The 2015 MLB general managers' meetings have completed, but there's still a metric ton of trades and free agent courtships on the radar as the month of November progresses. With that being said, here's our MLB Rumors Roundup: Free Agency & Trade Update For Mid-November.
Chris Davis situation remains fluid
The Baltimore Orioles never really replaced Nelson Cruz via trade or free agency last year, but they won't be able to take a similar tact if Davis leaves for somewhere like the Los Angeles Angels who are willing to break the bank for corner outfield power. If Davis does go elsewhere, CBS Sports' Jon Heyman names free agent OF Alex Gordon and Rockies OF Carlos Gonzalez (via trade) as potential fits.
Another team who could be around for Davis is the St. Louis Cardinals. They'd like to keep Jason Heyward, but they may be priced out if/when a team throws $200 million out there at him.
Blue Jays to shuffle bullpen, add via trade?
With the increasing likelihood that David Price will take bigger bucks elsewhere in free agency, the Blue Jays locked down Marco Estrada and reportedly could move either Roberto Osuna or Aaron Sanchez into the rotation. If they do so, it's possible they will be look to the vast array of back-end bullpen options on the trade market to fill the gap. They've been connected to Cincinnati's Aroldis Chapman and San Diego's Craig Kimbrel in recent days.
Another team who has a legit chance at landing Chapman or Kimbrel? The Boston Red Sox. Chapman would be the more likely fit, considering he won't require nearly as big of a prospect package as Kimbrel since his contract expires after 2016. The Red Sox have also been connected to Chapman in recent days. Rumor has it Chapman will be dealt before the weekend.
Mets in on Desmond?
The New York Mets will keep an eye on the market surrounding free agent shortstop Ian Desmond, especially if they can't land a middle infielder such as the Chicago Cubs' Starlin Castro. New York has kicked the tires on Chicago's Javier Baez before, but it seems increasingly unlikely that the Cubs will be willing to play ball -- both because Baez has once again been held up as a big part of the team's going future going forward and because it'll be hard for Theo Epstein to justify trading a potential marquee talent to a team that just beat the Cubs in the NLCS.
Yankees looking at second-tier starters?
The New York Yankees are considered by most to have some degree of interest in the top cache of starting pitchers on the market (David Price, Johnny Cueto, etc.), but the team's 50 percent luxury tax could be enough of a deterrent to keep GM Brian Cashman from breaking the bank. Per Jon Heyman of CBS Sports, "the Yankees may target (Jeff) Samardzija or Wei-Yin Chen, who will get big deals but very likely something below the $100-million mark."
Back to the MLB Newsfeed