MLB Rumours: Red Sox have begun negotiating with a young pitching prospect; Yankees are yet to begin talks
As Spring Training approaches, the MLB Hot Stove is on a fire.
Major League Baseball’s regular season will begin in less than one month. Due to the inconsistent and at times non-existent pace of the offseason, some clubs must finish their shopping prior to starting their season. We must therefore continue to track all daily news, notes and gossip. Below you’ll find Wednesday’s selection.
The Yankees have yet to approach Torres or Holmes about extensions.
Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports that the Yankees did not engage Clay Holmes in discussions about an extension before his walking year. Pete Caldera of the Bergen Record says that Gleyber Tores also told reporters he wanted to be a Yankee for life.
Holmes, 30, is entering his third Yankee season. In 153 games he has a 2,50 ERA with a strikeout to walk ratio of 3.62. He has recorded 44 saves in the last two years and was selected to the All-Star Game for 2022. Torres celebrated his 27th birthday in December. He has an OPS+ career of 115, and he played in two All-Star Games. Both players are likely to be among the top 25 free agents for the winter of next year if they are able to try out.
Before negotiating new contracts, the Yankees often let free agents go to market. Inaction by the Yankees on an extension does not necessarily mean that they intend to split after the season.
Bello and Red Sox discuss extension of the contract.
Chris Cotillo, of MassLive.com, reported that Brayan Bello and the Red Sox are progressing towards a contract extension.
Bello, a 24-year-old, made a promising Major League debut. The high-grade changeup he used helped him achieve a 4.24 ERA, and a strikeout to walk ratio of 2.93. Baseball-Reference estimated that his contribution was worth 3.1 victories above replacement.
Bello won’t be eligible for arbitration until two more seasons. The Red Sox will likely get a discount on Bello’s extension price when compared to the market value.
Mariners to be moved 'on margins only'
CBS Sports’ top 10 free agents are still not signed. Blake Snell, Jordan Montgomery and Matt Chapman are lefties at third base. Cody Bellinger is a lefty in the outfield. Justin Hollander (GM of the Mariners) did not totally shut down any of these players, but did indicate that a major move was unlikely.
You never know. The current roster of 40 players may be expanded. Hollander stated that we might be able add more players but only on the margins.
Ryan Divish, of the Seattle Times, reported that the Mariners were having internal discussions about Chapman. The Mariners are still determining if they have engaged Chapman’s team recently.
Twins interested in more than just top free agents
In a radio interview on Wednesday, Joe Pohlad said that it was impossible to rule out the Twins making a similar decision.
Ryan Divish, of the Seattle Times, reported that the Mariners were having internal discussions about Chapman. The Mariners are still determining if they have engaged Chapman’s team recently.
Twins fans experienced a quiet offseason because of concerns about their local television broadcast agreement. Carlos Santana is Minnesota’s largest free-agent signing to date. He plays first base. Santana was not the only player acquired by the Twins as part of a trade with the Mariners.
