Rumor Roundup: Pirates listening on Cutch, Harrison

The Hot Stove season is underway, and we’re keeping you up to date with the latest free-agent news, trade buzz, rumors and more.

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Pirates listening to offers The Pirates are listening to potential offers for players who are under contractual control as they try to balance current success with an eye toward the future, according to MLB Network insider Ken Rosenthal. Those players include second baseman Josh Harrison and center fielder Andrew McCutchen.

Harrison, entering his age-29 season, had a down year by his standards, hitting .283/.311/.388 with an adjusted OPS that was 15 percent worse than the league average. He is guaranteed $18.5 million over the next two seasons, including a $1 million buyout on a $10.5 million option for 2019. The Pirates were looking to re-sign infielder Sean Rodriguez with plans to trade Harrison before Rodriguez signed with the Braves, according to Rosenthal.

McCutchen, who turned 30 in October, had a career-worst year at the plate, batting .256/.336/.430 and striking out a career-high 143 times. The Pirates owe McCutchen $14 million in 2017 with a $1 million buyout on a $14.5 million option for 2018.

Sources: Cardinals interested in Turner Add the Cardinals to the list of teams interested in free-agent third baseman Justin Turner.

Sources told MLB.com’s Jon Morosi that St. Louis is interested in the 32-year-old, who hit .275/.339/.493 with 27 home runs and 90 RBIs in 151 games last season. Turner rejected a qualifying offer and would require the forfeit of a Draft pick by the team that signs him.

Payroll will be an issue for St. Louis in making an attempt to sign Turner, however; the Cardinals currently have just shy of $120 million committed for next season, not including several players who are eligible for arbitration.

Infielder Jhonny Peralta would be the most realistic player for the Cardinals to trade should they go after Turner, according to Morosi. The 34-year-old will earn $10 million in 2017 before being eligible for free agency and could be replaced at shortstop by Aledmys Diaz, who hit .300/.369/.510 with 17 homers in 111 games as a rookie while filling in for an injured Peralta.

Yanks play waiting game on Chapman The Yankees are the front-runners to land flame-throwing closer Aroldis Chapman if a new Collective Bargaining Agreement is adopted, but not if his price tag reaches five years at $100 million, according to the New York Post.

The 28-year-old left-hander, who helped the Cubs win their first World Series title in 108 years, could end up signing the largest contract ever for a reliever. But CBA negotiations over the luxury-tax threshold have delayed deals from being struck, as clubs have been reluctant to give general managers a budget while that issue is pending.

The Reds traded Chapman to the Yankees following the 2015 season, and New York then dealt to Chapman to Chicago in late July. In 28 appearances for the Cubs (26 2/3 innings), he posted a 1.01 ERA with 16 saves and 46 strikeouts.

The Post also reported that the Yankees are not likely to sign free-agent first baseman/designated hitter Edwin Encarnacion to the five-year deal he is seeking. Former Yankee Carlos Beltran, who turns 40 in April, may be a more attractive option in that case.

D-backs expect calls for young starters The D-backs now boast five starting pitchers between 24-27 years old after acquiring right-hander Taijuan Walker from the Mariners on Wednesday and expect multiple teams to be interested in their young starters, according to FoxSports.com’s Ken Rosenthal.

Walker, 24, joins right-handers Archie Bradley (24) and Shelby Miller (26) and left-handers Patrick Corbin (27) and Robbie Ray (25) in Arizona’s stockpile of young arms.

Corbin is under contractual control through 2018, Miller through 2019, Walker and Ray through 2020 and Bradley through 2021.

All five pitchers were at one time considered top prospects and have experienced varying degrees of success and struggles at the Major League level, but their talent and contracts are sure to draw interest as Arizona potentially looks to retool under a new regime.

Nationals also in pursuit of Chapman The Nationals have joined the Yankees, Dodgers and Giants as a possible landing spot for Chapman, according to the Boston Globe.

Washington made an attempt to acquire Chapman from the Yankees prior to last summer’s Trade Deadline before the hard-throwing left-hander was ultimately dealt to the Cubs. Chapman, along with fellow free-agent closer Kenley Jansen, could smash the record contract for a closer — a four-year, $50 million deal that Jonathan Papelbon signed with the Phillies in December 2011.

The report also speculated that the Cubs, whose bullpen was bolstered by Chapman on their way to claiming their long-awaited World Series championship, are not out of the running to bring him back for the 2017 season.

Miami mulling Wilson The Marlins are showing interest in signing former All-Star left-hander C.J. Wilson, according to the Miami Herald.

Wilson, who turned 36 this month, has not pitched in the Majors since July 28, 2015, after undergoing surgeries on his throwing elbow and shoulder. Miami is searching for starting pitching — especially in the wake of ace Jose Fernandez’s tragic death in September — and Wilson’s asking price should be reasonable, considering his age and recent injury history.

Wilson went 8-8 with a 3.89 ERA in 21 starts for the Angels in 2015 before he was shut down. The southpaw sports a lifetime 94-70 record and 3.74 ERA in a career that includes back-to-back All-Star …

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