The latest blockbuster signing of the offseason came down Thursday night: Yoshinobu Yamamoto joined the Dodgers on a record 12-year, $325 million contract. It is the largest pitching contract in history, and the Dodgers will pay Yamamoto's former team, the Orix Buffaloes, a posting fee just north of $50 million. With Yamamoto off the market, things should pick up with the rest of free agency fairly soon. Here are Saturday's hot stove rumors.
Phillies prioritizing Wheeler extension
The Phillies are prioritizing an extension for ace Zack Wheeler, reports MLB.com. Wheeler is entering the final season of the five-year, $118 million contract he signed in December 2019. That contract has proven to be a massive bargain. Wheeler leads all pitchers with 19.6 WAR the last four years, comfortably ahead of second place Gerrit Cole (17.8 WAR).
Wheeler will turn 34 in May and will pitch most of 2025, the first year of an extension, at age 35. Cole's current contract will pay him $36 million a year from age 35-37, and the Yankees are likely to exercise the $36 million club option in Cole's contract to void his opt out next offseason, adding his age-38 season to the deal. A four-year, $144 million extension for Wheeler would match Cole's contract and cover Wheeler's age-35 to -38 seasons.
Giants interested in Snell
After losing out on Yamamoto (and Ohtani before him), the Giants are showing interest in free agent lefty and reigning NL Cy Young winner Blake Snell, reports the San Francisco Chronicle. With Alex Cobb expected to miss the start of the season following hip surgery, San Francisco's rotation is currently Logan Webb, Anthony DeSclafani, Ross Stripling, and two question marks.
Snell, 31, is either the best or second-best unsigned free agent starter along with Jordan Montgomery. Do you prefer Snell's Cy Young upside or Montgomery's steadiness? Different teams need different things, so Snell fits better with certain clubs and Montgomery fits better with others. If nothing else, the Giants are at least keeping tabs on Snell.
Angels players drawing trade interest
The Angels are receiving trade interest in several players this offseason, according to The Athletic. The players: super utility man Luis Rengifo, catcher Matt Thaiss, lefty Jose Suárez, and outfielders Mickey Moniak and Taylor Ward. Rengifo is two years away from free agency. Everyone else comes with at least three years of team control.
Other than keeping Mike Trout, it's unclear how the Angels will proceed after letting Shohei Ohtani walk. They've made some small bullpen signings this offseason (Adam Cimber, Luis García, etc.) and that's pretty much it. Will they load up and try to contend next season, or take a step back and rebuild? In either case, listening on your players is standard operating procedure.
Red Sox interested in Hernández
The Red Sox are among the teams with interest in free-agent outfielder Teoscar Hernández, reports The Athletic. Boston added Tyler O'Neill, another righty hitting outfielder, earlier this offseason, though they still have room for another middle of the order bat who can play the outfield and also get reps at DH.
Hernández, 31, had a productive 2023 season with the Mariners, albeit one not as good as his peak years with the Blue Jays. He's a career .282/.344/.606 hitter with 14 homers in 45 career games at Fenway Park, though Boston's weak pitching staffs played a large role in that. Hernández hits most of his line drives and fly balls to center and right fields, the biggest parts of Fenway Park.
