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Chris Davis met with reporters Thursday for the first time since signing the richest deal in Baltimore Orioles history, per the Associated Press’ David Ginsburg.

After back-and-forth negotiations eventually led to a standstill ahead of the winter meetings, Davis and Baltimore finally reached a seven-year, $161 million pact Saturday, which became official Thursday following a medical examination.

Yet the two-time American League home run king said he welcomes the added pressure of living up to the lofty financial figures, per Brittany Ghiroli of MLB.com:

The Orioles initially offered Davis a seven-year, $150 million deal in December but pulled back after the first baseman sought more money, according to Buster Olney of ESPN The Magazine.

Davis admitted Thursday that the ongoing negotiations left him more anxious than he’d anticipated, per Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com:

Davis and the Orioles then began seeking other options, and the first baseman had been linked to discussions with the Los Angeles Angels and St. Louis Cardinals, according to MLB Network’s Jon Heyman, who was then writing for CBS Sports.

Agent Scott Boras flew to Baltimore and met with Orioles owner Peter Angelos and general manager Dan Duquette, which proved to be the breaking point, per Eduardo A. Encina of the Baltimore Sun and Ghiroli:

Duquette acknowledged the urgency of re-signing the 2013 All-Star on Thursday, per Encina:

Boras, well-known for pushing his clients to hit free agency and seek the highest dollar figures over all else, was at Davis’ press conference Thursday but wouldn’t elaborate on other offers the first baseman fielded, per Ghiroli:

While it was a celebratory evening at Camden Yards, Nick Shlain of Baseball Prospectus made a valid point in questioning why Davis, who has been with the Orioles for five years, donned a jersey during the press conference:

Davis hopes that the clubhouse environment and established roster will help bring other top free agents to Baltimore in the coming years, per Encina:

While Davis led the AL in home runs in two of the past three years, his 2014 campaign saw him stumble to a .196 batting average, and the team left him off its playoff roster after MLB suspended him for testing positive for Adderall.

While Davis probably squeaked out more than he is worth, the Orioles didn’t want to leave a gaping power void in the middle of their lineup as they hope to improve on last year’s .500 campaign.

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Jonathan Lucroy has long been linked to trade rumors this offseason, but actual discussions for the Milwaukee Brewers All-Star catcher have furthered among interested suitors.

Continue for updates.

Lucroy Comments on Trade Rumors 

Tuesday, Jan. 19

Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel provided Lucroy’s take on his standing with the Brewers’ organization:

“I’m not going to sit here and say we’re going to compete for the playoffs this year. If I did that, you’d call me a liar. I’d lose credibility and respect.

I want to win and I don’t see us winning in the foreseeable future. I want to go to a World Series. That’s what all players want. Rebuilding is not a lot of fun for any veteran guy.”

[…]

“If I stay with the Brewers, I’m not going to go out and dog it,” he said. “I’m not going to be a bad teammate. I’m not going to be a bad clubhouse guy. I’m not going to be bitter. It’s just part of the game.

Right now, I’m planning on being with the Brewers. I’m not going to think anything different until something happens. It might and it might not. No one knows. I’m going to go out every day and compete with whatever team I’m with.

It’s a unique situation. I try to look at it objectively and without bias. As players, we can’t help but play GM at times. It’s definitely a hard thing, and I get that. There are injury concerns, which is fine. There are performance concerns, which is fine. That comes with the territory.”

Brewers’ Asking Price ‘Too High’ for Lucroy

Monday, Jan. 18

The Texas Rangers, Washington Nationals and Oakland Athletics have all recently been involved in trade talks with the Brewers over Lucroy, according to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports.

However, Rosenthal added that no deal has been struck because the Brewers’ asking price is reportedly “too high.”

That could be in light of Lucroy’s incredibly affordable contract, which has one year and $4.35 million left with a $5.25 million option for 2017, per Spotrac.

The veteran is coming off a production decline and an injury-ridden season, but despite one outlying year, he’s still an everyday backstop with a bat better than most at his position as a career .282 hitter.

Teams are well aware of his production and cost value but want to act quickly if they’re going to strike a deal, per Mike Axisa of CBS Sports:

Teams right now want to buy low on Lucroy and acquire him for two full seasons. If the Brewers wait until the deadline, they’re only selling one and a half seasons of Lucroy. Teams won’t be willing to pay as much. Those first few months of the season have real value. Waiting until next offseason means the price would be even lower.

