What I'm hearing on Tarik Skubal and the biggest MLB rumors at GM Meetings - USA Today

LAS VEGAS — They dined, rolled the dice, pulled the slots, and did a whole lot of talking before departing Thursday from the Major League Baseball General Manager meetings at the Aria Resort & Casino.

GMs and executives said they talked to every single team and dozens of agents, but the only major move was Atlanta signing veteran free-agent reliever Evan Phillips to a three-year, $35 million contract.

While the Milwaukee Brewers have become the gold standard, as Erik Neander, Tampa Bay Rays president of baseball operations said on his way out of town, the World Series championship serves as a subtle reminder that minor moves, or even gambling by trading away proven veterans for prospects, can pay massive dividends.

Executives have no idea whether there will be a salary cap, a modified economic system or the status quo, but they know they need to be ready to act, and can’t afford to just sit back and wait.

There will be a flurry of signings beginning Thanksgiving weekend right up until 11:59 p.m. Dec. 1, and potential trades waiting for those who miss out on their desired free agents.

“In terms of evaluating players, talking to agents and individual players,’’ A.J. Preller, Padres president of baseball operations said, “we’ve been doing what we do every offseason. It’s hard to predict what’s going to happen, or what the exact system is going to be, but if we see something that makes sense, wer’e going to be prepared to act on it.’’

– The New York Mets are downplaying their chances of signing Skubal to everyone who’ll listen, but their rivals believe that they could be the Los Angeles Dodgers' stiffest competition for his services. The Dodgers, San Diego Padres and Toronto Blue Jays joining the Mets with scheduled meetings with Skubal before Thanksgiving.

– Skubal and agent Scott Boras is making it clear to teams they have no interest in a short-term deal, and yes, you better come in with an offer exceeding $325 million if you want a seat at the high-stakes table.

– The Toronto Blue Jays, who signed Dylan Cease to a six-year, $210 million contract last winter, are poised to be in the running for Skubal, and if they don’t land him, will pivot to the likes of Michael King, Trevor Rogers and Sonny Gray and Tyler Mahle. And yes, if Kevin Gausman and Max Scherzer want to return, they’ll talk to them too.

“If you saw Scherzer’s last game," Boras said, “you’ll understand he’s far from Max’d out."

– The Milwaukee Brewers are telling teams that All-Star catcher William Contreras is staying put, and that they’d love to sign him to a contract extension. They are listening to offers, however, for closer Trevor Megill.

– The San Francisco Giants will not trade ace Logan Webb, no matter how many teams continue to ask for the ace. The Giants want to add starters, but subtract, and are interested in seeking at least two free-agent starters, but that the Skubal’s price-tag is too high for their liking.

– Alex Anthopoulos, Atlanta president of baseball operations, made it loud and clear that Ronald Acuña Jr. is staying put, saying there have been zero conversations about trading him, and there will be none.

– The Phillies may not be interested in bringing him back, but infielder Alec Bohm has become a big attraction with the Yankees and Mets, meeting with each team in Las Vegas. Bohm hit .248 with 15 homers and 88 RBIs, and had a terrific second half hitting .298 with 41 RBIs.

– The Padres, with the new ownership of Kwanza Jones and Jose E. Feliciano declaring they're "all in" are interested in virtually every single starting pitcher in hopes of remaking their rotation.

“I think the biggest thing with Kwanza and Jose is they got a taste of it," Preller said of last season, “seeing a team go back to the playoffs, playing a super competitive series in the Division Series. They have an appetite to put a really good team on the field, understanding that it takes resources and it takes people to do that.’’

– Japanese slugger Teruaki Sato is the position player everyone wants, and he’s the top position player choice for the Phillies, Yankees, Mets and Padres. He likely will wind up playing the outfield, scouts insist.

– Rival teams say they would be stunned if the Boston Red Sox don’t trade Jarren Duran this winter after hitting a career-low .207 with a .266 on-base percentage and .361 slugging percentage. If they move Duran, it could put them in line for free-agent outfielder Randy Arozarena.

“He’s a model of consistency and he’s done it in a market where right-handed hitters go to die," Boras said of Arozarena. “He’s 20-20 every year, multiple All-Star teams… This rose has no thorns, and all the teams, frankly, they’re feeling really Randy."

– The Chicago Cubs, who have five free-agent starters, would love to bring back Clay Holmes and David Peterson.

– The Phillies informed several agents they don’t believe prized infield prospect Aidan Miller will be ready to be an everyday player at the outset of next season, and will need more time in the minor leagues.

– The Minnesota Twins told agents that they plan to spend money this winter, and that includes bringing back free-agent catcher Ryan Jeffers, who plans to reject their $23.15 million qualifying offer.

“We have made it clear that we’d love to have him back,’’ GM Jeremy Zoll said.

– The Tampa Bay Rays plan to keep ace Drew Rasmussen, who’s one year away from free agency, but could trade Shane McClanahan or Ryan Pepiot to fit in the return of free agent starter Nick Martinez.

– Free agent left fielder Ian Happ, the four-time Gold Glove winner with the Chicago Cubs, is drawing serious interest from the Seattle Mariners, who badly want to improve their defense.

“The left side of our infield, the left side of our outfield," Jerry Dipoto, Mariners president of baseball operations said, “are both areas of need. ... A priority for us is to get better offensively, but the max priority is to button up our defense.’’

– Teams have inquired about veteran infielder Ernie Clement from the Blue Jays and Athletics shortstop Jacob Wilson, while free-agent shortstop J.P. Crawford is drawing interest with the Mariners having no interest in bringing him back.

– Teams may be reticent trading for a player with only one year remaining on the contract considering that the pending lockout could shorten the 2027 season, but then again, if you win a World Series title, it still counts the same.

“I’m not saying it’s not in the back of people’s minds,’’ Dave Dombrowski, Phillies president of baseball operations, “but I think everybody feels at some point you’re going to have a season. So even if you have a shortened season, if you got a guy that helps you win a championship, you’re happy with it.’’

– The Padres are considering returning Fernando Tatis Jr. to the infield if they land a free-agent outfielder, moving him to second base. While he has been a Gold Glove outfielder, he had a .769 OPS playing in right field last season but a .974 OPS at second base.

– While the Seattle Mariners are expected to trade one of their starting pitchers for position player help, such as George Kirby or Emerson Hancock, Dipoto declared at the GM meetings that prized pitching prospect Ryan Sloan is off limits.

– Veteran reliever Jonathan Loaisiga was left having to sign a minor-league contract last spring with the Arizona Diamondbacks, but after his stellar season, yielding a 2.42 ERA in 67 innings, he now may receive a multi-year big-league deal.

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