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Daily Clips

January 14, 2019

NATIONAL

Rumors: Harper, Machado, Ottavino, Harrison

The latest MLB free agent and trade rumors for Hot Stove season

January 13, 2019



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A's make pitch to Murray for career in baseball

In line to declare for NFL Draft, prospect could be swayed by additional money

January 13, 2019 By Jane Lee/



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MLB TRANSACTIONS

January 14, 2019 •.



NATIONAL

Rumors: Harper, Machado, Ottavino, Harrison

The latest MLB free agent and trade rumors for Hot Stove season

January 13, 2019



It's Hot Stove season, and is keeping track of all the latest free agent and trade rumors right here.

Phillies emerge as 'clear-cut favorite' to sign Harper

Jan. 13: Following a five-hour meeting with Bryce Harper in his hometown of Las Vegas on Saturday, are the Phillies now the favorites to sign the market's most coveted free agent? Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported as much on Sunday, citing three anonymous sources with direct knowledge of the negotiations.

Nightengale adds that the Nationals, who were considered the favorites to sign Harper after a lengthy meeting over the holidays, now believe they are a "long shot."

The Phillies are also among a handful of favorites to sign Manny Machado -- and those odds could have increased, given that the Yankees' dialogue with the coveted shortstop have become "either dormant or completely dead," according to a report on Sunday from ESPN's Buster Olney. Nightengale's report added that the Yanks have "no intention of offering [Machado] a megacontract."

Philly is expected to make a formal offer within the week, per the report. 's Todd Zolecki reported on Sunday that the club may be shifting its sights on Harper instead of Machado, who the club has issued a formal offer, per Zolecki.

For their meeting with Harper, the Phillies sent managing partner John Middleton, president Andy MacPhail, general manager Matt Klentak, manager Gabe Kapler and assistant general manager Ned Rice to meet with Harper and his agent Scott Boras, and the club's front-office officials left the meeting feeling "optimistic" to land either Harper or Machado.

"It was really impressive to spend some time with him, get to know him better, answer his questions, and we got to ask some questions, learn about him, and I think that's a really important step in any negotiation is kind of understanding what the other party is looking for. And now we'll see where it takes us," Klentak told 6ABC in Philadelpahia late Saturday night.

The White Sox are also in on both Harper and Machado, the market's top two players available, but Chicago has yet to make Harper an offer, per Nightengale.

It appears that the Phillies are the club with the most money to offer either player. Middleton said earlier this winter that the club planned to spend this offseason, and potentially be "stupid" about it. It was even floated back in November that the club could sign both players -- a speculation that Nightengale echoed on Sunday.

Zolecki writes that the "Phillies have been optimistic for the past couple weeks that they will sign one of the two superstars. They not only have the most money to pay Harper or Machado, but they also have few competitors for them."

White Sox reportedly have offered Manny an eight-year deal, could be favorites to land him

Jan. 13: The White Sox have made an eight-year contract offer to free-agent superstar Machado, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan. The value of the deal, according to Hector Gomez of Z101 Digital, is $250 million. Passan adds that the club may "be compelled to go even longer" to land Machado, who is reportedly seeking a deal north of the record 13-year, $325 million contract the Marlins gave slugger Giancarlo Stanton in 2014.

Machado is one of two premier free agents on this offseason's market, along with fellow 26-year-old superstar Bryce Harper. The other team that is seen as a frontrunner for Machado is the Phillies, though Philadelphia is reportedly turning its attention to Harper (per 's Todd Zolecki) after meeting with him in Las Vegas on Saturday.

The Yankees were also considered a serious suitor for Machado, but ESPN's Buster Olney reports talks with Machado are "either dormant or completely dead" following New York's acquisition of free-agent infielder DJ LeMahieu. So does that mean the White Sox are now leading the race for Machado? That may indeed be the case.

"Unless the Phillies give huge contracts to both players, which remains a possibility, that leaves the Sox and the Yankees as the two remaining teams interested in signing Machado," Paul Sullivan wrote Sunday for the Chicago Tribune.

"A 'mystery' team can emerge as they often do when agents try to ignite a bidding war, but the lack of public suitors for the 26-year-old Machado could mean he'll fall in the Sox's lap."

The White Sox are also in the hunt for Harper, but it seems likely that he will either re-sign with the Nationals or head to the Phillies.

MLB Network insider Jon Heyman reported on Jan. 9 that Machado was believed to be seeking a contract north of Stanton's record $325 million. Per Heyman, neither Philadelphia nor Chicago is believed to be close to the $300 million mark in their offers.

