Source link : https://baseball-info.org/2024/12/14/baseball-mlb-news/mlb-free-agency-astros-trade-kyle-tucker-to-cubs-yankees-acquire-devin-williams-for-nestor-cortes/
MLB free agency is upon us, with the league’s held this week in Dallas. The name on everyone’s lips is Juan Soto, but he’s this winter.
Here’s a quick look at where things stand so far this offseason:
The New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, Toronto Blue Jays and Los Angeles Dodgers were all reported to be in on Soto before he chose the New York Mets and their enormous pile of money. It didn’t take long for all four of those teams to get started with Plan B.
The Yankees made the loudest move, with the reported , taking off the board.
A day later, the Red Sox struck by from the Chicago White Sox. Boston is sending top prospect Kyle Teel to Chicago in the deal, along with outfielder Braden Montgomery, infielder Chase Meidroth and right-hander Wikelman Gonzalez.
The Blue Jays made some noise Tuesday with . The Guardians received infielder Spencer Horwitz in return, though they promptly sent him to the Pittsburgh Pirates. In that swap, the Guardians received Josh Hartle, Luis Ortiz and Michael Kennedy. The Marlins also traded Jake Burger to the Rangers.
As for the Dodgers, they’ve made some smaller moves with the signings of outfielder Michael Conforto () and reliever Blake Treinen (). The Conforto deal was reached hours before Soto’s, but you’d figure Los Angeles already knew where it stood.
Meanwhile, Soto’s deal after he passed his physical.
Crochet and Giménez aren’t the only names moving this winter.
On Friday, the Cubs , sending infielder Isaac Paredes, pitcher Hayden Wesneski and prospect Cam Smith to the Astros. Hours earlier, the New York Yankees replaced Clay Holmes in their bullpen by acquiring Devin Williams from the Milwaukee Brewers in starting pitcher Nestor Cortes and infield prospect Caleb Durbin.
The addition of Williams, plus the return of Jonathan Loáisiga, who is coming off Tommy John surgery, will bolster the Yankees’ bullpen. The question remains whether manager Aaron Boone will use Williams or Luke Weaver as the team’s closer in 2025.
Japanese right-hander Roki Sasaki as the winter meetings got underway, . Sasaki’s posting opened a 45-day window, which began Tuesday and runs through 5 p.m. ET Jan. 23. Every MLB team is now allowed to attempt to sway the 23-year-old talent to sign with them when the international amateur signing period opens Jan. 15.
Required reading:
Follow along with Yahoo Sports as we track all the rumors, signings and more during MLB free agency:
Live47 updates
Astros trade All-Star right fielder Kyle Tucker to Cubs in three-for-one exchange
The Chicago Cubs are bringing in a new offensive weapon, acquiring All-Star right fielder Kyle Tucker in a trade with the Houston Astros on Friday, per multiple reports.
In return, the Astros will reportedly receive three players: infielder Isaac Paredes, pitcher Hayden Wesneski and third-base prospect Cam Smith.
Tucker has played his entire career with the Astros, starting in 2018. He won a World Series with the team in 2022 and has picked up a number of awards the past few seasons, including three All-Star selections, a Gold Glove (2022) and a Silver Slugger (2023). Tucker but still received his third consecutive All-Star selection.
Read the full story .
Sat, December 14, 2024 at 1:00 AM GMT+1Cubs pick up catcher Carson Kelly in second acquisition of the day
Hours after , the Chicago Cubs made another acquisition. The team signed catcher Carson Kelly to a two-year, $11.5 million contract, per multiple reports.
Kelly, who was a free agent, spent the second half of last season with the Texas Rangers after being traded from the Detroit Tigers. The 30-year-old catcher had a .235 batting average in 102 at-bats in 2024.
Fri, December 13, 2024 at 10:15 PM GMT+1Yankees’ GM Brian Cashman reacts to Cubs winning Kyle Tucker trade sweepstakes
Brian Cashman said that he had “many conversations” with the Astros about Kyle Tucker. “At the end of the day, I’m glad that Mr. Tucker is not in the American League. It’s a big get for the Cubs.”
Fri, December 13, 2024 at 8:23 PM GMT+1Juan Soto changed his cell phone number during free agency
On Thursday during his introductory news conference with the Mets, Juan Soto revealed that throughout the free agency process.
