With MLB’s Winter Meetings officially underway, players, executives and agents alike have gathered in Nashville, Tenn., for the annual jumping-off point of baseball’s off-season.
Of course, Shohei Ohtani still controls the market, with teams awaiting his decision before moving on to other available players, which is currently keeping teams in a holding pattern.
MLB Network‘s Jon Morosi did report Monday that the Atlanta Braves are still in the mix for the two-time MVP, joining a list with the Toronto Blue Jays, Los Angeles Dodgers, Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Angels of teams reportedly still bidding for Ohtani’s services.
Despite some early speculation that Ohtani would sign before teams arrived in the Music City, The New York Post‘s Jon Heyman reported Monday afternoon that the 29-year-old’s decision will “probably not happen” during the Winter Meetings.
Heyman said that he spoke to a general manager of a team that is interested in Ohtani and got the impression that they expect to meet with Ohtani’s camp after the festivities wrap up on Wednesday.
While Ohtani is, deservingly so, going to take all the headlines until he’s off the board, there is still a ton of buzz coming from the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center. Here are some of the latest rumours from around MLB.
Yamamoto expected to meet with teams ‘within the week’
The New York Post‘s Mike Puma reported Monday that Japanese star pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto is expected to travel to the United States and start meeting with teams “within the week.”
Puma said the New York Mets are among the teams that will meet with the 25-year-old righty.
According to an earlier report from Kyodo News in late November, Yamamoto’s agent, Joel Wolfe, had heard from 11 to 14 teams.
USA Today‘s Bob Nightengale appeared on the Foul Territory podcast Monday and said he thinks the New York Yankees are “the favourites to land Yamamoto.”
While Ohtani has been rumoured to want out of the spotlight that comes with playing in a city like New York, Nightengale says the former Orix Buffaloes ace is “the opposite of Ohtani” and that “he wants the spotlight.”
Expected to receive upwards of $200 million, Yamamoto must sign by 5 p.m. ET on Jan. 4.
‘Safe to say’ Betts will be Dodgers’ second baseman in 2024
While appearing on MLB Network Monday, Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that, “it’s pretty safe to say that Mookie Betts is going to be our everyday second baseman.”
Betts, a six-time Gold Glover in the outfield, came up through the minor leagues as a middle infielder before being shifted to right field with the Boston Red Sox. But with the Dodgers’ lack of depth at shortstop and second base in 2023, he logged 583 innings on the infield.
“When you’re talking about putting together a roster and someone who can be so offensive at second base, you can get more games out of him,” Roberts said. “Obviously, with the signing of Jason Heyward to put him out there in right field…, it just makes our club better.”
Along with Betts reportedly making the full-time shift to second, Los Angeles “could upgrade” at shortstop, according to The Athletic‘s Fabian Ardaya. 26-year-old Gavin Lux currently sits atop the team’s depth chart at the position, but is coming off an ACL and LCL tear in his right knee.
Ardaya identified Milwaukee Brewers shortstop Willy Adames, who the Dodgers expressed interest in last off-season, as a potential fit if the team does look to make a trade.
Cardinals ‘listening’ to trades on Canadian O’Neill
After adding free agents Sonny Gray, Lance Lynn and Kyle Gibson earlier in the off-season, the St. Louis Cardinals could be turning to the trade market as they look to make further changes to their team.
Cardinals’ president of baseball operations, John Mozeliak, appeared on MLB Network Radio from Nashville on Monday to discuss where his team stands offensively.
“In the outfield right now, if we were to play tomorrow, it’d likely be [Lars Nootbaar], Tommy Edman and [Jordan] Walker,” he said. “Our fourth outfielder would be Dylan Carlson. We think we’re going to go into camp, we’re going to see what that looks like.
“Tyler O’Neill is somebody that we are listening to on trades.”
A native of Burnaby, B.C., O’Neill has struggled with injuries in each of the past two seasons after finishing eighth in NL MVP voting in 2021.
Mozeliak confirmed that St. Louis had been getting calls around its abundance of outfielders, and will “see what [it] can get for one of those players.”
Fallout of Braves’ and Mariners’ Sunday-night deal
The Braves and Seattle Mariners made the first deal of the Winter Meetings Sunday night.
The Mariners sent Jarred Kelenic, Evan White and Marco Gonzales to Atlanta for Cole Phillips and Jackson Kowar in a move that appeared to be somewhat of a salary dump for Seattle.
In the aftermath of the trade, The Athletic‘s Ken Rosenthal wrote that “earlier this offseason, the Mariners inquired about both [Tampa Bay] Rays left fielder Randy Arozarena and third baseman Isaac Paredes.”
Now down Kelenic and Eugenio Suarez via trade and Teoscar Hernandez presumed to be signing elsewhere as a free agent, the addition of both Paredes and Arozarena would fit holes in Seattle’s lineup.
The Braves also appear positioned to make another trade.
Rosenthal reported that Atlanta doesn’t “plan on keeping” Gonzales and that the left-hander is “expected to be part of another deal.”
Quick hits
– Heyman reported that outfielder Michael A. Taylor has drawn interest from six teams, including the Mets. The Blue Jays had been reported as a club interested in the 32-year-old earlier in the off-season.
– During an appearance on a Bleacher Report livestream, Heyman said that Tampa Bay Rays starter Tyler Glasnow has “5-to-6 serious suitors” with “some good offers” on the table.
– The Pittsburgh Pirates are interested in signing right-handed pitcher Jack Flaherty to a short-term contract “should he be unable to find a longer commitment,” according to Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat.