The Atlanta Braves won the World Series one week ago Tuesday and already we've seen our first notable trade (Tucker Barnhart to the Tigers), free agent signing (Andrew Heaney to the Dodgers), and waiver claim (Wade Miley to the Cubs) of the offseason. The MLB hot stove is now open for business, though the looming expiration of the collective bargaining agreement threatens to halt activity.
Here, then, are Wednesday's hot stove rumors as the GM Meetings continue in California.
White Sox willing to consider Kimbrel trade
The White Sox recently picked up their $16 million option on high-leverage reliever Craig Kimbrel for the 2022 season, but that doesn't necessarily mean he'll be suiting up for the South Siders next year. Sox GM Rick Hahn recently told reporters as much (via ESPN's Jesse Rogers):
"What we have to figure out is if it makes the most sense to have Craig in a White Sox uniform going forward or is there a better use of that spot and him perhaps via trade."
Kimbrel, 33, joined the White Sox in a deadline trade that sent righty reliever Codi Heuer and second baseman Nick Madrigal to the crosstown to the Cubs. Kimbrel was dominant with the Cubs, saving 23 games and pitching to a 0.49 ERA with 64 strikeouts in 36 2/3 innings, but he struggled badly after the trade, allowing 13 runs in 23 innings before continuing to pitch poorly in the postseason. The Sox are no doubt thinking that some team out there will bet on Kimbrel's regaining his form, and that's a distinct possibility.
The Reds moving into 2022 are choosing to be non-competitive in the name of payroll reduction, and that likely means trades of some of their frontliner veterans. Right-hander Luis Castillo is certainly one possibility, as he's second-year arbitration eligible this offseason and has been a top-tier starting pitcher over the last three years. Needless to say, Castillo will be a popular target among aspiring contenders, and Jon Morosi of MLB Network names the Mariners as one team that has interest.
As Morosi notes, they have a deep farm system from which to deal, and they could use an upgrade in the rotation. As well, Seattle is coming off a 90-win season and lugging around the longest current playoff drought in major North American team sports. Those are strong incentives to fortify the roster going into 2022. Adding the likes of Castillo would certainly qualify as fortifying the roster.
Lefty Eduardo Rodriguez's market seems to be picking up. The free agent recently received a qualifying offer from the incumbent Red Sox, and already the Tigers seem to be heavily interested:
Boston, though, isn't content to let the market pry him away:
Rodriguez, 28, is coming off a somewhat disappointing season in terms of run prevention (4.74 ERA), but he posted the best K/BB ratio of his career. Over the course of that six-year career with the Red Sox, Rodriguez has posted an ERA+ of 110 and made one All-Star team. He profiles as a mid-rotation asset with some upside to be more than that.
