Where will Blake Snell, Cody Bellinger sign? MLB free agent rumors after Giants sign Soler
According to reports late Monday night, the San Francisco Giants have agreed to terms with free agent outfielder and designated hitter Jorge Soler.
Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reported the three-year deal. ESPN's Jeff Passan confirmed the report Tuesday, adding that the newest Giant's contract will be worth $42 million, or $14 million per year.
Soler, who played with the Miami Marlins in 2022 and 2023, declined a $9 million player option after a season in which he slashed .250/.341/.512 with 36 home runs. The 2021 World Series MVP hit the free agent market as one of one of the best power hitters available and will join a Giants team that finished with the 11th-fewest home runs as a team (174) in MLB last year.
The Giants are set to report to their spring training site in Scottsdale on Wednesday.
Soler is the latest big signing in what has been a slow free agency period this offseason. As spring training approaches for all 30 teams, there are still several key free agents yet to join one.
Here's the latest news on MLB free agency.
Jorge Soler: San Francisco Giants add veteran slugger on 3-year, $42M deal
Latest MLB rumors
Orioles have not asked White Sox about Dylan Cease amid starting pitcher injury concerns
The Baltimore Orioles are placing starting pitcher Kyle Bradish on the injured list with a UCL tear, according to Jeff Passan of ESPN, but he will try to pitch through it after getting a PRP (platelet-rich plasma) injection.
Despite the injury and its potential effect on the Orioles' pitching staff, USA TODAY's Bob Nightengale reported that White Sox GM Chris Getz hasn't heard from Baltimore about acquiring starter Dylan Cease.
The 2022 AL Cy Young runner-up has been the subject of trade rumors all offseason, though recent reports suggest the White Sox will end up keeping their ace to start the season.
No, the Baltimore Orioles have not called the Chicago White Sox about Dylan Cease today after news of their pitching injuries, GM Chris Getz says
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) February 15, 2024
Rangers GM Chris Young seems to shut down Montgomery reunion rumors
Starting pitcher Jordan Montgomery remains a free agent as spring training begins for MLB teams. Though many analysts expected him to re-sign with the reigning world-champion Rangers at some point this offseason, Texas' general manager, Chris Young, quelled that rumor.
On Wednesday, per Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News, Young told reporters, "I don’t think there are any additions coming at this point... But I've said before we will keep an open mind."
"I don’t want to get into specifics of what our conversations have been, but, again, our payroll is at an all-time high. Ownership has shown a great willingness to spend. But there are limits to where that goes."
More Rangers: Chris Young made it as plain as possible that the Rangers probably aren't adding anything else in free agency. Always leaves himself an out, but was pretty directhttps://t.co/Nwncmofsdc
— Evan Grant (@Evan_P_Grant) February 15, 2024
Liam Hendriks is considering "multiple offers," sets Thursday deadline
ESPN's Jeff Passan reported Wednesday that former White Sox closer Liam Hendriks was fielding offers from multiple teams. The Australian native is still rehabbing from the Tommy John surgery he had in August.
According to Passan, if Hendriks doesn't sign with a team by the Thursday deadline he set, he will rehab on his own before throwing for teams in late July and signing for the remainder of the season.
Reliever Liam Hendriks has multiple offers and has set a deadline of Thursday to sign with a team, sources tell ESPN. If Hendriks doesn't sign now, he would keep rehabbing from Tommy John surgery on his own and throw for teams in late July before signing for the stretch run.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) February 14, 2024
MLB free agency could finally heat up this week
According to MLB Network's Jon Morosi, there is a chance the free agent market heats up as soon as Wednesday.
Feb. 14 is the first day teams can place players on the 60-day injured list, which would free up spots on their 40-man rosters and make room for free agent signings.
As @MLB clubs negotiate with free agents, Wednesday is a possible inflection point.
Tomorrow, all teams will have the ability to place players on the 60-day injured list, thus freeing up 40-man roster spots for free-agent signings.
