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Rumor Roundup: Red Sox, Indians in on Moreland
- Updated: December 6, 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.
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Red Sox, Indians interested in Moreland Free-agent first baseman Mitch Moreland is drawing interest from the Red Sox and Indians, according to multiple reports.
The Fort Worth Star-Telegram first reported the clubs’ interest in the former Ranger, while MLB Network insider Ken Rosenthal confirmed Boston’s interest.
Moreland, coming off his first career Gold Glove Award, would provide a defensive upgrade for either team.
The Indians currently have Carlos Santana slated to play first, but continue to show interest in retaining free agent Mike Napoli if the price is right. Cleveland also has been floated as a potential landing spot for Edwin Encarnacion, but his asking price — he turned down a reported four-year, $80 million offer from Toronto — would be significantly more than that of Moreland.
Boston currently has Hanley Ramirez as its everyday first baseman, but the converted shortstop/third baseman/left fielder has long been considered more of a replacement for David Ortiz at designated hitter.
The 31-year-old Moreland is coming off a season in which he hit .233/.298/.422 with 22 home runs and 60 RBIs in 147 games. He is a career .254 hitter and has topped the 20-homer plateau three times in seven Major League seasons, all with the Rangers.
Mets, Orioles discussing Granderson, Bruce New York and Baltimore are discussing trade possibilities that could send either Curtis Granderson or Jay Bruce to the O’s, sources told FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal on Monday.
Per Rosenthal, the Orioles prefer Granderson to Bruce and the Mets have an affinity for Baltimore reliever Brad Brach.
No deal is imminent, as the teams are in the preliminary stages of discussions, but this type of trade could benefit both parties. The O’s have been looking to add a power-hitting, left-handed corner outfielder to their lineup for some time, while the Mets are seeking to bolster their bullpen.
Granderson hit .237 with 30 home runs and 59 RBIs for the Mets in 2016, while Bruce hit .250 with 33 homers and 99 RBIs split between Cincinnati and New York.
Brach went 10-4 with a 2.05 ERA in 79 innings for Baltimore, and he was selected to his first All-Star team in 2016.
Dodgers express interest in Holland Count the Dodgers among a growing list of teams who are expressing interest in free-agent reliever Greg Holland, according to MLB.com’s Jon Paul Morosi.
Holland, who was an instrumental part of the Royals’ dominant bullpen that helped carry them to back-to-back American League pennants in 2014-15, has not pitched in the Major Leagues since undergoing Tommy John surgery in October 2015. But the right-hander has become a popular alternative to the two premier closers on the market, Aroldis Chapman and Kenley Jansen, after proving he could already touch 90 mph on the radar gun in a recent showcase as he builds his arm strength. After closer Mark Melancon signed with the Giants on Monday, Holland figures to generate even more interest among clubs that are hesitant to spend for Chapman or Jansen.
Holland, who will enter his age-31 season next year, owns an 18-12 record, 145 saves, a 2.42 ERA and a 12.1 strikeout per nine innings rate on his resume. Multiple reports have the Red Sox as another team that has shown major interest in Holland as an eighth-inning setup man.
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 …
