MLB rumors: Free agency tracker and possible trades | Yankees, Dodgers, Phillies...

With the 2022 World Series concluded and the Astros having clinched a title, attention now turns to free agency and which big names will be moving to which teams as clubs try to arm themselves for the coming season. Let’s take a look at some of the major players out there and what the current situation is with their free agency.

Top free agents and their potential moves

José Abreu to the Padres?

The Padres have made it abundantly clear that free-agent first baseman José Abreu is their top priority. Indeed, reports indicate that Abreu spoke San Diego’s officials earlier this month. Add to that the fact that they have vacancies at first base and DH with Josh Bell and Brandon Drury both hitting free agency and it starts to look even more likely. The 35-year-old is coming from nine seasons in Chicago with the White Sox. Named AL MVP in 2020, Abreu is a career .292/.354/.506 hitter with 243 homers and 863 RBIs.

What’s the deal with Aaron Judge and the Yankees?

If Yankees GM Brian Cashman is to be believed, the franchise has made superstar free agent Aaron Judge an updated offer. On top of that, reports also confirm that Judge recently met with Yankees manager general partner Hal Steinbrenner in a meeting that was said to have gone well. Concerning a possible agreement, Cashman had this to say: “It’s in real time, so we’re on the clock. We’re certainly not going to mess around. We’ve made another offer since Spring Training.” It’s important to remember that Judge previously turned down a seven-year, $213.5 million extension offer from the Yankees before Opening Day, which is to say it must be a pretty penny on offer this time around.

Dodgers hopeful about Cody Bellinger

Though most saw it coming, reports indicate that the Los Angeles finally decided to non-tender center fielder Cody Bellinger this past Friday. What that means, is that Bellinger is now a free agent and with that will save the club from a situation wherein they’d have to pay him an estimated $18 million in arbitration. At this point, it’s widely expected that the Dodgers will attempt to re-sign Bellinger on a lower salary, but don’t be surprised if the franchise opts to explore another avenue as they seek to strengthen the roster.

Could Astros’ Verlander be on the way out?

A year ago, Justin Verlander became a free agent a year ago, but it was only a matter of weeks before he returned to the Astros on a one-year, $25 million deal which he managed to negotiate personally with owner Jim Crane. Fast forward to the present, Verlander has just won a World Series and is back on the market once again. While some expect that he’ll once again seek a similar deal, we’ve seen no official word of that move yet and rumor has it that the Mets might be ready to make a move. Watch this space.

What MLB free agents have already moved and where?

Though it’s natural to focus on the rumor mill, there are some free agent deals that have already been pushed through. Let’s take a look at some of the more notable names who have moved on and of course where they landed.