MLB Free Agency

The early transactions of this offseason's MLB free agency are officially in, and one team's expenses outweigh everyone else by quite the margin.

Jeff Passan of ESPN reported each team's free agent spending this far, and the Los Angeles Dodgers lead the pack with $717 million spent.

The Philadelphia Phillies hold down second place with $172 million while the Arizona Diamondbacks are third with $122 million spent. The Toronto Blue Jays, Chicago Cubs, Seattle Mariners, Miami Marlins, San Diego Padres, Colorado Rockies, Minnesota Twins and New York Yankees have all not spent on any free agents thus far, while the Boston Red Sox, Oakland Athletics and Tampa Bay Rays have all spent less than $2 million.

The bulk of the Dodgers expenses this offseason came with the signing of two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani, who signed a ten-year, $700 million deal with the team Dec. 9. Still, this doesn't take into account the team's trade acquisition of pitcher Tyler Glasnow, who was then signed to a five-year, $135 million contract extension following the trade.

In a similar vein, the New York Yankees acquired outfielder Juan Soto in early December, a move that does not count in this metric.

Numerous big fish remain on the market, including Japanese pitchers Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Shota Imanaga and resurgent slugger Cody Bellinger.

While these availabilites could see some teams, notably the Yankees, Red Sox, Blue Jays and Cubs, shoot up this list, it's pretty safe to say that the Dodgers will retain the top spot throughout the offseason. The Dodgers also remain a contender for Yamamoto, whose price tag could mean the team exceeds $1 billion in spending this offseason.

Japanese starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who is arguably the most-coveted player still available in MLB free agency, is reportedly slated to remain busy as he moves closer toward his decision.

According to MLB.com's Mark Feinsand, Yamamoto is scheduled to meet with the Boston Red Sox "in the coming days," and he is likely to meet with two or more teams after that as well, including the Toronto Blue Jays.

Feinsand noted that Yamamoto already met with the New York Yankees, New York Mets and San Francisco Giants, and Tom Verducci of Sports Illustrated reported Monday that the Los Angeles Dodgers are targeting Yamamoto.

The 25-year-old Yamamoto has starred in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball league since 2017 for the Orix Buffaloes, and he established himself as the most dominant hurler in the league during that time.

In 172 career NBP games, Yamamoto went 70-29 with a 1.82 ERA, 0.93 WHIP and 922 strikeouts over 897 innings pitched.

He was also a five-time All-Star, three-time MVP, three-time pitching Triple Crown winner, three-time Golden Glove Award winner and one-time Japan Series champion

Given his combination of production and youth, it comes as no surprise that Yamamoto is so coveted among the big-market teams in Major League Baseball.

The Red Sox have gone 78-84, missed the playoffs and finished in last place in the AL East in each of the past two seasons, and pitching woes have arguably been the biggest reason why.

Boston ranked 21st in MLB with a 4.52 ERA last season, plus it allowed the seventh-highest batting average to opposing hitters, and the seventh-most home runs.

As of now, the Red Sox are in line to return most of the same starting rotation as they had last season, including Chris Sale, Brayan Bello, Kutter Crawford and Tanner Houck.

That likely won't be good enough to vie for a division title or even a playoff spot in arguably the deepest and most competitive division in baseball in the American League East.

However, signing Yamamoto would give the Red Sox a formidable top of the rotation with Yamamoto, Sale and Bello, and it would perhaps tighten things up in the AL East.

Unfortunately for the Red Sox, they are in direct competition with some of the most prestigious and free-spending teams in baseball when it comes to attempting to sign Yamamoto.

If the Red Sox lose out on Yamamoto to a team like the Yankees, Mets or Dodgers, they may have to turn their attention to a former AL East adversary.

Reigning NL Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell, who also won an AL Cy Young with the Tampa Bay Rays, is by far the best starter available aside from Yamamoto, and former Yankees hurler Jordan Montgomery is in that discussion as well.

After shaking Major League Baseball to its core with the signing of two-time American League MVP Shohei Ohtani, the Los Angeles Dodgers are reportedly looking to make additional splashes on the free-agent market.

According to Tom Verducci of Sports Illustrated, the Dodgers are targeting closer Josh Hader and starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto.

Verducci noted that by deferring $680 million of Ohtani's $700 million in salary until the end of his 10-year contract, they save $23.94 million against the luxury tax annually, and they plan to use those savings to make more signings this offseason.

Since breaking into the big leagues in 2017, Hader has been one of the best relievers in baseball, earning five All-Star selections during that time.

Hader began his career with the Milwaukee Brewers and spent parts of six seasons with the Brew Crew before getting traded to the San Diego Padres in 2022.

After posting a 2.26 ERA, 0.85 WHIP, 96 saves and 482 strikeouts in 282.1 innings over his first five seasons, Hader struggled mightily in 2022.

In 56 games split between the Brewers and Padres, Hader went 2-5 with a career-worst 5.22 ERA and 1.28 WHIP, although he still struck out 81 batters in 50 innings and finished with 36 saves, which were the second-most of his career.

Despite his struggles, the Padres stuck with Hader as their closer in 2023, and he rewarded them by going 2-3 with a 1.28 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 33 saves and 85 strikeouts in 56.1 innings pitched.

While the 29-year-old lefty returned to his dominant ways in 2023, the Padres are seemingly trying to cut costs, making a return to San Diego unlikely for Hader.

The Dodgers were one of the best teams in baseball last season with a 100-62 record, but one thing they lacked was a tried-and-true closer.

Evan Phillips primarily served in that role for the first time in his career, posting a 2.05 ERA and 24 saves, but Brusdar Graterol, Caleb Ferguson, Ryan Yarbrough and Andre Jackson all had multiple saves as well.

