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After a great bounce-back year with the Texas Rangers in 2016, center fielder Ian Desmond is already generating interest on the free-agent market. 

Continue for updates.

Orioles Reportedly Interested in Desmond

Tuesday, Nov. 8

According to Jon Morosi of MLB Network, the Baltimore Orioles are keeping tabs on Desmond with the intention of moving him to left or right field, should they manage to sign him.

Desmond Coming Off Bounce-Back 2016

The Rangers gave Desmond a $17.2 million qualifying offer on Monday, per Stefan Stevenson of the Star-Telegram, but testing the free-agent waters seems likely since his strong 2016 could land him a lucrative, multiyear deal.

The 31-year-old veteran made his second All-Star team in 2016 and ended the campaign hitting .285 with 22 home runs, 86 RBI, 21 stolen bases and a career-high 107 runs scored.

It represented a return to prominence for Desmond after one of his worst seasons in 2015, when he hit a career-low .233 with 19 homers and 62 RBI for the Washington Nationals.

Desmond restored his value last season not only due to his prowess at the plate but also because he showed defensive versatility by successfully transitioning to the outfield after playing shortstop almost exclusively in his seven years with the Nats.

According to Morosi, Desmond intends to use that versatility to his advantage:

With Mark Trumbo likely to hit free agency and cash in significantly after hitting a career-high 47 home runs with the O’s last season, corner outfield is a major position of need.

Adam Jones already has center field locked down, but Desmond could be a great fit in left or right. He doesn’t bring the same type of power to the table that Trumbo does, but he represents a defensive upgrade and could fill in for J.J. Hardy at short when needed.

The market was light for Desmond last year, but that doesn’t figure to be the case this time around. Baltimore makes plenty of sense as a potential suitor and presents Desmond with a ballpark that is favorable for hitters, but the Orioles are likely to be just one of many teams courting Desmond and his all-around skill set.

Follow @MikeChiari on Twitter.

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Prized free-agent closer Aroldis Chapman is already generating interest on the open market less than a week after helping lead the Chicago Cubs to a World Series title.

Continue for updates.

Dodgers Linked to Chapman

Tuesday, Nov. 8

The Los Angeles Dodgers are “expected to make a dedicated pursuit” of Chapman, according to Andy McCullough of the Los Angeles Times.

Yankees Interested in Chapman

Tuesday, Nov. 8

Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports reported Tuesday the New York Yankees, who traded Chapman to the Cubs in July, have quickly reached out to the reliever regarding a possible reunion.

Chapman Enters Free Agency as No. 1 Reliever on the Market

Relief pitching is one area of strength among an otherwise lackluster group of free agents. Kenley Jansen and Mark Melancon join Chapman on the market, but Chapman has emerged as the top choice for the Yankees at this stage, according to Heyman.

The 28-year-old flamethrower has been a dominant force in the bullpen throughout his career. The Cuba native owns a 2.08 ERA and 0.99 WHIP across 383 career appearances while striking out an eye-popping 636 batters in 377 innings.

He came out of the pen 13 times for the Cubs during their playoff run. While he did start to wear down from all the work by late in the team’s World Series triumph over the Cleveland Indians, his presence was vital as the Cubs fought back from a 3-1 deficit to end their 108-year drought.

Now he’s set to cash in with a monster contract. Heyman projected it will “easily break” the previous record for a closer of $50 million, despite the star’s 30-game suspension for domestic violence to open the 2016 season.

In July, Chapman expressed interest in a possible return to New York in free agency before getting shipped to Chicago, per Randy Miller of NJ Advance Media.

“I feel very happy and comfortable here in the city,” Chapman said. “At the same time, this is a business and if I happened to be traded away, I’m pretty sure they’re going to be doing it for the good of the team. That being said, if the opportunity comes up where I can come back to the team, I would be more than happy.”

Chapman’s Cubs—and to an even greater extent, the Indians—showcased the value of being able to shorten games with a top-tier bullpen during the postseason. The Yankees started last season with Chapman, Andrew Miller and Dellin Betances, but the rest of the roster wasn’t strong enough.

Betances can close, if needed. But the interest in a free-agent closer suggests New York wants him to fill a role similar to what Miller did with Cleveland, coming in somewhere between the sixth and eighth innings when danger is lurking, with Chapman or another signing available to close it out.

