MLB Winter Meetings 2015 Day 1: Analyzing Impact of All the Latest Deals, Rumors
A flood of trades, signings and speculation headlined Day 1 of the 2015 MLB winter meetings, but for now, Aroldis Chapman remains a member of the Cincinnati Reds.
According to Tim Brown and Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports, a proposed trade between the Reds and the Los Angeles Dodgers was "held up" following a report that Chapman was allegedly involved in a domestic incident in October.
While the baseball world waits for the latest on the Chapman front, here's a review of all the biggest deals and most significant rumors from Day 1 in Nashville, Tennessee. Among the discussion points: One of the game's most electric young starting pitchers was again the subject of trade chatter, and the finish line in the race for Ben Zobrist is finally within sight.
Cubs Re-Sign P Trevor Cahill
1 of 10
Source: Buster Olney of ESPN
Contract Terms: One year, $4.25 million
Trevor Cahill is headed back to Wrigley Field.
The Chicago Cubs have re-signed the veteran righty who was flat-out nasty in a late-season stint with the National League Central squad last year. After posting a 2.12 ERA with 22 punchouts in 17 frames, Cahill has the potential to be a key cog in the Cubs' bullpen.
There's also an outside chance that the 27-year-old, who has spent the majority of his big league career as a starter, could end up back in the rotation, according to Jesse Rogers of ESPN Chicago.
At $4.25 million over one year, this deal offers Chicago plenty of value and little risk.
Mariners Acquire SP Wade Miley in 4-Player Swap with Red Sox
2 of 10
Source: Mariners Twitter account
To the Seattle Mariners: RP Jonathan Aro and SP Wade Miley
The Seattle Mariners picked up a ton of innings in this swap.
Over the past four seasons, Wade Miley has pitched at least 193.2 innings each year. One worrying trend when it comes to the lefty is that his ERA has gone up in each of those seasons:
In addition to the veteran innings-eater, the M's also snagged a potential bullpen contributor. While splitting most of 2015 between Double-A and Triple-A, Jonathan Aro tallied a 3.04 ERA and 8.8 strikeouts per nine innings. Those numbers include a six-game cameo in the bigs, during which the 25-year-old posted a 6.97 ERA.
To the Boston Red Sox: RP Carson Smith and SP/RP Roenis Elias
While Roenis Elias has the ability to pitch out of either the rotation or the bullpen, the big get here for the Boston Red Sox is Carson Smith.
Last season, the right-hander recorded nearly twice as many strikeouts (92) as hits allowed (49) in 70 innings of work. The 26-year-old slots into a Boston bullpen that also includes Craig Kimbrel and Koji Uehara and is suddenly looking awfully formidable.
Dodgers Sign Hisashi Iwakuma
3 of 10
Source: Jon Heyman of CBS Sports
Contract Terms: Three years, $45 million
After retuning from a lat strain, the Seattle Mariners' Hisashi Iwakuma finished the 2015 season in excellent fashion.
In 15 starts following the All-Star break, the 34-year-old recorded an 8-4 record with a 3.05 ERA. The starter punctuated his strong second half by throwing a no-hitter Aug. 12.
While those numbers should give the Los Angeles Dodgers reason for optimism, the question looming over the newest member of their rotation is a concern about his durability. In four seasons at Safeco Field, Iwakuma averaged just over 24 starts per year and cleared the 200-inning plateau on only one occasion.
.png?w=256)
Rumor: Ben Zobrist 'Focused' on Mets, Nationals and Giants
4 of 10
Source: Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports
Rumor: "Zobrist wants to make decision at meetings. Focused on NYM, WAS, SF. Would be difficult for Dodgers to pry him away so late in process."
The Ben Zobrist derby is just about over.
And it's going to take a four-year commitment to win that derby, as Jon Heyman of CBS Sports reported via Twitter. That's a lot of years to commit to a 34-year-old—even one as versatile and productive as Zobrist. Last season, the switch-hitter posted an .809 OPS.
Of the three finalists listed above, the New York Mets are taking the most aggressive approach—at least publicly.
"We've met with Ben," Mets assistant general manager John Ricco told Adam Rubin of ESPN New York. "It's pretty obvious we think he's a fit."
According to Marc Carig of Newsday, Zobrist could be making his choice "soon." As Carig noted, Mets chief operating officer Jeff Wilpon is in Nashville.
Rumor: The Rangers Have Discussed Shawn Tolleson with Other Teams
5 of 10
Source: Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News
Rumor: The Texas Rangers have talked to other teams about moving closer Shawn Tolleson.
Add Shawn Tolleson to the list of high-end relievers who have hit the trade block this offseason.
With a crowded bullpen at Globe Life Park, the Texas Rangers have the luxury of shopping Tolleson. The right-handed closer makes for an intriguing trade chip for at least a couple of reasons.
The first is his strong showing on the mound for the American League West champs. Last year, Tolleson landed in the No. 10 spot on the AL Cy Young Award ballot thanks to a 2.99 ERA and 35 saves in 37 chances.
