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 them up for Thursday. Here they are, the rumors we’re just talking about …
Kershaw uncertain about future with Dodgers
Dodgers leftist, franchise legend and future Hall of Famer Clayton Kershaw are eligible for free agency next off-season, meaning 2021 will be a leap year for him. He turns 34 next month and he has experienced some deterioration since his peak. That said, Kershaw’s deep repertoire and extraordinary command have enabled him to handle the speed loss fairly well, and he believes he should remain a high-quality starting pitcher at least until the mid-term. So the Dodgers lifer will surely complete his career in LA, right? To hear Kershaw tell himself, maybe not. Here is this excerpt from a longer piece about Kershaw by Jorge Castillo from The Los Angeles Times:
This is the first time Kershaw has entered a season with free agencies. He said he did not discuss a contract extension with the Dodgers. Does he want one?
“I do not know,” he said. “Honestly, I wish I had an answer.”
Kershaw enters the final year of his $ 93 million three-year contract, which he signed after using an opt-out in his previous contract. As Castillo notes, Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman confirms that the two parties were still discussing a new contract, but Friedman also noted that in an ideal world, Kershaw would complete his career as Dodger. Speaking of which, retirement is a possibility for Kershaw, as he and his wife Ellen have three children of school-going age, and are also going to sign it with a team closer to his home in Dallas. Whatever the ultimate outcome, uncertainty currently reigns over Kershaw’s future with the Dodgers.
Mets do not exclude trading for Kris Bryant
The Cubs have already given away Yu Darvish and Kyle Schwarber, who are not being offered, in the self-defeating name of payroll compensation this season, and it is quite possible that one or more additional veteran core contributors will be traded before the opening day. One of them is third baseman / outfielder Kris Bryant, who may still be of interest to the Mets:
According to its sounds, nothing is at hand, and the most likely outcome may be that nothing comes of it. Given the Mets’ earlier designs on George Springer and DJ LeMahieu, Bryant would make sense as a consolation prize on several levels.
Bryant, 29, comes with a disappointing 2020 season in which he hosted an OPS + of 70 in 34 games for the Cubs. However, the numbers are easily enough dismissed given the small sample size and since the season was played amid a global pandemic. Overall, Bryant holds a career OPS + of 134 for six seasons in the major leagues, with three All-Star appearances and the NL MVP Award in 2016. During that period, Bryant played an average of 31 home games per 162 games with a significant time spent on third base and the outfield corners. Bryant appears to have been somewhat injury-prone this past season, and that remains a source of concern. Bryant is arbitrating for the third year of eligibility for 2021, which means he will earn a significant increase for his salary of $ 18.6 million in 2020. He will vouch for free after the coming season.
As for the Cubs, they have a real bounce potential during the offensive in 2021, but expelling Bryant would bounce back strongly and possibly usher in an even deeper rift. If a key member of the Cubs’ 2015-2020 dispute is done away with, it will certainly not play well among fans who already have enough cause for frustration. On the side of Mets, however, Bryant can move the needle for them in what figures a very competitive NL East.
The Cubs have agreed to forward Jake Marisnick, According to Jon Morosi of MLB Network. Marisnick, who turns 30 at the end of March, is coming off a 2020 season with the Mets in which he batted 0.333 / 0.353 / .606, albeit in just 16 games. For his career, Marisnick owns an OPS + of 81 over eight MLB seasons, six of which with the Astros. He can play all three positions in the field and has some speed at base. In Chicago, Marisnick’s right bat can be good along with Joc Pederson in the left, and he can occasionally support Jason Heyward against hard left play and Ian Happ in the middle.
Red Sox, JBJ reunion more likely to trade
The sitting Red Sox appear to be the favorite for free pilot Jackie Bradley Jr.
Granted ‘competitive drivers’ are not familiar with Boston’s thinking, but yes, it follows. Andrew Benintendi’s trade to the Royals leaves a hole in the outfield, and Bradley would possibly fill it. Bradley, who is still a defensive asset at center, comes from a 2020 season in which he set an OPS + of 118 in 55 games. For his career, he owns an OPS + of 94 over parts of eight major league seasons. Bradley turns 31 on April 31 and has spent his entire professional career with the Red Sox. Needless to say, his return will please a Red Sox fan who has been dissatisfied with the franchise’s recent cost cuts.
According to several reports, Toronto has added veteran judge-reliever David Phelps to a one-year contract that will pay him $ 1.75 million for the 2021 season. Phelps (34) struggled overall last season, but it was only 20 2/3 overs. For his career, he has a 102 ERA + with a K / BB ratio of 2.47 in parts of eight major league seasons. He has been working exclusively as a reliever since 2017.
The Pirates have signed veteran catcher Tony Wolters for a minor contract that includes an invitation to spring training, the team announced. Wolters (28) has a career line of .238 / .323 / .319 during five major league seasons, despite all his home games at Coors Field. With the Pirates, he will likely argue with Michael Perez for the right to serve as a mainstay of Jacob Stallings this season.