Yankees check in Corbin Burnes, Blake Snell– including Mets target
The Yankees checked on the free-agent ace pitchers — Max Fried, Corbin Burnes and Blake Snell — but it remains uncertain whether they would do Soto and an ace pitcher, too.
The Yankees also are interested in Sean Manaea, who will turn down the $21.05M qualifying offer from the Mets.
The Mets are interested in keeping both Manaea and Luis Severino, and met on both pitchers. Severino doesn’t seem too likely to accept the qualifying offer, either.
The Orioles, Red Sox and Blue Jays are all in on at least Fried. Boston is looking to upgrade its pitching and they don’t have a lefty, so Fried could make sense.
The Yankees checked in on Anthony Santander as well as Pete Alonso, but they are believed to be strictly backup plans in case Soto bolts.
Santander has interest from eight teams following his big season.
The Astros continue to talk to their own free agent Alex Bregman, and there’s some hope there. The $151M, six-year deal Matt Chapman got from the Giants would seem to be a baseline.
Yusei Kikuchi is said to have a big market. The Astros might have trouble holding onto him.
The Reds’ Nick Martinez is expected to accept the $21.05M qualifying offer.
Boston’s Nick Pivetta is another who has a chance to accept. But he’s said to have a nice market — as do all the better starters
Buster Posey flashed a thumbs up when asked if he likes his new job as Giants baseball president. As to whether he will be a big benefit in the recruitment of star players, he figures the contract and the team are the real factors. “I don’t think I’ll get a huge discount just because I played.”
Dodgers GM Brandon Gomes said he plans to talk about an extension with manager Dave Roberts, in the last year of a four-year deal said to pay him $4M in 2025. Roberts has averaged 102 wins a year and remains underrated.
The expectation is Clayton Kershaw will return to the Dodgers. LA considered the qualifying offer for Walker Buehler and is talking to him about a possible return.
Pitching is the Cubs’ main focus.
The Jays figure they won’t sell low on star SS Bo Bichette.
Terry Francona is quite a coup for the Reds. He’s lost 25-30 pounds and is said to be healthier after the year off. The only other interview they conducted was Freddie Benavides, the interim.
The Phillies seek a top reliever and an outfield bat, either for LF or CF.
Noah Syndergaard is down to 235 pounds after losing 30 and is working his way toward a comeback down here in Texas.
