MLB rumors: News from the winter meetings on free agency, trades

Latest news, rumors and buzz from MLB’s winter meetings.

Major League Baseball’s winter meetings will conclude on Thursday. The four days of talks in Nashville have produced a flurry of trades and transactions with more likely to come as agents continue to seek contracts for their free-agent players and executives from all 30 teams talk trades. The rumor mill is churning with big-name free agents such as Johnny Cueto and Jason Heyward still on the market.

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

• 2015 MLB Free-Agent Tracker​

Jose Fernandez

• More than 20 teams have inquired about Jose Fernandez’s availability, but no deal is in place yet as the Marlins would most likely want major league players in exchange, according to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports. The Arizona Diamondbacks may have been the closest team to a deal.

• Miami Marlins president Michael Hill reiterated on Thursday that he does not plan to trade Fernandez despite countless rumors this week about potential deals involving the young ace, according to MLB.com’s Joe Frisaro.

• Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports reported that a rival executive said the Marlins have not “proposed anything reasonable enough to make people think they want to deal,” though the Dodgers, Giants and Diamondbacks are among at least a dozen teams that have reportedlyspoken to the Marlins about Fernandez.

For those curious if D-backs have pieces to get Jose Fernandez: Absolutely if deal starts with Corbin. Shipley, Drury, Bradley, Godley, etc.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 10, 2015

Marlins still discussing Jose Fernandez with "five or six teams," source says. Price remains astronomical. No momentum toward deal ... yet.

— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) December 9, 2015

Jason Heyward

• The Cubs would reportedly be willing to play Jason Heyward in centerfield if they can sign him, reports Jon Morosi of Fox Sports. The Cardinals and Cubs are considered finalists to sign him, Morosi reports.

• Heyman reports that there have been speculations about Heyward receiving a 10-year deal.

• Heyman reported Thursday afternoon that the Nationals have entered the fray for Heyward along with the Cubs and Cardinals.

Mike Leake

• The Nationalsmade an offer to righthanded pitcher Mike Leake on Wednesday, but talks are cooling between Leake and Washington, reports Rosenthal.

• The Cardinals and the Giants have also been in the mix in talks with Leake, reports Heyman.

Aroldis Chapman

• The Dodgers have abandoned the trade that would have brought Aroldis Chapman to Los Angeles after allegations of his involvement in a domestic violence incident surfaced, reports Heyman. They are now looking at Yankees closer Andrew Miller instead.

Chris Davis

• The Baltimore Orioles reportedly increased their offer to Chris Davis from around $150 million to possibly as high as $168 million over seven years, Rosenthal reports. ESPN’s Buster Olney later reported a Baltimore source refuted that report, saying the team did not raise the offer “one nickel.’

• Davis is reportedly seeking closer to $200 million, but talks have continued between the two parties, reports Heyman.

• The Blue Jays, Red Sox, Cardinals, Angels and more have expressed interest in signing Davis, Heyman reports.

• The Orioles have also met with Justin Upton’s agent, presumably in case Davis decides not to return, reports Heyman.

The Orioles are continuing the business of pursuing other players and remaking team for 2016, whether that includes Chris Davis or not.

— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) December 10, 2015

Scott Kazmir

• Baltimore is looking at Scott Kazmir as an option for a lefthanded starting pitcher to replace free-agent pitcher Wei-Yin Chen if he does not return, reports Heyman.

• The Astros are trying to bring Kazmir back after trading for him at last season’s deadline, but the Nationals have shown interest in signing him as well, reports Bob Nightengale of USA Today.

Yoenis Cespedes

• Four teams—the Angels, Giants, Tigers and Royals—have shown interest in free-agent outfielder Yoenis Cespedes, reports Joel Sherman of the New York Post. The Mets have acknowledged that they are unlikely to re-sign Cespedes, who they traded for at last year’s deadline.

• Heyman reports that Angels general manager Billy Eppler says their outfielder search is not limited to getting a left-handed hitter despite their righty-heavy lineup.

Other news & notes

• The Brewers are in the market for a first baseman, with Pedro Alvarez, Ike Davis, Steve Pearce, Chris Carter and Daniel Nava among the options, reports ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick.

• The Diamondbacks are working on persuading Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips to waive his no-trade clause, reports Rosenthal.

• Second baseman Ben Zobrist reportedly chose to sign with the Cubs for four years and $56 million despite being offered $60 million over four years from both the Nationals and the Giants, according to multiple reports.

• Following the Walker-Niese trade, the Mets have now stepped up their efforts to re-sign Bartolo Colon, reports Marc Carig of Newsday.

• The Cincinnati Reds are reportedly shopping third baseman Todd Frazier, reports C. Trent Rosecrans of the Cincinnati Enquirer.

• Teams interested in free agent shortstop Ian Desmond are exploring the option of him playing in the outfield, reports Crasnick.

• The San Francisco Giants are considered the frontrunners to sign left fielder Alex Gordon, reports Olney.

Completed transactions

• The Nationals have traded infielder Yunel Escobar to the Angels, reports Heyman.

• The Padres are close to acquiring catcher Christian Bethancourt from the Braves, reports Rosenthal.

• The Nationals have agreed on a one-year deal with reliever Shawn Kelley, pending a physical, reports James Wagner of the Washington Post.

• The Red Sox have traded third baseman Garin Cecchini to the Brewers for cash, reports Alex Speier of the Boston Globe.

• The Royals have expressed interest in free-agent pitcher Yovani Gallardo, reports SB Nation’s Chris Cotillo.

• The Astros have reached a deal with reliever Tony Sipp to keep him in Houston, Evan Drellich of the Houston Chroniclereports. Rosenthal reports the contract is for three years and $18 million.

• The Pirates have traded second baseman Neil Walker to the Mets for Jon Niese, reports Sherman.

• The Mets have reportedly agreed to terms with free-agent infielder Asdrubal Cabrera.

• The Phillies have reached an agreement with pitcher David Hernandez, pending a physical, reports Rosenthal.

• The Phillies have reportedly traded closer Ken Giles to the Astros in exchange for outfielder Derek Fisher and pitchers Vincent Velasquez and Brett Oberholtzer.

• The Chicago White Sox have acquired infielder Brett Lawrie from the Oakland Athletics for minor-league pitchers Zachary Erwin and J.B. Wendelken, the team announced Wednesday.

• The Washington Nationals have agreed to a one-year deal with pitcher Yusmeiro Petit, reports Sherman.

• The Nationals have acquired right-handed pitchers Trevor Gott and Michael Brady from the Angels for infielder Yunel Escobar and cash.