Hader would give the Dodgers a pitcher with closing experience in big-game situations, including the playoffs, and it would deepen the bullpen by allowing the likes of Phillips and Graterol to be used more liberally.

Additionally, signing Hader would hurt a divisional rival in the Padres, and help install the Dodgers as an even more substantial favorite in the National League West.

The Dodgers are clearly all in on winning the World Series in 2024 and the years that follow, and signing Hader would undoubtedly be a win-now move.

The New York Yankees appear poised to add another dynamic pitcher to the starting rotation.

Andy Martino of SNY reported that club owner Hal Steinbrenner and others in the front office will be meeting with Japanese pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto in Los Angeles Monday and that the Yankees "are in a solid position in this sweepstakes."

The 25-year-old is widely believed to be the best arm available during this free-agency cycle and has been linked to various teams, including the New York Mets, Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Dodgers.

Yamamoto spent the past seven seasons with the Orix Buffaloes of Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan. He has been a dominant force in that league, posting a 70-29 record with a 1.82 overall ERA. He went 16-6 in 2023 with 1.21 ERA and 169 strikeouts.

He took home three Pacific League MVP awards, three Sawamura awards and was named an NPB All-Star five times. He was officially posted by the Buffaloes following the 2023 season and will make his MLB debut in 2024.

The Yankees have been successful in developing Japanese players in the past, with Masahiro Tanaka and Hideki Matsui being recent examples. There was talk that those two players would be involved with the meetings, but Martino said they would not be in attendance.

The Yankees starting rotation already boasts 2023 Cy Young winner Gerrit Cole and experienced southpaws in Nestor Cortes and Carlos Rodon. Adding the right-handed Yamamoto could solidify this rotation as among the best in the league and help lead the team back to the postseason.

The Boston Red Sox are reportedly registering interest in reigning National League Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell in free agency.

According to WEEI's Rob Bradford, the Red Sox have shown interest in multiple pitchers, and Snell remains "on their radar."

The 31-year-old Snell has spent the past three seasons with the San Diego Padres after previously playing five seasons for the Tampa Bay Rays.

After helping the Padres reach the National League Championship Series in 2022, Snell enjoyed one of his best individual seasons in 2023, going 149 with a 2.25 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 234 strikeouts over 180 innings.

Those numbers were enough to earn Snell his second career Cy Young Award. His first came in 2018 when he won the American League Cy Young Award by going 21-5 with a 1.89 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and 221 strikeouts over 180.2 innings for the Rays.

Last season, Snell became only the seventh player in MLB history to win the Cy Young in both leagues, joining Roger Clemens, Roy Halladay, Max Scherzer, Randy Johnson, Pedro Martinez and Gaylord Perry.

Although the lefty has reached the 30-start mark only twice in his career and led the NL in walks last season with 99, he is still widely regarded as the best starter available in free agency, along with Japanese righty Yoshinobu Yamamoto.

The Red Sox are coming off a 78-84 season, and they have missed the playoffs in back-to-back years.

Pitching played a major role in their lack of success last season, as they were 21st in Major League Baseball in team ERA at 4.52. They also allowed the seventh-highest batting average to opposing hitters at .256 and the seventh-most home runs at 208.

As of now, Boston is returning many of the same starting pitchers that it had on staff last season, including Chris Sale, Brayan Bello, Kutter Crawford and Tanner Houck.

In addition to Snell, it was reported by Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com that the Red Sox are also in the mix for another Padres starting pitcher in Seth Lugo.

Since the Red Sox are not currently aligned to be contenders next season in all likelihood, it is unclear if they would be willing to spend the type of money it would take to land a top-flight, veteran pitcher like Snell.

When comparing Snell's potential deal with other recent starting pitcher contracts, Spotrac projects that he has a value of $24 million per season.

Snell would almost certainly improve Boston's rotation significantly, but that may still not be enough to be competitive in a stacked AL East division that includes three 2023 playoff teams in the Baltimore Orioles, Tampa Bay Rays and Toronto Blue Jays, plus a New York Yankees team that is lining up to be much improved.

The Cincinnati Reds reportedly agreed to a contract with veteran third baseman Jeimer Candelario in free agency on Thursday.

According to ESPN's Jeff Passan, Candelario and the Reds came to terms on a three-year, $45 million deal, continuing what has been a busy offseason for the organization.

After previous stints with the Chicago Cubs and Detroit Tigers, Candelario split last season between the Washington Nationals and Cubs, slashing .251/.336/.471 with a career-high 22 home runs and 70 RBI in 140 games.

The 30-year-old Candelario broke into the majors with the Cubs in 2016 before getting traded to the Tigers the following season.

He spent parts of six seasons with Detroit, signed with Washington for one year and got dealt to the Cubs at the trade deadline last season as a rental meant to help the Cubs reach the playoffs.

While Chicago fell short of the postseason, Candelario enjoyed a career year and parlayed it into a big contract with a team on the rise.

Cincinnati is stacked with young talent both offensively and in the pitching ranks, which is. a big reason why it exceeded expectations last season with an 82-80 record after losing 100 games the previous year.

Candelario has primarily played third base during his MLB career, but he has experience at first base as well, and it was his most played position with the Cubs, appearing in 21 games at first.

The Reds will have the luxury of playing him at either corner infield spot, but first base may prove to be his main position in Cincinnati as the replacement for potential future Hall of Famer Joey Votto, who the Reds opted against re-signing.

Candelario will bring a veteran presence to a lineup that has a chance to be one of the best in baseball in the near future, provided young stars like Elly De La Cruz, Spencer Steer and Matt McLain develop as hoped.

The Reds addressed their pitching earlier in free agency with the signings of Nick Martinez and Emilio Pagán, and now Candelario could prove to be the final piece of the offensive puzzle.