If you’re skeptical about this year’s Major League Baseball winter meetings, you’re not alone. A flurry of free-agent signings seems to have lessened the event’s potential.
But while David Price, Zack Greinke and Jordan Zimmermann all flew off the board before the 30 big league franchises convened Monday in Nashville, Tenn., there still are plenty of impact players available in free agency and on the trade market. Day 1, in fact, was rather eventful, all things considered.
Let’s go over the highlights.
Biggest move: Los Angeles Dodgers reportedly acquire closer Aroldis Chapman from the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for two prospects. We think.
Multiple reports surfaced early Monday stating that the Dodgers had agreed to a trade with the Reds involving Chapman. A pair of reports since have stated that a trade hasn’t been completed. If the Dodgers manage to pull off a trade for the four-time All-Star, however, it’ll be a huge deal.
Chapman and Kenley Jansen would give Los Angeles a dynamic 1-2 punch at the back end of its bullpen, which is important with the Dodgers losing Greinke and the price of starting pitching skyrocketing.
A deal also wouldn’t be without drama, as FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal reports that players who know Jansen feel the Dodgers’ incumbent closer wouldn’t be happy about relinquishing his ninth-inning role to Chapman. Part of that reluctance likely stems from the fact that Jansen, like Chapman, is slated to hit free agency next offseason and serving as L.A.’s closer would help maximize his value.
Nevertheless, if the Dodgers enter the 2016 season with Jansen pitching the eighth inning and Chapman holding down the ninth, good luck to teams trying to mount comebacks.
Juiciest rumor: Anything involving Jose Fernandez.
Sources: Yankees, Dodgers, D-backs digging on Jose Fernandez https://t.co/0qq4uPm6iV
— Jayson Stark (@jaysonst) December 7, 2015
Miami Marlins president of baseball operations Michael Hill publicly stated Monday night that Fernandez isn’t available. It wasn’t before Fernandez’s name was tossed around in trade speculation throughout the afternoon, though, with ESPN’s Jayson Stark even reporting that the New York Yankees, Arizona Diamondbacks and Dodgers were gathering information on the 23-year-old.
It would take an insane haul to pry Fernandez away from South Beach. Acquiring him would be a franchise-altering move for any team, though, as he’s been dominant when healthy.
Three noteworthy developments
1. Boston Red Sox’s bullpen suddenly looks very good.
Dave Dombrowski wasted no time bolstering Boston’s bullpen last month by acquiring All-Star closer Craig Kimbrel from the San Diego Padres. On Monday, Dombrowski added another impact arm, Carson Smith, in a four-player trade with the Seattle Mariners.
The Red Sox surrendered Wade Miley — a solid back-end starter with 200 innings written all over him — to land Smith, but it’s a worthwhile move given the 26-year-old reliever’s upside. Teams could find it difficult to score late in games against the quartet of Kimbrel, Smith, Koji Uehara and Junichi Tazawa.
2. Cliff Lee’s return isn’t going unnoticed.
CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman reports that Lee is drawing interest from 15 teams. Lee missed all of 2015 and is recovering from a flexor tendon tear, but the 2008 Cy Young winner was excellent in his heyday. It’s just a matter of whether the 37-year-old has anything left to give at this point.
3. There’s a lot of buzz surrounding Ben Zobrist.
FOX Sports’ Jon Morosi tweeted Monday night that Zobrist is expected to make a decision within the next 48 hours. The Washington Nationals, New York Mets and San Francisco Giants all were linked to Zobrist earlier in the day, with one report even suggesting that the outfield market won’t take shape until he’s off the board.
Day 1 winner: Red Sox.
It’s hard not to like what Boston has done this offseason. The Sox have added two impact relievers (Kimbrel and Smith), an ace (Price), a good fourth outfielder (Chris Young) and a depth starter (Roenis Elias), leaving Boston without any glaring holes to fill before spring training.
Day 1 loser: Reds.
CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman reported Monday morning that none of the Dodgers’ top three prospects — Corey Seager, Julio Urias or Jose De Leon — were involved in their trade for Chapman. That doesn’t mean Cincinnati won’t still land a decent package, but the Reds probably should have dealt the dominant left-hander at the trade deadline or last offseason, when the return wouldn’t have been diminished by Chapman’s impending free agency next winter.
What to watch on Day 2: When will the real rumblings begin?
Jason Heyward. Chris Davis. Justin Upton. Alex Gordon. There are some quality position players available, yet all has been quiet on that front so far this offseason.
Thumbnail photo via David Kohl/USA TODAY Sports Images