The White Sox have tried to make themselves more appealing by adding Machado's brother-in-law Yonder Alonso and close friend Jon Jay to the mix this offseason. While money may ultimately be the prevailing factor in Machado's decision, Chicago could find itself in a situation where it is the last serious contender left standing.

Rangers' targets include Ottavino, Harrison

Jan. 13: The Rangers' roster is in a state of flux after the team went 67-95 last season. Texas moved on from nearly its entire starting 2018 starting rotation, and Adrian Beltre (retired), Jurickson Profar (traded) and Alex Claudio (traded) are also gone.

The club added Lance Lynn, Drew Smyly, Edinson Volquez, Shelby Miller and Jesse Chavez on low-risk deals, but it still has holes in the infield and bullpen. Although they could look to fill those areas internally, the Rangers are at least considering several veteran free agents, according to Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News.

Patrick Wisdom figures to get a chance at the hot corner, but Texas is also eyeing Josh Harrison and Yangervis Solarte, sources have said. 's Jon Paul Morosi had a similar report on Wednesday, tweeting that the Rangers have continued to show interest in Harrison. Harrison and Solarte make sense for the Rangers after the team moved Profar to the A's earlier this offseason, as both are versatile. Profar handled a utility role for the club in 2018, making at least 10 appearances at all four infield positions.

Meanwhile, Grant reports that the Rangers have remained in contact with Adam Ottavino, who is one of the top remaining free-agent relievers. Ottavino would provide a significant boost to a bullpen that has many question marks beyond Chavez and incumbent closer Jose Leclerc.

The Rangers' interest in Ottavino was first reported earlier this month by MLB Network insider Jon Heyman, who tweeted on Jan. 5 that Texas was a "semi-surprise entry at the top of the bullpen market." The Rangers also had interest in Zach Britton, per Heyman, but the southpaw has since re-signed with the Yankees.

Grant also mentions Derek Holland as a potential bullpen target, even though the left-hander spent much of last season in the Giants' rotation and recorded a 3.57 ERA over 171 1/3 innings. Holland was particularly good against same-sided batters in 2018, holding them to a .168/.252/.189 slash line, which suggests he could thrive as a reliever. The Rangers are familiar with Holland, who pitched for the club from 2009-16.

If it came down to it, would the Reds choose Keuchel or Pollock?

Jan. 13: The Reds have made it clear this offseason that upgrading their starting rotation is a priority, trading for both Tanner Roark and Alex Wood. They also have a vacancy in center field after non-tendering Billy Hamilton. So if it came down to it, would Cincinnati pursue free-agent left-hander Dallas Keuchel or free-agent center fielder A.J. Pollock?

In his latest Inbox, 's Mark Sheldon suggests Keuchel would be the choice given that he could be a "bigger difference maker in an area of weakness."

"The Reds could get by with Yasiel Puig, Scott Schebler or Nick Senzel in center field if they had to this season and have some good prospects not too far away from being ready," Sheldon notes.

Keuchel, 31, is a former American League Cy Young Award winner, though he has had up-and-down seasons since 2015, along with declining fastball velocity. Still, he is among the best in the game at producing soft contact and ground balls, skills that would play very well at the hitter-friendly Great American Ball Park.

Pollock, also 31, presents upside given the flashes of brilliance he's shown at the plate and in center field. But his injury history is long, and he's only played in 237 games since 2016. Pollock won a Gold Glove Award in his last healthy season (157 games in 2015), and last season, he was slashing .293/.349/.620 with 11 home runs and nine steals before fracturing his left thumb on a dive in center field on May 14.

Moustakas not among Top 10 third basemen right now

Jan. 13: Although only 13 Major Leaguers have hit more home runs than Mike Moustakas over the past two seasons, the 30-year-old was nowhere to be found on MLB Network's list of the Top 10 third basemen right now. He didn't make the list compiled by 's Mike Petriello, either.

And yet, it's tough to argue with his exclusion.

Here is MLB Network's list: 1) Jose Ramirez 2) Justin Turner 3) Nolan Arenado 4) Anthony Rendon 5) Alex Bregman 6) Matt Carpenter 7) Matt Chapman 8) Kris Bryant 9) Josh Donaldson 10) Eugenio Suarez.

And Petriello's: 1) Bregman 2) Ramirez 3) Arenado 4) Chapman 5) Rendon 6) Bryant 7) Turner 8) Suarez 9) Carpenter 10) Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

Travis Shaw, Miguel Andujar, Rafael Devers and Eduardo Escobar are other notable third basemen who didn't make either list.

