MLB Rumors: Giants reportedly interested in Cody Bellinger
The San Francisco Giants have swung and missed on multiple top free agents in recent years. Last year, they lost out on Aaron Judge following the "Arson Judge" social media buzz, as the 2022 American League MVP re-signed with the New York Yankees. Not to mention, they bailed on a Carlos Correa deal due to concerns over an ankle injury.
Ahead of the 2019 season, they were in the running for Bryce Harper, only to see him sign with the Philadelphia Phillies. This winter, the Giants seem poised to finally land a top-tier free agent, and they appear to have their eyes set on one.
According to ESPN's Jesse Rogers, the Giants are one of the suitors for Chicago Cubs outfielder Cody Bellinger.
Bellinger is coming off of a career-resurgent season after inking a one-year deal with the Cubs last offseason. He dealt with injuries during the end of his tenure with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Bellinger did pick up a knee injury back in May and missed a bit of time, but played 130 games.
In 499 at-bats, Bellinger recorded a .307 batting average, a .356 on-base percentage, a .525 slugging percentage, 26 home runs, 95 runs, 97 RBI, 153 hits, 87 strikeouts, and 40 walks.
These are numbers the Giants need to help them compete against the Dodgers for the NL West division lead. This past season, the Giants missed out on the playoffs by five games. Will Zaidi be able to land the former Dodgers that he saw win the 2017 National League Rookie of the Year award when he was their general manager? Well, there will be competition for him, as Rogers lists the New York Yankees and Toronto Blue Jays as other suitors for Bellinger.
MLB Rumors: Blue Jays considered a 'sleeper' team to sign Shohei Ohtani
The huge question surrounding the early stages of the MLB offseason is -- which team will sign 2021 and 2023 American League MVP Shohei Ohtani, and for how much? Ohtani has kept things private thus far as to what he's looking for in his new team. Is he looking to win? Is he looking for the most lucrative contract in MLB history? All that's known thus far is the teams are interested in Ohtani.
Teams like the Los Angeles Dodgers, Chicago Cubs, Texas Rangers, and San Francisco Giants have all been linked to Ohtani in a variety of reports. But is there an under-the-radar team to keep an eye on?
A rival executive told The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal (subscription required) that they view the Toronto Blue Jays as a "sleeper team" for Ohtani.
"The exec's rationale is this: Any plans the Jays had to sign Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette to massive extensions might now be on hold," writes Rosenthal. "George Springer's six-year, $150 million contract expires after 2026. The team remains in need of left-handed power."
Rosenthal writes that the Blue Jays could sell Toronto as an "international city." However, the insider notes that a desire to win and the weather could work against their favor if those are factors that Ohtani will consider in his decision. Rosenthal says that those factors are purely speculative. For 2024, Ohtani will only hit, as he underwent Tommy John surgery in his pitching elbow.
This past season, Ohtani recorded a .304 batting average, a .412 on-base percentage, a .654 slugging percentage, 44 home runs, 95 home runs, 102 runs, 151 hits, 143 strikeouts, and 91 walks in 497 at-bats.
There is no word on which team is in the lead to sign Ohtani, and we probably never will, as the superstar's camp reportedly wants to keep meetings with teams private. The only way we'll find it is when reports reveal which team Ohtani is signing with for 2024 and beyond.
MLB Rumors: Phillies doing their homework on Yoshinobu Yamamoto
For teams looking for starting pitching this offseason, there are a lot of great options to choose from. But when it comes to the top option, it may very well be Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the stud starter for the Nippon Professional Baseball League's Orix Buffaloes. He is a three-time Triple Crown winner (ERA, wins, strikeouts) in the NPB, won the World Baseball Classic earlier this year, and won a Gold Medal for Team Japan in the 2020 Summer Olympics.
There are many teams looking to sign Yamamoto when he officially gets posted on Monday, Nov. 20, with the New York Mets, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Yankees standing out as the favorites. But there is another team to keep an eye on.
According to Alex Coffey of the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Philadelphia Phillies are "strongly considering" signing Yamamoto this offseason if they are unable to retain ace Aaron Nola.
Here is an excerpt of what a National League scout told Coffey about the Phillies and Yamamoto:
"They've done significant work on Yamamoto," said one National League scout. "Most teams have sent scouts to see him, but I would say the Phillies should be considered one of the top five or six suitors for his services."
Nola is one of the top starting pitchers available this winter, and neither he nor the Phillies could make progress on a long-term contract extension. While the Phillies president Dave Dombrowski said he would like to keep Nola, and with the ace previously expressing a desire to remain in Philadelphia, it's unknown if they can match what he might get from other teams in free agency.
With that, the team could circle to Yamamoto, who is younger and has a high upside. But that's not to say signing him will be any easier, especially with teams like the Mets and Dodgers linked to the pitcher already.
In seven seasons in the NPB, Yamamoto recorded a 1.82 ERA, a 0.935 WHIP, a 70-29 record, 922 strikeouts, and 206 walks in 897.0 innings (172 games).
The Phillies are in on Yamamoto, but it appears they will wait to see what is to come with Nola negotiations and if he will sign with a new team. But, who's to say that Yamamoto doesn't sign with a team first?
