and $156 million earlier this offseason. When that was declined, they pivoted to Paredes and Christian Walker, who are set to play third and first bases, respectively. According to Cot’s Baseball Contracts, the Astros have a $243 million payroll for competitive balance tax purposes, down comfortably from $264.8 million last year.
Dodgers remain interested in Kershaw
Even after signing Roki Sasaki and Blake Snell, the Dodgers have interest in re-signing Clayton Kershaw, GM Brandon Gomes said Wednesday (via the Orange County Register). Kershaw had toe and knee surgery in November and is not yet throwing off a mound. Gomes indicated the Dodgers will look to re-sign him once he’s completed his rehab and ready to pitch in MLB games.
The Dodgers have enviable rotation depth, though Tyler Glasnow (elbow) and Yoshinobu Yamamoto (shoulder) missed extended time with injuries last year, and Tony Gonsolin, Dustin May, and Shohei Ohtani did not pitch at all in 2024 as they rehabbed from elbow surgery. Kershaw is a franchise icon and there’s no such thing as too much pitching, especially for a World Series contender.
Cincinnati already has a pretty good closer in Alexis Díaz, though there is no such thing as too many good relievers, and the bullpen was a sore spot in 2024. With three wild-card spots per league, you don’t have to try too hard to see the Reds making a run at a postseason berth this season. We ranked Estévez as the 34th-best free agent available this winter.
The Padres and Twins discussed a trade involving catcher Christian Vázquez earlier this offseason, reports The Athletic. A deal is not imminent, though the two sides are said to be motivated to continue talks. It appears the biggest hurdle is how much money Minnesota will eat to facilitate the trade. Vázquez is owed $10 million in 2025, the final year of his contract.
San Diego lost Kyle Higashioka to free agency and, at minimum, need a veteran backup for Luis Campusano. Vázquez has lost his starting job with the Twins to Ryan Jeffers, and Minnesota can slot Jair Camargo in as the backup catcher. For them, trading Vázquez would be a pure salary dump. The Padres, however, are said to be approaching or up against their payroll limit.
Matzek will have showcase Thursday
Free-agent lefty Tyler Matzek, who starred for the Braves in the 2021 postseason, will throw a showcase for interested teams in California on Thursday, reports MLB.com. Matzek, 34, returned from Tommy John surgery early last season, then was shut down with elbow inflammation in May and did not pitch the rest of the year. He’s healthy now and ready to show teams he can contribute in 2025. If the showcase goes well, a minor-league contract with a contender is likely in the cards.
In the latest MLB rumors, the Chicago Cubs are reportedly pursuing Houston Astros reliever Ryan Pressly in an effort to bolster their bullpen. Pressly, who has been one of the most dominant relievers in the league, would provide a much-needed boost to the Cubs’ pitching staff.
On the other hand, the Toronto Blue Jays are said to be eyeing New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso as a potential trade target. Alonso, who burst onto the scene as a rookie with a record-breaking season in 2019, could provide a powerful presence in the middle of the Blue Jays’ lineup.
Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Dodgers are still interested in bringing back longtime ace Clayton Kershaw. Despite ongoing discussions, Kershaw has yet to commit to a new contract with the Dodgers, leaving the door open for other teams to potentially swoop in and sign the future Hall of Famer.
As the MLB offseason heats up, stay tuned for more updates on these and other rumors swirling around the league.