It’s a smart plan on paper, but the question is whether the Yankees would be willing to make such a massive investment on Chapman. They figure to face plenty of competition for him in free agency given the high number of contending teams hoping to upgrade their bullpens this winter.

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Designated hitter Kendrys Morales is one of the top sluggers available in free agency this offseason, and he should garner plenty of interest around baseball.

Continue for updates.

Yankees Showing Interest in Morales

Tuesday, Nov. 8

The New York Yankees have reportedly “inquired” about free-agent slugger Kendrys Morales, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post. 

The Yankees’ interest appears to be “As a hedge in case they are able to trade Brian McCann,” per Sherman, as McCann serves as the team’s backup catcher and designated hitter.

Sherman added:

McCann is owed $18 million in each of the next two seasons, and the Yankees would not want to essentially duplicate that contract with Morales. Also, with Gary Sanchez as the starting catcher, McCann is now the primary DH, and the Yankees would not want to have approximately $35 million (plus luxury tax) invested in a backup catcher (McCann) and DH (Morales).

Morales, 33, would be an upgrade for the Yankees. In the past two seasons with the Royals, he’s bashed 52 home runs and 199 RBI in 312 games. McCann, 32, certainly hasn’t been poor for the Yankees in his three seasons with the club, hitting at least 20 homers each season.

But he managed just 58 RBI in 130 games in 2016, and he has exceeded 80 RBI just once in his past seven seasons (he had 94 RBI in 2015). While McCann does have added value as a backup catcher in a pinch, Morales is capable of playing first base, if needed.

And the Yankees could use another consistent source of run production. While the team did have at least nine players with 40 or more runs knocked in, the team leaders were Starlin Castro and Didi Gregorius with 70 apiece. The Yankees were 22nd in baseball with 680 runs scored and tied for 23rd in RBI with 647.

The Yankees will likely have competition for Morales’ services, however. Sherman reported that both the Boston Red Sox and the Toronto Blue Jays were also interested in the slugger.

You can follow Timothy Rapp on Twitter.

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Free agency won’t be quite as intriguing as in years past, but quite a few huge names are set to hit the market.

Below, we’ll break down some of the latest rumors or buzz surrounding a few of those players and offer predictions for where they might end up in 2017.

Yoenis Cespedes

Let the bidding begin.

Yoenis Cespedes exercised the opt-out clause in his contract with the New York Mets over the weekend, per James Wagner of the New York Times, passing up $47.5 million over the next two seasons in the pursuit of greener pastures in free agency. 

The move hardly comes as a surprise. He’ll be the top outfielder on the market and could be looking at a deal that will total over $100 million. Despite being 31, Cespedes has hit 30 or more home runs in each of the past two seasons and has consistently hit for power since joining MLB in 2012. 

The Mets extended a $17.2 million qualifying offer to Cespedes, per Adam Rubin of ESPN, but of course he’ll decline it. Still, Cespedes has thrived in New York, and even told reporters in August he wanted to finish his career with the team.

So it still seems like a very strong possibility—maybe the most likely possibility—that the Mets will offer him a big contract and Cespedes will return. It makes sense from New York’s standpoint, as the team still has the players in place to make a run at a World Series title.

Prediction: Cespedes re-signs with the Mets.

Edwin Encarnacion and Jose Bautista

According to Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe, “There have been discussions that the [Toronto Blue Jays’] ownership prefers to keep [Edwin] Encarnacion and would let [Jose] Bautista go unless he accepts a qualifying offer, which he is unlikely to do.”

In other words, Bautista is all but gone. If the Blue Jays can make a competitive offer on Encarnacion, however—which they’d be crazy not to do, given the talent they already have on the roster—he may just return.

Bautista would make a lot of sense for the Boston Red Sox, as Cafardo noted. Playing left field in Fenway Park isn’t exactly a strenuous task, Bautista has hit well in the park in his career and, per Cafardo, Bautista is “a fan of manager John Farrell and third base coach Brian Butterfield from their time together in Toronto. The feeling is mutual.”

Bautista could either play left field or fill in as the designated hitter to replace David Ortiz, and while he won’t come cheap, he’s unlikely to get Cespedes or Encarnacion money. 

Prediction: Encarnacion re-signs with the Blue Jays; Bautista signs with Red Sox.

Yankees Pursuing a Closer

The two top closers on the market, Aroldis Chapman and Kenley Jansen, will generate plenty of interest and ultimately even more money. So, where will they end up?

