Royals' Core Group Heads for Free Agency

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November 7, 2017 https://www.milb.com/storm-chasers/news/chasers-nab-10th- LOCAL straight-best-of-omaha-honor/c-260789200 Royals' core group heads for free NATIONAL agency Club's finances will dictate who it will try to Finalists for BBWAA awards unveiled bring back November 6, 2017 By John Schlegel/MLB.com November 6, 2017 By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com http://m.mlb.com/news/article/260802304/2017-bbwaa- http://m.royals.mlb.com/news/article/260163322/hosmer- awards-finalists-named/?topicId=27118122 moustakas-among-several-kc-free-agents/ Qualifying offers: Who got one; who KC to extend QOs to Hosmer, Moose, didn't? Cain Deadline to extend 1-year, $17.4M contract has November 6, 2017 By Daniel Kramer/MLB.com passed http://m.royals.mlb.com/news/article/260791478/royals-to- November 6, 2017 By David Adler/MLB.com give-qualifying-offer-to-eric-hosmer/ http://m.mlb.com/news/article/260724482/track-qualifying- Royals’ three top free agents will offers-for-mlb-free-agents/ likely decline qualifying offers. What 10 on Hall of Fame's Modern Era next? ballot November 6, 2017 By Rustin Dodd/KC Star Garvey, John, Mattingly, Miller, Morris, http://www.kansascity.com/sports/mlb/kansas-city- Murphy, Parker, Simmons, Tiant, Trammell to royals/article183044371.html be considered MLB.com columnist predicts Royals November 6, 2017 By Barry M. Bloom/MLB.com will sign two of their most coveted free http://m.mlb.com/news/article/260794290/10-on-hall-of- agents fames-modern-era-ballot/?topicId=27118122 November 6, 2017 By Pete Grathoff/KC Star Longtime executive Bob Bowman to http://www.kansascity.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/for- leave MLB after 17 years petes-sake/article183003586.html November 6, 2017 USA Today Royals have a new Hall of Famer: It’s https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2017/11/06/bob- their mascot, Sluggerrr bowman-leave-mlb-end-year/837083001/ November 6, 2017 By Maria Torres/KC Star MLB TRANSACTIONS http://www.kansascity.com/sports/mlb/kansas-city- November 7, 2017 •.CBSSports.com royals/article183026836.html http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/transactions Ian Kennedy did not opt out. Can he be worth $49 million for the next three LOCAL years? November 6, 2017 By Rustin Dodd/KC Star Royals' core group heads for free http://www.kansascity.com/sports/mlb/kansas-city- agency royals/article183149086.html Club's finances will dictate who it will try to Former MLB general manager bring back predicts Royals will re-sign Hosmer, November 6, 2017 By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com http://m.royals.mlb.com/news/article/260163322/hosmer- Moustakas moustakas-among-several-kc-free-agents/ November 6, 2017 By Jared Koller/KCTV5.com http://www.kctv5.com/story/36775626/former-mlb-general- It's go time for the Royals now. manager-predicts-royals-will-re-sign-hosmer-moustakas Kansas City Royals' Sluggerrr The club has been awaiting and planning for the moment a large number of their core group hits free agency, and that inducted into Mascot Hall of Fame moment has arrived. November 6, 2017 By Hailey Godburn/KSHB.com http://www.kshb.com/sports/baseball/royals/kansas-city- Royals general manager Dayton Moore has indicated several royals-sluggerrr-inducted-into-mascot-hall-of-fame times that they will "feel out the market" in terms of what free agents they might be able to bring back. But finances will be tight: The Royals based their payroll the past two MINORS seasons on deep runs into the postseason. It didn't happen Storm Chasers Nab 10th Straight either season, meaning owner David Glass had to subsidize 'Best of Omaha' Honor the losses, according to Moore. Voters tab club as Omaha's Best Professional Free agents: First baseman Eric Hosmer, shortstop Alcides Sports Team Escobar, third baseman Mike Moustakas, center fielder November 6, 2017 Omaha Storm Chasers Lorenzo Cain, left-hander Jason Vargas, outfielder Melky Cabrera, right-hander Peter Moylan, right-hander Trevor General manager Dayton Moore has long said he plans to Cahill, left-hander Mike Minor. "feel out the market" when discussing which free agents they will be able to bring back, in large part because of their mid- Note: Minor, 29, declined a mutual option for 2018, market financial constraints. Their $143 million Opening according to a source, and right-hander Ian Kennedy already Day payroll was a club record, per Cots Baseball Contracts. has indicated he will not opt out of the remaining three years Also, given their limitations, the Royals are more than likely on his deal. going to be able to pursue only their own free agents.

