We're closing in on the official kickoff of Spring Training season (pitchers and catchers reporting), which means it's time to double down on the rumor mill and get some speculation taken care of before the on-field action gets underway. With that being said, here's our MLB Rumors Roundup for Feb. 10th.
Additional Contenders For Harper?
In this space back in late January, we listed off nine potential suitors (backed up by ESPN) for reigning NL MVP Bryce Harper when he exhausts his arbitration years and enters free agency after the 2018 season -- the homestanding Washington Nationals, New York Yankees, St. Louis Cardinals, Houston Astros, Texas Rangers, Philadelphia Phillies, Toronto Blue Jays, Los Angeles Dodgers and Atlanta Braves.
That's a mixture of usual big-market suspects (New York, Los Angeles) and intriguing mid-to-big market fits with limited financial engagements after the 2018 season (Houston, Toronto).
However, there are four teams not listed above who SB Nation baseball guru Grant Brisbee sees as viable contenders for Harper's signature -- the Detroit Tigers, Chicago Cubs, Boston Red Sox and San Francisco Giants. More Bryce Harper speculation inside the Chat Sports Android and iPhone apps!
The thinking is as follows: Harper is likely to command a ten-year megadeal in the neighborhood of $450 million. However, that money doesn't have to come in a straightforward $45 million per year format. Such a contract structure would likely eliminate the Tigers, Cubs, Red Sox and Giants based on projected financial commitments.
However, Brisbee argues that the four teams above are attractive enough as destinations that Harper might be willing to take a backlogged deal that pays in the neighborhood of $25 million over the first two seasons. Such a deal would allow for the four teams to factor in future financial leeway and make Harper part of a workable budget.
Looking For Reclamation Projects?
If there's one quality Kansas City Royals GM Dayton Moore embodies as a player personnel executive, it's the spirit of the reclamation project. Kansas City's front office has done a fantastic job in recent years mixing and matching homegrown core talent with castaway veterans who work well in niche roles.
So, it's no surprise that the defending World Champs' search for a back-end starter isn't leading them to free agent Yovani Gallardo's door. KC already splurged on a $70 million deal for Ian Kennedy, so don't expect financial lightning to strike twice.
However, there are two names currently on the rumor wire as free-agent "reclamation projects" piquing the Royals' interest -- Cliff Lee and Tim Lincecum. Get the skinny on Tim Lincecum news in our Chat Sports iPhone and Android apps!
We've detailed Lee before as a low risk/low cost flyer for Kansas City, but Lincecum is a new one and perhaps stands as the most likely of the two. Diminished velocity and recovery from hip surgery has dropped the former Giants ace's value into the bargain basement.
However, that's the perfect place for the Royals to approach him. He's been working hard this offseason to modify his herky-jerky throwing motion to account for both the injury and natural velocity diminishment. Give him a chance to work through the kinks in a Royals uniform, even in just a Spring Training invite role, and Dayton Moore might have another gem in the veteran rough on his hands.
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