Buy or Sell J.D. Martinez to Mets, Chapman and Soler to Giants and Latest MLB Rumors
By this time next week, pitchers and catchers will officially be reporting to spring training, and we are now just a few weeks from turning on the TV and seeing highlights from spring training games.
However, there is still time for teams to make one last offseason splash, with a wealth of talent still available in free agency and more than a few notable trade chips still potentially on the move.
Ahead we've put together a roundup of the latest rumblings across the baseball world while giving a "buy" or "sell" take on whether the rumors will come to fruition.
Who will be the next domino to fall in what has been one of the slowest-moving MLB offseasons in recent memory?
J.D. Martinez to the New York Mets?
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Veteran J.D. Martinez rebuilt his stock in a major way while playing on a one-year, $10 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers last season, posting a 134 OPS+ with 27 doubles, 33 home runs and 103 RBI while earning his sixth All-Star selection.
The 36-year-old could be headed for another one-year deal this winter, and the $13 million contract that Justin Turner signed with the Toronto Blue Jays looks like a reasonable comparison for what Martinez will ultimately command.
The New York Mets have reportedly been kicking the tires on the veteran with a hole to plug at designated hitter after Daniel Vogelbach was non-tendered.
However, Andy Martino of SNY reported they are not "anywhere near" an agreement.
With the Mets operating at the highest level of the luxury tax threshold, they will be taxed at 110 percent on every dollar they spend the rest of the way, which would mean paying $27.3 million on a $13 million salary that matches what Turner received.
That could tip the scales toward relying on the young duo of Brett Baty and Mark Vientos to handle designated hitter duties.
Buy or Sell: Sell
Gio Urshela to the Marlins, Mets or Yankees?
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A late-bloomer who broke out as the New York Yankees' starting third baseman with a 21-homer, 3.8-WAR season as a 27-year-old in 2019, Gio Urshela has spent the past few seasons as a valuable super-utility player.
The 32-year-old hit .299/.329/.374 with 11 extra-base hits in 228 plate appearances with the Los Angeles Angels in 2023, but he is just a year removed from a 3.1-WAR season with the Minnesota Twins.
Given his versatility, it should come as no surprise that multiple teams are showing interest.
The Marlins focus should be on shoring up the shortstop position, with guys like Tim Anderson and Amed Rosario still available, while the Mets already signed Joey Wendle to serve in a utility role and provide a safety net to the team's young third basemen.
However, the Yankees are sorely lacking infield depth after Oswald Peraza and Oswaldo Cabrera both struggled mightily at the plate last year, and a reunion with Urshela makes a ton of sense.
Buy or Sell: Buy him signing with the Yankees
Emmanuel Clase Trade 'Appears Unlikely' Despite Widespread Interest
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All-Star closer Emmanuel Clase has seen his name pop up in trade rumors this offseason as the tight-fisted Cleveland Guardians continue to look for ways to get younger and cheaper on a yearly basis.
However, it doesn't sound like a trade is coming this offseason.
The 25-year-old flame-thrower is two seasons into a five-year, $20 million extension that also carries matching $10 million club options in 2027 and 2028, giving him one of the most team-friendly contracts in baseball and the Guardians little reason to force a deal if teams are not willing to meet their asking price.
He had an AL-leading 44 saves in 2023, though he also racked up 12 blown saves, which could make it difficult to find a team willing to mortgage significant prospect capital to trade for him.
Buy or Sell: Buy him staying put
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Johnny Cueto to Pitch in 2024?
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Does Johnny Cueto have anything left in the tank?
The 37-year-old had a surprise bounce-back season with the Chicago White Sox in 2022, posting a 3.35 ERA and 1.23 WHIP in 158.1 innings while making 24 starts after signing a minor league deal with the team.
He turned that strong season into a one-year, $6 million deal with the Miami Marlins last offseason, but he was one of the worst pitchers in baseball in 2023, struggling to a 6.02 ERA and 7.02 FIP in 52.1 innings.
So it's not surprising that Cueto is still without a team at this point in the offseason:
It's hard to see him landing anything beyond a minor league deal with an invite to spring training, and it could take multiple injuries for him to get a real shot at making an MLB roster to open the year.
Never say never, though, especially for a pitcher who gets by more on deception than stuff at this point in his career.
Buy or Sell: Sell him making an Opening Day roster
Red Sox Shopping Kenley Jansen, Jarren Duran?
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It's been a strange offseason for the Boston Red Sox, who finished in the AL East cellar in 2023 and have done little to move the needle this offseason, adding Lucas Giolito, Tyler O'Neill and Vaughn Grissom to a team that won 78 games.
While some fans may be holding out hope for a late free-agency splash, it sounds like the Red Sox might be heading in the opposite direction.
