The MLB Hot Stove is start to cool down just a bit, but there's still some very interesting free agents on the market who could make a major impact in 2016. We're here to highlight FAs who've moved to the fringes of the baseball media conversation with our MLB Rumors Roundup for January 31st.
David Murphy To Kansas City?
The Kansas City Royals got their man in re-signing left field Alex Gordon to a four-year deal, but the team is reportedly still looking for outfield depth with under three weeks to go until pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training.
According to Jayson Stark of ESPN, David Murphy is a name that makes sense -- although the cash needed to land such an underrated hitter in a seller's market could push him out of their price range.
However, there are plenty of other budget names cropping up who might make more sense from a fiscal standpoint.
Per Tim Boyle of Innings Eaters:
"David DeJesus and Shane Victorino are two names to consider. I lump them in with Murphy as all three were acquired by the Los Angeles Angels last season as part of a three-man platoon in left field. The Royals may also want to consider Jeff Francoeur as their fourth outfielder with some veteran leadership or even look for a rebound season from Matt Joyce, another member of the 2015 Angels."
One name to highlight from the above bit of speculation is Victorino. He's already been connected to the Royals this offseason, and his recent drop-off in at-the-plate production has dropped his dollar value right in GM Dayton Moore's wheelhouse.
Are The Yankees Completely Done?
The New York Yankees went into bomb-shelter mode this offseason when it comes to the free agency market, taking cover under the litany of exorbitant veteran contracts still on the books.
There's still a major need for a starting rotation boost, though -- an area of improvement that several Yankees officials have identified this winter. However, don't hold your breath when it comes to some of the bigger names still searching for new homes.
Via Chad Jennings of LoHud Yankees Blog:
"Tim Lincecum and Cliff Lee are nice pie-in-the-sky candidates, but neither brings any sort of dependability. Mat Latos probably wouldn’t want to pitch for a team that might not have room for him in the rotation. Yovani Gallardo is presumably too expensive for the Yankees’ current payroll preference."
If the Yankees gain traction in the standings out of the gate in 2016, there's always the potential for a marquee-level trade. That doesn't necessarily rule out a "take a flyer" free-agent signing or two, but the Yankees aren't going to be entering the market for a guy like Yovani Gallardo unless GM Brian Cashman's offseason philosophy takes a complete 180.
Speaking Of Gallardo...
What's the deal here? Gallardo has been a workhorse and a consistent mid-rotation stalwart for his entire nine-year MLB career, but he's still the odd man out right now as the market gets tighter and teams become less likely to dip deep into their pockets.
However, there are still two teams who could throw a sizeable chunk of change at Gallardo -- the Baltimore Orioles and Colorado Rockies. Gallardo has been on the Orioles' radar for months, and they're desperate to keep up in a topsy-turvy AL East.
The Rockies are perpetually looking for rotation help, so it's no surprise that a 29-year-old righty who's posted an ERA under four in eight of nine campaigns has piqued their interest.
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