With the Winter Meetings and non-tender deadline behind us, we're moving deeper into Major League Baseball's offseason calendar. MLB tends to go quiet around the Christmas holiday. However, we should expect the typical amount of free agent, trade, and rumor mill activity. The biggest free agents and trade targets remain on the board, and it may be some time before the markets for each of those players fully develop. With that in mind, you can get fully up to speed on all the latest signings with our updated free agent tracker.
Now, let's take a look at what is buzzing around Friday's baseball rumor mill.
Rays sign Wacha
The Tampa Bay Rays have signed right-hander Michael Wacha to a one-year deal, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. The deal is for $3 million.
The former All-Star (2015) is coming off a down year. Tampa will likely use Wacha as a veteran, back-end starter in their rotation. Despite the ugly 2020 stats, Wacha was still generating a decent amount of interest from clubs this winter due to the return of an increased fastball velocity (93.6 mph last season, up from 93 mph in 2019) and his one-year price point. Last season, he ditched his curveball and relied more on his cutter, using the pitch 27.1 percent in 2020, up from 15.5 percent in 2019.
Wacha, 29, appeared in eight games (seven starts) for the New York Mets in 2020. He ballooned to a 6.52 ERA (64 ERA+) in 34 innings with nine homers given up during that time. The positives from the 60-game season for Wacha included a 23.7 percent strikeout rate and a career-low 4.5 percent walk rate. In 2019, he recorded a 4.76 ERA and closed out the season with shoulder issues. Wacha may seem to present a downward trend, but there's a chance his career could be revived with the Tampa Bay pitching staff. As ESPN's Jeff Passan adds from a source, "Going (to TB) is an investment in himself."
Kluber expected to throw for clubs
Free agent right-hander Corey Kluber is preparing to throw for interested MLB clubs next month, according to MLB Network's Jon Morosi. There could be plenty of teams that take interest in taking a shot on Kluber as an upside play if he has a successful showing in the upcoming showcase. Kluber, 34, began a throwing program in November, following his right teres major Grade 2 strain injury in 2020.
The 60-game season was the second consecutive year Kluber's season was marred by injury. Kluber will turn 35 early in the 2021 season and enter next season having made a total of just eight starts over the last two years.
Kluber was limited to just one inning with the Texas Rangers in 2020 since the strain in his throwing shoulder happened during his first outing. In 2019, Kluber's season (5.80 ERA, 35 2/3 IP) ended in May after he was hit by a pitch that fractured his forearm. Cleveland traded the two-time Cy Young winner in December 2019 in a three-player trade with the Rangers.
The Rangers decided to decline his $18 million club option in favor of a $1 million buyout. There's certainly concern of wear and tear for the veteran righty, but he may be able to reach a deal with an interested team that's willing to offer a one-year deal on the heels of back-to-back lost years.
Bauer won't be back in Cincy
In his walk year of 2020, ace right-hander Trevor Bauer authored a Cy Young season for the Reds:
Not surprisingly, Bauer is perhaps the most coveted of free agents this winter, as he boasts elite stuff, strong run prevention and command-and-control numbers, and durability. Also not surprisingly, the Reds are reportedly not willing to pay the going rates:
Not a shock, Trevor Bauer is too expensive for Reds. So he will be pitching elsewhere next year. Still, they shouldn’t have too many regrets. He got them to the playoffs and pitched a gem when there, and he won the Reds first Cy Young Award. Plus, they will get a draft pick.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) December 18, 2020
The Reds were fairly active the prior two offseasons, and they were able to notch a berth in the expanded playoff field this past season. Now, though, they appear poised for retrenchment, not unlike so many other teams across MLB. Trade rumors have also swirled about Sonny Gray, so it may go beyond "just" letting Bauer walk. If there's good news for Cincy, it's that no one else in the NL Central seems to be worried about, you know, winning baseball games.
As for Bauer, he may fetch the biggest payday of any free agent in the 2020-21 class, but it probably won't be the Reds who give it to him.
Reds, Nats have discussed Suarez trade
While he emphasizes nothing is serious or in the offing at this stage, Jon Heyman reports that the Reds and Nationals have discussed a trade involving third baseman Eugenio Suarez. Suarez, now 29, didn't quite perform at peak last season, but he still managed 15 home runs in 57 games. From 2018-19, Suarez put up an OPS+ of 134 while mashing 83 home runs in 302 games over that span, which positioned him as one of the top-producing third basemen in baseball. He's signed through 2024, with an option for 2025, at bargain rates, which of course adds to his trade value.
As for the Nats, they're still looking for a solution at the hot corner after Anthony Rendon signed with the Angels prior to last season.
Padres may be in on Molina
Add the Padres to the list of potential Yadier Molina suitors, Jon Heyman reports:
Nats and Padres are emerging as possible fallback options for Yadier Molina. The Phillies, Angels and Yankees also seek a catcher. Of course it makes sense for the Cardinals and the first ballot Hall of Famer to work it out, but in free agency you never know.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) December 19, 2020
We already knew the Nationals had some interest, and of course the most likely outcome is that Molina winds up going back to St. Louis for 2021. The Padres likely have him in mind for a job-sharing arrangement with Austin Nola. Molina, 38, is likely in decline at the plate, but he remains a valuable defender behind it. As well, he's long earned praise for his intangible qualities as a catcher.
