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MLB RUMORS — It’s the first official Lukewarm Stove of the 2024-2025 MLB Offseason! There are still so many hurdles to clear before teams get serious about free agency and trades — the GM Meetings (underway!), the Qualifying Offer Decisions, the Tender Deadline, etc. — but we’re here. It has arrived.
For the Cubs, the rumors have already begun to trickle out. The highest-profile player they’ve been connected to so far is former Braves starter Max Fried. But Danny Jansen, Sean Manaea, A.J. Minter, and a handful of other players have been in their general radius, as well. One other player who’s been connected to the Cubs is free-agent starter Nathan Eovaldi, and that’s where we’ll start today, with an update on his potential suitors.
Braves Want Nathan Eovaldi
Back at the end of October, Nathan Eovaldi was the only other rumored pitcher of interest (outside of Max Fried) connected to the Chicago Cubs by The Athletic. Here’s what Patrick Mooney had to say at the time:
“Max Fried would fit that description as a consistent, high-level performer throughout his time with the Atlanta Braves. So would Nathan Eovaldi, assuming he declines his $20 million player option with the Texas Rangers for next season. Both pitchers also have World Series experience ….
Eovaldi, who will be 35 next season, would represent more of a short-term commitment. Eovaldi has a 9-3 record and a 3.05 ERA in 17 playoff appearances, earning World Series rings with the Rangers and Boston Red Sox. He led the American League in walk rate in 2021 and finished in the top 10 in that category again this year.”
But if the Cubs do want to get serious about Eovaldi, they’re going to have some competition from Atlanta. According to Braves beat writer Mark Bowman, Eovaldi ranks “near the top of the Braves’ wish list, according to an industry source.” And Bowman goes on to quote Rangers President Chris Young, who says they’re also going to work to bring Eovaldi back.
If the Cubs, Rangers, and Braves are all interested in the 34-year-old righty, these early projections may ultimately prove light:
ESPN: 2 years, $45M
MLBTR: 2 years, $44M
FanGraphs: 3 years, $48M
The Athletics: 2 years, $45M
Brent Rooker Is Staying Put? What About Bichette and Guerrero Jr.?
If the Cubs are going to add an impact bat this offseason, it’ll probably have to come via trade. But one of the more exciting (and plausibly available) targets, Brent Rooker, might not be so available after all.
Now, let’s be honest. This would HARDLY be the first time a GM has lied about the availability of a player. All he has to say is that the circumstances changed or he was overwhelmed by the offers, etc, and it all goes out the window. It doesn’t really serve him to tell the world “Oh yeah, we’re totally going to move him this offseason.” But it’s at least possible that he’s telling the truth.
Of course, the fact that Rooker is arbitration-eligible for the first time this winter (taking his salary from the minimum to around $5M+) sure makes a trade feel more likely than the A’s are letting on. I don’t know exactly how the Cubs would fit Rooker into the equation, but if a 29-year-old who just hit 39 HRs with a 164 wRC+ becomes available, they should try to get creative.
On a related tangent … It seems cold water is being thrown on potential trade chips all around the league, though I actually believe this one a bit more:
Bichette is not really a Cubs target anymore, but this does feel notable as he was the more likely to be moved upcoming free agent from the Blue Jays. The other guy, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., is someone we’ve been pining over for a couple of years now, as it seemed at least plausible that he could be dealt. But unlike Bichette, who has seemed more open to a trade, Guerrero Jr. has said that he wants to stay in Toronto.
They’d have to extend him to a pretty big deal to make that happen – especially after the monster season he just had – but they had the money for Shohei Ohtani and they are reportedly planning a pursuit of Juan Soto too. So Toronto has enough to extend Guerrero Jr. if they want. And if they’re not trading Bichette, well … they’re probably going for it next year.
Which Teams Need Starting Pitching?
Circling back to the free agent starting pitching market, Jon Morosi lists some of the interested parties, which feels notable given that we know the Cubs are involved (indeed, they are mentioned): “…The right teams that tend to spend big are all in the market for starting pitching … The Orioles, they need a starter. Max Fried’s most recent team, the Braves, they need a starter. The Giants, the Padres, the Dodgers, the Yankees, maybe the Cubs…the right teams are involved here.”
Morosi goes on to say that it’s still 50/50 “at best” that Roki Sasaki will be posted this winter. Though that’s been all over the place in terms of reporting.
And lastly, Morosi suggests that starter Nick Pivetta has a particularly strong market because of his underlying statistics, particularly K/9. However, with a qualifying offer on the table (or draft pick compensation attached if he declines), I probably wouldn’t bet on him starting for the Cubs next season.