Lukewarm Stove: Dodgers Scrambling, Leake, Cubs Pitcher Trades, Chen, Kazmir, More

old stove featureThe rumor mill is churning today. There figures to be another little wave of activity before next Friday (Christmas Day), as many players will want to know where they’ll be playing next year before the holidays set in and the calendar flips.

  • The three-year, $45 million deal the Dodgers signed with free agent starter Hisashi Iwakuma after failing to retain Zack Greinke is no more. Reports indicate that it was scuttled by the physical, though the Dodgers haven’t closed the door on working out a different deal (Bill Plunkett). It has not been an ideal winter so far for the Dodgers, who also saw a trade for Aroldis Chapman fall through (maybe to their benefit, though), but they’ve got plenty of financial and prospect ammo to make substantial improvements before March if they’re so inclined (not to mention the fact that the Dodgers are still a very good team on paper, even without any other moves).
  • Speaking of which, the Dodgers are in talks with the Rays about Jake Odorizzi, according to Jon Heyman. The Dodgers would seem to have plenty of prospects to make that happen – heck, they could still go after Jose Fernandez. Ken Rosenthal adds that Mike Leake could be another back-up option. The Dodgers could be competing with the Cardinals on Leake, according to Rosenthal.
  • The Dodgers may also go after Japanese ace Kenta Maeda, who is reportedly in Los Angeles to start meeting with teams after his posting.
  • [adinserter block=”1″]

  • Back to the Rosenthal mention of Leake for a moment – the Cardinals are going to add a pitcher this offseason. There is no question about it. But if they have to drop $80 million on Leake, you’d probably rather they go that route, what with the limited upside and all.
  • The Indians picked up an outfielder, finally, signing Rajai Davis to a one-year, $5.25 million deal. While he’s not going to be a significant offensive threat out there, the 35-year-old can still contribute a league average bat and decent outfield defense. The Indians are known to be very keen to pick up offense in the outfield, and having Davis in the fold could help them not feel quite so desperate in the trade market.
  • On that, Peter Gammons recounts the Cubs’ offseason so far, which includes attempts to trade for controlled, impact pitching like Carlos Carrasco and Danny Salazar from the Indians, but the price has been “high.” Perhaps, Gammons suggests, things could change by midseason if the Cubs still need an arm and the Indians start out slow.
  • Also on that, Jesse Rogers writes about how the Cubs could play the waiting game now on pitching.
  • The Mets have re-signed Bartolo Colon, much to the relief of all baseball fans. He’s good there. He’s good for baseball there. I love me some Bartolo. Some things are bigger than their on-field impact. Eh hem.
  • Denard Span is going to work out for teams in January to show that he’s healthy after hip surgery, according to his agent, Scott Boras.
  • [adinserter block=”2″]

  • An extra read from Cubs.com on the Cubs’ outfield possibilities, including how the Cubs could still look to fill center field if Jason Heyward moved to right.
  • Free agent lefty Wei-Yin Chen is reportedly looking for a five-year deal for $100 million. I like Chen more than most, but eesh. Even in this market, that looks like a dog waiting to happen. (Chen is also tied to draft pick compensation.) And fellow lefty Scott Kazmir is reportedly looking for three to four years at $18 million per. I don’t know who it will be, but at least one of the many still-available free agents is going to be left looking for a job in February, and will have to settle.
  • If they don’t pick up Brandon Phillips in trade as rumored, the Nationals might look at Daniel Murphy, a free agent who’ll cost a draft pick to sign.
  • written by

    Brett Taylor is the Lead Cubs Writer at Bleacher Nation, and you can find him on Twitter at @BleacherNation and on LinkedIn here. Brett is also the founder of Bleacher Nation, which opened up shop in 2008 as an independent blog about the Chicago Cubs. Later growing to incorporate coverage of other Chicago sports, Bleacher Nation is now one of the largest regional sports blogs on the web.

    more cubs news

    Chicago Cubs Sign Old Friend Dan Straily

    I knew Dan Straily was pitching in Korea, and I knew there was a time in relatively recent memory that he was trying to come back to MLB. But sometime between then and now, he fell off my radar as...

    Pre-Gamin’: Astros at Cubs (1:20 CT) – Lineups, Pitching Matchup, Broadcast Info, Game Thread

    CUBS LINEUP — The Cubs won again last night, which means they've already won the season-series against the still-struggling Astros. Justin Verlander will be on the bump for today's finale, but he'll have to go up against the mighty Javier...

    Cubs Farm Report | April 25, 2024: Brennen Davis Homers in His Return to Triple-A

    Brennen Davis made his return to Triple-A last night, and of course, he managed to smack a three-run home run in an 8-2 win for the Iowa Cubs. That and more in today's Cubs Farm Report. Cubs Farm Report |...

    The Leadoff Role, Cubs Front Office is Not Particularly Well-Liked? And Other Cubs Bullets

    It's a pretty big day for the Chicago Bears, eh? For the second year in a row, they own the No. 1 overall pick in the draft. Only this time, they actually plan to use it (and on a quarterback,...

