MLB Off Season, Rumors, Signings and Trades

[TheGame]

CBS Sports' Jon Heyman reports that the Yankees discussed Shin-Soo Choo at their recent organizational meetings.
The Yankees have lots of other needs -- including pitching, third base, shortstop, and catcher -- but the club values Choo's on-base ability. Still, it's unclear whether they'll be willing to pay the high price in order to sign him, especially as they attempt to get under the $189 million threshold for 2014. Heyman writes that the Rangers, Cubs, Astros, Mariners, Phillies, Mets and Astros could all make a play for Choo

FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal reports that the Mariners will interview Athletics bench coach Chip Hale for their managerial vacancy on Wednesday.

Giants re-signed RHP Tim Lincecum to a two-year, $35 million contract.
CBS Sports' Jon Heyman says the righty will receive a full no-trade clause. Lincecum might have been able to net a long-term deal somewhere, but he preferred a short deal as he attempts to re-establish his value and he still managed to get a big chunk of change.




ESPN's Buster Olney reports that the Royals are ready to listen to offers for Billy Butler.

[TheGame]

Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports believes that if Rick Renteria becomes the next manager of the Cubs, that Brad Ausmus could be his successor as the Padres bench coach.
Renteria has emerged in recent days as one of the favorites for the Cubs managerial vacancy. Ausmus himself has garnered consideration for several managerial gigs this offseason, as he interviewed for the Nationals opening and has been mentioned as a candidate in Detroit.

Dodgers third base coach Tim Wallach interviewed for the Tigers managerial vacancy on Friday.
Wallach came away from the meeting thinking everything went well, and Jonah Keri of ESPN reported earlier in the day that talks between Wallach and the Tigers were escalating. The Tigers have already interviewed bench coach Lloyd McClendon for the position, and will likely entertain several other interested suitors before making a decision.

[TheGame]

Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times reports that the Padres have trade interest in Mark Trumbo.
ESPN's Buster Olney reported earlier Tuesday that the Angels could be willing to deal Trumbo and/or Peter Bourjos for pitching. As Shaikin notes, though, a match with the Padres could be difficult, as their pitching depth depends largely on guys coming back from Tommy John surgery.

[TheGame]

According to CBS Sports' Jon Heyman, the Phillies will likely be in the running for Nelson Cruz.
Jacoby Ellsbury, Shin-Soo Choo and Curtis Granderson are some of the other outfielders that the Phillies are thought to be eyeing in free agency. And if the Marlins decide to dangle Giancarlo Stanton, the Phillies will probably try to make a hard push there.

Indians released RHP Chris Perez.
Perez was a non-tender candidate, so the Indians simply got the move out of the way early.

[TheGame]

Diamondbacks claimed INF/OF Matt Tuiasosopo off waivers from the Tigers.

Tigers declined RHP Jose Veras' $3.25 million option for 2014.

Pirates LHP Wandy Rodriguez exercised his $13 million option for 2014.

[TheGame]

According to Peter Gammons, the Dodgers strategy this offseason is to acquire both David Price and Masahiro Tanaka.
Rather than seeking to upgrade their rotation through the Major League free agent market, where they could be forced to surrender draft pick compensation or slot money, this looks like a very plausible alternative. The Dodgers certainly have the pieces in their farm system to swing a deal for Price, and undoubtedly have the cash to win the posting fee for the rights to negotiate with Tanaka.

[TheGame]

Marlins general manager Dan Jennings told SiriusXM's Jim Bowden in an interview Sunday that the club has discussed both Mark Trumbo and Will Middlebrooks with their scouts.
The Marlins know they need to add more punch to their lineup and could do so with the addition of either corner infielder. "We like both guys," Jennings said. "We're not there yet in terms of close to any deals." The Angels are known to be shopping Trumbo for pitching, and the Red Sox could conceivably deal Middlebrooks if they put Xander Bogaerts at third instead of shortstop next season

[TheGame]

Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports that the Rays have signed David DeJesus to a two-year deal.

George A. King III and Ken Davidoff of the New York Post report that the Yankees have expressed interest in Omar Infante, and could make a run at signing the free agent second baseman if Robinson Cano signs elsewhere.