And therein lies the problem for Moustakas, who remains unsigned long after free agency began for the second straight offseason. While the veteran is an above-average hitter and a capable defender, third base is perhaps baseball's deepest position. There just aren't many teams that need a third baseman, especially when factoring in the rebuilding clubs that prefer to go with a younger, cheaper option.

Moustakas has left a significant amount of money on the table since November 2017, when he rejected a one-year, $17.4 million qualifying offer from the Royals. Moustakas ended up returning to the Royals last March on a one-year contract for $5.5 million. He then turned down a $15 million mutual option for 2019, opting to take a $1 million buyout and test free agency again, though it's possible the Brewers would have declined their end of the mutual option if Moustakas had opted in.

It's led to another frustrating offseason for the third baseman, but it seems likely that he won't have to wait until March to find a home this time around. 's Jon Paul Morosi reported Tuesday that the Phillies and White Sox are eyeing Moustakas as a fallback option if Manny Machado signs elsewhere. So once Machado signs, Moustakas could quickly come off the board as well.

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A's make pitch to Murray for career in baseball

In line to declare for NFL Draft, prospect could be swayed by additional money

January 13, 2019 By Jane Lee/



Two-sport athlete Kyler Murray is expected to declare for the NFL Draft ahead of Monday's deadline, clouding his baseball career with the A's, who used their first-round pick on the 21-year-old in last June's MLB Draft. But the A's aren't standing idly by as the clock runs out.

Sources told 's Jon Paul Morosi on Sunday night that MLB officials are vetting the A's proposal of a Major League contract for Murray and thus far believe this new deal was not discussed as an inducement to help the two sides strike a deal after Oakland picked Murray ninth overall last summer. That bodes well for a deal's potential approval by MLB officials.

Such a contract would offer Murray additional money (and a spot on the A's 40-man roster) but would give him four Minor League option years rather than the usual three, because MLB rules grant a fourth option for players expending their third option year before completing five Minor League seasons. Under this scenario, Murray would run out of options after the 2022 season.

Only once they're added to a 40-man roster, players are given three Minor League "options." An option allows that player to be optioned to the Minor Leagues without first being subjected to waivers. When a player is optioned to the Minors for a span of more than 20 days, he loses an option, but an option applies to an entire season, meaning that a player can be sent to the Minors and recalled to the Majors any number of times over the course of a season while only losing one option.

It's key that any additional money coming to Murray now isn't considered part of his original signing bonus because of the penalties clubs face when exceeding their bonus pool allotments. The A's, who worked with a total bonus pool of $9,553,200 at last year's Draft, gave Murray a $4.66 million signing bonus after selecting him. That put in place an agreement that would allow Murray to play one more season of college football with Oklahoma. Then historic numbers came for the dynamic quarterback, and a Heisman Trophy. Now, he is drawing first-round projections from NFL insiders.

When Murray was drafted by Oakland, he was not considered nearly as good of an NFL prospect as he is now, and the change in circumstances (and Murray's leverage) is what could allow the A's to give him more money, since there is no indication this was a long-term ploy to circumvent MLB's Draft rules.

Murray, who's ranked as the A's No. 4 prospect by MLB Pipeline, was met in Dallas on Sunday by several Oakland officials attempting to lure him back to the diamond, confirmed. Vice president of baseball operations Billy Beane and general manager David Forst were among the A's leading representatives.

In addition, MLB sent marketing executives from the league office to attend the meeting and present information regarding Murray's off-field earning potential, sources told Morosi.

Last week, the San Francisco Chronicle reported the A's wouldn't take issue with Murray declaring for the NFL Draft, since a future in football would yet to be guaranteed, but there could be contractual hurdles in play regarding Murray's participation in the NFL combine -- which is essentially a must for any Draft hopeful. Playing baseball and football in the same year is not an option.

Murray has the choice of a lifetime in front of him, and he would have to return his signing bonus should he forgo a future playing center field for the A's. However, the club would not receive a compensation pick in this June's MLB Draft. Oakland would, though, retain his professional baseball rights, meaning he could still play for the A's if football doesn't pan out.

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MLB TRANSACTIONS

January 14, 2019 •.



TEAM PLAYER TRANSACTION

CHC Francisco Arcia Signed to a Minor League Contract

COL Sam Howard Signed to a Minor League Contract

KC Taylor Featherston Signed to a Minor League Contract

SD Eric Stout Signed to a Minor League Contract

SF Donovan Solano Signed to a Minor League Contract

TB Luis Santos Signed to a Minor League Contract

WAS Matt Reynolds Designated for Assignment

WAS Brian Dozier Signed as Free Agent ( 2019)(one-year contract)

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