The Brewers are in the midst of a massive rebuild that’s involved trades of key contributors such as Carlos Gomez, Mike Fiers, Francisco Rodriguez, Adam Lind, Gerardo Parra and Jonathan Broxton since last year’s non-waiver trade deadline.

After finishing 68-94, tied for fourth-worst in the majors a year after leading the National League Central for 152 days before a September meltdown, Milwaukee has conceded it needs to focus on long-term scope.

When Lucroy hits free agency, he’ll likely command at least twice what he’s making, and stockpiling young yet cheap talent and/or draft picks would be in the Brewers’ best interest.  

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Sixteen-year-old Cuban sensation Lazaro Armenteros could be making his way to Major League Baseball soon.

Continue for updates.

Armenteros Cleared by MLB

Monday, Jan. 11

MLB has cleared the corner outfielder, who can also play first and third base, to sign with a team beginning Feb. 10, according to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports.

Monday’s report marked the latest step in a lengthy process for the Cuban defector, who one veteran scout likened to Willie Mays and Bo Jackson, per Bob Nightengale of USA Today.

After leading Cuba to an under-15 Baseball World Cup title in 2014, Armenteros relocated to Haiti in May to fulfill residency requirements as part of the U.S. embargo with Cuba, which was the first step in meeting MLB requirements to become a free agent.

Last week, Armenteros put on a “showcase” for more than 140 scouts in the Dominican Republic, per Jesse Sanchez of MLB.com:

His potential suitors could be dictated based on teams’ recent activity in the international pool, per Sanchez.

Armenteros hopes to become the latest Cuban defector to find success in the majors, joining the likes of Yasiel Puig, Jose Abreu, Jorge Soler, Yoenis Cespedes and Jose Fernandez, among others.

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Jeff Francoeur could be back in the bigs for another season after all. 

Jon Heyman of MLB Network reported Monday the Miami Marlins are interested in adding a right-handed bat with veteran leadership and have considered Francoeur to fill that role.

Since falling off with the Atlanta Braves and eventually being traded in 2009, Francoeur has managed to find gigs to stick around. He knows the National League East well and is one of the most well-liked teammates in the league.

Francoeur played 119 games for the Philadelphia Phillies last season, hitting a much-improved .258 with 13 home runs and 45 RBI. He’s primarily played right field during the latter stages of his career but could fit well in either center or left. 

Francoeur was one of the game’s top prospects a decade ago, coming up as a hometown hero with the Braves, and showed promise as the possible new face of the franchise. As Chipper Jones’ career neared an end, he emerged as a fan favorite—finishing third in the 2005 NL Rookie of the Year voting—but tailed off in his third and fourth seasons, eventually being traded to the New York Mets.

A year later, he was traded again to the Texas Rangers, then signed with the Kansas City Royals for two seasons before eventually being demoted to the minors, where he thought his career might be over.

But the humbling experience, he said, motivated him to a strong season with the Padres’ Triple-A affiliate, where he batted .294 with 15 home runs in 98 games before the August call-up.

“I played eight and a half years and never thought about going back to the minor leagues,” Francoeur said after being called up in July 2014. “It’s definitely a lot more special this time than the first time. I think the first time I took it for granted.”

His 2014 finish led to a non-roster deal with the Phillies last November, and after a convincing campaign, it looks like he could get bites again this winter. 

The Marlins boast an incredibly young clubhouse and a first-year manager in Don Mattingly. Bringing in Francoeur will cost close to nothing and add an outfielder who’s played under the likes of Bobby Cox, Bruce Bochy and Bud Black—all players’ managers with a track record of leadership.

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Jose Bautista is among the many impending Toronto Blue Jays free agents first-year general manager Ross Atkins must address by this time next year, and contract discussions with the 12-year veteran slugger are reportedly set to begin in mid-January.

Continue for updates.

Atkins to Meet with Bautista Next Week

Sunday, Jan. 10

Atkins said on MLB Network Radio that he will meet with Bautista next week to discuss his future:

The Blue Jays exercised Bautista’s option for $14 million in November after Toronto’s exit from the American League Championship Series.

Atkins’ predicament is that Bautista will become a free agent in the same offseason as fellow slugger Edwin Encarnacion—both of whom will command hefty figures.

But the dilemma isn’t only in terms of dollars.

