MLB Rumour Roundup: Checking in on the top free agents remaining

A former MVP, the reigning NL Cy Young winner, a pivotal piece to last season's World Series champions and a two-time Platinum Glove winner all remain unsigned with the official start of spring training in a matter of days.

While there doesn't seem to be a ton of smoke behind any of Cody Bellinger, Blake Snell, Jordan Montgomery or Matt Chapman — all Scott Boras clients — signing in the coming days, it might be informative to look back at the notoriously slow 2019 off-season to see when we might be able to expect a move.

That winter, Manny Machado agreed to sign with the San Diego Padres on Feb. 19 and Bryce Harper with the Philadelphia Phillies on Feb. 28, both deals coming after all MLB teams had fully reported for camp.

This spring, the latest full squad workouts come on Feb. 20. So perhaps there will be some traction toward a deal or two over the next week as teams get their 2024 seasons underway.

Of course, a handful of impactful free agents are still available outside of "The Boras Four," including the likes of J.D. Martinez, Jorge Soler and Brandon Belt, giving teams across MLB an opportunity to improve their rosters before Opening Day.

So before pitchers and catchers report at spring training sites across Arizona and Florida this Wednesday and Thursday, let's check on some of the latest rumours around the major free agents and where they could land over the next few weeks.

Could Chapman sign in San Francisco?

As has been the case for most of the off-season, Chapman appears to have a market defined by three or four teams, with the San Francisco Giants as one of the most logical fits.

The Giants have been looking to add stars in recent years, most notably missing out on Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge. Chapman isn't in the same tier as those two but would offer a significant upgrade to a San Francisco team that ranked 27th in defensive runs saved at third base in 2023.

Last Thursday, The New York Post's Jon Heyman reported that the Giants are "in touch on Chapman," however, he did add that "it isn't known how close things are."

During a Bleacher Report live stream on Tuesday, Heyman said the 2023 Gold Glover to San Francisco "makes the most sense... Obviously, they have the money. It's a big-market team with huge revenue."

New Giants manager Bob Melvin is familiar with Chapman, having coached the 30-year-old for five seasons as a member of the Oakland Athletics, and Heyman said the skipper "would love" to add the one-time All-Star.

On Feb. 4, USA Today's Bob Nightengale wrote that trading Ross Stripling to Oakland, clearing $9.25 million in payroll, could help the club sign Chapman or another marquee free agent.

In his article, Heyman also called the Chicago Cubs "a possibility" for Chapman and said he would "make sense" for the Seattle Mariners during the live stream.

As far as a potential reunion with the Toronto Blue Jays goes, Sportsnet's Ben Nicholson-Smith said following the Justin Turner signing, it "seems less likely (though perhaps not impossible)."

Bellinger 'most likely' to command long-term contract from Cubs

After bouncing back to All-Star form with Chicago in 2023, Bellinger and Boras haven't found a team willing to match an asking price that was reported earlier in the off-season to be north of $200 million.

However, The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal wrote Thursday that Bellinger, "entering his age 28 season, still figures to command a long contract, most likely from the Cubs."

The 2019 NL MVP hit .307 with 26 home runs and a .881 OPS in 2023 after signing a one-year, $17.5 million deal with the Cubs last off-season.

ESPN's Jeff Passan appeared on Chicago radio Wednesday and called Bellinger's relationship with the Cubs "there and real," and added that "one thing we know about Jed Hoyer at this point, he’s got a price in mind, and he will be willing to pay it and be aggressive in that regard, but he’s not going to go chasing something."

Even if Chicago misses out on Bellinger, Passan said he believes that "the Cubs are gonna sign one of the four Boras guys."

Passan also speculated that Toronto could be in the mix, saying, "This is not something that's coming from me being particularly informed on what's going to happen right now. This is me trying to read tea leaves, and I just feel like the Blue Jays need Bellinger more than the Cubs do."

Outside of the Cubs and Blue Jays, Heyman called the Giants, Mariners and Los Angeles Angels logical fits, and in Nightengale's report, he said that "several executives think the Philadelphia Phillies could be a sleeper" in the Montgomery or Bellinger sweepstakes.

Snell 'waiting patiently'

Coming off of his second career Cy Young Award, Snell "could be a while" before signing, according to Heyman.

"I still think there will be a big deal out there for Snell at some point. He's obviously patient... and right now, they're all kind of waiting."

Rosenthal agreed that Snell and Montgomery are poised to earn significant contracts once teams start to report. In mid-January, the Houston Astros lost reliever Kendall Graveman for 2024, prompting them to sign Josh Hader to a five-year, $95 million deal three days later.

"Distressing as this is to say, pitchers start getting hurt as soon as camps open, creating unexpected needs," Rosenthal wrote. "Snell and Montgomery easily could benefit from the same type of unfortunate circumstance."

The Angels are one team to watch in the sweepstakes for the 31-year-old southpaw, as they "are staying in touch on Snell," according to Heyman. However, despite Los Angeles' interest, the team owner Arte Moreno "hasn't given the go-ahead."

Where are the Rangers at with Montgomery?

Some thought that with the Rangers' resolution of their TV situation for 2024, the team would come to an agreement to bring back Montgomery.

However, it appears that is now less likely to be the case, with multiple reports coming out throwing cold water on any potential deal.

WEEI's Rob Bradford reported Friday that Texas has "not been actively involved in a pursuit of Montgomery in a while due to price tag."

The six-foot-six left-hander posted a 2.79 ERA for Texas in 11 games after being acquired at the trade deadline and went on to post a 2.90 ERA over 31 post-season innings on the way to a World Series title.

If the Rangers are, in fact, unlikely at this point, there are reportedly a number of other suitors for Montgomery's services. Heyman added to his reporting on Snell that the Angels are also staying in touch with Montgomery and that the Boston Red Sox are "still looking into starters and could be another option."

As mentioned earlier, Nightengale reported that the Phillies could be a sleeper for Montgomery, but added that Philadelphia will be patient if the asking price doesn't drop.

Quick hits

- According to Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle, the Giants are "in talks" with Soler as they look to add some pop into the middle of their lineup.

- The New York Post's Mike Puma reported Tuesday that the New York Mets have had a dialogue with Martinez as a potential designated hitter option.

- Despite some rumours around the Red Sox trading closer Kenley Jansen, Rosenthal said he doesn't see it happening before Opening Day during Monday's episode of the Fair Territory podcast.