Giants declined Ryan Vogelsong's $6.5 million option for the 2014 season.
The Giants have made it clear that they would like to have Vogelsong back next season, but at a smaller guaranteed salary, perhaps with incentives based on games started or innings pitched.

[TheGame]

The Mariners have officially announced the hiring of Lloyd McClendon as manager.
Athletics bench coach Chip Hale, Dodgers third base coach Tim Wallach and former major league infielder Joey Cora also received second interviews before the Mariners decided on McClendon. McClendon went 336–446 during his five years as the Pirates' manager, though he didn't have much talent on hand. He served as the Tigers' hitting coach for the last seven seasons.

According to CBS Sports' Jon Heyman, the Yankees have "checked in" with the Reds about Brandon Phillips.
The Yankees are clearly lining up options in case Robinson Cano departs via free agency and have already made contact with free agent second baseman Omar Infante.

The Mets have contacted free agent shortstop Rafael Furcal, according to the Newark Star Ledger.
Jhonny Peralta and Stephen Drew are New York's primary shortstop targets, according to the paper, with Furcal as a fallback option.

[TheGame]

CBS Sports' Jon Heyman reports that the Red Sox have "checked in" on Tim Hudson.
Heyman notes that the Sox are "big admirers" of Hudson and was told by one person familiar with the club's thinking that they "really want him." However, the Braves want to bring Hudson back, and Heyman thinks it's "a little hard to imagine" him leaving Atlanta. The Royals and Indians are also known to have interest in the veteran right-hander.

FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal reports that the Dodgers are listening to offers for Matt Kemp, Andre Ethier and Carl Crawford.
Rosenthal writes that the club is telling prospective suitors, "If you’re interested in one of them, make us an offer." One of the trio seems likely to be moved this winter, with Ethier probably the most likely to depart. As one rival executive told Rosenthal, the club would likely have to eat some salary when moving any of the three.

[TheGame]

Jon Heyman of CBS Sports reports that the Nationals are willing to listen to trade offers for outfielder Denard Span.
The 29-year-old outfielder, who is set to earn $6.5 million in 2014 with the team holding a $9 million option for 2015, is coming off a season where he slashed .279/.327/.380 with four homers, 47 RBI and 20 swipes while playing Gold Glove caliber defense. The potential reasoning behind their listening to offers, is that the Nats are reportedly interested in free agent outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury, which would make Span expendable.

Andy Martino of the New York Daily News reports that the Mets have expressed "preliminary interest" in Curtis Granderson.
Martino adds that the "level of seriousness will depend on how the market develops." Granderson is expected to decline the Yankees' $14.1 million qualifying offer, as he shouldn't have trouble netting a multi-year deal on the open market.

[TheGame]

Rob Bradford of WEEI.com reports that the Red Sox are showing some interest in A.J. Pierzynski.

[TheGame]

Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports reports that the Cardinals and Rockies are expected to meet during baseball's general manager meetings this week to discuss a potential trade involving superstar shortstop Troy Tulowitzki.
The Cardinals seem adamant about acquiring a shortstop through trade this offseason, and have made it known that they're willing to deal some of their phenomenal young starting pitching to get a deal done. While the Rockies have publicly stated that they have no desire to trade Tulowitzki, the Cardinals certainly have the requisite pieces to make them reconsider.

[TheGame]

FOX Sports' Jon Morosi reports that "mutual interest has developed already" between the Tigers and Joe Nathan.
After Nathan declined his 2014 option earlier this month, the speculation that he could sign with the Tigers was immediate. It makes a ton of sense for both sides, as the Tigers are World Series contenders but are looking for some stability at the back-end of the bullpen

[TheGame]

Phillies signed OF Marlon Byrd to a two-year, $16 million contract.

Mike Berardino of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports that talks between the Twins and Bronson Arroyo are "heating up."

Howard Eskin of FOX 29 TV in Philadelphia reports that the Phillies are "deep in serious talks" to acquire Jose Bautista from the Blue Jays in exchange for Domonic Brown and others.

FOX Sports' Jon Morosi and Ken Rosenthal report that the Tigers are interest in Brian Wilson.