Bautista is 35 years old, and Encarnacion is 33, meaning the Jays must decide whether locking up two aging players for a pretty penny is worth it.

Atkins acknowledged it will be challenging to come to an agreement while also keeping the team’s long-term plans intact, per MLB Network Radio:

It’s the kind of thing where it’s a huge decision either way, either angle. It’s going to take a lot of work on our end and I think what we’ve been focused on to date is, how do we make this team better without sacrificing our future? We’ll continue to do that as we factor in the decision to extend them or hopefully come to terms with something that makes them happy. Would we like to have them here long term? Absolutely. 

The challenge is, can we see eye to eye on what that value is going to be? That will be the challenging part.

Here is the full interview:

Should the Blue Jays lose out on either in free agency, they’d receive a compensatory draft pick. But that’s not necessarily going to replace two massive voids in the lineup—and certainly not immediately. 

Atkins is taking over for Alex Anthopoulos, the reigning MLB Executive of the Year, per Sporting News, who built the Blue Jays into World Series favorites last season with aggressive trades that brought in superstars Troy Tulowitzki and David Price.

The Bautista and Encarnacion sagas come with the territory, and though he’s fresh on the job, how Atkins deals with each will be a major factor in how his tenure in Toronto plays out.

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The Washington Nationals moved quickly to fill their void in center field Friday, acquiring Ben Revere from the Toronto Blue Jays for closer Drew Storen, according to Jon Heyman of MLB Network.

James Wagner of the Washington Post reported the Nationals will also get a player to be named later, while the Blue Jays will receive cash as part of the deal.

The move is a win-win for both clubs, as the Nationals lost Denard Span to the San Francisco Giants in free agency earlier Friday (as the Giants announced on Twitter), and the Blue Jays bullpen was exposed in last year’s playoffs.

Washington already has Jonathan Papelbon as its closer and had been shopping Storen actively since the winter meetings last month.

Storen had been a viable option but was pushed out when the Nationals acquired Papelbon at last year’s trade deadline, prompting Storen and his agent to meet with general manager Mike Rizzo to discuss his future.

The Nationals have also been trying to move the embattled Papelbon, which still could happen before spring training, though it seems unlikely after Friday’s deal. 

Papelbon has a well-chronicled history of being a clubhouse headache. He clashed with Bryce Harper during the final week of the season and choked the National League MVP in the dugout, which resulted in a suspension.

Papelbon, however, has a no-trade clause in his contract and included the Blue Jays among the 17 teams he would not agree to join, per Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com.

Revere hit .319 with 11 extra-base hits and seven stolen bases in 56 regular-season games with Toronto and batted .255 in the playoffs, scoring seven runs.

The former Philadelphia Phillies and Minnesota Twins outfielder will remain eligible for arbitration through 2017, and Storen is eligible for arbitration for one more season before becoming a free agent in 2017, per Rotoworld.

Revere has upside and is a cost-effective option, but Toronto recognized it has a bevy of contracts to address in the immediate future, with sluggers Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion and star reliever Brett Cecil all set to hit free agency after next season, per Spotrac.

Both the Blue Jays and Nationals are in win-now mode and are keen on establishing the best 2016 rosters they can to contend immediately.

Revere has shown he can be a viable commodity, and the Nationals, after losing out on the Jason Heyward sweepstakes, showed they plan to contend and maintain a strong outfield around Harper and Jayson Werth.

The same can be said for the Blue Jays, who reached the playoffs for the first time since 1993 but fell short of the American League pennant despite entering the playoffs as World Series favorites. 

Storen accumulated 29 saves last season before losing his job, and with Cecil as his setup man, he should find a haven north of the border.

Friday’s deal was a win-win for both parties involved.

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The Toronto Blue Jays have reportedly agreed to trade Ben Revere to the Washington Nationals for relief pitcher Drew Storen.

Jon Heyman of MLB Network was the first to report the news. Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports confirmed the deal.

The Washington Nationals were immediately seeking to fill the void in center field left by Denard Span, who signed a three-year deal with the San Francisco Giants on Friday (per the team’s official Twitter account).

Heyman first named Revere as a potential target just before the deal was agreed to.

Revere joined the Blue Jays last season and was a critical cog in their first run to the playoffs since 1993.

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Many of the big-ticket free agents in this year’s loaded class of have found new homes before the holiday, but given a dense contingent of 139 free agents total, plenty of outliers remain. 