“I haven’t talked to any of those guys,” he said. “We talked to them through the playoffs, at the end of the playoffs. But after that, through this process, I haven’t talked to any of those guys.”
Some interpreted this as a slight against the team or evidence that his relationships with the Yankees clubhouse had broken down. But the real reason might be a little more mundane, per .
Nightengale reported Friday that Soto changed his cell phone number during free agency, as he had been receiving a lot of outside calls and wanted some privacy.
The reason there was no communication between Juan Soto and his former Yankee teammates simply is that Soto changed his cell phone number.He was bombarded by outside calls during his free agency and wanted privacy.Soto now is reaching out to former Yankee teammates.
Now that the dust has settled, Soto is reportedly reaching out to his former Yankees teammates.
The New York Yankees have reportedly acquired reliever Devin Williams from the Milwaukee Brewers, . Pitcher Nestor Cortes Jr., second-base prospect Caleb Durbin and are heading to Milwaukee.
The 30-year-old Williams recorded 14 saves in 22 appearances last season with the Brewers. He missed the first three months of the season . When he returned, Williams allowed only three earned runs over 21 2/1 innings in the regular season.
The addition of Williams, plus the return of Jonathan Loáisiga, who is coming off Tommy John surgery, will bolster the Yankees’ bullpen. The question remains whether manager Aaron Boone will use Williams or Luke Weaver as the team’s closer in 2025.
Cortes has turned himself into a reliable starter since seeing an increased workload beginning in 2021. He made 84 starts over the past four seasons and ate innings for the Yankees (173 1/3 in 2024), but with the of Max Fried, it was clear someone in the New York rotation needed to be moved.
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The baseball world is captivated by Roki Sasaki and where he’ll play in 2024. But Sasaki, it seems, is just as unsure as everyone else.
Until , very little information had emerged about the talented youngster, his preferences, his thought process and his path forward. But at the winter meetings, atop a makeshift podium in a comically enormous ballroom at the Hilton Anatole in Dallas, Sasaki’s agent, Joel Wolfe, offered the public a cornucopia of clarity.
The impromptu Q&A session was a sight to behold, as chaotic an information gathering as you’ll see. Reporters sardined themselves together in a crescent eight rows deep, their recording devices extended toward the soft-spoken agent. Wolfe swayed uncomfortably in the center of the madness, towering over the media in a navy jacket, charcoal slacks and a pair of Nike Dunks. He spoke slowly, with an almost solemn seriousness. Over the course of 20 minutes, Wolfe fielded a barrage of inquiries about his client.
The biggest takeaway? Even Wolfe isn’t sure yet what Sasaki wants.
Asked what’s important to Sasaki in selecting a team, Wolfe was either purposefully vague or refreshingly honest. “I’m not entirely sure yet,” he said. “I’ve known Roki for a little over two years now, and as I’ve gotten to know him, it’s been a little bit difficult to really ascertain what his decision-making process would be for choosing a team because his focus has predominantly been on whether or not he’s going to be able to post.”
from Wolfe about .
was officially introduced as a member of the with a news conference Thursday at Citi Field after he signed free-agent contract.
Many New York Yankees fans are still stunned that Soto didn’t re-sign with the team after winning 94 games alongside talent including Aaron Judge and Gerrit Cole. However, relationships and communications became all business after the conclusion of the season, according to Soto.
Asked if he talked to his now-former Yankees teammates during the free-agent process and what might have been said during the competition for his services, Soto said there was no correspondence.
“I haven’t talked to any of those guys,” he said. “We talked to them through the playoffs, at the end of the playoffs. But after that, through this process, I haven’t talked to any of those guys.”
Read the full story .
Thu, December 12, 2024 at 7:49 PM GMT+1Where will SP Corbin Burnes end up?Thu, December 12, 2024 at 5:32 PM GMT+1These might be a little popular …Thu, December 12, 2024 at 4:31 PM GMT+1With Garrett Crochet trade, Red Sox add a frontline starter and White Sox infuse their rebuild with prospects
After their failed pursuit of Juan Soto, the baseball world was waiting for the Red Sox . And on the final day of the winter meetings, Boston took care of a significant need, , including catcher Kyle Teel, outfielder Braden Montgomery, infielder Chase Meidroth and right-hander Wikelman Gonzalez.
Crochet, 25, has been one of the biggest trade pieces on the market since July’s trade deadline, and it’s easy to understand why. The new Red Sox ace thrived in his first full season as a starter in 2024, quickly becoming one of the game’s elite power arms as he struck out 209 to the tune of a 3.58 ERA.