Could be an active 48 hours.@MLBNetwork— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) February 13, 2024
Boston Red Sox looking to sign an outfielder
MassLive.com's Chris Cotillo reported Tuesday morning the Red Sox are "actively trying to add an outfielder to the mix." He noted later they were not "meaningfully in" on signing Soler before the Giants did.
One industry source who has had recent contact with Red Sox said this morning they're actively trying to add an outfielder to the mix. Obviously, a right-handed bat makes most sense.
— Chris Cotillo (@ChrisCotillo) February 13, 2024
FWIW: Red Sox were not meaningfully in on Jorge Soler at the end of his free agency.
— Chris Cotillo (@ChrisCotillo) February 13, 2024
Boston is currently projected to roll with Jarren Duran, newcomer Tyler O'Neill and rookie Wilyer Abreu in their starting lineup. Masataka Yoshida is an outfield option who will likely serve as the team's designated hitter, and Rob Refsnyder provides additional depth. O'Neill and Refsnyder are the only right-handed hitters in the group.
Right-handed outfielders still available in free agency include Adam Duvall, Michael A. Taylor and Tommy Pham. Former Red Sox outfielder/designated hitter J.D. Martinez is also available, though he hasn't played more than 10 games in the field over the last two seasons.
Morosi: Jordan Montgomery could sign by the end of this week
In an MLB.com article, Morosi shared a belief that Montgomery was the most likely top free agent to sign with a team by Thursday. He and MLB Network colleague Mark Feinsand agreed that returning to the Texas Rangers is his most likely outcome. The Rangers' general manager, Chris Young, said Wednesday that he doesn't expect to add any players to the roster at this point.
Nightengale: Padres shortstop Ha-Seong Kim drawing trade interest
USA TODAY's Bob Nightengale reported Tuesday morning that the Padres are active in trade discussions with some room to add players ahead of Opening Day. He noted that Kim, who is a free agent after this season, is drawing strong interest.
The San Diego Padres still have wiggle room in their budget to add more pieces, and they continue to be in active trade discussions, GM A.J. Preller says.
Shortstop Ha-Seong Kim is drawing strong interest. He is a free agent after the season.— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) February 13, 2024
Jim Bowden on landing spots for Snell, Bellinger and more
In a Tuesday article for The Athletic, former MLB executive Jim Bowden speculated on the landing spots for top free agents like starting pitcher Blake Snell and outfielder/first baseman Cody Bellinger.
On Snell: "I think the Yankees ultimately land him — especially after the Orioles traded for Corbin Burnes, removing him as an option."
On Bellinger: "The Cubs, Blue Jays and Angels seem to be the most likely destinations for Bellinger... His first choice appears to be re-signing with Chicago, but the staredown in negotiations between Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer and Bellinger’s agent, Boras, is shaping up to be epic."
On third baseman Matt Chapman: "The Blue Jays and Giants are the two teams that have shown the most interest in Chapman... The Giants have the best shot... at this point."
MLB news: Jenny Cavnar set to become new play-by-play voice of Oakland A's
Scott Boras clients dominate top remaining free agents
Aaron Gleeman, Minnesota Twins beat writer for The Athletic, noted a key similarity between the top MLB free agents still on the market: their agent.
The top five players remaining from The Athletic's December big board of the 40 best free agents available –Bellinger, Snell, Montgomery, Chapman and Martinez – are all clients of the Boras Corporation, the sports agency founded by Scott Boras.
Now that Jorge Soler is off the board, five of @TheAthleticMLB's top 25 free agents remain unsigned:
#4 Cody Bellinger, OF
#5 Blake Snell, LHP
#6 Jordan Montgomery, LHP
#8 Matt Chapman, 3B
#24 J.D. Martinez, DH
Of note: All five are Scott Boras clients.https://t.co/QjfsDkAV46— Aaron Gleeman (@AaronGleeman) February 13, 2024
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: MLB rumors: Latest updates for free agents Snell, Bellinger and more
