Lukewarm Stove: Dodgers and Hill, Sale, Astros, Melancon, More

It’s the night before the night before the Winter Meetings begin, and it seems like there’s a whole lot of stuff percolating. I wouldn’t be surprised if we have a fair bit of action before Monday.

To that end, it’s Saturday night, The Wife and I are watching ‘Parks and Rec’ on Netflix, and apparently typing about baseball rumors here is my version of “chill” …

[adinserter block=”1″]

  • The top free agent starting pitcher in this year’s market, incredibly, is 36-year-old reclamation lefty Rich Hill. Given his injury history, up-and-down performance, and his age, the range of possible outcomes in a deal for Hill is anything from a guy who posts a sub-3.00 ERA over 180ish innings in each of the next few years, to a guy who gives you literally nothing, to a guy who gives you worse than nothing. To that end, it’s hard to predict a contract for Hill, but it sure seems to me like three years and a guarantee in the $40-$50 million range is a worthwhile risk. The Dodgers apparently agree:
  • Hill re-upping with the Dodgers makes plenty of sense given their need and their reported desire not to splurge too extravagantly this offseason. For me, Hill at that price makes plenty of sense for a ton of teams, including the Cubs, but perhaps I’ve become too risk tolerant in an era of repeated Cubs success and increasing spending. If Hill does return to the Dodgers, they’ll continue to be strongly left-handed in the rotation, fronted by Clayton Kershaw and Julio Urias. If they were to land Chris Sale, too? ALL THE LEFTIES. In addition to the Dodgers, the Astros, Nationals, Rangers, Red Sox, and Braves are the teams in on Sale, according to Jon Heyman.
  • [adinserter block=”2″]

  • Speaking of Sale, sources tell Heyman that the Astros’ binge on position players this offseason has been partly so they can make a big run at a guy like Sale or Chris Archer (the two starters specifically named as dudes in whom the Astros have interest).
  • And speaking of the Astros’ binge on position players, they have reportedly signed Carlos Beltran to a one-year, $16 million deal.
  • Mark Melancon might be the first of the bigger three closers to go off the market, and Jerry Crasnick hears he might get upwards of four years and $60 million. Crasnick adds, somewhat unrelatedly, that the closer trade market has been slower to develop, which I wonder if that’s because the teams prefer the Melancon/Kenley Jansen/Aroldis Chapman trio (because, well, they cost only money (and a draft pick for Jensen)). The trade market probably won’t get going until the involved teams know that they aren’t going to be able to land one of those three on what they deem a reasonable deal.
  • Various ESPN writers predict the Winter Meetings, and, in the spirit of fun, Crasnick predicts a Chris Archer trade to the Cubs.
  • Tell me you wouldn’t so watch this:
  • The Rangers are working to bring back Ian Desmond (but apparently are not optimistic). The Mets are working to trade Curtis Granderson and/or Jay Bruce.
  • [adinserter block=”3″]

    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

    Now We Know Why Ian Happ Was Removed Mid-game

    In the top of the seventh inning of today's 8-3 win over the Miami Marlins, Alexander Canario trotted out to left field in place of Ian Happ. At first, we thought (or maybe just hoped) that Craig Counsell was giving...

    Enhanced Box Score: Cubs 8, Marlins 3 – April 19, 2024

    And just like that the Chicago Cubs are the first team in the NL Central to reach 12 wins! They're not technically in first place yet because the Brewers (11-6) have played fewer games, but we're talking about a matter...

    Nico Hoerner and Dansby Swanson with Back-to-Back Slick Defensive Plays

    With a lefty Marlins starter on the mound this afternoon, Nico Hoerner lead off today's game for the Chicago Cubs. And he did it in style, ripping a leadoff double to the left-center field wall, before coming into score a...

    Pre-Gamin’: Marlins at Cubs – Lineups, Broadcast Info, Game Thread

    *The Cubs were rained out yesterday, but today? Today, we've got a Friday 1:20 start at Wrigley Field, and that means all is right in the world. Before you take a look at the Cubs lineup against Miami, check out...

    MLBits: The White Sox Might be the Worst Team Ever, What Games I’m Watching this Weekend, More

    Happy Friday! Well, for everyone except for the pilots who were supposed to be manning the Colorado Rockies flight last week but instead allowed a member of the Rockies coaching staff to hop in the pilot's seat for a fun...

    Can I Interest You in a Positive Injury-Update on Justin Steele?

    Justin Steele, arguably the single most irreplaceable player on the Chicago Cubs 2024 roster, went down with a hamstring injury just 4.2 innings into his Opening Day start against the Rangers on March 28. In his place, the Cubs sixth...

