MLB Rumors: Will Eduardo Rodriguez return to the Boston Red Sox?

Eduardo Rodriguez is unlikely to return to the Detroit Tigers. This we know, despite how much he enjoyed playing in the Motor City. While the Tigers tried to trade Rodriguez out west at the trade deadline, he would not play ball and thus didn't waive his no-trade clause. Scott Harris and Co. are unlikely to sign up for more years of unpredictability, and Rodriguez opted out of his deal.

With E-Rod looking for a new team -- and likely on the east coast -- could a Boston Red Sox return be on the horizon?

Boston needs pitching on paper, but very few if any MLB sources have linked him to a Red Sox return. Rodriguez had some productive seasons with the Red Sox, including finishing sixth in AL Cy Young voting in 2019. However, he struggled in rather large moments, and a fresh start elsewhere makes more sense.

Rodriguez has been linked to several other interested suitors in need of pitching, including the Atlanta Braves. Atlanta was in on Aaron Nola but ultimately could not meet his contract requirements. Rodriguez would likely come at a cheaper cost. The Cardinals and even Phillies could make Rodriguez a very rich man, perhaps 'doubling' the $49 million E-Rod opted out of in Detroit, per Jon Heyman.

The Red Sox, meanwhile, have honed in on Jordan Montgomery. The World Series winner also has interest from the Rangers and Cardinals, if not more potential suitors.

MLB Rumors: Yoshinobu Yamamoto comes with a catch for interested teams

Yoshinobu Yamamoto has close to a dozen suitors and he was just posted on Monday. The 25-year-old has won what amounts to two NPB Cy Young awards, and is one of the more proven international starters to hit the open market in some time. Yamamoto also performed well on the biggest stage, helping lead Team Japan alongside Shohei Ohtani to a World Baseball Classic victory. Yamamoto's agent Joel Wolfe said Yamamoto is getting more interest than any player he's ever represented previously.

"This is by far the player with the most interested teams that I have ever seen at the beginning of free agency," Wolfe said. "It's what we call a perfect storm, where you have one of the finest young pitchers in the world who also is just 25 years old. It's generational. Something like this only happens once every 10 or 15 years."

While 10-15 teams may be interested, signing Yamamoto comes with a catch. Per a recent report from Yahoo, Yamamoto only wants to play on teams with at least one other Japanese player. Yamamoto has known connections with the New York Mets and Kodai Senga, as well as the St. Louis Cardinals and Japan WBC teammate Lars Nootbaar.

Nootbaar and Yamamoto went golfing just last week, and the Cardinals outfielder has long said he'd like to help Yamamoto through the free-agent process. Could that give St. Louis an advantage?

"I want to help Yoshi in any way that I can," Nootbaar said. "I don't know about the legality of it, and I don't want to step on any toes, but if Yamamoto or any of the guys have questions, I want to be there to help."

Nootbaar also added that his mom speaks with Yamamoto's mother 'daily', and that he considers himself good friends with the majority of his Team Japan WBC teammates.

MLB Rumors: Chicago Cubs in trade discussions for Bo Bichette?

The Chicago Cubs have been active early this offseason. Chicago has been rumored as a surprise Shohei Ohtani destination. They are still involved in the Cody Bellinger discussion. As far as trades are concerned, the Cubs have been a rumored landing spot for Mets slugger Pete Alonso and now Bo Bichette of the Toronto Blue Jays.

It's unclear how serious said rumors are, but they were given some credence by Jon Morosi of MLB Network on Wednesday.

Morosi didn't confirm the rumor necessarily, but why would he comment on it at all if it were a complete fabrication.

Bichette is signed through 2025 and would require a rather large return. It also would say plenty about the direction Toronto is headed long term.

If the Cubs were to acquire Bichette, they'd likely move him to third base. Any trade package would start with Christopher Morel as an MLB-ready talent, but would have to include some significant prospect capital as well. Bichette is a two-time All-Star and slashed .306/.339/.475 just last season. He's a strength in the Jays lineup, and someone they ought to build around rather than trade away.

Trading Bichette would allow the Blue Jays some room under the luxury tax to re-sign Matt Chapman, but Toronto baseball fans would rightly be concerned about the direction of the franchise moving forward.

As for the Cubs, whether this trade happens or not is irrelevant -- it's just another sign that Chicago's front office isn't playing around.