With the MLB regular season is right around the corner, teams around the league are gearing up for Opening Day in just a couple of weeks. One team suffered an injury that is a significant setback, while a pair of others are already starting to plan for next offseason. Here are the latest MLB news and rumors you need to know:
Aaron Judge recruiting Manny Machado to the Yankees
The New York Yankees heavily pursued a trade to acquire Baltimore Orioles star Manny Machado this offseason before the Orioles decided not to trade him, but that hasn't stopped the Yankees from recruiting him for the coming offseason, when Machado will be a free agent.
Ahead of their spring training game on Wednesday, NJ.com's Randy Miller reports that Judge was also trying to steer Machado a bit towards New York.
"Before the game, I asked him how his offseason was, how everything was going," Judge said. "I asked him how he liked (moving from third base to short)."
And then Judge dropped in this:
"I told him, 'You'd look pretty good in pinstripes, too.' "
Machado's reaction?
"He just kind of laughed it off," Judge said. "He didn't really say much."
Machado batted .259 with 33 homers and 95 RBIs in 156 games last season.
MORE MLB RUMORS: Manny Machado Will Reportedly Be A Yankee By The Start Of Next Season
Jerad Eickhoff to miss 6-8 weeks
Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Jerad Eickhoff, projected to be the third pitcher in the team's rotation behind Jake Arrieta and Aaron Nola, is expected to miss six-to-eight weeks with a strained lat muscle, according to Jim Salisbury of NBC Sports Philadelphia.
Eickhoff out 6 to 8 weeks w lat strain.
— Jim Salisbury (@JSalisburyNBCS) March 16, 2018
Eickhoff went 4-8 with a 4.71 ERA with 118 strikeouts and a 1.52 WHIP.
Royals expected to part with Mike Moustakas this offseason
The Kansas City Royals signed third baseman Mike Moustakas to a one-year deal with a mutual option for the 2019 season last week, but don't expect him to stay with the franchise past 2018. According to Maria Torres of the Kansas City Star, both sides are planning to move on after the season.
Moustakas is not the third baseman of the future. His return to Kansas City was a mutually beneficial arrangement that provided the Royals a veteran third baseman and Moustakas a familiar place to play and increase his value.
During his first week in camp, Moustakas has already taken reps at first base, a natural position for him to transition to as he ages. Expect Moustakas to log innings there during the regular season. That will boost his value when he hits the free-agent market again next winter.
Kansas City was planning to let Moustakas walk in free agency this offseason and they did not anticipate being able to afford to re-sign him, but the cool market presented an opportunity for him to return.
However, the Royals are committed to Cheslor Cuthbert as their long-term answer at the position and are also high on 20-year-old prospect Emmanuel Rivera.
Moustakas hit .272 with 38 home runs and 85 RBIs in 148 games this season.
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