The pitching market has largely subsided now that blue chips Zack Greinke, David Price and Johnny Cueto have been whisked away with nine-figure deals, and Jason Heyward got the ball rolling among his fellow outfielders. 

There is still plenty of talent out there, as Christopher Kamka of CSNChicago.com noted:

Heyward‘s $184 million deal with the Chicago Cubs reportedly wasn’t his highest offer, which may have more of a ripple effect on where the bar is set among the rest of the outfield market. 

Heyward was considered the top free-agent outfielder this winter, and his deal was expected to set a new bar for his position for players like Chris Davis and Alex Gordon, among others. 

Here is a look at the latest buzz on a few high-profile names that still seek a home. 

White Sox Interested in Alex Gordon

The Chicago White Sox are interested in adding Alex Gordon and swooping him away from the incumbent Kansas City Royals, according to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports. 

While a union would certainly bolster the lineup to complement slugger Jose Abreu and newly acquired third baseman Todd Frazier, the White Sox already house Avisail Garcia and Melky Cabrera in their corner-outfield spots, and have Adam LaRoche at DH. 

Gordon is expected to net a five-year deal worth at least $100 million, per Tim Dierkes of MLB Trade Rumors, which may be out of the White Sox’s price range, per Rosenthal:

However, Rosenthal indicated that should the White Sox land Gordon, they’d shuffle other personnel in order to make a financial fit:

Gordon was an All-Star in each of the last three seasons and a key cog in the Royals’ pennant runs the past two Octobers as the team’s defensive catalyst. 

By adding multifaceted Gordon, the White Sox would not only bolster their starting lineup, but also pry away one of the primary contributors of a team within their division that by all signs will contend again in 2016. 

Orioles, Chris Davis Continue to Talk After Offer Pulled

Contract negotiations between the Baltimore Orioles and slugging first baseman Chris Davis reached a breaking point when the team pulled a seven-year, $150 million offer earlier this month, according to Buster Olney of ESPN The Magazine. 

Both parties contrast in what they believe is an appropriate offer, though Jon Heyman of CBS Sports reports dialogue remains ongoing between Davis’ agent Scott Boras and Orioles owner Peter Angelos:

Boras‘ claim is that the $22 million yearly figure is about what was paid to Jacoby Ellsbury, exactly what was paid to Hanley Ramirez and less than Jason Heyward got. And none of those players slugs like Davis.

While Orioles people are investigating other possibilities, it seems likely that to this point Angelos hasn’t given the go-ahead to sign someone to truly replace Davis.

However, Olney reported the team is seeking other options, albeit at a different position, to fill Davis’ potential power void in the lineup:

Davis led the majors in home runs two of the last three years but has been a notoriously streaky hitter, best shown by his .196/.300/.404 slash line in 2014 when he played 127 games. 

Because he packs the punch from the plate and today’s market is insanely inflated, Davis will likely land the deal he seeks. 

The Orioles missed out on the playoffs last year after reaching the ALCS the year prior, and while a void at first base may be difficult to endure, they may be better off investing elsewhere. 

Scott Kazmir Reportedly Has Plenty of Options

Now that Greinke, Price and Cueto are gone, Kazmir remains arguably the best starting pitcher on the market. 

Heyman reported Kazmir has multiple three-year offers in the $12-13 million per-year range, and Bob Nightengale of USA Today revealed who those suitors likely are: 

Rosenthal followed up that the Oakland A’s—with whom Kazmir pitched in 2014 and parts of 2015—are out of the mix after signing Henderson Alvarez to a one-year, $4.25 million deal.  

Kazmir still has plenty of options but is likely waiting for the first reasonable four-year offer, per Heyman. 

Kazmir, 31, is entering his 12th season but showed no signs of aging in a year he made 31 starts, threw 183 innings and compiled a 3.10 ERA with the A’s and Houston Astros. 

The Washington Nationals could use another starter to replace Jordan Zimmermann, the Royals are now sans Cueto with Kazmir a more affordable option and the St. Louis Cardinals lost the John Lackey sweepstakes. Kazmir would be a worthy replacement for any of those. 

The Astros don’t plan to simply re-sign Kazmir as trade bait, according to the Houston Chronicle‘s Evan Drellich, and already have a great core around Cy Young winner Dallas Keuchel, Collin McHugh, Mike Fiers and Lance McCullers Jr. Add a healthy Scott Feldman, and they’ll have a remarkable five. 