According to Cafardo, “There’s a sentiment that Aroldis Chapman could return as [the Yankees] closer.”

And Ken Davidoff of the New York Post reported:

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman, having arrived at the General Managers Meetings, said he already has reached out to the representatives of free-agent closer Aroldis Chapman as well as reps for “other relievers.”

It’s clear the Yankees are targeting a top reliever, and Cashman’s admission of considering “other relievers” would seem to indicate the team will pursue Kenley Jansen and Mark Melancon in addition to Chapman.

The Yankees also had two members of their organization watching former Royals closer Greg Holland’s showcase on Monday. Holland is returning from Tommy John surgery.

So the Yankees will be very, very busy pursuing a closer in free agency. Will they land a big name?

Maybe, but Chapman just won a World Series in Chicago, and the Cubs are built to win several titles over the next few seasons. Keeping Chapman around—even at astronomical prices—makes sense for the team.

And signing Jansen will cost any team a first-round pick as well, and the Dodgers may prioritize signing Jansen despite having a number of key players—don’t forget about Justin Turner and Rich Hill—hitting the market. The Dodgers are also built to compete in the short term, so keeping Jansen would make sense, even at a large contract.

But hey, it’s the offseason of the closer. So if the Yankees are determined to get a game-changer, there will still be one out there: Mark Melancon.

Prediction: Yankees sign Melancon; Chapman re-signs in Chicago; Jansen re-signs in Los Angeles.

Carlos Gomez

Jon Heyman of Today’s Knuckleball reported that Carlos Gomez will be a long-term commitment in free agency:

Free agent outfielder Carlos Gomez will be seeking a long multiyear deal—perhaps even five years—on the free-agent market despite an uncharacteristically rocky 2016 season. 

Gomez’s agent Scott Boras declined to discuss specifics, but others suggested he will seek a very long deal. 

“You just don’t find this kind of player on the market,” Boras said.

Gomez, 30, struggled throughout much of 2016, hitting just .210 with five home runs and 29 RBI in 85 games with the Houston Astros. But after joining the Texas Rangers, he turned things around, hitting .284 with eight homers and 24 RBI in 33 games down the stretch.

At his best, Gomez is an excellent combination of pop and speed. Between the 2012-14 seasons with the Milwaukee Brewers, he hit at least 19 home runs and stole at least 34 bases in three straight campaigns. His inconsistency is a concern, however, and he may find it difficult to find five-year deals on the market. 

Nonetheless, the Rangers feel like a good fit. If the team decides against going after other big-name free agents—or can’t land any—bringing Gomez back would make sense.

Prediction: Gomez re-signs with Rangers.

You can follow Timothy Rapp on Twitter.

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The 2016 MLB free-agent market isn’t a good one, which means the best way to add talent this offseason will likely be through trades.

After seeing what the Chicago Cubs were able to accomplish with a young core of players who were either drafted by the team or acquired before reaching the majors, front offices will likely be cautious about dealing away their prospects. However, there is some elite, proven talent available for those willing to roll the dice.

Here is a look at a few big names who could be on the move in the coming weeks and months of the MLB offseason.

Derek Holland, LHP, Texas Rangers

Although Derek Holland isn’t the pitcher he was a few years back, he could still have some value for a team willing to bet on a return to form.

The 30-year-old pitcher has an $11 million option for the upcoming season, which the Rangers weren’t planning on picking up, per T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com. The organization has until Monday to make a final decision.

In addition to keeping the player or not, another choice would be to trade him. Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News reported last week “the club is proactively making phone calls to gauge a market for the 30-year-old left-hander.”

The price tag is high for a pitcher who posted a 4.95 ERA this past season and only has 38 appearances (35 starts) in the last three seasons. However, he has finally gotten his strength back and isn’t too far removed from the 2013 season where he posted a 3.42 ERA in 213 innings.

Whether he stays with the Rangers or goes elsewhere, the value could be there if Holland returns to form and reaches his potential.

Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports also added the secondary team option after next season being a factor.

An interested team can take a small risk on a talented pitcher and hope he succeeds. A strong season could result in a reasonable contract for 2018, while a poor year can result in terminating the deal for just a $1 million buyout, per Baseball-Reference.com.

Texas probably won’t expect much in return, but there could be nice upside for whoever is willing to make a deal.

Miguel Cabrera, 1B, Detroit Tigers

There is no denying Miguel Cabrera being one of the top hitters of his generation. He’s been to 11 All-Star Games, is a two-time MVP, won the Triple Crown and still put up elite numbers even in a down 2016.

