Time to sign! The dark days of January have finally come to a close, and with pitchers and catchers reporting less than three weeks from now, the past week was filled with various free agents beginning to sign and rumors across the league. While some names are still available, could the lack of a market push them back to their former teams? Will the Los Angeles Dodgers ever stop singing players this offseason? There’s plenty to get into on this week’s LWOS MLB News & Rumors report.
Free Agent Pitchers on the Move
Mad Max Heads North
Last week, word began to leak about the Toronto Blue Jays showing the most interest in veteran Max Scherzer. Toronto had just come off signing Anthony Santander to a five-year deal and was looking to add depth to their starting pitching. Scherzer inked a one-year, $15.5 million deal in what could be the last year of his career with the Blue Jays as they look to make a push in a strong AL East. The signing not only sures up the pitching staff but has reportedly helped the Jays in talks with Valimir Guerrero Jr. on a contract extension.
Royals Get Bullpen Help
Kansas City is coming off an incredible season that saw them make the playoffs as a Wild Card team. The American League Champion New York Yankees eventually bounced them. The area of need for the Royals at the deadline last year was their bullpen, and it remained the biggest area of this offseason. They addressed that need by signing one of the top arms still available in Carlos Estevez to a two-year deal with a club option in 2027.
Estevez started last season with the Angels before garnering a lot of trade interest at the deadline and ultimately being shipped off to the Phillies. The 32-year-old is coming off his best season in the big leagues, posting a 2.45 ERA with 26 saves, and should now be set up to be Kansas City’s closer.
Jack is Back in the Motor City
Like Estevez, Jack Flaherty was a hot commodity at the trade deadline after a bounce-back first half with the Detroit Tigers. The Dodgers ultimately acquired him, and Flaherty won a World Series ring with LA after putting together a solid postseason. Flaherty’s name remained a hot topic throughout the winter, but his asking for a long-term deal slowed down his market significantly.
Flaherty returns to Detroit on a two-year deal with an opt-out after the first year if he wants to hit the open market again. The biggest knock on Flaherty has been his inability to stay healthy, which may have prevented teams from offering anything long-term to the 29-year-old. Most notably came during last year’s deadline when the Yankees pulled out of a potential deal for the right-hander after reviewing his medicals.
Detroit also agreed to a one-year $7.75 million deal with longtime New York Yankees reliever Tommy Kahnle. Kahnle will provide depth to the Tigers’ bullpen, and AJ Hinch’s group is starting to come together. Though nothing is imminent, Detroit has been linked to Alex Bregman even after the Flaherty and Kahnle signings.
Yankees Sign Two Pitchers
The Yankees have been relatively quiet since signing Paul Goldschmidt a month ago. Throughout January, it has been rumored that they are trying to unload Marcus Stroman‘s contract before making another move. That logic has held them back from acquiring another infielder. However, in the past few days, they have added some depth to the rotation and the bullpen, with the first of the moves coming Monday afternoon, signing Carlos Carrasco to a Minor League deal.
The 37-year-old, nicknamed “Cookie,” spent last season with Cleveland going 3-10 with a 5.64 earned run average in 21 starts. Since winning 15 games for the Mets back in 2022, he has not been able to win more than three each year but still provides veteran depth and maybe has one last good season in him.
Tim Hill agreed to a return to New York after becoming a key pickup during the season in 2024 from Chicago. Hill had been released in June by the Chicago White Sox after allowing 15 earned runs in 27 appearances to start the year. Hill flipped the script when he arrived in the Boogie Down Bronx, finished the season with the Yankees with a 3-0 record, and allowed just 13 earned runs in 35 games. Hill should again be the first left-handed arm out of the bullpen this season for the Yankees, and they look to build a bridge to their new closer, Devin Williams.
Main Image: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images
