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MLB Winter Meetings report, Day 1: News, notes and rumors
Mark Melancon was the biggest splash of the first day baseball's annual Winter Meetings, heading to his third team, the San Francisco Giants, in a year. Drew Hallowell/Getty Images

MLB Winter Meetings report, Day 1: News, notes and rumors

Day one of baseball’s Winter Meetings are in the books, and the flurry of action that frames this annual event are both underway and still stirring. Day one brought the expected headline moves, as well as the building blocks that could lead to even bigger announcements to come. And it was far from limited to just pending trades and signings, as the building blocks for Winter Meetings to come were put into place as well.

So what were the headlines that took the lead on Monday in National Harbor, Michigan, as well as what is line to take place today? Here’s a look at the Winter Meetings as they have developed thus far, and what is on deck for today.

News & Notes

Bud Selig and John Schuerholz were officially presented as members of the Baseball Hall of Fame, a day after they were announced as the initial members of the class that will be inducted next summer in Cooperstown.

Selig also delved back into his career his 17-year career as commissioner, especially dealing with the PED issues that ran rampant during the game. He lamented that maybe he ‘should have done more’, but that is was an impossibly difficult issue to corral at the time. “Honestly, I don’t know what else I could have done. That’s my answer”, said the commissioner emeritus.

The topic of Bryce Harper’s potentially historic run as a free agent in the winter of 2018 was broached with Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo, who made his perception of the forthcoming situation predictably hazy. While Rizzo stated that the team does not discuss such private issues as player contractual status, he was not alone in commenting on his crown jewel’s future with the team. Under the condition of anonymity, a source within the Nationals front office told USA Today’s Bob Nightengale that the team is prepared to move on from Harper if he rumored demands of a $400 million deal are true. So, while 2018 is still reasonably far off and both sides have time to reach a common ground, the fireworks are beginning to be packed for what should be an exciting Winter Meetings to come. 

Signings

The San Francisco Giants made the biggest waves of the day when they inked closer Mark Melancon to a four year, $62 million contract. It stands as the biggest deal ever given to a relief pitcher… for now. With Kenley Jansen still waiting to come to terms and Aroldis Chapman standing to definitely rewrite the book on reliever contract heights, Melancon’s status as holder of history in this area is definitely temporary, but notable all the same. It proves how important solving the woes that plagued (and ultimately ended) the Giants season were for GM Bobby Evans. They now have pitcher that has saved more games (98) than any other in baseball over the past two years in tow and have checked off the box next to their biggest need of the year. 

The Dodgers kept pitcher Rich Hill aboard, signing the lefty to a three year, $48 million deal. It was a bit longer of a contract that would be traditionally given to a pitcher that will turn 37 by opening day, but due to the scarcity of arms on the market, the duration of the deal is not surprising. And it is not as if Hill was not strong when on the mound last year, working to a 2.12 ERA between Oakland and LA. He stands to slot in between Clayton Kershaw and Kenta Maeda atop the Dodgers staff next year.

Late on Sunday, Matt Holliday officially brought his long tenure as a St. Louis Cardinal to a close, as he agreed to a one-year deal with the New York Yankees for $13 million. Holliday will slot into the designated hitter role in the Bronx and stands to be a vital veteran presence in an increasingly young Yankee clubhouse.

Steve Pearce agreed to a two-year deal to move over to the Toronto Blue Jays. Pearce profiles as a flexible option that can play some first base as well as right field, and potentially some second base too. As the Jays restructure their lineup and potentially prepare for life after both Edwin Encarnacion and Jose Bautista, they are not dragging their heels in playing the waiting game.

Veteran setup man Joaquin Benoit signed a one-year deal with the Philadelphia Phillies as well. He is the most recent effort to add more experienced arms to the Philly pen, as the club already added Pat Neshek to their offering earlier this offseason. 

What’s on the stove today?

The Washington Nationals and Chicago White Sox are rumored to be deep into conversations regarding Chris Sale making the move to the nation’s capital. The Nationals are all in on the blockbuster trade market and it appears that Sale has become a more feasible option than Andrew McCutchen for the time being. Talks between the Nats and Pirates are said to be at an impasse, due to Pittsburgh asking for a higher prospect price than Washington values McCutchen at currently. There have been no such misgivings apparently for Sale, whom the Nats have been allegedly willing to move both top prospects Lucas Giolito and Victor Robles for.

Edwin Encarnacion is the most discussed positional player on the open market, but his demand seemingly has cooled for the moment as his terms are said to be higher (and perhaps longer) than many teams are willing to. The Houston Astros were linked to the slugger through the weekend, but a handful of new teams, including the Cleveland Indians and Colorado Rockies, emerged as possibilities late Monday night. His negotiations could stretch late into the week, and perhaps beyond the Meetings at the current rate.

The closer market is developing now that Melancon has fallen out of the fold. Aroldis Chapman is said to be requesting a six-year deal, and one that could travel in the range of $100 million. The New York Yankees are high on Chapman, but do not seem to want to go beyond five years for his services.

Likewise, the Miami Marlins are interested in Chapman, but also are high on Kenley Jansen. The team was said to be willing to wait to see what the first of two closers signed for and pursue the remaining one based off of that, but ever petulant owner Jeffrey Loria does could decide to strike at any moment. They are said to be higher on Jansen than Chapman, regards of the fact that the former Dodger closer has a compensation pick attached to him and Chapman does not.

The St. Louis Cardinals are being aggressive in the center field upgrade market. Per Ken Rosenthal, the club has both spoken with and submitted an offer to Dexter Fowler’s representation, but they are not stopping there. The team is considering options from a pair of Kansas City Royals outfielders, Jarrod Dyson and Lorenzo Cain, as well as looking at a few other options too, including adding a platoon-worth option.

American League home run champ Mark Trumbo was one of the most discussed names on Monday, but nothing has been finalized for his services yet. The Rockies were a surprising serious entrant into the sweepstakes for him, especially considering it would cost them the 11th pick in next June’s Draft to acquire him. 

The Orioles and Trumbo have continued to talk about a potential reunion between the two sides, but are said to be around $20 million apart on terms. ESPN’s Jayson Stark is says that if Trumbo is willing to come down to the three year range however, the two could find some common ground on making a deal happen. The two sides are set to meet again on Tuesday.

 

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