MLB free agency. Trades. Off season moves. ⚾

[Greenbacks]

Superstar Juan Soto nearing decision on free agency.​

LOS ANGELES -- Juan Soto's much-hyped free agency is nearing its final stages, with a source familiar with the process opening the possibility that the star outfielder could pick his destination by the end of this week -- before the start of the annual winter meetings.
The industry's agents and executives will descend upon Dallas this Sunday. Soto is widely expected to sign a record-breaking contract before they depart the following Thursday and could do so before they even arrive, an industry source told ESPN on Tuesday.
Soto's agent, Scott Boras, declined to offer a definitive timetable.
"When you go through these things, you just have a lot of information to meld through," Boras said of Soto while attending Blake Snell's introductory news conference at Dodger Stadium on Tuesday. "We've had meetings with a number of franchises. He's begun the process of eliminating teams and doing things. Juan is a very methodical thinker, so we'll see. I don't think anything is imminent in the near future."
The New York Yankees, New York Mets, Toronto Blue Jays, Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers are the five known candidates for Soto, whose deal is expected to exceed $600 million and could span 15 years to push the value to unprecedented levels. Shohei Ohtani secured the largest guarantee in baseball history with the 10-year, $700 million deal he signed with the Dodgers last offseason. But more than 95% of Ohtani's contract is deferred, bringing the present-day value down to $460 million for luxury tax purposes.
Soto's deal could exceed that -- and will serve as the latest example that the free agent market is moving a lot more swiftly this winter. Last offseason, four of Boras' highest-profile clients -- Snell, Matt Chapman, Jordan Montgomery and Cody Bellinger -- remained unsigned into spring training. Before this year's winter meetings, Boras already has locked in deals for Snell and fellow starting pitchers Yusei Kikuchi, Frankie Montas and Matthew Boyd.
Soto, who at 26 is already one of the greatest hitters in baseball history, could follow shortly.
Asked why teams seem to be more willing to spend money this offseason, Boras said: "I wish I can answer those questions. I do. I think a lot of it has to do with media certainty, platforms working the way they should, and the streaming thing that they have going on is very viable, very profitable. I don't think they like to say that, but obviously the markets indicate that there is a different attitude about what it is.
"And also, who's in the market has a lot to do with things too. You have major-market franchises, you have generational talent, which really illustrates the needs."

 

[Greenbacks]

Athletics, Luis Severino reach 3-year, $67M deal.​

Right-hander Luis Severino and the Athletics are in agreement on a three-year, $67 million free agent contract that is the largest guarantee in the franchise's history, sources told ESPN on Thursday.
Coming off a bounce-back year in which he threw 182 innings with a 3.91 ERA for the New York Mets, Severino landed a deal that exceeded industry expectations -- particularly considering he was saddled with a qualifying offer, which often dampens a player's market.
Free agents have been loath to sign with the A's, who will play in a minor league stadium in Sacramento for the next three seasons before a planned move to Las Vegas. By stretching themselves financially -- their previous high deal was a six-year, $66 million extension for Eric Chavez in 2004, and their biggest free agent outlay was three years and $30 million for Billy Butler -- the A's convinced Severino to anchor their rotation.
He can opt out after the second year of the contract, sources told ESPN.
Severino, 30, was once considered one of the best young pitchers in baseball, posting back-to-back All-Star seasons for the New York Yankees in 2017 and 2018. He missed most of 2019 with a lat strain and all of 2020 and most of 2021 after undergoing Tommy John surgery. He returned in 2022 but struggled throughout 2023, leading to a one-year, $13 million prove-it deal with the Mets.
With the fourth-hardest average fastball among qualified starters and a vicious slider, Severino showed there was plenty left in his arm. He struck out 161 batters, walked 60 and allowed 23 home runs in helping the Mets reach the National League Championship Series.
Severino rejected the one-year, $21.05 million qualifying offer, hopeful that the price of pitching would prompt teams to look past the draft-pick penalties that accompany signing a player tagged with the offer. The A's, whose young position-playing core helped them improve from 50-112 to 69-93 this year, had cast a wide net among free agent pitchers, looking to fill out their rotation with a bounty of cash as they increase their payroll into the $100 million range.
In signing Severino, the A's will give up their third-highest pick in the 2025 draft. Because the Mets exceeded the competitive-balance-tax threshold last year, they will receive a compensation pick after the fourth round, worth a little more than $500,000 in draft bonus-pool money.
The $67 million guarantee is in line with Yusei Kikuchi's three-year, $63 million contract with the Los Angeles Angels and continues the strong market for free agent starters this winter. The deal brings Severino's career earnings to more than $130 million, and he will reach free agency again at 33 years old, when he could receive another long-term deal.