    FAA Reportedly Investigating How a Passenger on Colorado Rockies Team Flight Was Seen Accessing the Cockpit

    If you do this job long enough, it's really wild to see the range of topics that can somehow become attached to sports. That is to say, I did not envision myself at some point writing about flight safety, cockpit...

    Cubs Farm Report | April 19, 2024: Kevin Alcántara is Heating Up!

    The Iowa Cubs were rained out, but the rest of the farm was in action, and so was Kevin Alcántara, who picked up four hits and now has seven in his last three games as he breaks out of an...

    It’s Not Kyle Hendricks Last Chance (But…), Ben Brown, Jameson Taillon, and Other Cubs Bullets

    Well, the rain stole one from us yesterday, which is a blessing and a curse. On the bright side, the bullpen gets an extra day of rest (on top of the day Hayden Wesneski bought them). But on the flip...

    The Chicago Cubs Are Not Stealing Bases So Far This Year

    The Chicago Cubs are against theft. Of bases: https://twitter.com/codifybaseball/status/1781046629103231339 The Chicago Cubs this year have stolen just three bases, the fewest in all of baseball. Dansby Swanson has stolen two bases, Nick Madrigal has stolen one. That's it. I don't...

    Latest News

    Yankees vs. Rays: Start Time, Streaming Live, TV Channel, How to Watch

    Nestor Cortes Jr. takes the mound for the New York Yankees (13-6) when they host starter Zach Eflin and the Tampa Bay Rays (11-9) at 1:05 PM ET on Saturday.Keep reading to find out all the details on how to...

    Reds vs. Angels: Free Live Stream, TV Channel, How to Watch

    The Cincinnati Reds (9-9), led by Spencer Steer, host Mike Trout and the Los Angeles Angels (9-10) at 6:40 PM ET on Saturday.See how to watch the Cincinnati-Los Angeles matchup below.When is Reds vs. Angels and when does it start?This...

    Guardians vs. Athletics: Start Time, Streaming Live, TV Channel, How to Watch

    In a series opener on Saturday, Logan Allen will start for the Cleveland Guardians (13-6) versus Alex Wood and the Oakland Athletics (8-11), with first pitch scheduled for 6:10 PM ET at Progressive Field.Keep scrolling to find out all the...

    Mariners vs. Rockies: Free Live Stream, TV Channel, How to Watch

    The Seattle Mariners (9-10), who will give the ball to Luis Castillo, visit the Colorado Rockies (4-15) with Kyle Freeland on the hill, Saturday at 8:10 PM ET.Find out how to watch the Seattle-Colorado matchup below.When is Mariners vs. Rockies...

    Orioles vs. Royals: Start Time, Streaming Live, TV Channel, How to Watch

    Corbin Burnes will take the mound for the Baltimore Orioles (12-6) when they visit starter Cole Ragans and the Kansas City Royals (12-7) in a series opener on Saturday, with first pitch at 7:10 PM ET.See how to watch the...

    Braves vs. Rangers: Free Live Stream, TV Channel, How to Watch

    The Atlanta Braves (12-5), with Charlie Morton on the mound, host the Texas Rangers (11-9) who will start Nathan Eovaldi, at 7:20 PM ET on Saturday in a series opener.Keep reading to find out how to watch the Atlanta-Texas matchup...

    Astros vs. Nationals: Free Live Stream, TV Channel, How to Watch

    The Houston Astros (6-14), with Ronel Blanco on the mound, visit the Washington Nationals (8-10) who will start Trevor Williams, at 4:05 PM ET on Saturday in a series opener.Find out how to watch the Houston-Washington matchup below.When is Astros...

    Phillies vs. White Sox: Free Live Stream, TV Channel, How to Watch

    The Philadelphia Phillies (11-8), with Zack Wheeler on the hill, host the Chicago White Sox (3-15) who will hand the ball to Mike Soroka, at 6:05 PM ET on Saturday.Keep reading to find out how to watch the Philadelphia-Chicago matchup...

    How to Watch Pirates vs. Red Sox: Live Stream or on TV

    On Saturday, Bryan Reynolds and the Pittsburgh Pirates (11-8) begin a series against Jarren Duran and the Boston Red Sox (10-10) at PNC Park, with first pitch scheduled for 4:05 PM ET.Keep reading to see how to watch the Pittsburgh-Boston...

    Timberwolves vs. Suns Predictions, Best Bets and Odds: NBA Playoffs Game 1 – Saturday, April 20, 2024

    The Phoenix Suns are slight 1.5-point underdogs in Game 1 of the opening round of the NBA Playoffs against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center on Saturday, tipping off at 3:30 PM ET on ESPN. The matchup has an over/under...

    more cubs news