March 2016 - Baseball Wiretap

MLB, Players Agree Upon New Five-Year Collective Bargaining Agreement

Dec 2, 2016 8:02 AM

The MLB and their players' union have reached agreement on a new five-year collective bargaining agreement that will extend through the 2021 season.

The new agreement averts a potential lockout of the players that would have frozen baseball's hot stove and pulled the plug on the major league portion of next week's winter meetings.

The two sides had been negotiating almost continuously for more than 24 hours.

The final hurdle was believed to be an agreement on a new luxury tax system as well as an end to draft-pick compensation for free agents signed by all but a handful of teams.

The luxury-tax threshold will jump from $189 million to $195 million next year, $197 million in 2018, $206 million in 2019, $209 million in 2020 and $210 million in 2021.

ESPN

Tags: Legal

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Pirates 'Almost Certain' To Trade Andrew McCutchen

Dec 1, 2016 4:19 PM

The Pittsburgh Pirates continue to explore trade scenarios involving Andrew McCutchen.

McCutchen is coming off his worst offensive season and a below-average one defensively, according to the advanced metrics. 

McCutchen is signed for $14 million in 2017 with a $14.5 million club option for 2018.

The Washington Nationals remain interested in McCutchen while the Texas Rangers are another potential trade partner.

Dexter Fowler, Ian Desmond and Carlos Gomez are the most prominent center fielders available in free agency.

The Pirates could re-allocate payroll to other areas while also enabling them to move Starling Marte from left to center.

Jeff Passan echoed Ken Rosenthal's report.

Ken Rosenthal/FOX Sports

Tags: Pittsburgh Pirates, Texas Rangers, Washington Nationals, Misc Rumor, Trade Rumor

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Athletics To Sign Matt Joyce

Nov 30, 2016 11:20 AM

The Oakland Athletics will sign Matt Joyce to a two-year, $11 million contract.

Joyce, 32, spent this past season with the Pittsburgh Pirates. He hit .242/.403/.463 with 13 homers, 10 doubles and a triple in 293 plate appearances.

Ken Rosenthal/FOX Sports

Tags: Oakland Athletics, Free Agent Rumor, Misc Rumor, Terms Agreement

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Blue Jays Showing 'Strong Interest' In Dexter Fowler

Nov 30, 2016 8:52 AM

The Toronto Blue Jays have "strong interest" in signing Dexter Fowler, according to a report.

If the Blue Jays land Fowler, they'll likely slide him into one of their corner outfielder spots. Kevin Pillar would remain in center.

Toronto has also been linked to Jay Bruce.

Jon Heyman/FanRag Sports

Tags: Toronto Blue Jays, Chicago Cubs, Free Agent Rumor, Misc Rumor

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Phillies, A.J. Ellis Have Mutual Interest In Deal

Nov 30, 2016 8:47 AM

The Philadelphia Phillies and A.J. Ellis have mutual interest in a deal for the 2017 season.

The Phillies, who acquired Ellis from the Los Angeles Dodgers during last season, consider him both a leader and "unofficial coach."

Jayson Stark/ESPN

Tags: Philadelphia Phillies, Free Agent Rumor, Misc Rumor

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Edwin Encarnacion Expected To Agree To Deal Soon

Nov 30, 2016 8:41 AM

Edwin Encarnacion will likely agree to a contract later this week or early next week, according to agent Paul Kinzer.

Kinzer said the Toronto Blue Jays remain in the picture to re-sign his client and have been "showing Edwin the most love."

Three teams told Kinzer that they are waiting for the resolution of the collective bargaining negotiations before making a formal offer to Encarnacion. He added that two teams have already made "serious" offers.

Rick Westhead/TSN

Tags: Toronto Blue Jays, Free Agent Rumor, Misc Rumor

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MLB, MLBPA Making Progress On New CBA

Nov 30, 2016 11:33 PM

There has finally been progress made in labor talks between Major League Baseball and the players' union , according to sources.

Hope is emerging that a new labor deal will be put in place.

The last big hurdle in collective bargaining talks is the luxury tax.

The current CBA expires on Wednesday.

Buster Olney/ESPN

Tags: Misc Rumor

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Cubs Sign Jon Jay To One-Year, $8M Deal

Nov 30, 2016 11:33 PM

The Cubs have signed outfielder Jon Jay to a one-year, $8 million contract, the team announced Tuesday.

The 31-year-old is a career .287 hitter with a .352 on-base percentage. He has played most of his career with the Cardinals but spent 2016 with the Padres, hitting .291 in 347 at-bats.

ESPN.com

Tags: Chicago Cubs, San Diego Padres, St. Louis Cardinals, Free Agent Rumor, Misc Rumor, Signing

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Yoenis Cespedes Agrees To Four-Year, $110M Deal With Mets

Nov 30, 2016 4:46 PM

Yoenis Cespedes has agreed to re-sign with the New York Mets on a four-year, $110 million deal.

