MLB rumors: Phillies, Aaron Nola working on reunion, Mets eye ex-Yankee, Angels insist Mike Trout staying

MLB’s offseason continues on Sunday, with simply two weeks final till the yearly iciness conferences. The Brewers formally named Pat Murphy their new supervisor on Wednesday morning, leaving handiest the Padres with a gap. Past that, the rumor mill has began churning. Let’s get to it for Sunday. 

Phillies, Nola progressing on new deal — may Harper observe?

According to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, negotiations between the Phillies and right-handed starter Aaron Nola have “gained significant momentum” in contemporary days. There’s now optimism the 2 facets will achieve an settlement forward of the iciness conferences (which start on Dec. 3).

Nola have been in quest of a seven-year pact value $210 million. The Phillies had countered with six years and $150 million. 

CBS Sports ranked Nola as the second one highest beginning pitcher within the magnificence, in the back of handiest Japanese ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto. 

Nightengale provides that the Phillies are anticipated to speak to superstar Bryce Harper about an extension that will stay him on the town for the remainder of his profession. It’s unclear what number of extra years the Phillies must tack on to make that need a fact — Harper’s present deal is not intended to run out till iciness 2031, when he’s going to be 39 years previous.

Trout no longer to be had 

It seems that Mike Trout will stay with the Angels for no less than some other season. General supervisor Perry Minasian rebuffed inquiries from “several large market teams” that checked in on Trout’s availability, according to Nightengale. 

The probability of Trout being traded this iciness used to be at all times low. Our Mike Axisa lately detailed why: “Trout has missed a lot of time with injuries, he has nearly $250 million remaining on his contract, and he has a full no-trade clause.”

Check again subsequent 12 months when the subject is most probably revisited. 

Dodgers, White Sox speaking Cease

Dylan Cease is among the most sensible starters to be had on the business marketplace. Predictably, the Dodgers are some of the groups with critical pastime in including him to their rotation, according to Nightengale. 

Cease, 27, completed 2d in Cy Young Award vote casting in 2022. He had a down season in 2023, posting a 97 ERA+ and the bottom full-season strikeout charge of his profession. Even so, the Dodgers most probably see him as anyone they are able to lend a hand unencumber a brand new sustained degree of efficiency heading ahead.

Cease is below workforce keep an eye on during the 2025 season.

Braves plotting a large transfer?

The Braves raised eyebrows over the weekend after they cleared greater than $12 million in projected arbitration prizes via trades and non-tenders. That, in flip, has rival executives suggesting that Atlanta is poised to make a touch this iciness, per Nightengale and The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal..

What, exactly, Alex Anthopoulos and staff keep in mind is to be observed — although it is most probably honest to suppose they are going to no less than take a look at in with this iciness’s most sensible unfastened brokers, together with Shohei Ohtani.

Anthopoulos has earned the popularity for being a daring, opportunistic government. In contemporary years, he is accomplished a large number of his paintings via trades, obtaining Matt Olson and Sean Murphy in consecutive winters.

Mets interested by Severino

Count the Mets some of the groups with pastime in free-agent right-hander Luis Severino, according to The Athletic’s Will Sammon.

Severino, a two-time All-Star, posted a 65 ERA+ in 89 innings this season. Nonetheless, he is an intriguing rebound candidate thank you partly to an arsenal that pitch fashions endured to grade smartly.

CBS Sports ranked Severino because the thirty seventh highest unfastened agent to be had this iciness.

Woodruff drawing pastime

Brandon Woodruff, non-tendered by means of the Brewers on Friday following shoulder surgical procedure that would sideline him for many of the 2024 season, is drawing pastime from quite a few groups, according to Rosenthal. That comprises the Brewers, who attempted to signal him to a two-year pact that will have prolonged their workforce keep an eye on by means of a season. Ultimately, the ones talks did not culminate in an settlement, and the Brewers opted to non-tender Woodruff somewhat than business him for a mere go back.

Blue Jays open to shifting Manoah?

The Blue Jays are open to buying and selling right-hander Alek Manoah, according to what rival executives have told Rosenthal. 

Manoah, 25, completed 3rd in Cy Young Award vote casting in 2022. He had a horrific 2023, on the other hand, posting a 5.87 ERA (72 ERA+) and a 1.34 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 19 begins. Manoah used to be demoted to the minors in June and later had his season finish in advance because of bodily problems.

In principle, Manoah would make for a fascinating buy-low candidate. In follow, the Blue Jays won’t wish to business him at what they understand to be his lowest worth.