Tags:
MLB rumors, Cubs, Ryan Pressly, Blue Jays, Pete Alonso, Dodgers, Clayton Kershaw, MLB trade rumors, MLB free agency, MLB news
Anthony Santander gives Blue Jays offseason momentum
\n\n”,”providerName”:”Twitter”,”providerUrl”:”https://twitter.com”,”thumbnail_url”:null,”type”:”oembed”,”width”:550,”contentType”:”rich”},{“__typename”:”Markdown”,”content”:”Trading for Andrés Giménez was a fine baseball move, but it brought more questions than answers on a team that needed offense, not another elite defender. Beefing up the bullpen with Yimi García and Jeff Hoffman worked, too, but this offseason always needed to be something more, especially with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette entering their final years of club control.\n\nSantander represents that, and now, the Blue Jays can’t stop halfway. The club still has the flexibility to spend, and given the deferred money involved in Santander’s deal, there’s a clear willingness to find creative ways to make this work in both the short and long term. A decent offseason can become a truly great one if the Blue Jays hit the right notes.\n\nThese are the three steps left:\n\n**1\\. One more big addition to the lineup … somewhere**\n\nThis could come in one of two forms: More power or a true leadoff hitter.\n\nPete Alonso clearly represents the power option, and while the 30-year-old slugger is coming off a down year by his standards, that’s exactly why he’s a realistic option.”,”type”:”text”},{“__typename”:”OEmbed”,”html”:”“,”providerName”:”MLB”,”providerUrl”:null,”thumbnail_url”:”https://img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-photos/image/upload/ar_121:168,c_fill,g_face/w_121/v1/people/624413/action/vertical/current”,”type”:”oembed”,”width”:425,”contentType”:”rich”},{“__typename”:”Markdown”,”content”:”If Alonso is comfortable with a shorter-term deal including opt-outs, the Blue Jays could line up perfectly. There could be some DH days for Alonso to make the defense work, but if you’re Guerrero, wouldn’t you want to show the league what you’re capable of at third base before hitting free agency? Playing 50-plus games at the hot corner instead of a dozen could open up even more opportunities for Guerrero, as long as he looks competent there.\n\nJurickson Profar represents the leadoff option, fresh off an excellent season for the Padres with a .380 on-base percentage. Do the Blue Jays trust that number, or is there more truth in the .327 OBP he carried through the combined three seasons prior?”,”type”:”text”},{“__typename”:”Video”,”contentDate”:”2024-11-12T23:19:48.576Z”,”preferredPlaybackScenarioURL({\”preferredPlaybacks\”:\”mp4AvcPlayback\”})”:”https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2024/2024-11/12/a9b8e413-40e393f5-6bf2da53-csvm-diamondgcp-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4″,”type”:”video”,”description”:”Outfielder Jurickson Profar wins the 2024 NL Silver Slugger Award after slugging .459 with 24 home runs”,”displayAsVideoGif”:false,”duration”:”00:00:51″,”slug”:”jurickson-profar-wins-silver-slugger-award”,”tags”:[{“__typename”:”TeamTag”,”slug”:”teamid-135″,”title”:”San Diego Padres”,”team”:{“__ref”:”Team:135″},”type”:”team”},{“__typename”:”PersonTag”,”slug”:”playerid-595777″,”title”:”Jurickson Profar”,”person”:{“__ref”:”Person:595777″},”type”:”player”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”vod”,”title”:”vod”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”mlb-award”,”title”:”MLB Award”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”awards-watch”,”title”:”Awards Watch”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”mlb-network”,”title”:”MLB Network”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”silver-slugger-award”,”title”:”Silver Slugger”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”imagen-feed”,”title”:”Imagen feed”,”type”:”taxonomy”}],”thumbnail”:{“__typename”:”Thumbnail”,”templateUrl”:”https://img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-images/image/upload/{formatInstructions}/mlb/siqmtbcekzrolt3nqjaw”},”title”:”Jurickson Profar wins Silver Slugger Award”,”relativeSiteUrl”:”/video/jurickson-profar-wins-silver-slugger-award”},{“__typename”:”Markdown”,”content”:”Regardless, the Blue Jays need to explore some lineups with George Springer in different spots, perhaps allowing him to chase some more power. Bichette is still an interesting option if he gets hot again, blitzing pitchers with his aggressive approach, but keep Will Wagner in mind. With one of the best plate approaches on the team and an ability to make solid contact, the club’s No. 18 prospect has some real leadoff potential.\n\n**2\\. An MLB-caliber starter**\n\nThink veterans, think one-year deals. Max Scherzer is clearly on the Blue Jays’ radar. Jose Quintana is another name to monitor, too, along with fellow lefty Andrew Heaney, who Toronto has liked for years.”,”type”:”text”},{“__typename”:”OEmbed”,”html”:”“,”providerName”:”MLB”,”providerUrl”:null,”thumbnail_url”:”https://img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-photos/image/upload/ar_121:168,c_fill,g_face/w_121/v1/people/453286/action/vertical/current”,”type”:”oembed”,”width”:425,”contentType”:”rich”},{“__typename”:”Markdown”,”content”:”A move like this would be all about raising the floor of the rotation, less so the ceiling, and that’s just fine. Credit to the Blue Jays’ veteran starters and the club’s training staff for keeping them on the mound, but eventually, they’re going to need to go to their No. 7, No. 8 or No. 9 starter. This team hasn’t been ready to weather that storm for the past few seasons and has been extremely fortunate to avoid it, but that luck won’t last forever.\n\nAdding a starter would likely move Yariel Rodríguez into a swingman role, leaving pitching prospect Jake Bloss (No. 3) in Triple-A on a regular routine. With Alek Manoah and Ricky Tiedemann (No. 4) both working back from elbow surgeries to potentially return late in the season, that’s suddenly a good-looking group. If the season goes sideways? A veteran starter on a one-year deal always works at the Trade Deadline, too.\n\n**3\\. Extras**\n\nIt seems the Blue Jays have found their “just in case” outfielder in Myles Straw, who can fill in for Daulton Varsho if he isn’t recovered from shoulder surgery by Opening Day. There will be some bullpen tinkering and Minor League moves, too, but the backup catcher spot still needs to be addressed.”,”type”:”text”},{“__typename”:”OEmbed”,”html”:”
OFFICIAL: We’ve acquired OF Myles Straw, cash, and international bonus signing pool space for the 2025 period from the Guardians in exchange for a player to be named later or cash.