The second reason is that he's pitching under a favorable contract. The 27-year-old can't become a free agent until after the 2018 season. According to MLBTradeRumors.com, Tolleson will be a bargain in 2016, as he's projected to make $2.6 million after arbitration.
Rumor: The Marlins Have Talked to Teams About Jose Fernandez
6 of 10
Source: Jayson Stark of ESPN
Rumor: "Sources say Yankees have also been in touch with Marlins about Jose Fernandez. And Yanks, Dodgers [and Diamondbacks] all doing background work on him."
So you're saying there's a chance.
According to Jayson Stark of ESPN, the Miami Marlins have at least been exploring a potential Jose Fernandez blockbuster.
For a club like the Los Angeles Dodgers, who just missed out on Zack Greinke, reeling in Fernandez would be a remarkable way to rebound. Such a deal, however, also appears highly unlikely, as Jon Heyman of CBS Sports noted via Twitter: "According to one rival GM, price on Jose Fernandez is so high he is 'basically unavailable.'"
Meanwhile, Marlins president of baseball operations Michael Hill threw a big bucket of cold water on the Fernandez trade talk: "He's not available," Hill said, per Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald.
Royals Re-Sign SP Chris Young
7 of 10
Source: Jeffrey Flanagan of MLB.com
Contract Terms: Two years, $10 million (with an $8 million mutual option and a $1.5 million buyout for 2018)
This move makes all sorts of sense for the Kansas City Royals.
Chris Young thrived in the playoffs—pitching to a 2.87 ERA in four games—after an effective regular season. Before the postseason, Young sported a 3.06 ERA while splitting his time between the bullpen and the rotation.
Thanks to his tendency to give up fly balls, Young is an especially good fit at the spacious Kauffman Stadium. According to FanGraphs, the right-hander's fly-ball percentage of 57.9 was the highest of any pitcher who threw at least 100 innings in 2015.
Tigers Sign RP Mark Lowe
8 of 10
Source: Jon Heyman of CBS Sports
Contract Terms: Two years, $13 million, per Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports
After its bullpen ran up the second-worst ERA in the American League in 2015, the Detroit Tigers need all the relief help they can get. Mark Lowe has the kind of track record that indicates he can provide that help.
While splitting 2015 with the Seattle Mariners and the Toronto Blue Jays, the 32-year-old compiled a 1.96 ERA and struck out 61 batters in 55 innings of work.
Those are some impressive numbers, but the Tigers will be hoping that they acquired the Seattle version of Lowe and not the Toronto edition. In 34 games for the M's, Lowe recorded a 1.00 ERA. In 23 outings for the Blue Jays, his ERA was 3.79.
Rumor: Rays 'Target' Javier Baez
9 of 10
Source: Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times
Rumor: "Rays target with Cubs is definitely Baez. They are weighing a handful of deals with other teams to similarly add pitching for hitting."
With Javier Baez buried behind Addison Russell and Starlin Castro on the depth chart in Chicago, the Tampa Bay Rays are checking in on the availability of the 23-year-old Puerto Rican.
As Jesse Rogers of ESPN Chicago noted, the Chicago Cubs' top priority is to land a starter, but that doesn't mean Chris Archer will be arriving in the National League Central anytime soon: "Think Matt Moore/Alex Cobb not Archer if Cubs/Rays [match up]. Relievers also in play obviously but have to get a starter back."
Based on the way the 2015 season played out, the Cubs should be patient when it comes to trade talks about Baez. Russell and Castro are blocking his path to playing time, but the infielder appears to be on the rise after an impressive late-season cameo during which he hit .289 in 28 games.
Rumor: Aroldis Chapman Deal 'Held Up'
10 of 10
Source: Tim Brown and Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports
Rumor: Proposed Aroldis Chapman deal on hold following report of alleged domestic incident
And so the plot thickens.
According to Tim Brown and Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports, the proposed trade between the Cincinnati Reds and the Los Angeles Dodgers is very much on hold following a report of an alleged domestic incident involving the 27-year-old. Brown and Passan provided details on the alleged incident:
"Cincinnati Reds closer Aroldis Chapman allegedly fired eight gunshots in the garage of his Miami-area home following an October argument with his girlfriend in which she told police he “choked” her and pushed her against a wall, according to police reports obtained by Yahoo Sports."
Chapman's lawyer Jay Reisinger offered a statement on the situation via Brown and Passan: "On behalf of Mr. Chapman, we vehemently deny the allegations as stated. Beyond that, we have no further comment at this time."
As Brown and Passan added, the league is set to investigate Chapman under its new domestic-violence policy.
Note: All stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com and MLB.com. All salary information courtesy of Cot's Baseball Contracts on BaseballProspectus.com unless otherwise noted.
If you want to talk baseball, find me on Twitter @KarlBuscheck.
.png?w=480)
.jpg?w=600 "Colts Release Kenny Moore")
