Rumor Roundup: Cubs ask about KC’s Davis

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

Cubs inquire about Davis Count the Cubs among the teams who have reached out to the Royals regarding closer Wade Davis.

MLB.com’s Jon Paul Morosi reports that the reigning World Series champions are among several teams that have asked about the two-time All-Star, who can be a free agent after the 2017 season. Davis is slated to earn $10 million next season.

The Cubs haven’t been linked to the top free-agent closers, such as Kenley Jansen and Aroldis Chapman, the latter of whom they acquired during last season’s World Series push. Mark Melancon, who reportedly has a deal with San Francisco, also seemed out of the Cubs’ preferred price range.

With Melancon off the board and only a handful of teams prepared to offer the record-setting contracts Chapman and Jansen are expected to command, trade options such as Davis will figure prominently in the rumor mill. The Nationals and Marlins also are searching for a closer.

As for the Cubs, general manager Jed Hoyer has said multiple times that the club wouldn’t chase after those high-priced options, noting incumbents Hector Rondon and Pedro Strop handled the final two innings deftly before Chapman’s acquisition — though both fell out of favor with manager Joe Maddon in the postseason.

Davis would certainly be an upgrade. The 31-year-old was a dominant setup man for Greg Holland before shifting to closer following Holland’s injury. He has posted a 1.18 ERA with 47 saves in 185 games the past three seasons since moving to the bullpen.

Orioles make pitch to Trumbo The Orioles have made a four-year offer to outfielder Mark Trumbo, according to a report by MASN’s Roch Kubatko.

While Trumbo reportedly is looking for a four-year deal in the $80 million range, he is said to be flexible and a deal in the $70 million-to-$75 million range could happen if the contract is backloaded.

Orioles executive vice president of baseball operations Dan Duquette told reporters that dialogue between the two sides has been ongoing over the past few weeks.

Trumbo led the Major Leagues with 47 home runs in what was a breakout season in Baltimore in 2016.

The Rockies have also shown interest in Trumbo, according to MLB.com’s Jon Paul Morosi.

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 …

continue reading in source mlb.mlb.com