    Chicago Cubs Sign Brazilian-Japanese Pitcher Daniel Missaki Out of Mexican League

    That's a geographic mouthful right there, and it underscores what an interesting signing this is. Stray signings throughout the year are not uncommon, particularly as injuries accumulate down on the farm and the Chicago Cubs have the ability to take...

    Do the Cubs Have a Scoring-Late Problem?

    Once a month since August of 2016, my friends and I get together for "Supper Club." It's like book club, but instead of reading books, we go to a different restaurant in the city. Last night, we hit our 77th...

    Enhanced Box Score: Cubs 4, Astros 3 – April 24, 2024

    The Cubs did all their scoring in the first, and made it stand up for the win with generally good pitching and generally good defense. Jameson Taillon looked solid again in his second start, locating well, giving up no barrels,...

    Dansby Swanson with a First Inning Three-Run Homer

    For the second straight night, the Cubs are jumping all over the Astros in the first inning. After a couple hits from Nico Hoerner and Ian Happ to get things going, Michael Busch hit a sac fly, Christopher Morel walked,...

    Welcome Back to Iowa, Brennen Davis: Rocket Homer in His First Game Post-Rehab

    What a road it's been - continues to be - for Cubs outfield prospect Brennen Davis. The former top prospect was on a rocket ship to Triple-A in 2021, and then mostly lost the last two years to various injuries....

    CRAAAAAP: Cody Bellinger to the Injured List (UPDATES)

    So much for all those words of optimism and negative X-rays. After colliding with the outfield wall last night, Cody Bellinger fractured his rib (Update: It's actually TWO fractured right ribs) and will hit the injured list today. Chicago Cubs...

    Latest News

    LeBron James Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Nuggets – NBA Playoffs Game 3, Thursday, April 25, 2024

    The Los Angeles Lakers meet the Denver Nuggets at 10:00 PM ET on Thursday, in Game 3 of the opening round of the NBA playoffs, and one of the 3-pointer over/unders available for this clash requires two trifectas from LeBron...

    D’Angelo Russell Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Nuggets – NBA Playoffs Game 3, Thursday, April 25, 2024

    D'Angelo Russell must make four 3-pointers to beat his prop when the Los Angeles Lakers play the Denver Nuggets on Thursday at 10:00 PM ET, in Game 3 of the opening round of the NBA playoffs.D'Angelo Russell's Three-Pointer Prop Odds...

    Michael Porter Jr. Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Lakers – NBA Playoffs Game 3, Thursday, April 25, 2024

    To beat his 3-point over/under, Michael Porter Jr. must make three from downtown on Thursday, when his Denver Nuggets face the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 3 of the opening round of the NBA playoffs, tipping off at 10:00 PM...

    Jamal Murray Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Lakers – NBA Playoffs Game 3, Thursday, April 25, 2024

    On Thursday at 10:00 PM ET, the Denver Nuggets face the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 3 of the opening round of the NBA playoffs, and Jamal Murray's 3-pointer prop for this clash requires three treys.Jamal Murray's Three-Pointer Prop Odds...

    Nikola Jokic Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Lakers – NBA Playoffs Game 3, Thursday, April 25, 2024

    Nikola Jokic's Denver Nuggets meet the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday at 10:00 PM ET in Game 3 of the opening round of the NBA playoffs, and to beat his 3-point over/under, he needs to make two from downtown.Nikola Jokic's...

    Anthony Davis Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Nuggets – NBA Playoffs Game 3, Thursday, April 25, 2024

    The Los Angeles Lakers play the Denver Nuggets at 10:00 PM ET on Thursday, in Game 3 of the opening round of the NBA playoffs, and one of the 3-pointer props available for this clash requires just one trey from...

    Chicago Cubs Sign Old Friend Dan Straily

    I knew Dan Straily was pitching in Korea, and I knew there was a time in relatively recent memory that he was trying to come back to MLB. But sometime between then and now, he fell off my radar as...

    Oh? The Rams Reportedly Want to Trade into the Top 10 of the 2024 NFL Draft

    If you're looking for chaos on NFL Draft day, you just might get it. And leave it to the script-writers to get a team out in Hollywood involved. Here is a scoop from The Athletic's Dianna Russini, who hears the...

    Detroit Tigers vs. Kansas City Royals Series April 26-28: Odds, Starting Pitchers & Predictions

    A three-game series featuring the Detroit Tigers and the visiting Kansas City Royals will start on Friday, April 26 at 1:10 PM ET.Tigers vs. Royals Series Info Royals @ Tigers Time: Friday, April 26 at 1:10 PM ET Tigers Starting...

    We Could See 6 Quarterbacks Go in Round 1 of the NFL Draft

    NFL Draft followers seem to have settled on four quarterbacks going somewhere in the top 10 picks. Many appear to think that we could get a draft with quarterbacks going 1, 2, 3, 4 in succession at the top. Others...

    more cubs news