7:45 p..m.: Second baseman Ian Kinsler is headed to California. The Los Angeles Angels had been working on prying the veteran from the Detroit Tigers for most of the Winter Meetings.
Source: Kinsler to #Angels.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 14, 2017
6:50 p.m.: The Houston Astros reportedly made their bullpen better Wednesday.
joe smith has deal with astros. @brianmctaggart 1st
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) December 13, 2017
2:45 p.m.: Because of the Marcell Ozuna trade, the Cardinals have an outfield surplus, and it looks like the Oakland Athletics will take an outfielder off their hands with Stephen Piscotty reportedly destined for the Bay Area.
The #Stlcards, with glut of outfielders, now able to move Stephen Piscotty to #Athletics, and deal getting close, per @susanslusser
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) December 13, 2017
2:42 p.m.: The details are still trickling in, but Jon Heyman is reporting Sandy Alcantara is the top prospect St. Louis will send to Miami in the Marcell Ozuna trade.
alcantara goes to malrins in ozuna deal
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) December 13, 2017
Here’s a little more info on Alcantara:
Scout says Alcantara has "big arm," about a year away, projects as No. 2 starter. https://t.co/u8PWhL9TMo
— clarkspencer (@clarkspencer) December 13, 2017
The 22-year-old right-hander spent most of the 2017 season in Double-A, but he did make eight major league appearances, allowing four earned runs on nine hits in 8 2/3 innings pitched.
2:39 p.m.: Poor Christian Yelich.
Impression have now is marlins intend to hold onto Christian Yelich, so there’s that
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) December 13, 2017
2:05 p.m.: The Red Sox have been quiet so far, although they’re reportedly considering bringing back one of their midseason pickups.
red sox, blue jays and possibly yankees are among teams in play for eduardo nunez
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) December 13, 2017
1:38 p.m.: The Marlins aren’t done, folks.
Sources: Now that Marcell Ozuna has been dealt to St. Louis, Christian Yelich is in play. Marlins are telling teams they’ll trade him, though price will be even higher than Ozuna, with Yelich under control for up to five years at $58.25 million.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 13, 2017
In case you’re keeping score at home, Miami already has traded: Dee Gordon, Giancarlo Stanton and Marcell Ozuna. That trio combined for 16.5 wins above replacement last season (Baseball-Reference), and Yelich had a 3.9 WAR. The Marlins absolutely have to hit on these deals and maximize their returns.
1:05 p.m.: Marcell Ozuna is on the move, according to MLB.com’s Jesse Sanchez.
Source: Marcel Ozuna has been traded to the Cardinals. The deal is pending a physical.
— Jesse Sanchez (@JesseSanchezMLB) December 13, 2017
12:45 p.m.: The Colorado Rockies appear to be building one of the best bullpens in baseball.
Rockies are closing in on deal to bring Greg Holland back
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) December 13, 2017
#Rockies building powerhouse bullpen with pending additions of Shaw and McGee plus Holland (per @jonheyman). McGee, Holland already have proven they can succeed at Coors, increasing appeal to Rox.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 13, 2017
12:30 p.m.: The St. Louis Cardinals — who won 83 games last season — look to be loading up.
#STLCards working multiple tracks in addition to Ozuna. Per sources, still talking with #Rays (Colome, possibly Longoria) and free-agent relievers (Nicasio). Other teams also on Colome with prices of free-agent relievers soaring.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 13, 2017
12:14 p.m.: It’s looking more and more likely, at least judging by reports, that Marcell Ozuna ends up in St. Louis.
#STLCards making progress on acquiring Ozuna from the #Marlins, sources tell The Athletic.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 13, 2017
11:53 a.m.: “Not a complete list” is probably a giant understatement.
Teams still looking for relievers include #Mariners, #Astros, #Brewers, #RedSox. Not a complete list!
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 13, 2017
11:45 a.m.: There certainly appears to be plenty of smoke when it comes to the Zack Greinke trade talk.
Sources: Talk between #Rangers and #DBacks on Greinke is real but complex on several fronts. Other clubs also inquiring on Greinke. AZ would need to have another SP in place if it moves Greinke (or Corbin). Question of whether #DBacks would take Choo, play him in LF vs. RHPs.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 13, 2017
10:28 a.m.: Despite an ongoing recovery from Tommy John surgery, Michael Pineda was able to secure a two-year contract with the Minnesota Twins.
The #Twins sign Michael Pineda, formerly of #Yankees, to 2-year, $10M contract
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) December 13, 2017
10:24 a.m.: Who knows what the Diamondbacks are up to, but it sounds like there might be some fireworks in store.
Arizona seems to want to free up Greinke $ for main target JD Martinez. D-backs like Red Sox are expected to meet today with JD.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) December 13, 2017
Greinke still is owed more than $130 million and has a limited no-trade clause, but the Texas Rangers reportedly were linked to the right-hander Tuesday. As we just discussed here on NESN.com, the Red Sox can’t like the idea of Arizona gearing up for a run at J.D. Martinez.
8:35 a.m.: The Red Sox have no shortage of options.
The Red Sox have engaged in talks on first baseman Carlos Santana, but appear to be waiting for how things unfold with Eric Hosmer and JD Martinez.
— Nick Cafardo (@nickcafardo) December 13, 2017
Then again …
Dombrowski: "We know who we want."
— Chris Mason (@ByChrisMason) December 12, 2017
8:25 a.m.: Manny Machado probably is the best player with the most buzz at the winter meetings thus far, and Baltimore Orioles general manager Dan Duquette on Tuesday acknowledged the O’s met with teams about the All-Star. The price to acquire Machado — who has just one year remaining on his current contract — understandably is steep.
From the Baltimore Sun:
“If they trade Machado, the Orioles would be seeking at least two cost-controllable major league starters, which could be a challenge even for a talent such as Machado because he is just a one-year rental. There is a provision that would allow a window for a potential trade partner to negotiate a long-term contract with a player before the deal goes through, but Duquette said that possibility with Machado hasn’t been discussed with any team.”
8:20 a.m.: The Chicago Cubs have an opening in their starting rotation, especially if Jake Arrieta signs elsewhere. The Cubs were a finalist for Shohei Ohtani, and there’s been some reported interest in Yu Darvish, too. It appears Chicago also could make an addition with a trade. Cleveland’s Danny Salazar, perhaps?
The Cubs and Indians have had trade talk conversations.RHP Danny Salazar has been mentioned . The Indians looking for left handed hitting in return . Nothing close at this time .
— Bruce Levine (@MLBBruceLevine) December 13, 2017
Salazar’s ceiling is pretty high, but the 2016 All-Star has made 30 starts just once in his career and has yet to surpass 185 innings in a single season.
8 a.m. ET: The Major League Baseball offseason has been relatively quiet on the free agent front, but the trade market has been a different story.
The annual winter meetings kicked off Monday with the New York Yankees officially introducing newly acquired Giancarlo Stanton after a blockbuster trade with the Miami Marlins. Then on Tuesday, much of the talk centered around Baltimore Orioles third baseman Manny Machado who appears to be on the block.
So, what will Wednesday bring?
For now, we’ll have to sit and wait, but it certainly feels like the foundation is being laid for some big things to happen in Orlando.
As always, we’ll be monitoring all the news and rumors throughout the day, so check back for all the latest.