The Orioles might make the most sense given Wei-Yin Chen is reportedly seeking a five-year, $100 million deal, per Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com, and Baltimore will already be chasing the Boston Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays in a competitive AL East. 

Kazmir would be best suited to sign with a team he believes he’ll play a key role and with one that can contend. But he also should net that fourth year as a deserving and established lefty that would bolster the top of just about any rotation. 

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Mat Latos played for three big league teams in 2015 in what was the worst season of his career.  

Injuries have gotten in his way the past two years, but if he can remain healthy and regain his old form, Latos could find a landing spot in free agency.

Continue for updates.

5 Teams Check In on Latos

Tuesday, Dec. 22

The Baltimore Orioles, Kansas City Royals, Milwaukee Brewers, Pittsburgh Pirates and Tampa Bay Rays have all reached out to Latos’ camp to gauge interest for 2016, according to Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com.

After a career-worst season, in which he was essentially shuffled between the Miami Marlins, Los Angeles Dodgers and Los Angeles Angels, Latos will likely have to settle for a one-year deal to re-establish his value, per Crasnick.

From 2010-2013, Latos was good enough to top the rotations for the San Diego Padres and then the Cincinnati Reds. During that stretch, he went 51-35 with a 3.27 ERA and tallied at least 185 strikeouts per season while eclipsing 200 innings twice.

He’s only 28, and Crasnick noted the interested parties believe Latos could regain his old form and become a viable contributor:

There is a slight downside, however, as Latos has had a reputation as a clubhouse headache, which may turn some teams off, per Royals Review:

Latos certainly won’t net the $9.41 million he earned in 2015, but if teams can get him on a reasonable deal with no long-term ties as an experiment of sorts, he may be worth bringing in. 

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The future of Turner Field following the Atlanta Braves’ departure has finally been determined, as the Atlanta Journal-Constitution‘s Katie Leslie and J. Scott Trubey reported Monday the 20-year-old venue will be sold to real estate firm Carter and Georgia State University.

Monday’s announcement by the Atlanta Fulton County Recreation Authority comes on the heels of a two-month bid process that left the future of the former Olympic Stadium in doubt.

Carter and Georgia State plan to restructure Turner Field into a football stadium and add student housing, apartments and retail to the area, per the AJC.

WSB-TV showed an early rendition of how the alterations will look:

Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed issued a statement of approval following Monday’s announcement of the sale that will ensure Turner Field continues to live on:

I am pleased with the Atlanta Fulton County Recreation Authority’s unanimous decision to sell Turner Field to Georgia State University and Carter. Today’s sale is a significant step forward in the continued revitalization of the Summerhill, Peoplestown, Mechanicsville, Pittsburgh and Grant Park neighborhoods and strengthens Georgia State University’s position as one of the leading universities in the nation.

This acquisition will provide substantial benefits to the surrounding community, including long-term job creation and business expansion, and will enable our state’s largest public university to build an anchor for its campus, improving the student experience and supporting our city for generations to come.

Jay Busbee of Yahoo Sports also chimed in, sharing his conviction for Turner Field’s future:

The urgency of Turner Field’s future reached the forefront with the Braves leaving after the 2016 season for suburban Atlanta. There awaits $672 million SunTrust Park, their new home, whose construction is heavily aided by taxpayer funding.

Many in Atlanta have argued against the Braves moving away for a slew of reasons.

By the time the team leaves, Turner Field’s tenure will be just 19 years, which is younger than some players’ careers. Moving the Braves away from the city and within the wealthy suburbs has also raised questions of race and class.

And with teams like the Chicago Cubs privately funding their $575 million overhaul to Wrigley Field, it’s hard to stomach why the Braves need a new stadium with a sizable contribution from the government.

Meanwhile, Turner Field was being jettisoned in the dust with almost no empathy for the impact it had.

It was originally built as the Olympic Stadium for the 1996 Summer Games, an event that put Atlanta on the international map.

In an era of Olympic bidding in which cities such as Boston want nothing to do with sport’s most iconic event because of cost overruns stemming from venue construction, Turner Field is an embodiment of arguably the most sustainable Olympic venue in the modern era.

It’s refreshing to see it return to its roots as a home for amateur athletics.

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