The annual average will be the seventh highest in MLB history.

Miguel Cabrera is the only position player with a high annual average that Cespedes' $27.5 million.

Cespedes will also receive a full no-trade clause in the deal.

Ken Rosenthal/FOX Sports

Tags: New York Mets, Free Agent Rumor, Misc Rumor, Signing

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Mariners Trade Alex Jackson To Braves For Rob Whalen

Nov 29, 2016 8:04 AM

The Seattle Mariners have traded former first-round pick Alex Jackson to the Atlanta Braves for Rob Whalen.

Seattle also acquired Max Povse and will send a player to be named later to Atlanta.

Jackson, 20, was the sixth pick in the 2014 amateur draft.

Associated Press

Tags: Seattle Mariners, Atlanta Braves, Misc Rumor, Trade Rumor

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Twins Hire Michael Cuddyer, LaTroy Hawkins, Torii Hunter As Assistants
The Twins have hired Michael Cuddyer, LaTroy Hawkins and Torii Hunter as special assistants to the baseball operations department.

Associated Press

Dodgers Deny Being Under 'Mandate' To Cut Debt
The Dodgers insist they are under no orders from Major League Baseball to curtail debt, despite a report that indicated otherwise this past weekend.

Doug Padilla/ESPN

CBA Talks Might Impact Winter Meetings
Club officials are aware of the possibility that teams won't participate in the winter meetings if there isn't significant progress in labor talks, according to sources.

Buster Olney/ESPN

Edinson Volquez Agrees To Two-Year, $22M Deal With Marlins
The Marlins have agreed to a two-year, $22 million deal with Edinson Volquez, according to a source.

Jim Bowden/ESPN

Yankees Won't Go Five Years, $100M For Aroldis Chapman
The Yankees are believed to be the front-runners to land Aroldis Chapman, but not if his price tag reaches five years and $100 million, according to a report.

New York Post

Luxury Tax Threshold Could Increase To $200M
There have been reports that the luxury tax threshold could increase to $200 million from the current $189 million mark under the new collective bargaining agreement.

George A. King III/New York Post

CBA Talks Progress With Lockout Deadline Looming
Sources are finally expressing optimism that an agreement can be reached before owners impose a lockout.

Jayson Stark/ESPN

Ryan Braun: I Don't Know If I'll Be With Brewers Next Year
Ryan Braun isn't sure if he'll be with the Brewers when spring training begins.

ESPN

Mariners Acquire Jean Segura From Diamondbacks For Taijuan Walker
Seattle also received outfielder Mitch Haniger and left-hander Zac Curtis, while Arizona landed shortstop Ketel Marte.

ESPN

Braves, Sean Rodriguez Agree To Two-Year, $11M Deal
The Braves have agreed to a two-year, $11 million deal with Sean Rodriguez, according to a source.

ESPN

Alex Guerrero To Play In Japan Next Season
Former Dodgers utility man Alex Guerrero has signed with the Chunichi Dragons of the Nippon Organization in Japan.

MLB.com

Giants Deny Interest In Pablo Sandoval
A Boston Herald report on Saturday cited a baseball source claiming the Giants had discussed bringing back Pablo Sandoval.

MLB.com

Yoenis Cespedes Could Receive Five-Year Deal
The Mets remain optimistic that they can re-sign Yoenis Cespedes, but the growing sense is that the slugger will receive a five-year offer on the open market.

R.J. Anderson/CBS Sports

Aroldis Chapman Would 'Love To Be A Yankee Again'
The Yankees traded Aroldis Chapman to the Cubs, who went on to win the World Series, but the closer is open to a return.

Ray Negron/NY Sports Day

Report: Lockout On Table As CBA Nears Expiration
Major League owners "will consider" a player lockout if a new collective bargaining agreement between the league and the MLB Player's Association can’t be found, according to a report.

Ken Rosenthal/FOX Sports

Tigers Have Placed High Asking Prices On Veterans
The Tigers want to shed salary, but have placed high asking prices on a number of their expensive, veteran players.

Buster Olney/ESPN

Market For Carlos Beltran Down To Four Teams
Carlos Beltran is expected to land a one-year deal in the $15 million to $18 million range.

Joel Sherman/New York Post

Matt Wieters Injures Left Arm In 'Household Accident'
Matt Wieters hurt his non-throwing arm in a "household accident" earlier this offseason, but he is expected to be ready for Spring Training.

Brittany Ghiroli/MLB

Twins Agree To Three-Year Deal With Jason Castro
The Twins have agreed to a three-year, $24.5 million deal with Jason Castro.

ESPN

Dodgers Interested In Re-Signing Chase Utley
The Dodgers remain "very open" to re-signing Chase Utley to be part of their infield.

R.J. Anderson/CBS Sports