After MLB’s lukewarm interest in free agency the past few seasons, this winter could bring an even less active marketplace. COVID-19 slashed baseball revenues in 2020, and teams are expected to cut payroll next season, which could hurt the middle class of free agents particularly hard. But even during this recent trend away from high-dollar […]
SAN DIEGO — During last year’s MLB winter meetings in Las Vegas, a podium set up for free-agent announcements went largely unused: It was an ice-cold start to the hot-stove season. So at this year’s meetings in San Diego, it was a surprise when agent Scott Boras and Washington Nationals GM Mike Rizzo took seats […]
SAN DIEGO — Gerrit Cole was a fan of the New York Yankees as a kid. The Yankees have also long been admirers of Cole, drafting him in the first round in 2008 when Cole was then a high school senior. Cole spurned the Yankees; he opted to attend UCLA instead, and he was selected […]
Last year’s MLB free agent class, headlined by young superstars Bryce Harper and Manny Machado, was anticipated for years. But this year’s free agents might be even better — and they could help even more teams serious about contending in 2020. Four free agents are coming off seasons of 6 wins above replacement or better: […]
Before next week’s MLB winter meetings, Hot Takedown takes stock of free agency. We discuss what to expect for elite players in this year’s class and how the process has evolved in the wake of front offices placing a higher premium on statistics. On Sunday, the New England Patriots’ loss to the Houston Texans led […]