- Commissioner’s statement on Ventura, Marte
- Ronnie O’Sullivan: Masters champion ‘felt so vulnerable’ in final
- Arron Fletcher Wins 2017 WSOP International Circuit Marrakech Main Event ($140,224)
- Smith challenges Warner to go big in India
- Moncada No. 1 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 10 2B Prospects list
- Braves land 2 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 10 2B Prospects list
- Kingery makes MLB Pipeline’s Top 10 2B Prospects list
- New Zealand wrap up 2-0 after Bangladesh implosion
- Mathews, Pradeep, Gunathilaka to return to Sri Lanka
- Elliott hopes for rain for Poli
Rumor Roundup: Trumbo slugging at Coors?
- Updated: December 4, 2016
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.
• Hot Stove Tracker
Rox eye Trumbo at first base Could one of baseball’s most dangerous sluggers be heading to its most homer-happy ballpark? That could happen, as the Rockies continue to show interest in free agent Mark Trumbo, according to MLB.com’s Jon Paul Morosi.
Trumbo led all of baseball with 47 home runs in what was a breakout season in Baltimore in 2016, so just the thought of him slugging in Denver’s thin air is enough to give pitchers nightmares. The Rockies led the National League in hitting and home runs at home last season, just as they did in ’15 and ’14.
Still, they’re looking to build on that strength by targeting an established first baseman after using Mark Reynolds there for most of last season. Trumbo played mostly right field and DH for Baltimore, but came up as a first baseman and has more experience there than at any other position.
A possible holdup from Colorado’s side could be the fact that Trumbo is attached to a Draft pick after he rejected Baltimore’s qualifying offer. The Rockies have the No.11 pick in the ’17 Draft, which is unprotected, and they would prefer not to part with it.
That said, the Rockies have been interested in Trumbo for a while. Colorado had preliminary conversations with Seattle last offseason before the Mariners ultimately traded Trumbo to Baltimore for catcher Steve Clevenger, according to MLB.com’s Thomas Harding.
Melancon talks advancingMark Melancon’s free agency talks are “moving along,” with the Giants and Nationals both still candidates to sign the closer, according to a report from ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick on Friday.
Sources told Crasnick that Melancon, one of the top closers available along with Aroldis Chapman and Kenley Jansen, could get a deal in the range of four years, $60 million. That would be a record deal for a reliever, but likely less than what Jansen or Chapman will command — one executive told Crasnick that Jansen could get five years and $80-90 million.
Washington traded for Melancon midseason in 2016 to secure the back end of its bullpen. He had a 1.82 ERA and 17 saves in 30 appearances for the National League East champs, who are interested in bringing him back. The Giants’ bullpen struggled in 2016, blowing an MLB-worst 30 saves during the regular season and two more during their Division Series loss to the Cubs.
The Giants, according to Crasnick, are focusing on signing a closer. The Nationals, meanwhile, are also discussing possible trades for Sale and Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen.
Giants pursuing outfield bat The Giants are looking to acquire a power-hitting outfielder and are “pursuing all avenues” to do so, sources told Yahoo! Sports’ Jeff Passan on Friday.
According to Passan’s report, the Tigers’ J.D. Martinez is a possibility, and Detroit would be willing to trade the 29-year-old. Martinez batted .307 with 22 home runs and 68 RBIs this season, while being limited to 120 games due to a right elbow fracture he suffered in June.
The Tigers are looking to shed payroll heading into next season, and per Passan, Martinez and second baseman Ian Kinsler have drawn the most interest from other teams.
Giants general manager Bobby Evans told reporters on Thursday that the team doesn’t want to commit to an outfielder long-term, and Martinez only has one year left on his two-year, …