The MLB offseason has been relatively quiet to this point, but that should change during baseball's winter meetings starting on this weekend, which is where much of the foundation for offseason trades and other acquisitions take place. As such, the rumor mill is buzzing with potential free agent signings - namely Japanese star Shohei Ohtani - and trade talks, especially regarding Giancarlo Stanton and now Manny Machado. Here are all the latest MLB rumors you need to know.
Orioles taking calls for Manny Machado
Teams are already lining up for the class of free agents after the 2018 season, and Baltimore Orioles third baseman Manny Machado will be one of the top players available. He will likely command a massive contract on the open market and Baltimore may not be willing to match, and as such, the Orioles are starting to take calls about a possible trade, according to Jon Heman of FanRag Sports.
The Baltimore Orioles have received a couple calls of inquiry on superstar third baseman Manny Machado, and while the Orioles are not shopping — and love — Machado, word is that would be willing to listen on any player – even their best player.
There are no known offers, and it would obviously take a ton for the Orioles to even consider moving such a superstar. The Yankees and Phillies are among many teams expected to have interest in Machado, who is eligible for free agency after the 2018 season – though the call list isn’t known.
Machado batted .259 with 33 homers and 95 RBIs in 156 games this past season.
Red Sox unlikely to acquire Jose Abreu
The Boston Red Sox had been targeting a trade for Chicago White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu as part of their effort to add another power bat to their lineup this offseason, but a deal between the two sides is unlikely to get done, according to The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal.
Latest notes: #Reds’ Hamilton; #Nationals’ rotation; #WhiteSox’s Abreu. https://t.co/CIxoi02684 $
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 7, 2017
Abreu had a .304/.354/.552 batting line with 33 home runs, 43 doubles, and 102 RBIs in 156 games last season.
MLB Fans - Download Chat Sports on iPhone today for breaking news, rumors, scores and more - Chat Sports iPhone App!
Shohei Ohtani finishes meeting with teams
Japanese star Shohei Ohtani has finished meeting with the seven teams he's interested in signing with (the Dodgers, Angels, Padres, Giants, Mariners, Rangers, and Cubs) according to multiple reports, and is now looking to narrow his list to three teams before making a final decision. He has until Dec. 22 to do just that.
Ohtani hopes to both pitch and be an everyday position player in the majors. He is 41-15 with a 2.56 ERA in his career as a pitcher in Japan, but also has a .332/.403/.540 batting line with eight home runs and 35 RBIs in 65 games this season despite being limited with foot injuries.
Check out our MLB page for all the latest MLB news & rumors!
Back to the MLB Newsfeed