 

[Greenbacks]

 

[Greenbacks]

Mets, RHP Clay Holmes reportedly agree to 3-year deal.

 

[Greenbacks]

RHP Clay Holmes reaches 3-year, $38M deal with Mets.​

Right-hander Clay Holmes and the New York Mets are in agreement on a three-year, $38 million contract with an opt-out after the second year, sources confirmed to ESPN's Jeff Passan on Friday night.
The Mets plan for Holmes, who has spent his big league career as a reliever, to be a starter. He has not started a game since his rookie season in 2018.
A middling reliever for the Pittsburgh Pirates for three-plus seasons to start his MLB career after seven years in the minors, Holmes took off when the New York Yankees acquired him for two minor leaguers at the 2021 trade deadline. He arrived in the Bronx with a 4.93 ERA but found immediate success in the Yankees' bullpen, posting a 1.61 ERA in 25 games down the stretch. He replaced Aroldis Chapman as the club's closer in 2022, posted a 2.54 ERA with 20 saves and made his first All-Star team.
Holmes, 31, was an All-Star again last season after a dominant start to the year. But he struggled as a closer over the course of the summer, blowing a league-leading 13 saves -- four more than any other reliever -- and was demoted from the role in early September. He finished the regular season with a 3.14 ERA and 30 saves in 67 appearances. He was charged with three runs in 13 postseason games, primarily in a setup or closer role.
Despite the mishaps, his top-tier stuff, which includes a high-90s sinker and a wipeout slider, and elite ability to induce ground balls -- he produced the second-highest ground ball rate in the majors in 2024 -- made Holmes an attractive option for several contenders in free agency.
The Yankees, meanwhile, decided retaining Holmes wasn't worth the price. They have excelled in unearthing and developing cheaper options for their bullpen in recent years, from Holmes in 2021 to Luke Weaver last season, and have their sights set on spending big in other areas this offseason, with Juan Soto remaining atop their priority list.
The New York Post first reported Holmes' agreement with the Mets, which is pending a physical.

 

[Greenbacks]

Giants, Willy Adames agree on 7-year, $182M deal.​

Shortstop Willy Adames and the San Francisco Giants are in agreement on a seven-year, $182 million contract, the largest outlay in franchise history, sources told ESPN on Saturday.
Adames, 29, was the Giants' top target this winter. With the best free agent on the market, Juan Soto, likely to choose his team in the next 48 hours, San Francisco struck a deal with Adames, who was also being considered by teams in the running for Soto.
Adames has been a consistent presence in the middle of the Milwaukee Brewers' lineup for the past four seasons after arriving in a trade from the Tampa Bay Rays. Adames' 30-homer power is rare for a shortstop and the Giants have struggled to find a replacement for Brandon Crawford, who manned the position for 13 seasons.
The deal, which is pending a physical, breaks the franchise-record $167 million given to catcher Buster Posey, who is in his first year as the Giants' president of baseball operations. It will include a $22 million signing bonus, according to sources.
Adames had career highs in home runs (32), RBIs (112) and stolen bases (21) in 2024 while finishing fifth in FanGraphs wins above replacement among shortstops. Adames also tied the major league record for most three-run home runs in a single season with 13, helping the Brewers to the National League Central title.
Other teams were considering using Adames as a third baseman, but the Giants will hope his glove continues to match his offensive output. Over his seven-year career, Adames has slashed .248/.322/.444 with 150 home runs, 472 RBIs and 51 stolen bases.

 

[Greenbacks]

Orioles, OF Tyler O'Neill agree to 3-year deal with an opt-out after 2025.

 

[Greenbacks]

 

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[Greenbacks]

The Yankees are signing Max Fried to an 8-year, $218 million contract, per multiple reports.

 

[Greenbacks]

 

[Greenbacks]

 

[CHOPTALK]

The Yankees are signing Max Fried to an 8-year, $218 million contract, per multiple reports.

View attachment 108744

This sucks

 

[CHOPTALK]

MLB teams don’t tank like the NBA and NFL
I see no need for a MLB lottery

 

[Greenbacks]

Rangers, RHP Nathan Eovaldi reportedly agree to 3-year deal, per multiple sources.

 

[Greenbacks]

Rangers reportedly acquire 1B/3B Jake Burger from Marlins.