\n\n\n”,”providerName”:”Twitter”,”providerUrl”:”https://twitter.com”,”thumbnail_url”:null,”type”:”oembed”,”width”:550,”contentType”:”rich”},{“__typename”:”Markdown”,”content”:”Alejandro Kirk has gotten in much better shape already and is working to handle as many games as possible, but as it stands today, Tyler Heineman and Christian Bethancourt, who signed a Minor League deal Wednesday, are penciled in as backups. Consider this position a moving target for now, and one the Blue Jays could address through camp, right up to waivers prior to Opening Day.”,”type”:”text”}],”relativeSiteUrl”:”/news/anthony-santander-gives-blue-jays-offseason-momentum”,”contentType”:”news”,”subHeadline”:null,”summary”:”This story was excerpted from Keegan Matheson’s Blue Jays Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. 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2:48 PM UTC
This story was excerpted from Keegan Matheson’s Blue Jays Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. Andsubscribeto get it regularly in your inbox.
TORONTO — The Blue Jays’ offseason finally has a shape.
Santander represents that, and now, the Blue Jays can’t stop halfway. The club still has the flexibility to spend, and given the deferred money involved in Santander’s deal, there’s a clear willingness to find creative ways to make this work in both the short and long term. A decent offseason can become a truly great one if the Blue Jays hit the right notes.
These are the three steps left:
1. One more big addition to the lineup … somewhere
This could come in one of two forms: More power or a true leadoff hitter.
Pete Alonso clearly represents the power option, and while the 30-year-old slugger is coming off a down year by his standards, that’s exactly why he’s a realistic option.
If Alonso is comfortable with a shorter-term deal including opt-outs, the Blue Jays could line up perfectly. There could be some DH days for Alonso to make the defense work, but if you’re Guerrero, wouldn’t you want to show the league what you’re capable of at third base before hitting free agency? Playing 50-plus games at the hot corner instead of a dozen could open up even more opportunities for Guerrero, as long as he looks competent there.
Jurickson Profar represents the leadoff option, fresh off an excellent season for the Padres with a .380 on-base percentage. Do the Blue Jays trust that number, or is there more truth in the .327 OBP he carried through the combined three seasons prior?
Regardless, the Blue Jays need to explore some lineups with George Springer in different spots, perhaps allowing him to chase some more power. Bichette is still an interesting option if he gets hot again, blitzing pitchers with his aggressive approach, but keep Will Wagner in mind. With one of the best plate approaches on the team and an ability to make solid contact, the club’s No. 18 prospect has some real leadoff potential.
2. An MLB-caliber starter
A move like this would be all about raising the floor of the rotation, less so the ceiling, and that’s just fine. Credit to the Blue Jays’ veteran starters and the club’s training staff for keeping them on the mound, but eventually, they’re going to need to go to their No. 7, No. 8 or No. 9 starter. This team hasn’t been ready to weather that storm for the past few seasons and has been extremely fortunate to avoid it, but that luck won’t last forever.
