MLB free agency is upon us, with the league’s winter meetings underway in Dallas this week. The name on everyone’s lips is Juan Soto, but he’s not the only free agent who has a big decision to make this winter.
Here’s a quick look at where things stand so far this offseason:
Yankees lose out on Soto, snag Fried
It was a less than ideal 48 hours for the New York Yankees after the crosstown Mets reportedly agreed to a 15-year, $765 million deal with Juan Soto.
New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said Monday at baseball’s winter meetings that he doesn’t regret trading for Juan Soto from the San Diego Padres last offseason.
“Listen, the Mets got a great player, so congratulations to them,” Cashman said Monday, per MLB.com. “Our work continues as we focus on our team and how to reconfigure. Our efforts on a year-in, year-out basis don’t change. We’re always trying to be the best team we possibly can be so we can get into the playoffs and take a shot at the World Series, so we’ll just obviously get back at it.”
A day later, the Yankees made a splash of their own with a reported eight-year, $218 million contract with Max Fried, taking one of the major free-agent pitchers this offseason off the board.
“From the Yankees standpoint, no retreat, no surrender, we get back after it and find a way to put together a roster that our fans are going to be excited about,” Cashman said. “And we want to defend that American League title and get back in the World Series and try to win it.”
Trade market heats up
The Toronto Blue Jays made some noise Tuesday with a trade for Guardians second baseman Andrés Giménez and pitcher Nick Sandlin. The Guardians received infielder Spencer Horwitz in return, though they promptly sent him to the Pittsburgh Pirates. In that swap, the Guardians received Josh Hartle, Luis Ortiz and Michael Kennedy. The Marlins also traded Jake Burger to the Rangers.
On Wednesday, the Red Sox reached a deal to acquire left-handed pitcher Garrett Crochet from the White Sox. The Red Sox are sending top prospect Kyle Teel to Chicago in the deal, along with outfielder Braden Montgomery, infielder Chase Meidroth and right-hander Wikelman Gonzalez.
Trade speculation is also heating up for Astros outfielder Kyle Tucker, with the Yankees, Cubs, Giants and Phillies reportedly vying for his services, per Joel Sherman of the New York Post.
Who else has signed?
Since the end of the World Series, the pitching market has been active, headlined by the Dodgers and Blake Snell agreeing to a five-year, $182 million deal.
Elsewhere around the league, the Mets and Frankie Montas are in agreement on a two-year, $34 million deal, and the A’s signed Luis Severino to a three-year, $67 million deal — the largest guaranteed contract in franchise history.
Waiting on Roki Sasaki
Japanese right-hander Roki Sasaki was posted Monday morning as the winter meetings got underway, according to MLB Network’s Jon Morosi. Sasaki’s posting opens a 45-day window, which began Tuesday and runs through 5 p.m. ET Jan. 23. Every MLB team is now allowed to attempt to sway the 23-year-old talent to sign with them when the international amateur signing period opens Jan. 15.
Required reading:
Follow along with Yahoo Sports as we track all the rumors, signings and more during MLB free agency:
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White Sox officially trade Garrett Crochet to Red Sox
One of the hottest names on the trade market has been dealt. The Red Sox have acquired Garrett Crochet from the White Sox for four players. None of the players traded to Chicago have seen a single major league at-bat, but at least two of them are top 10 prospects in the Red Sox system.
Click here to read more on this blockbuster trade between MLB’s Sox of two different colors.
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All-Star starting pitcher Max Fried reportedly agrees to $218M deal with Yankees
Max Fried will be wearing pinstripes next season. (Matthew Grimes Jr./Atlanta Braves/Getty Images) Two-time All-Star pitcher Max Fried is joining the New York Yankees on an eight-year, $218 million deal, ESPN’s Jeff Passan reports.
Per the report, it’s the largest guaranteed contract for a left-handed pitcher in MLB history. Fried joins the Yankees two days after they reportedly lost a bidding war to the New York Mets for slugger Juan Soto, this winter’s top free-agent prize.
The lefty starter declined a one-year, $21.05 million qualifying offer from the Braves in mid-November, opting to enter free agency. Fried had signed a one-year, $15 million deal with Atlanta heading into the 2024 season.
Read the full story here.
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