We are less than two weeks away from spring training, and 24 of our top 60 free agents remain unsigned, including three of the top seven. Here’s the day’s hot stove noise.
Dodgers add Bauer
Right-handers Trevor Bauer and the Dodgers agreed on Friday on a three-year contract that includes opt-outs after the first and second seasons. The contract will pay Bauer $ 102 million if he is available for the duration. You can read more about it by clicking here.
Bauer entered the off-season through CBS Sports as the third best free agent available. Here is what we wrote at the time:
Over the course of the 2020 season, Bauer’s career numbers have a strange resemblance to those that AJ Burnett had during the same period of his career. He created separation this season by collecting an ERA of 1.73 and a ratio of 5.88 between three and three overs and 73 overs. Bauer has had the good for a long time and according to his press clippings the intelligence to be a forerunner. He has now compiled the results to support the idea in two of the past three seasons. Can he keep it up? This is one of a few questions that teams will have to answer, starting with how he improved his turning point a few years after implying that it was only possible through substances. Another one is whether he is compatible on a long-term agreement. Bauer became unfavorable in Arizona and Cleveland, and he did not always cover himself with glory on social media. Again, state of mind changes just as surely as Sturgill changes words; If Bauer wants to follow his example and change his perception of a staff leader in every sense of the term, he will have to do more than keep up the good work.
The Mets were presumably the only other remaining suitor for Bauer.
Giants join the pursuit of Odorizzi
The Giants experienced a busy winter from a staff perspective. They signed or traded for Kevin Gausman, Anthony DeSclafani, Alex Wood and Matt Wisler. San Francisco may also not be done with the addition of pitching. According to ML Morgan’s Jon Morosi, the Giants maintained interest in acquiring more pitching, and they showed an interest in right-hander Jake Odorizzi.
Odorizzi has been named by CBS Sports as the 27th best free agent available. Here is what we wrote at the time:
Odorizzi accepted the qualifying offer a year ago and delayed his arrival to the open market by a winter. Unfortunately, he will probably have to reconcile another one-year contract after traveling to the injured list due to a strain between the coast, a chest and a bladder. (None of them were at least arm-related?) Odorizzi has never had problems with durability in the past and has shown that he can be an effective starter in mid-rotation based on his fast ball and splitter. He should be able to get a job if someone’s no. 3 or no. 4 appetizer, hoping he can have a good enough season to reach a multi-year deal at this time in 2021.
Odorizzi has set a 107 ERA + and a 2.79 elimination-to-step ratio over the past three seasons. The Cardinals and Phillies are among the other teams believed to be interested in his services.
Brewers still hold interest in Turner
Earlier this week, the Brewers signed Kolten Wong for a multi-year deal. That prevents Milwaukee from constantly taking an interest in Justin Turner, the free agent’s third player, by Robert Murray of FanSided.
Turner was named by CBS Sports as the seventh best free agent to enter the winter. Here is what we wrote about him at the time:
It is unfortunate that Turner made the irresponsible and potentially damaging decision to return to the field after learning that he tested positive for COVID-19 during Game 6 of the World Series, because it was just such an opportunity for him around its flowers for an impressive seven year long west. He hits the ball hard, he commands the zone and he has been followed up at least 20 times in three of the past five seasons. He is an All-Star player of caliber with a sweet background story. In time, his mistake will become a footnote; for now it’s too fresh to overlook. Teams, of course, will not mind, but maybe they will in time – it is at least possible that he will be suspended to start the 2021 season.
It seems unlikely that the Brewers will land Turner in the face of the competition they face for his services (the Dodgers and Braves are both rumors involved), but stranger things have happened.