Arbitration-eligible: Right-hander Kelvin Herrera, right- Hosmer, 28, is coming off arguably his best season, with a hander Nate Karns, right-hander Brandon Maurer, right- career-best .318/.385/.498 slash line to go with 25 homers hander Mike Morin. and 94 RBIs, and he is also up for his fourth Gold Glove Award. The veteran first baseman is one of the true staples in Biggest potential free-agent loss: Hosmer, without a doubt. the clubhouse, having been present for the entire Royals The 28-year-old emerged as the unmistakable leader in the rebuild and serving as a mentor to many of the club's young clubhouse and on the field. Hosmer had a career year with a . players. He was drafted with the No. 3 overall pick by 318 average, 25 home runs, 94 RBIs and a whopping .385 Kansas City in 2008. on-base percentage. And he is up for his fourth Gold Glove Award. Losing Hosmer would be devastating inside the Moustakas, 29, was taken with the No. 2 overall pick the year clubhouse -- he became a mentor to many of the young prior and is a two-time All-Star, including 2017, which Royals. It simply is hard to imagine the Royals without him. proved to be a major bounceback season after the third baseman tore his ACL early in '16. Moustakas batted Potential free-agent targets: With their payroll limitations, the 272/.314/.521 with a career-high and franchise-record 38 only logical targets will be their own free agents. Based on homers, tied for fifth-most in the American League. the drop-off difference in their possible replacements, it's likely the Royals target Hosmer and Minor (they simply don't Cain, 31, hit .300/.363/.440 with 15 homers and 49 RBIs and have another reliable closer candidate). Durable and effective is widely considered one of the best center fielders in reliever Moylan also seems a logical choice to bring back. baseball. The guess here is there won't be a tremendous market for Royals’ three top free agents will Escobar -- he's someone the Royals could sign late as insurance if Raul Mondesi can't handle the job. likely decline qualifying offers. What next? Wild card scenario: Glass, who became fond of being a November 6, 2017 By Rustin Dodd/KC Star World Series participant in 2014 and '15, may decide it's http://www.kansascity.com/sports/mlb/kansas-city- worth the gamble to potentially subsidize the payroll in 2018, royals/article183044371.html and therefore inflate the payroll in 2018 enough to bring back Hosmer, Minor, Moustakas and maybe Vargas. The working The Royals confirmed Monday that the club will give theory here would be that young players such as Jorge qualifying offers to free agents Eric Hosmer, Mike Bonifacio, Mondesi, Whit Merrifield and Jorge Soler could Moustakas and Lorenzo Cain, ensuring some level of be part of the next wave of a Royals revival, as long as they compensation should those players sign elsewhere this have some established veterans assisting. This theory only offseason. works if they once again establish a shut-down bullpen, which starts with signing Minor. All three players have 10 days to accept or decline the KC to extend QOs to Hosmer, Moose, qualifying offer, according to the terms of the latest Cain collective-bargaining agreements. All three players are among the top free agents on the market this winter and will November 6, 2017 By Daniel Kramer/MLB.com almost certainly decline, which will send them to the open http://m.royals.mlb.com/news/article/260791478/royals-to- market. give-qualifying-offer-to-eric-hosmer/ The qualifying offer for 2018 is a one-year contract at $17.4 Facing many critical free-agent decisions this offseason, the million. Royals will make $17.4 million qualifying offers to first baseman Eric Hosmer, third baseman Mike Moustakas and The Star reported the Royals’ desire to hand out three center fielder Lorenzo Cain. qualifying offers last week. The club had nine players become free agents in the last week, including reliever Mike Teams have until 5 p.m. ET on Monday to make qualifying Minor, who declined his half of a mutual option for 2018. offers to their own free agents, which is set by the average of the game's top 125 salaries. The Royals trio now has 10 days The Royals are not expected to extend qualifying offers to to accept or decline the one-year deals or hit free agency. Minor, starting pitcher Jason Vargas or shortstop Alcides Escobar. Outfielder Melky Cabrera and right-handed pitcher In making the qualifying offers, the Royals are setting Trevor Cahill are not eligible because they were traded themselves up for compensation for each should they depart. midseason. The other free agent is reliever Peter Moylan. Depending on where they land and/or how much they receive from another club, the Royals would receive Draft pick So if Hosmer, Moustakas and Cain decline the qualifying compensation in 2018. offer, why is it important? Because it will set the Royals up to gain three additional draft picks in 2018 if all three players This is a position the Royals had long seen coming, with leave. most of their core hitting free agency