Winter Meetings Monday Evening: Angels Talk Catcher Trade, Padres Trade, Reds and Ozuna, Braves Want Impact, More

It’s almost my bedtime (only a mild exaggeration here in the Eastern Time Zone with small children), but it’s still before dinner out in San Diego, where the first day of the Winter Meetings are in full swing.

Before we get into any of the other rumors, a reminder that there’s hope the Cubs and Javy Baez’s reps will talk about an extension this week, and if so, Javy looks ready:

How’s that Javy extension coming along? pic.twitter.com/hhOMoVOPyY

— Northside Baseball (@nsbbcom) December 9, 2019

Do it. Extend him. This week. On to the rumors …

Suggestive emoji:

Also, #Angels are heavily engaged in the catcher market, have 6-8 options. GM Billy Eppler said they have active conversations with two teams regarding a trade for a catcher.

— Maria Torres (@maria_torres3) December 10, 2019

Assuredly, that could be a variety of players not currently on the public radar – that happens all the time – but the catchers that were known to be available in trade and that would be viewed as nice upgrades for the Angels were probably limited Omar Narvaez (since traded to the Brewers) and, of course, Willson Contreras.

Brewers gonna spend big on a shortstop? They have the money, and Luis Urias could play third base:

#Brewers remain interested in Didi Gregorious, sources said.

— Robert Murray (@ByRobertMurray) December 10, 2019

Get away from Shogo, you goobers:

Hearing #Rays are among many teams that have had internal discussions about and expressed interest in Japanese outfielders Shogo Akiyama and Yoshitomo Tsutsugo.

— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) December 9, 2019

Shogo Akiyama, a Cubs target, is reportedly at the Winter Meetings as we speak.

So, remember the big Rays/Padres trade involving Tommy Pham, Hunter Renfroe, and prospects? There’s a hold-up, at least from the Padres’ perspective (thought they expect things to be finalized in the next day):

AJ Preller about to address media. We’ll see what he says re: Tommy Pham & where trade is at. Physicals Pham underwent this weekend w/ elbow specialist in Dallas did not provide full clarity. Deal still expected to happen, but there were clearly concerns as of couple hours ago.

— Kevin Acee (@sdutKevinAcee) December 9, 2019

#Padres: General Manager A.J. Preller on the status of the Tommy Pham trade, the concern over Profar's arm, whether they will add more starting pitching and more: pic.twitter.com/1qIoKhe8gO

— Annie Heilbrunn (@annieheilbrunn) December 10, 2019

The Rays basically say that Pham is fine and they consider the deal done (TB Times). So that’s kinda weird.

Meanwhile, the Reds are looking at Marcell Ozuna to add yet another bat to their mix:

#Reds not done trying to add high-priced offense after signing Moustakas. They are among the teams interested in free-agent outfielder Marcell Ozuna, sources tell The Athletic. Earlier this week, @Ctrent wrote about their direction: https://t.co/8MvCrpRZJN

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 9, 2019

Adding Ozuna – at a steep price, and attached to draft pick compensation – would give the Reds a dedicated left fielder, and would allow them to otherwise mix/match/protect/deploy the Jesse Winker, Nick Senzel, Aristides Aquino, Phillip Ervin group. That’d be a heckuva group of five outfielders (if the Reds kept them all).

Do you need more Gerrit Cole stuff? Of course you do, because he’s going to get an obscenely large contract, and the signing could have so many ripple effects:

Cole’s final payday is now expected to exceed $300 million — and not by a penny or two. Nine years at $324 million is $36M on avg per year and that is probably not a bad over/under. What Strasburg signed for would move me to take the over on Cole.

— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) December 9, 2019

Cashman has landed in San Diego and is expected to make an offer to Cole today. With @JeffPassan saying Strasburg got 7/245 from Nats, have to believe Cole gets 8 years. Yanks saying they will make “very, very competitive offer.”

— Jack Curry (@JackCurryYES) December 9, 2019

Angels indeed said to be very aggressive on Cole. No surprise.

— Andy Martino (@martinonyc) December 9, 2019

Speaking of the Strasburg deal, some more details:

Strasburg deal with #Nationals: $35M per season from 2020 to ‘26, including $11.428,571.43 each year deferred with 1 percent simple interest ($80M total deferred). Per @Joelsherman1, deferrals will be paid in first three years after contract expires.

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 9, 2019

Strasburg deal also includes full no-trade clause plus following incentives: $500K for MVP, $250K for 2nd, $150K for 3rd, $100K for 4th, $75K for fifth; same breakdown for Cy Young; $250K for World Series MVP; $100K for All-Star; $100K for Gold Glove; $100K for Silver Slugger.

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 9, 2019

Braves are currently chilling, but they remain in the market for a big bat at third:

#Braves' Anthopoulos on possible moves, said nothing imminent or close: "I don't feel like anything has changed from where we were a week ago." But he added that, of course, that could all change with one phone call.

— David O'Brien (@DOBrienATL) December 9, 2019

Anthopoulos said #Braves still looking to add a big bat — ideally at third base, but that it could also come in the form of an outfielder. Also reiterated they want to add a defensive-minded backup 3B.

— David O'Brien (@DOBrienATL) December 9, 2019

If they aren’t inclined to re-up with Josh Donaldson for 3+ years, then it might be Kris Bryant or bust if they want a shorter-term, big impact.

Speaking of which:

Not surprising, but there is growing expectation Donaldson will end up with a four-year deal. One thing to keep in mind is the possibility the DH could be added to the NL after the 2021 season.

— Mark Bowman (@mlbbowman) December 9, 2019

That’s the second time this idea that the DH coming to the NL could impact free agent negotiations (Nick Castellanos was the first). Seems like a pretty risky strategy when no one with the league has given off an air of inevitability when it comes to the NL DH.

Adam Frazier’s extremely high-contact bat is probably attractive to the Cubs:

Was told earlier the Pirates have been getting calls on Adam Frazier. Apparently other teams have noticed what was a pretty solid year for him in 2019.

— Jason Mackey (@JMackeyPG) December 9, 2019