Baseball Connection

In a whirlwind of a day, Michael Brantley's name was being tossed around free agent headlines. It was initially reported that he agreed to a deal with Toronto, but then the Blue Jays refuted it. The dust settled and Brantley will head back to the Astros on a 2-year, $32 million contract. Brantley is the definition of a professional hitter and will occupy left field in Houston once again.

The Blue Jays have gotten their guy. George Springer will head north on a 6-year, $150 million deal with the blossoming squad of young players. The top position player on the market, Springer brings an elite blend of power and speed to Toronto. Don Sutton passed away at the age of 75. The Hall of Fame pitcher spent 16 years with the Dodgers.

Jon Lester has agreed to a 1-year, $5 million deal with the Nationals. Don't expect vintage numbers from Lester, so he'll slot in as the 4th starter behind Scherzer, Strasburg, and Corbin. George Springer has $100+ million offers from both the Blue Jays and Mets. His decision could be coming this week.

The Padres continue to build a juggernaut squad. They have landed Joe Musgrove in a 3-team deal with the Mets and Pirates. Musgrove's underlying metrics (strikeout rate and exit velocity) are elite, which makes him a strong breakout candidate for 2021.

The Red Sox have brought back Martin Perez on a 1-year deal worth $5 million. It's not a major signing in the grand scheme of things, but Perez was their most reliable starter in 2020. Boston still has a lot of work to do in bolstering their rotation. Didi Gregorious and JT Realmuto might just head back to Philadelphia. Are the Reds shopping Luis Castillo?

DJ LeMahieu is returning to the Yankees on a 6-year, $90 million deal. The best hitter in the American League could very well remain in pinstripes for the remainder of his career. The Yankees also signed Corey Kluber to a 1-year, $11 million deal. Kluber is a lottery ticket who everyone just hopes can stay healthy. The Phillies have made a decent first offer to JT Realmuto at this stage, but his market is still fluid.

Today marks the beginning of the international signing period. MLB teams will be trying to sign the next Tatis, Soto, or Acuna. We break down what the international signing period is and compare it to the MLB draft in terms of talent pool and player compensation.

Yadier Molina has said he would consider retirement if the right deal does not come along. Yadi wants to return to the Cardinals, but is the feeling mutual? Archie Bradley is heading to the Phillies to deliver much-needed bullpen help. The Mets signed Jose Martinez as a platoon piece.

The Red Sox are reportedly shopping Andrew Benintendi. What happened to baseball's former #1 prospect? Corey Kluber held a workout for scouts where he sat 88-90 mph with his fastball. He'll be a lottery ticket for whoever signs him.

Baseball's best reliever is off the market. Liam Hendriks has agreed to a 3-year, $54 million deal with the Chicago White Sox. The White Sox have their eyes set on the World Series as they continue to add reinforcements to their roster. Hendriks joins Lance Lynn and Adam Eaton as major White Sox additions this offseason.