He finished this past season with a .316 batting average, 38 home runs and 108 RBI. The problem is he did so on a team that missed the playoffs and is getting older. Cabrera is 33 years old and is under contract through at least 2023 at an average of over $30 million per season.

Even as one of the best hitters in the game, it’s understandable for the Tigers to see what the player is worth on the open market.

As Buster Olney of ESPN.com reported, the Tigers “will listen to trade offers on everybody,” including Cabrera, Justin Verlander and Ian Kinsler.

Olney did note some potential road blocks on a deal for Cabrera, however. He explained, “Detroit would probably have to eat a significant portion of his deal or take on a bad contract to make something happen, and Cabrera can block any proposed trade.”

Even with the challenge, general manager Al Avila noted in October, per Chris McCosky of the Detroit News, “We have to be open-minded to anything.”

Avila added: “We’re going to go out and talk to 29 other clubs and see how we can start, little by little, making this team leaner, younger, more efficient, and at the same time, staying competitive, trying to get to the playoffs.”

Craig Edwards of FanGraphs discussed the possibility of packaging Cabrera and Verlander in one blockbuster trade, possibly targeting the Boston Red Sox or New York Yankees.

A move like this would not be easy, but you can be certain a lot of teams will figure out what it would take to add an elite hitter like this one.

Chris Sale, LHP, Chicago White Sox

It was almost a surprise Chris Sale wasn’t traded last season considering all of the discussion about a possible move. However, the Chicago White Sox might finally pull the trigger this offseason.

“More than one GM has said that White Sox GM Rick Hahn is open for business on just about his entire roster,” Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe wrote. “That includes Chris Sale and the rest of the rotation.”

Cafardo noted the Red Sox would be interested in a move in order to create an elite rotation that already features David Price and Rick Porcello, among others. The Houston Astros are also listed as a possibility as a team that could target either Sale or Sonny Gray.

Unlike Holland or Cabrera, Sale is a relative steal at his current price. While his salary rises to $12 million for 2017, this is still relatively cheap for a pitcher who has been one of the best in baseball over the past few years.

The southpaw has finished in the top six of the Cy Young voting in each of the past four seasons and has been selected to five straight All-Star Games. He finished this past season with 17 wins, a 3.34 ERA and a career-high 226.2 innings pitched. He led the American League with six complete games.

Sale is as consistent as they come, and whoever acquires him can keep him for two additional seasons on reasonable team options provided he continues to play at this same level. The White Sox will want a big return, but in a weak free-agent market, this is a rare game-changing talent.

Follow Rob Goldberg on Twitter.

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The Chicago Cubs capped off their historic 2016 MLB season with a dramatic 8-7 victory in extra innings over the Cleveland Indians in Wednesday’s Game 7 of the World Series.

While the organization and its long-suffering fans will likely revel in the aftermath of the team’s first championship since 1908, the rest of the baseball world has already turned its attention toward eclipsing the Cubs next season.

The rumors and speculation will pick up at the winter meetings in December, but there is already some buzz circulating a mere one full day into the offseason. With that in mind, here is a look at some rumors regarding the futures of Carlos Ruiz, Brian McCann and Pat Neshek.

Ruiz Reportedly Available in Trade

The Los Angeles Dodgers added Ruiz for their postseason push in August via trade from the Philadelphia Phillies, but he may not be with them for much longer.

According to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports, Ruiz is one player with a club option ($4.5 million) who could be available in a trade.

The veteran will be 38 years old next season and appeared in just 62 combined games for the Dodgers and Phillies in 2016. He finished with only three home runs and 15 RBI but did post a solid .264/.365/.348 slash line.

The 2012 All-Star is most valuable behind the plate at this point in his career. Ruiz nailed a career-best 41.7 percent of possible base stealers in 2016, per ESPN.com, and is responsible for 43 total defensive runs saved above average since he entered the league, per FanGraphs.

Ruiz is well past his prime at this point, but the Cubs just won a World Series with David Ross as a defensive-oriented rotational catcher who provided veteran leadership and experience. A potential contender could try to replicate that formula with Ruiz in 2017.

Houston Astros Could Target McCann

Ruiz is not the only veteran catcher who may be available via trade.

Joel Sherman of the New York Post noted the Houston Astros are “one team to keep an eye on with as far as pursuing [McCann].”

