Baseball executives headed home Thursday with top free-agent sluggers still on the market and trade talk percolating that could lead to more swaps in coming weeks.
Outfielder Jason Heyward and first baseman Chris Davis figure to strike the largest deals among hitters. The top pitchers already have signed, with David Price getting a $217 million, seven-year contract with Boston and Zack Greinke a $206.5 million, six-year deal with Arizona.
“I think the market is waiting to see what happens with Jason Heyward,” said Arizona general manager Dave Stewart, who finalized Greinke’s deal and acquired Shelby Miller during the winter meetings in Nashville, Tennessee.
Dan Duquette, the Baltimore Orioles’ executive vice president for baseball operations, thinks it is clear why pitchers were pursued first.
“There’s more teams chasing fewer players in that market. Supply and demand,” he said.
Teams announced 10 trades and 11 free-agent signings at the meetings, and several more free agents reached agreements that have not yet been announced.
In moves Thursday as people left, reliever Jonathan Broxton stayed with the St. Louis Cardinals, agreeing to a $7.5 million, two-year contract, and reliever Juan Nicasio agreed to a deal with Pittsburgh, one week after he was cut by the Dodgers.
Reliever Tony Sipp stayed with the Houston Astros for an $18 million, three-year contact, and first baseman Mark Reynolds accepted a $2.6 million, one-year contract with the Colorado Rockies. Those two deals were disclosed by a person familiar with each negotiation who spoke on condition of anonymity because no announcement was made.
Former All-Star reliever Joakim Soria finalized his $25 million, three-year contract to return to the Kansas City Royals.
And there were two trades announced late in the day. The Los Angeles Angels acquired infielder Yunel Escobar from the Washington Nationals for right-handers Trevor Gott and Michael Brady. And the Atlanta Braves dealt 24-year-old catcher Christian Bethancourt to the San Diego Padres for right-hander Casey Kelly and minor league catcher Ricardo Rodriguez.
Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said the feeling-out process in trade talk can be lengthy. He used a surfing analogy.
“You’re sitting on a board, waiting for the right wave to come,” he said. “And if it doesn’t come, you paddle back to shore and walk on the beach, plant the board and then show up the next day and swim on out and see if any more good waves come. And if they do come, you ride it. And if they don’t come, you wait for that right wave.”
Talks with free agents who turned down $15.8 million qualifying offers from their former clubs can be complicated by reticence to give up draft pick compensation.
“They’re getting increased recognition for the value that they provide,” new Angels general manager Billy Eppler said. “Teams have recognized the value of having draft selections.”
