Adding Dozier gives Padres infield options

PEORIA, Ariz.—The Padres added a veteran and a reigning World Series champ to their wide-open second-base race on Sunday.

Brian Dozier agreed to a Minor League deal with San Diego, which includes an invitation to Major League Spring Training. The 32-year-old righty hitter is expected to join the club on Monday, once he completes his physical.

“He’s been to the World Series the last two years in a row,” said Padres manager Jayce Tingler. “He’s got a really good track record, a very good resume. He’s played on a lot of winning teams, especially the last couple years. We’re excited to get around him.”

Dozier, who is entering his ninth season in the big leagues, batted .238/.340/.430 with 20 homers and 20 doubles for the Nationals last season. He’s had plenty of success against left-handed pitching, posting a .900 OPS last season and a career mark of .855.

Yasiel Puig Rumors: White Sox, Rockies Favorites to Sign Star Free-Agent OF

As Yasiel Puig continues to wait for a contract offer to his liking, two teams have reportedly emerged as the favorites to sign the veteran outfielder.

Per Hector Gomez of Z101, the Chicago White Sox and Colorado Rockies are considered the favorites to land the former All-Star.

It’s unclear at this point what a potential contract offer for Puig would include, but the timing of a deal could end up making him a bargain.

Teams reported to spring training last week with games scheduled to begin Saturday.

Compared to the last couple of years, there isn’t much left to the hot stove with spring training having begun.

All-Star Lindor’s future with Indians clouded in uncertainty

CLEVELAND (AP) — Francisco Lindor’s future with the Indians was already unclear and uncertain.

On Saturday, it got even more confusing.

The four-time All-Star shortstop, who has been the subject of trade rumors because Cleveland will probably never be able to offer him a long-term contract close to what he may one day get as a free agent, made some contradictory comments while discussing his curious situation.

Lindor said he would love to stay in Cleveland, calling it “a home.” But the 26-year-old also said the Indians have not made him the “right thing” to this point, and he questioned whether the club would ever be positioned to come up with the kind of money needed to keep him.

Well, most of the hot stove stories of this off-season have closed- why not have one that lingers?

Free-agent reliever Pedro Strop agrees to join Cincinnati Reds’ bullpen on 1-year contract

The Cincinnati Reds addressed their lineup when they signed Mike Moustakas, Shogo Akiyama and Nick Castellanos this winter. They strengthened the rotation when they added Wade Miley.

Now, it’s the bullpen’s turn.

Veteran right-handed reliever Pedro Strop agreed to a one-year contract with the Reds on Thursday, according to a source, becoming their fifth big league free-agent signing of the offseason. Strop will make $1.825 million next season, according to the Dominican-based media outlet Deportivo Z 101, with a chance to make an additional $1.675 million through incentives. The Reds haven’t confirmed the signing, which is pending a physical. 

Strop, 34, spent the past seven seasons with the Chicago Cubs. He had a career-high 4.97 ERA in 50 appearances last year, securing 10 saves. He struck out 49 and walked 20 in 41 ⅔ innings. It was his fewest innings pitched in a season since 2011 and the first time his ERA was above 3.00 since 2013.

Mets reportedly had interest in Pablo Sandoval before infielder signed minor-league deal with Giants

Pablo Sandoval is sticking with the San Francisco Giants, returning on a one-year minor-league deal reportedly worth $2 million.

According to MLB Network’s Jon Heyman (who also broke the news), both the Mets and Phillies were interested in Sandoval before he elected to return to the Bay Area.

Sandoval, 33, began his major-league career as a third baseman but now can play both corner infield positions, having made 47 appearances at first base over the past two seasons.

Rather surprising that there was a bidding war for Pablo Sandoval at this point in his careed- somehow not surprising, once that was a given, who the two losing teams were….

Red Sox Re-Sign Mitch Moreland

Mitch Moreland will be back for at least a fourth season in Boston, as the Red Sox announced Tuesday that he’s been re-signed to a one-year deal with a club option for the 2021 season. The BASH Baseball client will reportedly be guaranteed $3MM in the form of a $2.5MM salary in 2020 and a $500K buyout on a $3MM option for the 2021 season. Right-hander Denyi Reyes has been designated for assignment to open a spot on the 40-man roster, per the Red Sox.

This marks the third time that Moreland, 34, has signed a free-agent deal with the Red Sox. Since signing in Boston prior to the 2017 season, he’s delivered a .247/.326/.455 slash with 56 home runs, 74 doubles and five triples. Most of that damage from the left-handed-hitting Moreland has come against right-handed pitching, so it wouldn’t be a surprise to see right-handed-hitting Michael Chavis pair with him at the position.

