The new MLB season just closed out its first month, but there are already rumors flying about a few big names who could be dealt before the trade deadline. There are also injuries for teams to deal with, as well as early preparations for free agency this offseason. Here are all the latest MLB rumors you need to know.
Kris Bryant may not seek extension
Chicago Cubs star Kris Bryant won't be able to hit free agency until 2021, but with him eligible for arbitration after the season, the team has approached him about a contract extension. However, Bryant prefers to "play it out," according to Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times.
So when the Cubs reached out to Bryant, the reigning National League MVP, and agent Scott Boras before the season about a possible long-term extension, it was probably an exaggeration even to refer to the inquiry as ‘‘talks.’’
Bryant, who will make $1.05 million — a record for a pre-arbitration player — this year, will reach the first of four arbitration winters after this season. He will be eligible for free agency after the 2021 season.
‘‘I guess it’s a little early,’’ said Bryant, who extended his hitting streak to 11 games with a homer in the fifth inning Sunday. ‘‘I still feel super-young. I’m still getting used to all of this playing at this level. I’ll listen to whatever they have to say, but I just think that it might be in my best interest to just play it out and see where things go.’’
Bryant, the reigning NL MVP, is hitting .289 with four home runs and 14 RBIs in 24 games this season.
Mets may deal Matt Harvey
The New York Mets have been perhaps the league's biggest disappointment through the first month of the season, and that could cause them to be sellers ahead of the trade deadline. According to Joe Giglio of NJ.com, pitcher Matt Harvey is expected to be made available if New York continues to struggle
While rumors of trades (Chicago's Todd Frazier, Kansas City's Mike Moustakas, Toronto's Josh Donaldson) to save the season are percolating, what if the Mets continue to fall? Would general manager Sandy Alderson pivot from an all-in stance to actually sell off parts and build for 2018?
Opposing teams think so.
In a column speculating on starting pitchers that could be on the market this summer, ESPN's Buster Olney listed Mets righty Matt Harvey...
If Harvey pitches well and the Mets still falter, the idea has merit. Harvey--at his best--could bring back a significant return from a contending team interested in his services for the remainder of 2017 and all of the 2018 season.
It's probably too early for the Mets to think about selling or giving up, but if May isn't kinder than April was in Queens, expect this idea to resurface--and Harvey's name to in the mix.
Harvey is 2-1 with a 4.25 ERA and 18 strikeouts in five starts this season.
Nationals interested in trading for Lorenzo Cain?
The Washington Nationals lost centerfielder Adam Eaton for the season with a torn ACL, and that may cause them to try to acquire Lorenzo Cain in a trade with the Kansas City Royals, according to Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports:
If so, the perfect trade partner exists: The Kansas City Royals. Not only could Kansas City offer center fielder Lorenzo Cain, about whom the Nationals inquired this offseason before dealing for Eaton, the Royals also have Kelvin Herrera, who could fortify the Nationals’ bullpen in the eighth or ninth inning, depending on Shawn Kelley’s performance.
Cain will be a free agent after this season, and the Royals explored trading him last year because they don't think they'll be able to afford to re-sign him. Kansas city is also a MLB-worst 7-16 so far this season, and are likely to start selling their better players to start a rebuild.
Cain is batting .272 with one home run and five RBIs in 22 games this season. He has also already stolen six bases.
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