We're just over a month away from pitchers and catchers reporting, and there's still several impact names out there both in the free agency and trade markets who'll be on the move before the middle of February gets here. We're here to take a look at the latest from the MLB Hot Stove madness with our Rumors Roundup for January 23rd.
Can't Buy What The Royals Have
According to an estimate put together by FOX Sports' Jon Morosi, MLB teams have spent upwards of $2 billion this offseason in hopes of reaching the pinnacle of the baseball world -- a spot currently reserved for the defending World Series champion Kansas City Royals.
However, even the team like the Detroit Tigers, who broke the bank to bring young slugger Justin Upton to Motown, won't fully be able to replicate the Royals' current run of AL pennant/World Series success -- at least that's what Tigers third baseman Nick Castellanos believes:
"We can definitely play with anybody -- our talent level speaks for itself," Castellanos told Morosi on MLB Network Radio. "What the Royals do so good, is they're very good at coming together. They know how to win. They don't give up. If they're down, if they're up -- it doesn't matter. Everybody goes about their business great. Everybody knows their role.
"To be honest, they all love each other. That's a huge deal. They have great clubhouse camaraderie. They go out together. They have a good time together. I know this because I went to high school with Eric Hosmer. He talks about the friendships they have in the clubhouse. When you have those good friendships, it's a lot of fun to play together."
As Castellanos puts it, you can't "force friendship" or "team chemistry." Left fielder Alex Gordon's decision to return to the Royals on a relative discount (see: Yoenis Cespedes' $25 million per season with the Mets) is just an example of a long-constructed bond that teams like the Tigers are still trying to foster. More on this story in the Chat Sports iPhone and Android apps.
"We have pretty good team chemistry, too. But the Royals, I guess, have a deeper connection because that whole nucleus came up together and played together. They stayed up together. They learned how to win together. They went through all the ups and downs, and it shows in how well they play the game now."
Austin Jackson Update
The outfield free agent market has thinned considerably in recent weeks, punctuated by Yoenis Cespedes' blockbuster re-signing with the New York Mets on Friday night. Austin Jackson now finds himself at or near the top of teams' OF wishlists, and there's a gaggle of contenders who're currently in on his services.
#Brewers, #Angels, #Rangers have kicked the tires on free agent OF Austin Jackson. #Cubs could be a fit for the right price.
— Jerry Crasnick (@jcrasnick) January 21, 2016
Jackson was traded to the Chicago Cubs on August 31st, hitting just .236 with a home run and 10 RBI in 72 at-bats. He went hitless with one walk and five strikeouts in nine trips to the plate during the postseason.
Cliff Lee To The Bronx?
The Boston Globe's Nick Cafardo is one of the undersung go-to MLB analysts when it comes to the Hot Stove rumor mill, and one name he's turned a spotlight on in recent days is veteran starter Cliff Lee.
Elbow issues shut the former Philadelphia Phillies ace down for the 2015 MLB season, but there are indications out of his camp that he'll at least be ready by midseason to help a contender down the stretch -- if not as an Opening Day rotation consideration.
Cafardo lists these seven teams as suitors who could take a gamble on the 37-year-old lefty: the Royals, Houston Astros, Texas Rangers, Baltimore Orioles, Pittsburgh Pirates, Toronto Blue Jays, & New York Yankees.
Of those destinations, the Bronx may be the most interesting. Yankees GM Brian Cashman has kicked the tires on Lee before, and he's just the type of low financial risk/high potential reward candidate New York is looking for as they work their way through some lengthy and costly veteran contracts.
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