The 2024-25 Main League Baseball offseason carries on, and notable free-agent names are off the board — together with the largest title of all in Juan Soto. With the Winter Conferences freshly behind us and lots of large free brokers and commerce targets nonetheless accessible, we’re nonetheless being handled to an virtually day by day provide of rumors relating to all of that. Talking of which, Friday’s spherical of rumors will be discovered just under.
Cubs, Yankees make trades, proceed to speak Bellinger
The Cubs and Yankees each made notable trades on Friday. New York obtained nearer Devin Williams from the Brewers (you may learn our full evaluation right here) and Chicago added outfielder Kyle Tucker from the Astros (you may learn our takes right here). That does not imply the Cubs and Yankees are executed with enterprise, nonetheless.
With the Cubs buying Tucker, they’re going to presumably be wanting even tougher to maneuver an outfielder of their very own in Cody Bellinger — somebody who has reportedly been of curiosity to the Yankees.
Bellinger, 29, is coming off a season by which he hit for a 111 OPS+. The onetime NL MVP Award winner has at the very least one 12 months (price $27.5 million) remaining on his contract, which additionally features a participant possibility for subsequent season.
Cubs add catcher
Along with buying Tucker, the Cubs additionally reportedly signed catcher Carson Kelly to a two-year pact price $11.5 million with a mutual possibility for a 3rd season, in line with ESPN. Kelly, 30, posted a 96 OPS+ final season whereas splitting time between the Tigers and Rangers.
Mariners listening on Castillo
The Mariners have an abundance of beginning pitching, a lot of it younger and controllable, and for fairly a while, they have been anticipated to make a deal, presumably in an effort to enhance a lackluster lineup. This winter’s magma-hot marketplace for free-agent beginning pitchers now comes into play, and that is why, in line with MLB.com, the M’s have been getting a number of inquiries concerning the commerce standing of veteran right-hander Luis Castillo. Of these calls, MLB.com studies:
“‘They are not hanging up,’ a supply with data of the state of affairs instructed MLB.com.”
Castillo, who turned 32 on Thursday, is coming off a 2024 season by which he pitched to a 3.64 ERA/3.91 FIP in 175 1/3 innings for Seattle. For his profession, he owns an ERA+ of 120 and a WAR of 24.0 throughout elements of eight MLB seasons. The three-time All-Star has a bit greater than $72 million left on his contract by way of the 2027 season. His pact additionally features a $25 million vesting possibility for the 2028 season.