Sherman cited an executive who said McCann’s power and “positive clubhouse rep” will help the New York Yankees receive value in return for the catcher and designated hitter if and when they attempt to move him.

Sherman pointed out the Astros are looking to add left-handed hitting to a primarily right-handed lineup and a veteran presence to a younger core, and McCann would satisfy both priorities. What’s more, catcher Jason Castro is a free agent.

McCann is a seven-time All-Star and appeared in 130 games in 2016. He slashed .242/.335/.413 with 20 home runs in those 130 contests, which marked the ninth consecutive season he reached the 20-homer plateau.

He will be 33 years old during the 2017 campaign, but he would provide power from the left side at a position that isn’t loaded with game-changing bats.

From New York’s perspective, it can afford to move him because Gary Sanchez will likely be behind the plate for years to come.

Owner Hal Steinbrenner discussed the balance between the two during the season, per Howie Kussoy of the New York Post: “It was always the case that Sanchez at some point was going to come up, and hopefully come up to stay. We’ll cross that bridge in the offseason when we come to it, but McCann’s a great player too. We’ll just have to figure it out.”

It appears the Astros may help the Yankees cross that bridge.

Astros Could Move Neshek

Veterans potentially on the move could be a theme this offseason, as Rosenthal noted Neshek is another trade candidate with a club option ($6.5 million).

The 36-year-old relief pitcher was an All-Star in 2014 for the St. Louis Cardinals with a 1.87 ERA, 0.79 WHIP and 68 strikeouts in 67.1 innings. He spent the last two seasons with the Astros and finished with an ERA of 3.62 in 2015 and 3.06 in 2016.

While he was not quite the lockdown force he was in St. Louis, he still posted a sparkling 0.94 WHIP in 2016 and made 60 appearances. It was his third straight season with at least 60 appearances, which is a sign he can serve as a durable bullpen option for another team in the immediate future if it was to trade for him.

However, he did struggle against left-handed hitters. According to ESPN.com, lefties hit .250 with four home runs in 48 at-bats against Neshek in 2016, while right-handed hitters finished with a .172 batting average with two home runs in 122 at-bats.

Even with the struggles against lefties, a new team could insert Neshek as a situational pitcher near the back of the bullpen to fortify the pitching staff.

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Spending sprees may be a few weeks away for Major League Baseball teams, but impending free agents are already appraising their worth on the open market.

When it comes to the likes of Rich Hill, Yoenis Cespedes and Wilson Ramos, there should be plenty of money tossed around when general managers descend on the winter meetings in National Harbor, Maryland.

As free agency approaches, here’s a rundown of the latest rumors regarding some of this year’s biggest names.

Rich Hill Looking to Capitalize on Surging Value

Hill split his 2016 season between the Oakland Athletics and Los Angeles Dodgers, but a change of scenery didn’t prevent him from posting gaudy numbers.

Over the course of 20 starts, Hill went 12-5 with a 2.12 ERA, a 0.997 WHIP and 10.5 strikeouts per nine innings.

Thanks to those stellar numbers, the 36-year-old is eyeing a major payday this winter. 

“Could a three-year, $45 million deal be far-fetched for the 36-year-old lefty? It’s the figure major league sources often reference,” the Boston Globe‘s Nick Cafardo reported. “The Dodgers could also make Hill a $17.2 million qualifying offer, which he would likely reject given the limited pitching market.”

A deal that pays out $15 million annually would justify what Hill did throughout the 2016 season, but committing that much money to a pitcher who will be 37 when the 2017 season starts is a risky proposition.

With that said, pitchers of Hill’s caliber are never short on offers when free agency opens. 

A deal approaching $50 million would feel a tad rich, but Hill should be able to field a multiyear offer that exceeds $40 million.

Prediction: Hill signs a three-year deal worth just north of $40 million.

Giants Seeking to Steal Cespedes from Mets?

Cespedes will be one of the hottest names on the free-agent market this year, assuming he opts out of his deal with the New York Mets, and he will reportedly have no shortage of suitors if he chooses to do so. 

One team stands out as a primary competitor for his services.

That would be the San Francisco Giants, according to the New York Daily News‘ Kristie Ackert:

Long before they ended the Mets’ season in the National League wild-card game, industry sources were talking about the Giants as the natural landing spot for Cespedes. They were ranked 28th in the majors in home runs with just 130 and 25th in slugging percentage last year, something that signing Cespedes would quickly resolve. With Angel Pagan a free agent and not likely to be re-signed, they have a vacancy in left field, where Cespedes prefers to play. 

