Winter Meetings Monday Afternoon: Nimmo’s Market, Rodon’s Ask, Senga Signing Soon? Cubs Connected to Vázquez, Judge, Angels, Astros, More

The Winter Meetings are off to a great start, and so is the offseason as a whole, really. Here are the 10 biggest free agent deals, so far, with some legitimate top-tier free agents already off the board. This is just SO MUCH better than the ice-out offseasons from 2017-2022.

  • Trea Turner: Phillies (11-years, $300M)
  • Jacob deGrom: Rangers (5 years, $185M)
  • Edwin Diaz: Mets (5 years, $102M)
  • Justin Verlander: Mets (2 years, $86M)
  • Jose Abreu: Astros (3 years, $58.5M)
  • Anthony Rizzo: Yankees (2 years, $40M)
  • Tyler Anderson: Angels (3 years, $39M)
  • Rafael Montero: Astros (3 years, $34.5M)
  • Zach Eflin: Rays (3 years, $34M)
  • Clayton Kershaw: Dodgers (1 year, $20M)
  • I think, when the winter is up, the top-8 free agent deals in terms of total dollars will be held by Aaron Judge, Trea Turner, Carlos Correa, Xander Bogaerts, Jacob deGrom, Dansby Swanson, Carlos Rodon, and Brandon Nimmo. Beyond that, I think Edwin Diaz’s $102M may land 9th, ahead of Kodai Senga and Willson Contreras, neither of whom project to top the $100M mark.

    Alright, here’s what’s up around the rest of baseball.

  • Some general Trea Turner fallout tweets, in case you missed them:
  • Brandon Nimmo’s market is “robust,” with the Mets, Yankees, Blue Jays, and Mariners all involved. According to SNY, the Mets are more likely to sign him after missing out on deGrom (though it’s not like they didn’t hand Justin Verlander a bag), and the Yankees are really only in on Nimmo if they whiff on Aaron Judge. Meanwhile, the Mariners and Blue Jays have been involved in the “left-handed outfielder” market all winter, so that tracks.
  • Circling back to the Mets, if they don’t get Nimmo, they could turn their attention to reported Cubs targets Cody Bellinger and Kevin Kiermaier. Obviously that’s less than ideal, especially for Bellinger who could command a pretty significant salary as is.
  • The Yankees are “very much” in on Carlos Rodon, who’s reportedly seeking a six-year deal, taking him through his age-36 season. I think *asking* for six years is reasonable, but I won’t be surprised if most of Rodon’s offers max out in the five-year range. There’s just too much injury history there. And for the Cubs, I wouldn’t be surprised if any interest, such that it exists at all, would be for far less than that. So basically, I wouldn’t expect them to get seriously involved.
  • It’s always a tough task to translate Japanese articles, but it sure sounds like Kodai Senga is expected to make a decision sooner than later — possibly this week after receiving offers from teams at the Winter Meetings. The Cubs are theoretically very in on Senga, so let’s keep a close eye on this one. He is the highest quality pitcher to whom they’ve been attached. If they don’t get him, the external additions may be of the more mid-to-back-end variety. Still necessary, but far less sexy.
  • I am very happy to see additional, national reporting connecting the Chicago Cubs to free agent catcher Christian Vázquez. The Cubs do have competition, namely the Cardinals, Padres, Guardians, and Twins, but I’d say Vázquez should be a priority for Chicago. Why? Because those other teams are more realistic suitors in the trade market for the trio of Blue Jays backstops or Sean Murphy. Not unlike Senga, if the Cubs whiff on Vázquez, the dropoff is steep.
  • The Houston Astros “are eyeing three left-handed hitting outfielders — Andrew Benintendi, Michael Brantley and Michael Conforto.” The Cubs haven’t really been connected to any of those guys, despite needing a left-handed bat and outfielder
  • Some facts on Aaron Judge’s market, according to Jon Morosi, Judge already has a nine-year, $300M+ offer in hand, the Giants will have to be the clear top bidder to win, and he’s generally expected to sign this week.
  • written by

    Michael Cerami began covering the Chicago Cubs for Bleacher Nation as a part-time contributor in 2015. One year later, he joined Bleacher Nation full-time, covering the Chicago Cubs and Major League Baseball. Today, Michael runs Bleacher Nation, contributing as a writer (Cubs, MLB) and an editor for all sections of the site, including the Chicago Bears, Bulls, and Blackhawks, as well as MLB, NBA, NHL, and NFL. In 2019, Michael was the co-host of NBC Sports Chicago's Cubs Post-Game Show Outside the Ivy. You can find him on Twitter/X @Michael_Cerami

    more cubs news

    The Morel Foul Ball, Madrigal’s D, Busch Heads Up, Langford Respect, and Other Cubs Bullets

    Ah, now the obligatory off-day after Opening Day. And an Opening Day loss no less, which always makes today that much better, right ... You could hang on so many things from the opening loss - one-run losses in heavily-scrutinized...

    Justin Steele Injury Update: New Classification, MRI Tomorrow, IL Stint Coming? Steele and Counsell Speak

    A significant update on Justin Steele came from Craig Counsell tonight after the Cubs extra innings loss in Texas. In short: Yes, a stint on the Injured List is likely for Justin Steele. But we still don't know how severe...

