Rumor Roundup: Sale, Cutch in Nats’ splash?

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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Nats look to make trades for Sale and McCutchen The Nationals are trying to acquire both Chris Sale and Andrew McCutchen via trade, and they believe they have the prospects to make both deals happen, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today.

Washington and Atlanta are reported to be frontrunners to acquire Sale, according to MLB Network Insider Jon Heyman.

Sale, who will turn 28 in March, went 17-10 with a 3.34 ERA in 32 starts for the White Sox last season, striking out 233 and walking just 45. He’s been named an All-Star each of the last five seasons.

McCutchen, 30, is coming off the worst season of his career, slashing .256/.336/.430 with 24 home runs and 79 RBIs. The former National League Most Valuable Player had a negative WAR figure (-0.7 per Baseball-Reference.com) for the first time in his eight-year career with the Pirates.

The Braves have placed shortstop Dansby Swanson, their top prospect, off limits in any potential trades, according to MLB.com’s Mark Bowman. The Nationals have reportedly done the same with center fielder Trea Turner.

But Washington does have other pieces, including top prospects Lucas Giolito, Victor Robles, Reynaldo Lopez and Erick Fredde, that they could conceivably include in a deal for Sale and/or McCutchen.

Alvarez on Red Sox’s radar The Red Sox are beginning to show interest in free-agent power hitter Pedro Alvarez, according to MLB Network insider Jon Heyman.

Alvarez, who turns 30 in February, could help fill part of the void left by David Ortiz’s retirement. The left-handed batter historically crushes right-handed pitching; 135 of his 153 career homers have come against righties.

Alvarez hit .249/.322/.504 with 22 home runs and 49 RBIs in 109 games for the Orioles last season. Although he has experience at third and first base, Alvarez has struggled defensively in recent years, and he likely will spend the majority of his time as designated hitter.

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 …

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