The MLB hot stove is virtually non-existent as spring training approaches, but there are still plenty of rumors circulating around the league. At the same time, teams are still trying to make moves to help improve their roster before the start of the season. Here are all the latest MLB rumors you need to know:
Royals expected to re-sign Hosmer
The Kansas City Royals will have a crucial offseason after the 2017 season with a majority of their star players being free agents. Among them, Eric Hosmer is expected to be their top priority to re-sign, according to Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe:
The Royals could be a surprise team in the AL. They have hungry players in free-agents-to-be Lorenzo Cain, Mike Moustakas, and Eric Hosmer. Lefty Danny Duffy was given a five-year extension and will be counted on to front a rotation that tragically lost Yordano Ventura. They’ve added breakout candidate Jorge Soler and power-hitting Brandon Moss. The feeling is the Royals will re-sign at least one of their key hitters, likely Hosmer. If they’re out of the hunt at the trade deadline, however, look for a major fire sale.
Hosmer hit .266 with 25 homers and 104 RBIs in 158 games last season.
deGrom recovery going as expected
New York Mets ace Jacob deGrom underwent season-ending elbow surgery in September in order to be ready for spring training, and according to Kevin Kernan of the New York Post, deGrom's recovery is going as planned.
DeGrom is thrilled that his right arm is healthy again, following September surgery to reposition the ulnar nerve. He said a talk with Hall of Famer John Smoltz really put him at ease.
“Since I’ve had the nerve moved, I haven’t had any of the pain that was there, so I would call it a success so far,’’ deGrom said.
“It started with some tingling in my fingers,’’ deGrom said of when he finally decided to shut it down. “Then it turned into a sharp pain. I don’t know if it’s because it was getting aggravated more, but that’s what was happening.”
deGrom went 7-8 with a 3.04 ERA in 24 appearances last season.
Travis Wood to become starter this year
Wood has spent virtually all of the past two years coming out of the bullpen as a reliever for the Chicago Cubs, but several teams want to sign him in a starting role, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.
Sources: Multiple teams are offering free-agent LHP Travis Wood the chance to start, if that is the route he chooses.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) February 4, 2017
Wood posted a 2.95 ERA with 47 strikeouts in 61 innings pitched in 77 appearances last season. In his last full season as a starter in 2014, he went 8-13 with a 5.03 ERA.
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