Baseball fans waiting for big deals should stay glued to the 2018 MLB Winter Meetings on Wednesday.
Bryce Harper and Manny Machado remain free agents, and the Dodgers still have their surplus of outfielders, but it only takes one major move for the dominoes to fall. Those deals typically happen as the Winter Meetings close, if past years are any indication.
[RELATED: News, rumors on Day 2 of the MLB Winter Meetings]
As for the Bay Area teams, the Giants reportedly are less likely to trade Madison Bumgarner now, but they're possibly seeking help at second base and at catcher. The A's have made some minor moves, but they desperately need starting pitching, so is this the day they'll find it?
Keep it here throughout Day 3 of the Winter Meetings for the latest live news, rumors and trade chatter from the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas. It could be a busy one.
5:35 p.m. PT: After trading Tanner Roark to the Reds, the Nationals now have an open spot to fill in their rotation. The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal points to Anibal Sanchez as a possibility for Washington.
One name #Nationals have kicked around as a possible replacement for Roark: Free-agent RHP Anibal Sanchez, who had a 1.50 ERA against them in 18 innings for the #Braves last season, holding WAS to a .159 batting average and .576 OPS.— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 13, 2018
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The 34-year-old Sanchez had a terrific 2018 campaign, posting a 2.83 ERA and 1.08 over 136.2 innings pitched. The veteran right-hander could be a potential veteran fit for the A's, who we know are scouring the market for starting pitching help.
4:09 p.m. PT The Reds announced a trade for Nationals RHP Tanner Roark for RHP Tanner Rainey -- as reported by C. Trent Rosecrans.
#Reds announce trade for nationals RHP Tanner Roark for RHP Tanner Rainey— C. Trent Rosecrans (@ctrent) December 13, 2018
4:07 p.m. PT: Jeff Passan announces Justin Bour and the Angels have agreed to a deal pending physical.
4:01 p.m. PT: According to Ken Rosenthal, the Rangers acquired Lance Lynn:
Source confirms: #Rangers in agreement with free-agent RHP Lance Lynn on a three-year, $30M contract. First: @Sullivan_Ranger.— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 13, 2018
3:38 p.m. PT: Speaking of Tatis. The middle infielder was in talks with the Mets about a possible scenario with Noah Syndergaard.
Mets sought Fernando Tatis Jr. in Syndergaard talks with the padres. That seems to have ended those talks.— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) December 12, 2018
3:33 p.m. PT: Don't forget about the Padres.
The team is looking for a utility infielder until Fernando Tatis Jr. is ready -- he will be competing in camp. Until that happens, there are a few options available and of interest to the team:
#Padres seeking utility IFer who can play SS until Tatis is ready, then move around. Among possible options: Free agent Daniel Descalso, #DBacks' Nick Ahmed (favorite of SD manager Andy Green), #Rangers' Jurickson Profar (favorite of GM A.J. Preller, who originally signed him.)— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 12, 2018
According to Dennis Lin, Marwin Gonzalez is of interest as well.
2:09 p.m. PT: Ken Rosenthal reported a Reds and Dodgers note that if there was a possible trade between the two teams, Homer Bailey would need to approve it:
Another note on #Reds-#Dodgers discussions: Any trade involving Homer Bailey would require his approval. He is a 10-and-5 player - 10+ years of service, five or more consecutive with the same team.— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 12, 2018
12:55 p.m. PT: Charlie Morton and the Tampa Bay Rays agreed to a two-year, $30 million deal according to Yahoo Sports' Jeff Passan:
Free agent starter Charlie Morton and the Tampa Bay Rays have agreed to a two-year, $30 million deal, sources told Yahoo Sports.— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 12, 2018
The righty had a sensational campaign this past season. In 167 innings, he bolstered a 3.13 ERA with a 15-3 record. Those numbers earned him an All-Star selection.
12:38 p.m. PT: Another Boras nugget hot off the stove: Left-handed pitcher Yusei Kikuchi will meet with teams later this month. According to NBC Sports Bay Area's Alex Pavlovic, expect the Giants to get a meeting.