Adding a starter would likely move Yariel Rodríguez into a swingman role, leaving pitching prospect Jake Bloss (No. 3) in Triple-A on a regular routine. With Alek Manoah and Ricky Tiedemann (No. 4) both working back from elbow surgeries to potentially return late in the season, that’s suddenly a good-looking group. If the season goes sideways? A veteran starter on a one-year deal always works at the Trade Deadline, too.
It seems the Blue Jays have found their “just in case” outfielder in Myles Straw, who can fill in for Daulton Varsho if he isn’t recovered from shoulder surgery by Opening Day. There will be some bullpen tinkering and Minor League moves, too, but the backup catcher spot still needs to be addressed.
OFFICIAL: We’ve acquired OF Myles Straw, cash, and international bonus signing pool space for the 2025 period from the Guardians in exchange for a player to be named later or cash.
Alejandro Kirk has gotten in much better shape already and is working to handle as many games as possible, but as it stands today, Tyler Heineman and Christian Bethancourt, who signed a Minor League deal Wednesday, are penciled in as backups. Consider this position a moving target for now, and one the Blue Jays could address through camp, right up to waivers prior to Opening Day.
The Toronto Blue Jays have made a significant move to bolster their roster for the upcoming season by acquiring outfielder Anthony Santander from the Baltimore Orioles. This trade not only adds a talented player to their lineup but also gives the team some much-needed momentum heading into the offseason.
Santander, who was named an All-Star in 2020, brings a powerful bat and solid defensive skills to the Blue Jays. With a career .253 batting average and 48 home runs in 294 games, he is sure to provide a boost to the team’s offense. Additionally, his versatility in the outfield will give the Blue Jays more options when it comes to their defensive alignment.
This acquisition shows that the Blue Jays are serious about contending in the upcoming season. By adding a player of Santander’s caliber, they are sending a message to the rest of the league that they are ready to compete at the highest level. With their young core of talented players and now with the addition of Santander, the Blue Jays are shaping up to be a force to be reckoned with in the American League.
Overall, the acquisition of Anthony Santander has given the Blue Jays the momentum they need to make a strong push for the playoffs next season. Fans can look forward to seeing Santander in a Blue Jays uniform and witnessing the impact he will have on the team’s success.
Tags:
Anthony Santander, Blue Jays, offseason, momentum, MLB, baseball, trade, acquisitions, Baltimore Orioles, outfielder, sports news
Having lost out to the Los Angeles Dodgers so many times, the Toronto Blue Jays apparently decided to just take a page out of their book.
The recent deal they signed with outfielder Anthony Santander? It is MAAAAAASSIVELY deferred.
Per Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic on X, Santander’s five-year, $92.5 million deal is actually worth just $68.6 million in present-day value thanks to a whopping $61.75 million in deferrals(!). So rather than getting close to a $20 million AAV deal, Santander actually got only about $13.7 million AAV. Even with the draft pick compensation factored in, and even granting that his skill set is mostly limited to hitting a ton of dingers, that is an absolute bargain.
It’s also just a tremendous difference from what was originally reported, much like all the recent Dodgers deals. Like I’ve been saying for a long time now, the incentives on this stuff are all wrong: the team doesn’t have a strong incentive to tell the player (and the world) that they’re actually getting a lot less money, the agent potentially doesn’t have a strong incentive to tell the world that he didn’t actually land his client a monster contract, and you just have to hope that the player has other savvy advisors around him to help do the complex math on the deferrals and tax implications.
But, the reality is, if the player is willing to accept huge deferrals in order to get some “headline” number, then teams are just doing the smart thing by continuing to go this route.
This situation reminds me of how NFL contracts are announced at some massive number, everyone reacts, and then the “guaranteed” money – you know, the part that actually matters – comes out later.
After much speculation and anticipation, it has been revealed that Anthony Santander’s deal with the Toronto Blue Jays is actually massively deferred. The outfielder, who was expected to bring a significant boost to the team’s lineup, will now have his salary spread out over a longer period of time.
This news comes as a surprise to many fans and analysts, who were eagerly awaiting the impact Santander would have on the Blue Jays’ performance. With this new development, it remains to be seen how this deferred deal will affect both Santander’s performance on the field and the team’s overall success.
Stay tuned for more updates and analysis on this developing story. #AnthonySantander #BlueJays #DeferredDeal
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