News and Notes: A Pre-Christmas Flurry of Moves
News and Notes for Monday, December 23rd, 2024
Major League Baseball saw a flurry of trades and free agent signings yesterday:
- Joc Pederson signed with the Rangers.
Outfielder Joc Pederson and the Texas Rangers are in agreement on a contract, pending physical, sources tell ESPN. Pederson, 32, hit .275/.393/.515 last year, destroyed right-handed pitching and is regarded as an elite clubhouse presence. First on the news: @Ken_Rosenthal.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 23, 2024
- Sean Manaea signed with the Mets.
BREAKING: Left-hander Sean Manaea and the New York Mets are in agreement on a three-year, $75 million contract, sources tell ESPN. The 32-year-old is running it back with the Mets.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 23, 2024
- The Rangers traded 1B/Dh Nathaniel Lowe to the Nationals for left-handed reliever Robert Garcia.
Left-handed reliever Robert Garcia is headed from the Nationals to the Rangers in the Nathaniel Lowe trade, sources tell ESPN.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 22, 2024
UPDATED: Walker Buehler signed a lucrative one-year deal with the Red Sox:
Right-hander Walker Buehler and the Boston Red Sox are in agreement on a one-year, $21.05 million contract, sources tell ESPN. One of the Dodgers’ World Series heroes and a two-time All-Star will join a rebuilt Red Sox rotation. A high-upside play for both. First: @Russ_Dorsey1.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 23, 2024
Ken Rosenthal wrote a nice story about how Carlos Santana just solid his house in Bratenahl but still chose Cleveland over several other teams and at least one better offer from Seattle:
"I’m so happy coming back,” Santana said. “Cleveland has my respect. The fan base is one of the best. The coaching staff, they know me. Sandy Alomar, I’ve known him for a long time. I know (top executives) Chris (Antonetti) and Mike Chernoff. I know the owner, (Paul) Dolan. I have very good relationships with everyone in the office, in the organization. They love me, and I love it. I’m very excited."
If Santana passes a physical today, he'll be announced as a Guardian. Hopefully he didn't sleep on the couch at his in-law's house last night like I did or, given that he and I are almost the same age, that might be in question considering the state of my shoulder.
Terry Pluto seems to think the trades from the Guardians are mostly about letting young players have a chance to play. He agrees with me that the Guardians see Angel Martinez as an outfielder and believes that Juan Brito is their choice to play second base this season.