The Angels received word earlier today that Corey Kluber's market was beginning to solidify itself, as others have reported. They are very much interested in him, but were not certain if they were going to be able to get something done.
Scott Boras: "I think you can describe Anthony's personality by how he takes his physicals. They put him on a treadmill, and they can't get his heartbeat up, and he's doing it for 20 minutes."
The Dodgers were under the impression that Anthony Rendon didn't have any real interest in playing for them, and Rendon basically confirmed that today. He spoke highly about the organization, but said during his press conference that the Hollywood lifestyle" of LA "didn't seem like it would be a fit for us as a family." Later, he said: "I think when people think about California, they think about straight Hollywood, that Hollywood glamour, whole bunch of flashes, so much paparazzi."
Angels GM Billy Eppler, on shifting to Anthony Rendon even though the need was starting pitching: "That's one of the primary elements of roster construction — if you're not flexible, you can find yourself out in the cold."
#Lions placed 2 starters on IR: MLB Jarrad Davis and G Joe Dahl on IR. #TBvsDET
Anthony Rendon passed his physical and is now officially a member of the Angels. His deal — 7 years, $245 million — gives the club four players averaging more than $20M a year, along with Mike Trout, Albert Pujols and Justin Upton. Rendon will be introduced inside Angel Stadium at noon PT on Saturday.
Clayton Kershaw, speaking at a Dodgers holiday event, said he was "a little shocked" about the Astros' sign-stealing scandal. "When the team and the players are doing what they can on the field to get the signs, that's obviously part of the game," he said. "But when technology comes into play, if that is really true, it sucks."
What distinguishes MLB from the NBA and NFL? pic.twitter.com/BGNToPyd9T
Josh Donaldson's mom reacted to him buying her a Maserati. It was priceless 🙌 (via @BringerOfRain20) pic.twitter.com/JTJPXpPugb
Brett Anderson gets $5m in his deal w the Brewers, plus potential for $2 million in performance bonuses.
MLB players can smoke weed now. undf.td/2rFrK4X pic.twitter.com/L48Y9wm7X3
Joon Lee: Despite lack of moves, Chaim Bloom bringing change to Red Sox espn.com/mlb/story/_/id…
Yankees Assistant GM Michael Fishman on Brett Gardner's importance to the team: "He's significant in so many ways. He's been on the team longer than anyone else and the constant that he is means a lot to the organization as well as the production on the field. He's coming off one of his best seasons. Not just the additional power he had last year but the continued excellent defense that he's displayed throughout his career. He's a big part of our team."
GM Brodie Van Wagenen called the Mets "the deepest starting pitching rotation in baseball." -- "With Lugo and Gsellman, on top of two added starting pitchers (Wacha, Porcello) we're now staring at eight potential starting pitchers ... As far as Syndergaard, we fully anticipate him to be at the front of our rotation along with Jake and Stroman and these other two guys that we've added and Matz. We're feeling very good about it. Don't have any intention of changing course."
With the retirement of CC Sabathia after the 2019 season, Brett Gardner — who will return on a 1-year, $12.5 million deal — will be the sole remaining player in the clubhouse next year from the Yankees' most recent World Series title team (2009). He'll get at least one shot to help end the Bombers' decade-long Fall Classic drought, after the club failed to appear in the World Series in the 2010s — the first decade that's happened in exactly a century.
GM Brodie Van Wagenen said starting pitching was a priority for the Mets, and they continued to prove that today in reaching a one-year deal with 2016 Cy Young Award winner Rick Porcello. Porcello will be looking to bounce back from a down year in 2019, where he posted a career-high 5.52 ERA over 32 starts. Including Jacob deGrom, Noah Syndergaard, Marcus Stroman and Steven Matz, and after also adding Michael Wacha on a one-year deal, the Mets will have six pitchers competing for five spots.
As expected, the Yankees' longest-tenured player, Brett Gardner, will remain with the team after reaching a one-year, $12.5 million deal. The 36-year-old outfielder, who hit a career-best 28 HR + 74 RBI in 2019, will add a necessary left-handed bat to the Yankee lineup.
Cubs fans!! Here's a chance to bid on an amazing day and a chance to meet @LenKasper and all the broadcasters! cubs.auctions.mlb.com/iSynApp/auctio…*
Two months after retiring from managing the Giants, Bruce Bochy has officially been named the skipper for Team France in the World Baseball Classic qualifier from March 22-27 2020. With the veteran manager in the dugout, France will be competing for a spot in the 2021 WBC.
