MLB rumors: Latest off-season news on free agency, trades and more

Latest news, rumors and buzz from the MLB’s off-season.

Major League Baseball’s winter meetings are set to begin on Monday, when a flurry of trades and transactions will undoubtedly occur as agents seek contracts for their free-agent players and executives from all 30 teams convene to talk trades and league business. The rumor mill is already churning with big-name free agents such as Zack Greinke, Johnny Cueto and Ben Zobrist still on the market.

See the latest MLB news and rumors below. Check back for updates on the latest scoops.

• The Tigers will not tender contract offers to relievers Al Alburquerque and Neftali Feliz, reports James Schmehl of MLive.com.

• The Padres have hired former MLB slugger Mark McGwire as their new bench coach, the team announced Wednesday.

• The Phillies claimed outfielder Peter Bourjos off waivers from the Cardinals.

• The Royals may be priced out of the bidding to retain infielder/outfielder Ben Zobrist, reports ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick.

• The Mets have prioritized Ben Zobrist, but are also looking at Dexter Fowler to fill an outfield need, ESPN’s Buster Olney reports.

• The Braves are listening to offers for pitcher Julio Teheran, reports Olney.

• Free-agent pitcher Jeff Samardzija may command a triple-digit contract, reports ESPN’s Jason Stark.

• The Braves signed infielder Gordon Beckham to a one-year, $1.25 million contract, reports Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports.

• The Phillies are interested in trading pitcher Ken Giles for Astros pitchers Lance McCullers and Vincent Velasquez, reports ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick. Several teams have inquired about acquiring Giles, Crasnick reports.

• The Astros have also discussed trading for Tampa Bay Rays pitchers Brad Boxberger and Jake McGee because neither will become a free agent before 2018, Crasnick reports.

• Mets bench coach Bob Geren has been hired as the Dodgers’ new bench coach, Rosenthal reports.

• The Boston Red Sox and David Price have agreed on a seven-year, $217 million deal, reports Peter Abraham of The Boston Globe. The contract is the seventh-largest in MLB history and the richest for a pitcher. USA Today’s Bob Nightengale reports the St. Louis Cardinals were the runner up to sign Price.

• Rosenthal reports Greinke’s deal could eclipse Price’s as highest pitcher contract. Greinke is expected to sign a five- to six-year contract with either the Los Angeles Dodgers or the San Francisco Giants soon.

• The price to sign veteran second baseman Zobrist is continuing to climb, reports Jeff Passan of Yahoo! Sports. His current asking price is $60 million over four years.

• The Cardinals have traded catcher and infielder Tony Cruz to the Royals for minor league infielder Jose Martinez, reports Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com.

• The Chicago Cubs and the Red Sox could be potential landing places for Atlanta Braves pitcher Shelby Miller, reports Crasnick. Atlanta offered Miller to the Arizona Diamondbacks for outfielder A.J. Pollock, but the D-backs rejected the offer, Rosenthal reports.

• The Braves are also interested in Cubs outfielder Jorge Soler, but would need to trade a player valued more highly than pitcher Julio Teheran to get him, Crasnick reports.

• The Seattle Mariners have agreed to a deal with free-agent outfielder Nori Aoki, Jon Heyman of CBS Sports reports.

• The Mariners are also nearing a trade sending slugger Mark Trumbo to the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for catcher Steve Clevenger, according to multiple reports.

• The Minnesota Twins have signed Korean first baseman Byung-Ho Park to a four-year, $12 million contract, reports Rosenthal.

• The Miami Marlins have offered Barry Bonds a job as hitting coach alongside current hitting coach Frank Menechino, and Bonds will likely accept, Nightengale reports.

• The Marlins announced Tuesday they signed veteran outfielder Justin Maxwell to a minor league contract.

• The Cleveland Indiansannounced they signed pitcher Joba Chamberlain to a minor league deal with an invitation to Spring Training.