We are fast approaching the beginning of spring training, and almost all the big-name free agents are talking. That said, it’s still the off-season, and that means rumors can be found. We found them and rounded up for Monday. Here they are:
The Yankees have signed left-hander Justin Wilson, by Sweeny Murti from WFAN.
Wilson, 33, has spent the past two seasons with the Mets. In 68 appearances in Queens, he posted a 2.91 ERA (143 ERA +) and a 2.39 hit-to-step ratio. Wilson, who hit for the Yankees in 2015, relies primarily on two spots: a fast-paced mid-90s ball and a cutter, a combination that has enabled him to suppress quality contact over the past few years.
Wilson is the second notable addition the Yankees recently made to their bullpen, joining right-hander Darren O’Day, who signed the Yankees after moving Adam Ottavino into a trade with the Red Sox.
Mets Add Pillar to Outfield
The New York Mets have signed free agent Kevin Pillar on a one-year deal, by Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.
Pillar (32) will give the Mets more depth for the MLB season in 2021. The veteran – who can play all three outfield positions – has .288 / .336 / .462 with six home runs, 12 doubles during the shortened 2020 season and 26 RBI beaten. Pillar began his 2020 season with the Red Sox before being traded to the Rockies by the deadline. Pillar has established himself as an elite defender during his eight-year MLB career, and although his numbers are not yet at their peak, he still boasts impressive defensive stats.
The Mets missed free agent center center George Springer this season, and the recent signing of Pillar may indicate that they are also missing out on free agent Jackie Bradley Jr. As things stand now, it looks like Pillar may be taking over at the center, which would be a clear upgrade from Brandon Nimmo. During his career, Pillar has played mainly in the midfield and right field. Then they would have Michael Conforto in the right field and Dominic Smith on the left. Or the Mets can keep Nimmo in the left and move Smith to the bench. They have flexibility with their outside players.
New York also has field bowler Albert Almora Jr. added this winter. Pillar joins Almora, Jose Martinez and Guillermo Heredia as the right-handed field options on the Mets 40 squad, with Smith, Nimmo and Conforto as the left-handed outfielders.
That being said, these moves do not necessarily take them out for Bradley Jr. not. They were in talks with the longtime Red Sox ranger, who was named by CBS Sports as the 12th best free agent available. . Our very own Mike Axisa recently mentioned the Mets as a great landing spot for JBJ.
Kipnis joins the Braves
Veteran striker Jason Kipnis tweeted Monday afternoon that he had signed with the Braves. The agreement is a minor agreement.
Kipnis, 34, spent last season with the Cubs in early April. He hit .237 / .341 / .404 (101 OPS +) with three home games in 135 rounds. This was Kipnis’ best attacking attempt since 2016, as judged by OPS +.
Kipnis figures to compete for a bench spot with the Braves. At the moment, Atlanta is expected to have backup catcher Alex Jackson, fielder Ender Inciarte and infielders Johan Camargo and Adrianza as reserves.
Gemini picks up Shoemaker
The Minnesota Twins have signed veteran starter Matt Shoemaker to a $ 2 million one-year deal. according to Jeff Passan of ESPN. The deal depends on a physical and allows Shoemaker to earn another $ 250,000 performance bonus, Passan adds.
The 34-year-old shoemaker could turn up as a full-back in the Twins turn. He will face right-hander Randy Dobnak and left-hander Devin Smeltzer for the No. 5 spot. In 2020, Shoemaker started six games (28 2/3 IP) and recorded an ERA of 4.71 (94 ERA +) with 26 strikeouts and nine runs for Toronto.
During the past three seasons of Shoemaker, he has an ERA of 3.77 to work with a 23.5 percent elimination and 7.9 percent runs in 88 1/3 overs in 18 starts. But injuries (he has already undergone with his forearm and knee) could keep him from rotating in 2021. He has been limited to just six times a year in the last three. The last time he reached 15 starts in a season was in 2016 with the Angels. The Twins also added free agent JA Happ in their rotation this winter.
Red Sox sign Sawamura
The Red Sox have agreed to sign Japanese envoy Hirokazu Sawamura for a $ 3 million two-year deal. by Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. The contract contains an option that is allegedly ‘conditional and complex’, but which will push the total value of the transaction closer to $ 8 million.
Sawamura, who turns 33 in April, turned up nearly 400 during his career at Nippon Professional Baseball. He leaves with a 2.82 ERA and a 2.95 ratio between the knock-out and run.
Ted Baarda of Baseball Info Solutions delivered a reconnaissance report from Sawamura in December:
Sawamura throws a straight mid-90s speed that is about 96 which he can locate well at the bottom of the zone. His primary secondary pitch is a low mid-nineties splitter, which drops but does not have a major interruption due to the speed at which he throws it. He does a great job of keeping the pitch in or below the zone, and hitters often swing over it when it falls out of the zone. Splitters are difficult places to recommend, which contributes to Sawamura’s high walking rates.
Sawamura figures to compete with Matt Barnes, Adam Ottavino and Ryan Brasier for high leverage.
The Padres have one of the busiest seasons in the majors. It continued Monday, with Keone Kela, San Diego veteran reliever, making a one-year deal. by Jon Heyman of MLB Network.
Kela (center 28), 28, was not among the top 60 free agents of CBS Sports in the majors. The reasons for his exclusion were straightforward: he was limited to only two overs by COVID-19 in 2020 and an injury, and was involved in too many incidents in 2019 to earn the inclusion.
Nevertheless, Kela was an effective reliever when he was hearty and hale. In the 231 series in the major league in his career, he posted a 139 ERA + and a hit-to-step ratio. Kela’s arsenal largely consists of just two places: a fast ball from the mid-90s and a swing-and-miss break ball.
Kela is the second veteran reliever the Padres added last week, joining former Braves closer Mark Melancon.
The Rockies announced Monday that they have signed veteran CJ Cron for a minor contract.
Cron (31) enters the winter as the 43rd best free agent available. Here is what we wrote at the time;
Cron played in just 13 games before ending the season with knee surgery. He is still one of the first basic players in the market, a statement that says more about the lack of available options than about him. Cron is a serviceable option, mind you, someone who can deliver 20 plus homers and an OPS + in the 100-110 range. Unfortunately, ‘serviceable’ first base players tend to change uniforms on a regular basis. Cron certainly has, as he has played with four teams over the past four years. Expect it to be five out of five soon enough, and then six out of six, and then ….
Cron will compete with another recent signing, Greg Bird, for playing time on first base.
The Brewers on Sunday made a potential addition to their bull and signed former All-Star rapper Brad Boxberger for a minor deal by ESPN.
Boxberger, 33 in May, appeared in 23 games with the Marlins last season, scoring an ERA + of 151 and a ratio of 2.25 to three in 18 overs. The time has not been too good with Boxberger since he made the All-Star game in 2015: even with his success in 2020, he set an ERA of 4.27 and more than five runs per nine in his last 151 innings .
The Brewers have a largely flexible bullpen, as only Ray Black has no options. That said, Milwaukee will definitely wear Josh Hader, Devin Williams, Brent Suter and Freddy Peralta if they are healthy. Boxberger can then also compete with Justin Topa and / or JP Feyereisen for a place in the pen of the opening day.