MLB Rumors: Blake Snell favorites include Mariners, Phillies
Blake Snell is one of the top names available on the free agent market and is likely to receive a major payday this winter.
According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, Snell hopes to potentially sign a deal with the Seattle Mariners. Snell is a native of Seattle and grew up a fan of the Mariners.
However, the Mariners do not have a need for starting pitching this offseason. Nightengale states that if Aaron Nola leaves the Philadelphia Phillies, they will be the favorites to land Snell.
Seattle already has Luis Castillo, George Kirby, Logan Gilbert, Bryce Miller, Bryan Woo, Robbie Ray, and Emerson Hancock in the mix for their rotation. Should one arm be traded, it's possible that a spot could open up for Snell.
As for Philadelphia, the expectation is that Nola will ultimately stay a Phillie. But Snell and Zack Wheeler in the same rotation along with Taijuan Walker and Ranger Suarez would make the Phillies a very formidable opponent for all National League ballclubs.
After losing the NLCS to the Arizona Diamondbacks in seven games, the Phillies should be one of baseball's most active teams this winter in free agency.
MLB Rumors: Cardinals blockbuster trade brewing for Dylan Cease
The St. Louis Cardinals know that they will have to go big this offseason in terms of adding starting pitching. Fortunately, there are plenty of avenues the team could take to do so.
According to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the Cardinals are even exploring the trade market and have Chicago White Sox starter Dylan Cease on their radar.
Cease had a difficult season in 2023, going 7-9 with a 4.58 ERA. However, he has plenty of swing-and-miss in his pitch arsenal, and the Cardinals have made it clear that they intend to add swing-and-miss pitching this winter.
Cease averaged 10.9 strikeouts per nine innings recorded 214 total punchouts on the season. If the Cardinals are to add him, it will likely take a significant haul and could lead to them trading somebody like Tommy Edman, Brendan Donovan, or Nolan Gorman.
But pitching is what St. Louis needs in order to contend again, and it might be worth dealing from their influx of young position players. They could also clear up the logjam in the outfield by trading somebody like Alec Burleson, Juan Yepez, or Dylan Carlson.
MLB Rumors: Ohtani party crashers include Cubs, Rangers and Giants
With free agency about to heat up, Shohei Ohtani's market is about to take shape. Ohtani is considered likely to either re-sign with the Los Angeles Angels or bolt for their crosstown rivals in the Los Angeles Dodgers.
However, a few new potential suitors have emerged for the two-way superstar. According to Bob Nightengale of USA TODAY, there are a few executives around the league that believe Ohtani will sign with one of the Chicago Cubs, Texas Rangers, and San Francisco Giants if he doesn't remain in LA with one of the two clubs there. Jon Morosi of MLB Network also reported that Ohtani could be intrigued by the Atlanta Braves.
Chicago recently hired Craig Counsell as their new manager, putting the rest of the NL Central on notice. If Ohtani is added, then the Cubs will have a chance to follow up their 2023 progress with more success in 2024. It might also make the North Siders favorites to win the Central.
San Francisco also proved its desire to win by hiring Bob Melvin as their new manager. Having come close to signing Aaron Judge and Carlos Correa last winter, they may be motivated to spend more money.
Texas already has a solid club in place after winning their first World Series title. Mitch Garver served as their primary designated hitter, but with him now a free agent, there could be a fit for Ohtani.