this winter, many of whom were significant contributors in reaching the World Let’s review the compensation rules: The Royals will receive Series in consecutive years and winning the title in 2015. a compensatory, or additional, draft pick following the first round if a player declines a qualifying offer and signs a And this is a portion of what Duquette wrote about Hosmer, contract of more than $50 million. If the player declines the who is listed as the No. 5 free agent: “Any team looking for a qualifying offer and signs for less than $50 million, the vocal leader with postseason experience, as well as a middle- compensation pick will come after Competitive Balance of-the-order bat, should have interest in Hosmer. Given his Round B, which follows the second round. age relative to the rest of the class, he'll likely get a longer deal, possibly seven years at $20 million per season.” In practice, the Royals could find themselves with three additional draft picks following the 2018 first round if Many Royals fans believe the Royals wouldn’t be able to Hosmer, Moustakas and Cain depart and all sign for more sign their top free agents. However, Dayton Moore told The than $50 million, one reason among many the Royals were Star’s Rustin Dodd that he is not making that assumption. hesitant to sell off their main pieces before the trade deadline in 2017. Hosmer, 28, and Moustakas, 29, are expected to “Everybody assumes that we are just going to just get blown command contracts well beyond $50 million this winter, away in free agency, and we don’t have a chance, Moore while Cain, 31, could as well — though it could depend on said. “They may be right, but I think everybody felt that way the length of his contract. about Alex Gordon at the time. That fell back to us. You just never really know.” So could the Royals have extended qualifying offers to Royals have a new Hall of Famer: It’s Vargas and Minor and attempted to gain more draft picks? Well, yes. But the risk would have been sizable. Based on their mascot, Sluggerrr their market values, Vargas and Minor would have likely November 6, 2017 By Maria Torres/KC Star accepted the offer, pocketed $17.4 million for 2018 and taken http://www.kansascity.com/sports/mlb/kansas-city- their chances at free agency again in 2019. Such maneuvers royals/article183026836.html would blow a hole in the Royals’ budget for 2018. There’s finally another Royal in the Hall of Fame. In addition, Escobar, 30, is expected to sign for considerably less than either Vargas or Minor. Well, the Mascot Hall of Fame, anyway.

After receiving qualifying offers, Hosmer, Moustakas and After 22 seasons prowling the grounds at Kauffman Stadium, Cain can still talk to other teams during the 10-day window. Royals mascot Sluggerrr received national recognition Those conversations could heat up next week when club Monday when the Mascot Hall of Fame announced his officials from all 30 teams convene in Orlando for the annual induction as part of the Class of 2017. Benny the Bull General Managers’ meetings. Yet most major player (Chicago Bulls), Tommy Hawk (Chicago Blackhawks) and movement will not take place until the month of December. Nittany Lion (Penn State) were the other inductees. MLB.com columnist predicts Royals According to the Royals, Sluggerrr was in part selected for will sign two of their most coveted free his work in the Strike Out Bullying campaign. agents Sluggerrr is the fourth MLB mascot in the Mascot Hall of November 6, 2017 By Pete Grathoff/KC Star Fame, which is located in Whiting, Ind. He joins Phillie http://www.kansascity.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/for- Phanatic, Mr. Met and Slider of the Cleveland Indians. petes-sake/article183003586.html Sluggerrr, who debuted for the Royals on April 5, 1996, took Well, if Jim Duquette is right, that going-away party in the a playful jab at the Phanatic in September when he sat down Royals’ season finale was unnecessary. with The Star for an interview. Duquette, the former Mets general manager, wrote a column “I call them the big, fat, dumb mascots,” said Brad Collins, predicting which teams the top 25 free agents in baseball who has performed as Sluggerrr since 2011. “I love those would sign with this offseason. guys and they’re great performers. But if they were put in the Sluggerrr costume, it’s a completely different character.” That list includes four players who were with the Royals in 2017: first baseman Eric Hosmer, center fielder Lorenzo Ian Kennedy did not opt out. Can he Cain, third baseman Mike Moustakas and pitcher Jason be worth $49 million for the next three Vargas. years? Hosmer, Cain and Moustakas were fêted by fans in the final November 6, 2017 By Rustin Dodd/KC Star game of 2017, along with shortstop Alcides Escobar. http://www.kansascity.com/sports/mlb/kansas-city- royals/article183149086.html Duquette’s forecast is for Cain to sign with the Giants and Vargas to land a deal with the Orioles. Royals starter Ian Kennedy held true to his word, declining to exercise a one-time opt-out in a