"I'm not sure whether the Red Sox are going to be sellers, or what they're doing," said Jon Heyman of the New York Post on a B/R live stream.
Closer Kenley Jansen and outfielder Jarren Duran are the two names mentioned as potential trade chips.
Moving Jansen makes sense if they don't view themselves as contenders in 2024, with the veteran reliever entering the second season of a two-year, $32 million deal. However, the idea of flipping Duran is a bit more of a head-scratcher after he posted a 121 OPS+ and 2.1 WAR in a breakout season.
The 27-year-old outfielder is controllable through 2028, and he won't even be arbitration-eligible for the first time until next offseason. Also, with Alex Verdugo traded and Adam Duvall gone in free agency, trading Duran would create a glaring hole in the outfield and necessitate a secondary move.
Once top prospect Roman Anthony is ready for the big leagues, shopping Duran makes sense, but it will likely be at least another year before he is knocking on the door.
Buy or Sell: Buy Jansen being available, sell Duran moving
Matt Chapman to the San Francisco Giants?
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Over the course of his seven seasons in the big leagues, Matt Chapman has averaged 36 doubles, 29 home runs, 80 RBI and 5.8 WAR per 162 games, and he is a four-time Gold Glove winner as one of the best defensive players in baseball.
So why is he still looking for his next team in free agency?
The Chicago Cubs and San Francisco Giants look like the favorites to sign him, with the Seattle Mariners lurking as a potential dark horse after trading away their own third baseman Eugenio Suárez at the start of the offseason.
The latest rumors seem to have the Giants in the driver's seat.
Despite having a ton of money to spend and multiple areas of need on the roster, it's again been a disappointingly quiet offseason for the Giants, with KBO star Jung Hoo Lee and hard-throwing Jordan Hicks their impact additions in free agency.
J.D. Davis and Wilmer Flores are the in-house candidates to man the hot corner, and both had productive 2023 seasons, but both are middling defenders and could still see regular action elsewhere.
If the Cubs are content with some combination of Nick Madrigal, Patrick Wisdom and Christopher Morel at third base, the Giants are the most logical landing spot for Chapman.
Buy or Sell: Buy
Jorge Soler to the San Francisco Giants?
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Third baseman Matt Chapman is not the only player who has been linked to the San Francisco Giants in recent days.
Slugger Jorge Soler also appears to be on their radar as they look to add some punch to the lineup, and he is one of the top remaining bats on the market with spring training fast approaching.
Soler, 31, posted a 128 OPS+ with 36 home runs for the Marlins last season to earn his first All-Star selection, and he declined a $13 million player option at the start of the offseason.
Flores (23 HR), J.D. Davis (18 HR) and LaMonte Wade Jr. (17 HR) were the only players on the Giants roster in 2023 to hit more than 15 home runs, so he would provide a massive upgrade in the middle of the lineup.
Buy or Sell: Buy
Blake Snell Remains Unsigned into Spring Training?
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The biggest domino still standing on the pitching market is 2023 NL Cy Young winner Blake Snell, who reportedly turned down a five-year, $150 million deal from the New York Yankees earlier this offseason.
Don't expect him to sign any time soon.
"It could be awhile," said Heyman with regards to his market.
Heyman also referenced the fact that Bryce Harper did not sign until Feb. 28 when he inked his record-setting 13-year, $330 million deal with the Philadelphia Phillies, so there is some precedent for top-of-the-market players waiting to sign until after spring training is already under way.
As long as he is going through his own throwing program, there's no reason to think a late start to spring training will have any impact on his 2024 season.
Even with the red flags his walk rate raises, Snell is coming off a fantastic season and a virtually unhittable second half. Someone will be willing to top that Yankees offer. It's only a matter of time.
Buy or Sell: Buy
Alex Bregman Extension Up Next for the Astros?
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The Houston Astros entered the offseason with two franchise icons just one year removed from free agency, with second baseman Jose Altuve and third baseman Alex Bregman both entering the final season of their respective contract extensions.
Altuve signed a five-year, $125 million extension on Tuesday, so the focus now shifts to Bregman heading into spring training.
However, his extension might not come as easily.
"Bregman is another matter entirely. It's difficult to overstate how different his situation is from Altuve's. Both men may be represented by Scott Boras, but the similarities stop there," wrote Chandler Rome of The Athletic.
"Altuve will be 34 in May and made it abundantly clear he never wanted to play anywhere else. Bregman will turn 30 next month and, though he's said he'd welcome a return to Houston, hasn't been anywhere near as bullish on that as his second baseman."
Unless the Astros are willing to offer up something in the neighborhood of the 11-year, $350 million extension that Manny Machado signed with the San Diego Padres, expect Bregman to test the free-agency waters next winter.
Buy or Sell: Sell
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