July 2018 - Washington Nationals Wiretap
The Washington Nationals have agreed to a two-year, $19 million deal with Anibal Sanchez, according to multiple reports.
Sanchez is the second pitcher the Nationals have signed this offseason. They landed Patrick Corbin on a six-year, $140 million deal earlier this earlier.
The 34-year-old had a 2.83 ERA in 24 starts for the Atlanta Braves last season.
The Los Angeles Dodgers have interest in signing Bryce Harper in free agency, but sources say they do not want him on the type of long-term, record-setting contract Scott Boras is seeking.
The Dodgers could look to sign Harper on a short-term deal with a high average salary and opt-outs. But the Dodgers already have too many outfielders and they also have luxury tax concerns.
Matt Kemp or Yasiel Puig could be dealt to the Reds.
The Dodgers are currently committed to Cody Bellinger center.
First baseman Matt Adams is returning to the Washington Nationals on a one-year, $4 million deal, according to multiple reports.
The left-handed slugger finished last season with the St. Louis Cardinals after being waived by the Nationals in a salary dump in August.
The World Series champion Red Sox owe $11,951,091 in luxury tax for having baseball's top payroll, according to final calculations by the commissioner's office obtained by The Associated Press. The only other team that owes is the Washington Nationals, who must pay $2,386,097, their second straight year with a bill.
Because Boston was more than $40 million over the tax threshold, it also became the first team to incur a new penalty put in place for the 2018 season: the top Red Sox selection in next June's amateur draft will be dropped 10 places. Boston's top pick had been projected to be No. 33 overall before the penalty.
The Washington Nationals have traded Tanner Roark to the Cincinnati Reds for right-hander Tanner Rainey.
Roark expected to be pitching in Washington's rotation alongside Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg and newcomer Patrick Corbin.
"I felt like we would have a pretty good staff over there in D.C., but they thought otherwise, and I don't know what their plans are," Roark said. "I'm just grateful to be a National. It was good times over there."
Roark, 32, made $6,475,000 last year, and he is eligible for arbitration. He can become a free agent after next season.
The Philadelphia Phillies will meet with the agents for Bryce Harper and Manny Machado this week.
Harper is represented by Scott Boras, while Dan Lozano is the agent for Machado.
According to sources, the Phillies prefer signing Machado to Harper.
"I'm not going to telegraph our intentions here," Matt Klentak said. "We are trying to get better and we're trying to move the needle wherever we can. At the same time, we're not going to sit around and be held hostage by one or two players. If there are moves to make in the short term that make sense for us, we're going to do that. If it works out that there are players that fit for us down the road and it makes sense, then great. But we're not going to sit around and wait."
The Washington Nationals don't expect to re-sign Bryce Harper, says owner Mark Lerner.
The Nationals made it clear to Harper and agent Scott Boras that they maxed out with their offer at the end of the regular season.
"I really don't expect him to come back at this point," Lerner told 106.7 The Fan. "I think they've decided to move on. There's just too much money out there that he'd be leaving on the table. That's just not Mr. Boras' M.O. to leave money on the table."
According to reports, Harper rejected a 10-year, $300 million offer from Washington in September.
"When we met with them and we gave them the offer, we told them, 'This is the best we can do.' We went right to the finish line very quickly," Lerner added. "And we said, 'If this is of interest to you, please come back to us and we'll see whether we can finish it up.' But we just couldn't afford to put more than that in and still be able to put a team together that had a chance to win the NL East or go farther than that."
Patrick Corbin has agreed to sign with the Washington Nationals.
Corbin is a two-time All-Star.
Corbin's deal will be worth more than Yu Darvish's six-year, $126 million deal with the Chicago Cubs last offseason.
Cleveland dealt All-Star catcher Yan Gomes to the Washington Nationals on Friday night.
In return, the three-time defending AL Central champions got right-handed pitcher Jefry Rodriguez, minor-league outfielder Daniel Johnson, and a player to be named. Team president Chris Antonetti called Johnson and Rodriguez "upper-level prospects" who should be able to help the Indians in the next few seasons.