Ackert also noted the Giants have never been afraid to spend on free agents, with Johnny Cueto’s $130 million deal standing out as a primary example.

However, the Mets are still in a good spot even if the Giants pursue a lucrative, long-term deal with the Cuban power hitter.

According to ESPN.com’s Buster Olney, “The Mets’ perception is that, all things being equal, Cespedes would prefer to play for them, something he demonstrated by taking their deal last winter, with less guaranteed money than what Washington offered.”

Considering the success Cespedes has experienced since arriving in New York (48 total home runs, 130 RBI, .554 slugging percentage), he should give the team that gambled on him in July 2015 some preferential treatment as the Mets seek another National League East title.

Prediction: Cespedes re-signs with Mets following intense pursuit by the Giants.

Wilson Ramos Eyeing Long-Term Pact

Ramos had a fantastic 2016 season, hitting .307/.354/.496 with a career-high 22 home runs and 80 RBI. 

However, things came to a screeching halt when he suffered a torn ACL at the tail end of the regular season. Now Ramos is expected to miss a good chunk of the 2017 season as he rehabilitates. 

Despite the setback, Ramos is still looking for a serious commitment from a team in free agency.

Although the Washington Post‘s Jorge Castillo reported the Washington Nationals not offering Ramos a qualifying offer worth $17.2 million “is unlikely but possible,” the catcher’s agent has been adamant that his client is seeking a long-term deal.

According to Castillo, agent Wil Polidor has indicated the catcher “is seeking a four- to five-year contract, which he could secure only if he were to reject the qualifying offer.”

It’s no surprise that Ramos’ camp wants to maximize his value on the open market, but it’s hard to envision a team offering him such a deal.

Rather, it’s more feasible that a team would offer Ramos a prove-it deal that has one guaranteed year and some club options on the back end as protection.

Plus, if Ramos is amenable to signing with an American League club, he could wind up easing a prospective employer’s concerns by serving as a designated hitter.

Prediction: Ramos signs a one-year deal including club option with American League team.

Stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com.

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Wilson Ramos is slated to become a free agent this winter, and he’s reportedly seeking contractual security if the Washington Nationals don’t extend him a qualifying offer worth $17.2 million. 

Continue for updates. 

Ramos Reportedly Eyeing Long-Term Deal 

Friday, Oct. 28

According to the Washington Post‘s Jorge Castillo, Ramos’ agent, Wil Polidor, said the catcher “is seeking a four- to five-year contract, which he could secure only if he were to reject the qualifying offer.”

But after Ramos tore his ACL shortly before the end of the regular season, nabbing a lucrative multiyear deal could prove difficult. 

According to Castillo, it’s “unlikely but possible” the Nationals will extend Ramos a qualifying offer since he will only be available for a fraction of the 2017 season following the ACL tear. 

“We’re going to see what the short-term rehab is,” Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo said Thursday, per Castillo. “We’ll do all the due diligence on the medicals, which is the most important factor in what our plans are for Wilson. Once we get together with all the medical people that are involved, we’ll have a better idea of where we’re at with Wilson.”

Prior to his season-ending knee injury, Ramos was in line for a hefty raise. 

The 29-year-old put together a career year at the plate for the Nationals, posting a slash line of .307/.354/.496 while hitting 22 home runs and notching 80 RBI. Ramos also recorded a career-high 25 doubles as his OPS skyrocketed to .850 from a mark of .616 the year prior. 

According to Castillo, the Nationals have until five days after the conclusion of the World Series to make a decision regarding Ramos’ qualifying offer. 

Should Washington decide to part ways with Ramos, the backstop could have a hard time selling prospective employers on his long-term viability based on the severity of his knee injury. 

Rather, a club could sign Ramos to a short-term, prove-it deal to see if he’s capable of returning to form before offering him a more lucrative pact.

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MLB free agency will provide the majority of the rumors and speculation once the postseason concludes, but there are nonetheless a few trade rumors circulating in October.  

Below, we’ll break down two of the big rumors making the rounds.

Andrew McCutchen

Andrew McCutchen has been the face of the Pittsburgh Pirates renaissance in recent years, but there is buzz that the team could deal the superstar center fielder.