Beyond his respectable contributions at the plate, Moreland is renowned for his defensive prowess at first base. Defensive metrics suggested that Moreland took a step back in his age-33 season, though most measures of his glovework still pegged him as a roughly average defender at the position, and his track record is quite strong overall. Given that he’ll come at such an affordable rate not only in 2020 but potentially in 2021, Moreland is a sensible re-signing even at a time when the Red Sox are striving to lower their luxury tax commitments.

Well, we found the player the Red Sox aren’t too cheap to try to get rid of…..

Cubs expressing interest in free agent second baseman Scooter Gennett

The Cubs are expressing interest in free agent second baseman Scooter Gennett, according to WSCR’s Bruce Levine.

Gennett only played 42 games last season after suffering a severe right groin strain at the end of spring training. He made his season debut on June 28 and the Reds dealt him to the Giants at the trade deadline. San Francisco released him a month later.

Gennett, who turns 30 in May, posted a .226/.245/.323 slash line with two home runs and a woeful 44 wRC+ last season. He fared much better from 2017-18, slashing .303/.351/.508 with a 124 wRC+. He hit 27 and 23 homers those two seasons, making the All-Star team in 2018.

Royals sign veteran OF Alex Gordon to $4M contract for 2020

KANSAS CITY, MO (AP)—The Kansas City Royals signed outfielder Alex Gordon to a $4 million contract for next season, giving the rebuilding club a veteran presence in what is expected to be a young lineup under new manager Mike Matheny.

The Royals designated right-hander Heath Fillmyer for assignment Wednesday in a corresponding roster move.

The 35-year-old Gordon, a three-time All-Star, won his seventh Gold Glove last season to move within one of Frank White for the most in franchise history. He committed just one error in 146 games played in the outfield. His seven outfield assists tied him for third among big league left fielders, and his .266 batting average was his best since the 2015 season.

Gordon was even called upon to pitch twice in games that got out of hand.

Marcell Ozuna gets one-year deal from Braves worth $18 million

ATLANTA—Free agent outfielder Marcell Ozuna and the Atlanta Braves reached an $18 million, one-year deal Tuesday that puts him on the team he helped beat in the playoffs last October.

Ozuna hit .429 with two home runs for the St. Louis Cardinals in their five-game win over the Braves in the National League Division Series.

The 29-year-old Ozuna hit .241 with 29 home runs and 89 RBI last season. His low batting average was something of an oddity because he ranked among the major league leaders in the highest percentage of hard-hit balls, according to Statcast.

And the hot stove stays on!

Royals, Alex Gordon “Getting Close” To Deal

For those curious about what else is going on in the baseball world:

The Royals are “getting close” to a one-year agreement with outfielder Alex Gordon, according to Jeffrey Flanagan of MLB.com. The financial details of said agreement are yet unknown. Nothing has been finalized yet, but Flanagan expects that an announcement might come in the next couple of days upon the completion of Gordon’s physical.

It’s long been expected that Gordon and the Royals would work out a deal to keep the 35-year-old in the organization with which he’s spent his entire career; Gordon has made it clear that he would opt for retirement if a return to Kansas City wasn’t possible. However, it looks as if the franchise icon will stick around for at least one more year.

Don’t expect Gordon’s earnings in 2020 to drive the Royals’ payroll through the roof. It’s clear he’s no longer the player he was when he was awarded with a contract that would’ve paid him $23MM this year had the Royals exercised his option. So, speculatively, $5MM or so seems like an agreeable price point for the two sides.

Slugger Josh Donaldson agrees to $92 million deal with Twins

Frustrated in their attempts to land an established ace in free agency, the Twins on Tuesday acquired a player who will help the team’s pitching staff in an underrated way:

They won’t have to face Josh Donaldson anymore.

Donaldson, who owns the highest batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage of any opponent in Twins history, on Tuesday accepted the largest free-agent contract the team has ever agreed to - a four-year deal that guarantees the 34-year-old third baseman $92 million.

Those terms — an average annual salary of $21 million, plus an option for a fifth year in 2024 that could bring the total to more than $100 million, or a buyout worth $8 million — dwarf the $54 million guarantee that Ervin Santana received five years ago, which stood until now as the priciest deal lavished on an outsider.

Am I missing anyone important, or does this mean that we’re out of players to discuss around the hot stove?

Indians more confident star Lindor begins season with them

CLEVELAND (AP) — Francisco Lindor’s status with the Indians has been slightly upgraded.

Team president Chris Antonetti said Wednesday he’s more confident the All-Star shortstop will be in Cleveland’s lineup to start the season after the Indians didn’t receive a trade proposal to their liking over the past few weeks.

Antonetti did not disclose any specifics about what has been offered for Lindor, a four-time All-Star and one of baseball’s best all-around players. Cleveland has him under contract through the 2021 season, but the Indians have been unsuccessful in their attempts to sign him to a long-term deal. There appears to be little chance he will re-sign.

Antonetti believes Lindor will be around for at least a little while.

So, with Lindor sticking around, who do we have left on the hot stove?