    Enhanced Box Score: Rangers 4, Cubs 3 – March 28, 2024

    It took exactly one day for the Cubs' ace to sustain what may be a significant injury, for their closer to blow a save, for the umpires to significantly impact the outcome of a critical play (this time in the...

    OMG: Michael Busch Scored the 9th Inning, GO-AHEAD Run, Because He Just Never Stopped Running

    That was absolutely incredible. To all the little kids out there, when your coach tells you to never stop running, this is why. Rookie Cubs 1B Michael Busch (the guy the Cubs got from the Dodgers this offseason to be...

    Pre-Gamin’: Cubs at Rangers – Lineups, Pitching Matchup, Broadcast Info, Game Thread

    *SHORT COURTS: It's Time To Bring The Home Court, Home! Looking for a unique way to celebrate your athlete or team before you peruse the FIRST CHICAGO CUBS LINEUP of the Year? Don't miss out! For just one more week...

    The Cubs Are Among the Most Returning-y Teams

    I am still mostly incapacitated at the moment, so apologies for the short shrift on such an otherwise blessed day. In between pokes and prods, I wanted to share a chart I saw that was pretty interesting, even if unsurprising:...

    Maybe the Cubs Are the Favorites in the NL Central, After All?

    ESPN was the first to throw some love the Cubs way this week, with an overwhelming majority of their writers, analysts, and editors picking the Chicago Cubs to win the NL Central in 2024. But the love doesn't end there....

    The Season Begins, Love for Morel, Counsell’s Value, and Other Cubs Bullets

    You know where you want to spend your Opening Day morning? The hospital! Suffice to say, this is not how I imagined getting HYPED for the Cubs' opener. I guess I'll just have to think about all the possible lineup...

    Cubs vs Rangers: The First Series of the Year!

    Cubs vs Rangers — THE REGULAR SEASON IS HERE! Wake up and rejoice. Later tonight, the Cubs will begin their march toward October Baseball against the (reigning World Series champion) Texas Rangers in Arlington. Justin Steele is getting the nod...

    The 2024 Chicago Cubs for Dummies

    Boom. We made it. The offseason is over, and the Cubs regular season - and those elevated expectations - begins tomorrow. But in case you slept through the winter, I'm here to catch you up on everything you need to...

    Latest News

    Marlins vs. Pirates Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – Friday, March 29, 2024

    The Miami Marlins (0-1) are favorites (-132) on the moneyline when they square off against the Pittsburgh Pirates (1-0) Friday at 7:10 PM ET, live on BSFL.Miami's Andrew Jacob Puk and Pittsburgh's Martin Perez have been named the starters for...

    Rays vs. Blue Jays Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – Friday, March 29, 2024

    The Tampa Bay Rays (0-1) and Toronto Blue Jays (1-0) meet Friday at Tropicana Field, starting at 6:50 PM ET on SNET. The Rays are -122 moneyline favorites for the contest, however, the Blue Jays are favored against the spread...

    Astros vs. Yankees Probable Starting Pitchers – March 29

    The New York Yankees (1-0) visit the Houston Astros (0-1) for a road game on Friday at 8:10 PM ET.The Astros will look to Cristian Javier versus the Yankees and Carlos Rodon.Astros vs. Yankees Pitcher Matchup and Game InfoWhen: Friday,...

    Bet $5 with FanDuel Promo Code, Win $200 Bonus Including NCAA Tournament

    This weekend is packed with great sports action including the NCAA Tournament, MLB, and NBA for bettors. Check out the FanDuel promo code to score a $200 bonus if your first $5 bet wins! If you live in NC, you...

    DraftKings Promo Code: Get $150 for $5 Bet on College Basketball and More Sports

    This time of the year on the sports calendar is truly special with the MLB season starting, college basketball in full swing, and much more! Don't miss out on the chance to grab a bonus by using the latest DraftKings...

    Rays vs. Blue Jays Probable Starting Pitchers – March 29

    The Toronto Blue Jays (1-0) play on the road against the Tampa Bay Rays (0-1) at Tropicana Field. The game is set to start at 6:50 PM ET on Friday.The Rays will call on Aaron Civale versus the Blue Jays...

    Marlins vs. Pirates Probable Starting Pitchers – March 29

    The Pittsburgh Pirates (1-0) play on Friday in Miami against the Miami Marlins (0-1). First pitch is at 7:10 PM ET.The Marlins will call on Andrew Jacob Puk against the Pirates and Martin Perez.Marlins vs. Pirates Pitcher Matchup and Game...

    Duke vs Houston Predictions and Odds: March Madness Best Bets

    We have a couple of number-one seeds in March Madness action tonight including Houston (32-4) as the Cougars take on Duke (26-8). Check out the odds and more for Duke vs Houston which tips off tonight at 9:39 pm ET...

    Tampa Bay Buccaneers Offseason Preview: 2024 Free Agents and Team Needs

    The Tampa Bay Buccaneers enjoyed a successful 2023 season, capturing their third straight NFC South title and pushing the Detroit Lions in a thrilling Divisional Round matchup. This strong showing translates to a relatively stable roster with few glaring weaknesses...

    NC State vs Marquette Predictions and Odds: March Madness Best Bets

    March Madness matchups bring us a great battle tonight as 11-seed NC State battles 2-seed Marquette. Check out the odds, stats, and more for NC State vs Marquette which tips off at 7:09 pm ET tonight. NC State vs Marquette...

    more cubs news