Rob Biertempfel of the Tribune-Review reported the following earlier in October: “Now there is a growing sense among industry insiders that the team will try to deal McCutchen before he reaches free agency in either one or two years. General manager Neal Huntington likely will quietly shop the five-time All-Star during the offseason, if only to gauge the level of interest.”

McCutchen‘s 2016 was disappointing, to say the least. He hit just .256 with 24 home runs, 79 RBI, 81 runs, six stolen bases and a .766 OPS. His batting average, steals and OPS were all career lows.

That may hurt his value, with Charlie Wilmoth of MLBTradeRumors.com noting “the team could point to his fine performance down the stretch (he batted .284/.381/.471 from Aug. 1 through season’s end) as evidence that the old Cutch is back, although it’s not clear how convincing that line of argument will be.”

Wilmoth also noted the Pirates could choose to accept a low offer, “figuring it’s better to deal a player who might continue to decline before more poor performances and/or the ticking clock of free agency further depress his value.”

For the Pirates, the decision will likely come down to weighing the difference between what they feel McCutchen can offer in the future and what trade offers come down the pike. If the Pirates still feel McCutchen can be a superstar and 2016 was just an aberration—he just turned 30 years old, after all—they probably will hold off on dealing him.

But if they suspect his best days are behind him and receive a solid offer for his services, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the team move on this winter or before next season’s trade deadline. The Pirates seem unlikely to be sentimental when it comes to McCutchen, especially with younger—and cheaper—prospects in the pipeline.

Wade Davis

The Kansas City Royals are receiving phone calls about pitcher Wade Davis and could be inclined to trade him, according to Jon Heyman of Today’s Knuckleball:

The Royals have built their championship teams around strong defense and a special bullpen, but they seem to be willing to consider a trade for Davis at a time they are mandated to cut their payroll from a high of $144 million.

They could also consider a trade for one of their two highest-paid players – Alex Gordon or Ian Kennedy – but one competing GM opined that the Royals would likely have to offset some of those contracts.

Davis, it seems, is the most likely of the trio to be moved.

He had a strong 2016 season, finishing 2-1 with a 1.87 ERA, a 1.13 WHIP, 27 saves and 47 strikeouts in 43.1 innings pitched.

The free-agent market will be rife with star closers, from Aroldis Chapman to Kenley Jansen and Mark Melancon. But once that market settles, it wouldn’t be surprising to see a team desperate to upgrade the position call the Royals.

The aforementioned closers will come at astronomical costs, and Davis, as Heyman noted, might ultimately be a bargain. On the other hand, that may make it difficult for the Royals to pull the trigger on dealing him, especially given his excellent 2016.

It’s going to be an interesting offseason for the Royals.

You can follow Timothy Rapp on Twitter.

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Madison Bumgarner has a team-friendly contract that features two team options for 2018 and 2019, but that’s not stopping the San Francisco Giants from getting an early start on extension talks with their ace.

Continue for updates.

Giants Want to Talk Extension

Thursday, Oct. 13

Per Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle, Giants general manager Bobby Evans has already spoken to Bumgarner and told his agents the team is ready to discuss an extension when they are.

Bumgarner has been one of the best bargains in Major League Baseball since signing his original five-year, $35 million deal in April 2012.

That deal bought out Bumgarner’s first three years of free agency if the Giants end up exercising both of their options.

Per Baseball-Reference.com, next year will be the first time in Bumgarner’s career that he makes more than $10 million in a season.

Bumgarner is scheduled to make $11.5 million in 2017. For perspective, per Cot’s Baseball Contracts, Kansas City Royals pitcher Ian Kennedy will make $13.5 million next season.

There aren’t many pitchers in baseball who warrant an extension more than Bumgarner, who has been named to four consecutive National League All-Star teams.

After finishing in the top 10 in Cy Young voting in each of the previous three seasons, Bumgarner has a strong chance to make it four straight in 2016, setting career highs in starts (34), innings (226.2) and strikeouts (251).

The Giants could end up having to pay Bumgarner a record amount to lock him up. David Price signed the largest contract for a pitcher in history last year, when the Boston Red Sox gave him $217 million over seven years.

Clayton Kershaw of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Zack Greinke of the Arizona Diamondbacks and Max Scherzer of the Washington Nationals are the only other pitchers who have signed deals worth $200 million or more.

At just 27 years old, Bumgarner doesn’t figure to slow down anytime soon. He’s been one of the most consistently dominant pitchers in the big leagues since 2011 and is as valuable as any other player the Giants have.

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