MLB Trade Rumors: Nationals Now Presumably Out of Bryce Harper Sweepstakes
The Winter Meetings are less than two weeks away, and it is expected that most of the blockbuster deals that could happen will during the week in Las Vegas.
Teams are willing to offer big paydays for needed replacements and reinforcements, with Bryce Harper and Manny Machado expected to take home the largest paydays this offseason.
While waiting for those sluggers to come off the market, the starting pitching hot stove is heating up. The Yankees sturck the biggest blow last week trading for Seattle Mariners starter James Paxton, and could look to add another starter or two to bolster their rotation.
Here's all of the latest rumors and transactions around baseball:
• Free-agent pitcher Patrick Corbin agreed to terms on a six-year deal with the Nationals. (Chelsea Janes, Washington Post)
• The Yankees did not want to offer Corbin a sixth year. They offered him a five-year deal but did not increase beyond that. (Mark Feinsand, MLB.com)
• Corbin reportedly met with the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park Tuesday. (Todd Zolecki, MLB.com)
• Corbin was reportedly going to meet with the New York Yankees on Thursday after visiting the Philadelphia Phillies and Washington Nationals this week. (Jon Heyman, Fancred)
• It's unlikely the Mets trade star pitcher Noah Syndergaard. (Craig Calcaterra, NBC Sports)
• Possible Cleveland Indians trade partners say the team is more inclined to trade Trevor Bauer than Corey Kluber or Carlos Carrasco.(Bob Nightengale, USA Today)
• The Marlins requested All-Star second baseman Ozzie Albies from the Braves as part of a trade package for catcher J.T. Realmuto. (Ken Rosenthal, The Athletic)
• The St. Louis Cardinals made a bid for Josh Donaldson before he signed one-year, $23 million deal with the Atlanta Braves. (Bob Nightengale, USA Today)
•Pirates pitcher Chris Archer underwent a procedure to repair a bilateral hernia and is expected to be sidelined for six weeks. (Team announcement)
• If the Padres engage in trade talks with the Mets for pitcher Noah Syndergaard, prospect Fernando Tatis Jr. won't be part of the deal. (Andy Martino, SNY)
• Catcher Erik Kratz agreed to a 1-year contract with the Milwaukee Brewers, to avoid arbitration. They still have 12 players who are arbitration eligible. (Team announcement)