One look at Crochet’s underlying metrics shows just how much of an impact addition the southpaw is. He led MLB last season with a 35% strikeout rate in just 146 innings, and after the Sox missed out on the likes of , they can now cross frontline starter off their list of offseason needs.
Read the full story .
The Yankees have made another move, bringing back free-agent reliever Jonathan Loáisiga after a year lost to elbow surgery, per ESPN’s Jorge Castillo.
Right-hander Jonathan Loáisiga and the Yankees have agreed on a one-year contract with a team option for 2026, a source tells ESPN. Loáisiga, 30, missed most of the 2024 season after undergoing elbow surgery. He is expected be ready to pitch in late April.
The largest contract in the history of sports is official. Juan Soto has passed his physical and is officially a member of the New York Mets.
Wed, December 11, 2024 at 9:49 PM GMT+1White Sox trade Garrett Crochet to Red Sox
One of the hottest names on the trade market has been dealt. The Red Sox acquired Garrett Crochet from the White Sox for four players. None of the players traded to Chicago has recorded a major-league at-bat, but at least two of them are top-10 prospects in the Red Sox’s system.
between MLB’s Sox of two different colors.
Wed, December 11, 2024 at 9:36 PM GMT+1Alex Bregman could be next off the board
MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand reports that a deal for Alex Bregman could be close, with the Astros, Red Sox, Yankees and Tigers as potential destinations.
There’s a sense that Alex Bregman could be the next big free agent to sign. The Astros, Red Sox, Yankees and Tigers are among those in the mix, per sources.
Wed, December 11, 2024 at 5:55 PM GMT+1Boras gives pun-free answer on Mets’ future free-agent plans
You can tell Boras didn’t plan for this question because he didn’t have a pithy pun to deploy during the answer. So now Mets fans have two reasons to be thrilled.
Scott Boras says the Mets have made it very clear to him and his agency that they are not limited to signing only one great player, and will pursue multiple great players:
“They’re going to be a very steady and heavy commitment to acquiring the best talent”
Wed, December 11, 2024 at 5:49 PM GMT+1Scott Boras loves SP Corbin Burnes, Elvis and really bad puns
If free-agent starting pitcher Corbin Burnes wants to change agents after this, no one would blame him.
“For Corbin Burnes, it’s kind of like Elvis. He’s got that ‘Burnes-ing Love’ for a number 1 starter. You are really feeling it today, and very early this morning for me I might add.”
– Scott Boras
Wed, December 11, 2024 at 5:46 PM GMT+1Boras compares 3B Alex Bregman to the alphabet?
It’s starting to feel like Boras called in Bruce Vilanch to do punch up on his comments.
“We all know what comes after AB. That is the ‘C’ in Champions. In Bregman’s case, that is ‘C squared.’”
– Scott Boras on Alex Bregman
Wed, December 11, 2024 at 5:42 PM GMT+1Scott Boras on 1B Pete Alonso’s market
Scott Boras, the most well known MLB agent, is holding his annual Winter Meetings press conference. Boras loves to ham it up for the media with puns about his clients, and we’ll bring you the best (and probably the worst) right here.
Boras kicks off by talking about former Mets 1B Pete Alonso, whose nickname is Polar Bear.
“A lot of market locomotion on Pete. The Polar Bear Express is rolling.” — Scott Boras
Never change, Scott. Never change.
Wed, December 11, 2024 at 5:24 PM GMT+1Kyle Tucker trade sweepstakes down to 4 teams
four teams have engaged with the Astros about acquiring outfielder Kyle Tucker.
Yankees
Cubs
Giants
Phillies
Sherman describes the Yankees as a “serious pursuer” and the Cubs as a “strong player” and possibly the most determined team in pursuit of Tucker. The Giants “are also involved in talks,” while the Phillies are one of the teams that “at least inquired and tried to find a package that would work.”
Wed, December 11, 2024 at 4:46 PM GMT+1’No retreat, no surrender’ from Yankees
After but buoying their week by , the Yankees still have their eyes on getting back to the World Series.
“From the Yankees standpoint, no retreat, no surrender.” – Brian Cashman on Juan Soto signing with the New York Mets
Author : BaseBall Info
Publish date : 2024-12-14 02:29:02
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