MLB Off Season Trade News, Rumors and Signings

[TheGame]

Brewers acquired 1B/DH Adam Lind from the Blue Jays for RHP Marco Estrada.
The 31-year-old has slashed .301/.366/.490 with 29 homers and 107 RBI over 239 games the past two seasons with the Jays and will add a nice left-handed power dimension to the middle of the Brewers lineup.

[TheGame]

Re: MLB Off Season Trade News, Rumors and Signings

Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News reports that "no less than six teams" are interested in David Robertson.
The Yankees will extend a $15.3 million qualifying offer to Robertson, but Feinsand says the closer is expected to decline it and seek a 3-4 year contract. Feinsand doesn't list any of the six clubs interested in the closer but does say that they Cubs "would certainly be an intriguing landing spot." The Yankees would be happy if Robertson accepted their qualifying offer, but it doesn't appear they're anxious to give him a multi-year deal. If Robertson departs, Dellin Betances would take over as closer.

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Phil Miller of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune reports that the Twins plan to introduce Paul Molitor as their new manager at a press conference on Tuesday.
Miller notes that this is assuming the club doesn't have "a last-minute change of heart" or there is "a snag in negotiations over financial terms and coaching staff." Molitor was the runner-up when Ron Gardenhire was named manager in 2002, was the first candidate to be interviewed when Gardy was fired and has been seen as the favorite for the gig all along.

[TheGame]

Re: MLB Off Season Trade News, Rumors and Signings

Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN reports that the Twins have already expressed interest in free agent outfielder Torii Hunter.
Hunter has said that he would like to re-sign with the Tigers, but a return to the Twins could be a possibility depending on how his market develops.

[TheGame]

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CBS Sports' Jon Heyman hears that the Cubs are interested in a trade for Phillies' left-hander Cole Hamels.
The Cubs are expected to shop at the top of the free agent class (Max Scherzer, Jon Lester, James Shields) for a starting pitcher, but they also plan to talk to the Phillies about Hamels. It's no surprise, as the Cubs claimed Hamels off revocable waivers back in August, but the Phillies pulled him back after brief trade talks

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Re: MLB Off Season Trade News, Rumors and Signings

Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times reports that the Cubs "looked like even stronger favorites" to sign Russell Martin at the end of the GM Meetings than they did prior to the Meetings.

[TheGame]

Re: MLB Off Season Trade News, Rumors and Signings

Cardinals acquired RHP Jordan Walden and OF Jason Heyward from the Braves for RHP Shelby Miller and RHP Tyrell Jenkins.
Walden isn't just a throw-in here. The 27-year-old reliever owns a 3.10 ERA in 211 2/3 career innings and was especially good in 2014, posting a 2.88 ERA and 62 strikeouts across 50 innings. He'll presumably operate in a setup role for St. Louis, allowing Carlos Martinez to fill Miller's spot in the starting rotation.

According to MLB.com's Peter Gammons, the Blue Jays have signed free agent catcher Russell Martin for "[Brian] McCann money."
McCann got a five-year, $85 million contract last winter from the Yankees. The Cubs were reported to be the favorite for Martin on Sunday night, but Toronto's front office apparently upped its offer and won the sweepstakes.

[bigapple]

Re: MLB Off Season Trade News, Rumors and Signings

Has there ever been a mega deal in baseball that has panned out to benefit the team signing it?

Pujols?
Fielder?
Rodriguez?
Cano?
Texeira?
Verlander?
Crawford?
Mauer?

Miguel Cabrera maybe being the exception...

How can Miami of all teams think this is going to work?

[TheGame]

Re: MLB Off Season Trade News, Rumors and Signings

Robert Murray of MLBDailyRumors.com reports the Athletics have signed Billy Butler to a three-year, $30 million deal.

Chris Cotillo of MLB Daily Dish hears the Royals and Twins are the most aggressive suitors for Torii Hunter.

Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reports the Marlins are interested in free agent James Shields.

ESPN's Jayson Stark reports that the Marlins have "shown aggressive interest" in Adam LaRoche.
The Marlins are about to officially sign Giancarlo Stanton to a record deal, but they backloaded the contract so that they'd have a chance to add more pieces.

[TheGame]

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Pablo Sandoval’s agent Gustavo Vasquez confirmed that his client's deal with the Red Sox is done.
Media outlets have been reporting the news of a done deal all day, but Vazquez had remained curiously silent until now. Sandoval will take a physical at some point over the next day.

Xander Bogaerts is still considered Boston's shortstop, according to two team sources who spoke with The Boston Globe's Pete Abraham.
In other words, as expected, Hanley Ramirez is ticketed for a position change. Most have speculated, in light of Pablo Sandoval's concurrent signing, that Ramirez will be Boston's left fielder next season. At this time, that scenario seems most likely. The only thing that will keep Ramirez at shortstop in 2015, it would appear, is a trade of Bogaerts. If the Red Sox are serious about trading for an ace, Bogaerts would be a logical target of their transaction partner.

[TheGame]

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Blue Jays acquired 3B Josh Donaldson from the Athletics for INF Brett Lawrie, RHP Kendall Graveman, LHP Sean Nolin and SS Franklin Barreto.

[TheGame]

Re: MLB Off Season Trade News, Rumors and Signings

According to Jancen Pujols of Dominican newspaper El Caribe, the Mariners have signed free agent slugger Nelson Cruz to a four-year, $57 million contract.
ESPN's Jerry Crasnick has confirmed the report. The M's were in on Cruz last winter before he signed with the Orioles and now they've opened their purse strings in a major way to finally land the slugger.

[TheGame]

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The Braves and OF Nick Markakis are in agreement on a four-year deal, per Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports.

[TheGame]

Re: MLB Off Season Trade News, Rumors and Signings

Yankees signed LHP Andrew Miller to a four-year, $36 million contract.
Miller has passed his physical, so the deal is official. Quite a day for the Bombers, who also added shortstop Didi Gregorius in a three-way trade with the Diamondbacks and Tigers. Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports that Miller actually had a bigger offer from another team, but he ultimately opted to sign with the Yankees

[TheGame]

Re: MLB Off Season Trade News, Rumors and Signings

Indians acquired 1B/OF Brandon Moss from the Athletics for 2B Joey Wendle.
It's a small price to pay for a power upgrade. Moss struggled down the stretch this season due to a hip injury which required surgery in October, but he has slugged 76 home runs since the start of 2012. If healthy, he could pay big dividends, especially in a park that plays favorably to left-handed hitters.