Boras said left-hander Yusei Kikuchi will meet with teams later this month in Los Angeles. Giants have scouted him quite a bit, person who has spoken to him in past says one of his top picks would be SF. Expect them to be there.— Alex Pavlovic (@PavlovicNBCS) December 12, 2018
Sung Min Kim broke down Kikuchi's game to NBC Sports Bay Area's Jessica Kleinschmidt, and this is a pitcher who should excite Giants fans.
12:12 p.m. PT: Scott Boras held court in Las Vegas, and the San Francisco Chronicle's Susan Slusser asked Boras if top A's prospect Kyler Murray could play football and baseball.
Forgive the pun, but Boras punted.
When I asked Boras if there is any scenario in which Murray could play baseball and football, Boras responded, "That's a question for Billy Beane."— Susan Slusser (@susanslusser) December 12, 2018
12:10 p.m. PT: "The Reds remain active in trade discussions for Sonny Gray and Marcus Stroman" according to MLB Network's Jon Morosi:
Sources: #Reds remain active in trade discussions for Sonny Gray and Marcus Stroman. They believe there's a better chance of acquiring one of them than Corey Kluber. @MLBNetwork @MLB— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) December 12, 2018
10:45 a.m. PT: About that A's opening at second base. Oakland is reportedly talking to the Texas Rangers about a trade for Jurickson Profar, according to The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal.
#Athletics among clubs talking to #Rangers about a trade for infielder Jurickson Profar, sources tell The Athletic. Profar could play second base for A's if they lose Jed Lowrie in free agency. Franklin Barreto remains an internal possibility.— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 12, 2018
Profar is coming off of the best season of his career. He set career highs in ... literally every offensive category, and has the positional versatility the A's love. At 26 years old and with another year of team control beyond 2019, he fits age-wise. The A's and Rangers have traded together before, too, so this is a possibility to monitor.
10:35 a.m. PT: The Giants are still looking to add (at least) a couple of outfielders, but one option could soon have an offer elsewhere. The Atlanta Braves are reportedly preparing to make an offer to former Arizona Diamondback A.J. Pollock.
#Braves GM Anthopoulos learned value of patience years ago, puts it to practice at times like this https://t.co/77ShDhc1Mc— David O'Brien (@DOBrienATL) December 12, 2018
The Braves don't seem to be in much of a rush, so this doesn't rule out Pollock as an option for the Giants.
9:25 a.m. PT: The A's are looking for a second baseman, and Cleveland is shopping second baseman Jason Kipnis. Still, there reportedly hasn't been much interest in the former All-Star, according to Cleveland.com's Paul Hoynes.
Cleveland Indians talking three-team trades involving Edwin Encarnacion, Yonder Alonso and others https://t.co/VgshcxPps5— paul hoynes (@hoynsie) December 12, 2018
Hoynes noted that the amount of second baseman available in free agency is driving down Kipnis' trade value. He's coming off of two down years, and his contract ($13.5 million this season) may be too rich for the A's, but Kipnis' own pending free agency could make him an option down the line.
8:04 a.m. PT: Not so fast on J.A. Happ to the Yankees. The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal and others are reporting there isn't an agreement in place with the New York Yankees yet.
Walking this back. Indications are #Yankees are close on Happ, but no agreement in place. https://t.co/FvR5bwUVDw— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 12, 2018
Yankees have interest in J.A. Happ, but sources saying that at this moment, there is no agreement with the lefty. We'll see if that changes.— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) December 12, 2018
Hear #Yankees and Happ have talked seriously about a deal, heard not done. Hang up has been teams offering 2 yrs, pitcher wanting 3.— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) December 12, 2018
#Phillies and #Yankees have been viewed as the strongest competitors for Happ. I have thought NYY needed sure innings enough that I said on #MLBNetwork yesterday they should go to the 3d yr Happ wants or offer 2 yrs with makeable vesting option for 3d yr to seal deal.— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) December 12, 2018
Happ is likely out of the A's price range, but his signing should set the market for other pitchers Oakland could pursue.
7:15 a.m. PT: We have our first deal of the day ... well, reportedly, at least. The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal is reporting the New York Yankees have an agreement with lefty J.A. Happ.
#Yankees in agreement with free-agent left-hander J.A. Happ, pending a physical, sources tell The Athletic. Believed to be three-year deal.— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 12, 2018
Financial details were not immediately known, but Happ's signing takes one top-end starter off the market. Might the dominoes start to fall on the mound for the A's?
