Mega-deals wrap up busy Meetings; who’s still available?
SAN DIEGO — Wednesday started with Aaron Judge agreeing to a mega-deal with the Yankees, ending the suspense as to the place the reigning American League MVP would land.
Then, round 9:30 p.m. PT, after a lot of the baseball world had departed the Manchester Grand Hyatt to return dwelling, the Padres got here to phrases with Xander Bogaerts on a surprising 11-year, $280 million contract, lastly giving San Diego the large bat it had been attempting for throughout talks with each Judge and Trea Turner.
Judge — who agreed to a nine-year, $360 million deal — and Bogaerts landed offers price a mixed $640 million, however they weren’t the one notable free brokers who agreed to new offers on the ultimate day of the Winter Meetings.
Catcher Willson Contreras (5 years, $87.5 million) agreed to a take care of the Cardinals and Japanese outfielder Masataka Yoshida (5 years, $90 million) got here to phrases with the Red Sox simply hours after he was formally posted. Those offers helped push this yr’s complete free-agent spending previous the $2 billion mark, and whereas the offseason’s marquee occasion is behind us, there’s loads of motion nonetheless to return this offseason.
Let’s check out 4 of probably the most attention-grabbing markets to look at within the coming weeks.
Shortstop
Turner got here off the board early this week after agreeing to an 11-year, $300 million deal with the Phillies, then Bogaerts grew to become the second star shortstop to signal when he joined the Padres.
Correa has drawn vital curiosity from a variety of groups, however sources imagine the Giants — who misplaced out on Judge — are poised to make an aggressive push for the two-time All-Star. Correa is claimed to be in search of a $300 million deal of his personal, and contemplating that San Francisco is aware of it received’t be including Judge — and that Bogaerts signed for $280 million — there’s the idea that the Giants may do no matter it takes to signal him.
Throughout the day on Wednesday, there have been indications {that a} reunion between Bogaerts and the Red Sox was gaining steam. San Diego’s shocking transfer put an finish to that hypothesis, leaving Boston to both transfer Trevor Story again to shortstop or pursue one other participant for the place.
Then there’s Swanson, who might nonetheless return to the Braves however is being pursued by a variety of golf equipment together with the Cubs, Cardinals, Twins and Red Sox.
If Correa winds up in San Francisco as many anticipate, Swanson can be in a powerful place to create a bidding battle between the opposite shortstop-needy golf equipment. Given the numbers now we have already seen for Turner and Bogaerts, a deal price greater than $200 million is actually now in play for Swanson, who turns 29 in February.
That leaves Kodai Senga and Carlos Rodón as the 2 high free-agent starters, and sources prompt that the pair may wind up in New York, albeit pitching in numerous boroughs.
Both Senga and Rodón have massive markets for his or her providers, however sources say the Mets are rising as one of many extra critical suitors for Senga. Rodón is claimed to be in search of a six-year deal price a minimum of $30 million per season, and after throwing a career-high 178 innings in 2022, he’s prone to command that sort of contract.
The Yankees took care of their high precedence with the deal for Judge, which received’t be official till he passes a bodily. But New York has extra work to do that offseason, with wants in left area, the bullpen and the beginning rotation, the place Rodón seems to be the Yankees’ high goal.
Rodón is considered one of three starters available on the market who rejected the qualifying provide — Nathan Eovaldi and Chris Bassitt are the others — so any workforce that indicators them can be topic to the lack of Draft picks and doubtlessly cash from the worldwide bonus pool.
Outfield
Judge was the unquestioned No. 1 choice within the outfield, however solely three groups have been within the operating for the AL MVP.
Now the remainder of the outfield market can begin to shake out, led by Brandon Nimmo, who has a number of groups and is anticipated to command a nine-figure deal.
The Yankees are in search of a solution in left area, and though they appeared to have curiosity in Yoshida, the rival Red Sox jumped the market. A reunion with Benintendi could possibly be the reply for the Yankees, who look to be all-in after giving Judge the most important free-agent contract in historical past.
Catcher
Contreras’ take care of the Cardinals took the highest free-agent choice off the board, although it was simply as noteworthy that St. Louis is now out of that market, as properly.
A lot of groups stay in want of catching, most notably the Guardians, Red Sox, Astros, Rays and Brewers. Mike Zunino is claimed to be able to signal quickly, presumably with Boston or Cleveland, whereas Christian Vázquez is bound to obtain curiosity from a number of golf equipment.