five-year, $70 million But Duquette also sees the Royals signing Moustakas and contract signed before the 2016 season. He had little choice. Hosmer. Not one player. Both. Kennedy, 32, could have opted out in the days after the Here is part of what Duquette wrote about Moustakas: “A World Series and returned to free agency. But in doing so, he lack of demand for third basemen hampered Justin Turner’s would have turned down a guaranteed $49 million on the earning power to some extent last offseason, but Moustakas final three years of the deal. And in doing that, he would should command a sizable contract in the $100 million range have returned to the open market after posting a 5-13 record over five or six years.” and 5.38 ERA in 2017, the fifth worst ERA in baseball among starting pitchers with at least 150 innings. In late August, Kennedy said it “would be pretty stupid” if he simply a look at how much it might cost to replace that opted out of the deal. The statement was blunt by the production on the open market. standards of athletes. It was not inaccurate. But then, of course, there is 2017: Kennedy posted just 0.5 So now Kennedy is back for the final three years of his bWAR. That was worth just $4.0 million; Kennedy made contract. And the Royals, barring a salary-dumping trade, $13.5 million. must hope to receive value in what is, for the moment, still the second-largest contract in club history behind Alex At this point, we’ll add a layer of confusion. According to Gordon’s four-year, $72 million deal signed in the same FanGraphs’ version of the WAR stat, Kennedy was worth offseason. (That’s a subject for another day.) just 1.6 fWAR in 2016. (The simple reason is that FanGraphs’ formula is based on stats that a pitcher most Royals starter Ian Kennedy held true to his word, declining to controls — like strikeouts, walks and homers — while exercise a one-time opt-out in a five-year, $70 million attempting to reduce the effect of the defense playing behind contract signed before the 2016 season. He had little choice. him. So in that sense, Kennedy was worth just $12.9 million in 2016.) Kennedy, 32, could have opted out in the days after the World Series and returned to free agency. But in doing so, he But let’s try to simplify for a moment and base the would have turned down a guaranteed $49 million on the conversation on what did actually transpire. So here’s the final three years of the deal. And in doing that, he would simple math: The cost of a win is going to rise over the next have returned to the open market after posting a 5-13 record three seasons. But assuming it’s just over $8 million — or and 5.38 ERA in 2017, the fifth worst ERA in baseball close to it — the Royals would need Kennedy to average just among starting pitchers with at least 150 innings. more than 2.0 bWAR across the next three seasons.

In late August, Kennedy said it “would be pretty stupid” if he For comparison: Here are four starters who posted just more opted out of the deal. The statement was blunt by the than 2.0 bWAR in 2017: (click link for list) standards of athletes. It was not inaccurate. So here we are: This perhaps offers an illustration of what the So now Kennedy is back for the final three years of his Royals need from Kennedy across the next three seasons in contract. And the Royals, barring a salary-dumping trade, order to make his contract palatable. It’s not a perfect must hope to receive value in what is, for the moment, still illustration. These are just four pitchers who put up varying the second-largest contract in club history behind Alex degrees of performance. In order to win, or even contend, the Gordon’s four-year, $72 million deal signed in the same Royals would likely need even more. A salary of $16 million offseason. (That’s a subject for another day.) in Kansas City is different than $16 million in New York or Boston or Los Angeles. But let’s start here: In 2016, Kennedy posted a 3.68 ERA while striking out 184 in 195 2/3 innings across 33 starts. He But back to the initial question: Can they can find decent was durable, as he tends to be. But he did give up a ton of value in the $49 million that remains on Kennedy’s contract? homers (33), and he wasn’t particularly impressive, This would be a start. according to advanced metrics. Overall, though, his results Former MLB general manager were strong. Kennedy was worth four wins above replacement, according to Baseball Reference’s version of predicts Royals will re-sign Hosmer, WAR. Moustakas November 6, 2017 By Jared Koller/KCTV5.com In 2017, of course, Kennedy regressed, putting up a 5.38 http://www.kctv5.com/story/36775626/former-mlb-general- ERA while logging 154 innings and battling leg and shoulder manager-predicts-royals-will-re-sign-hosmer-moustakas issues. He gave up a ton of homers (34), and he was even less impressive, according to advanced metrics. According to Major League Baseball free agency officially opens up bWAR, he was worth 0.5 wins above replacement. Monday at 4:00, and the 2017-18 offseason figures to have major implications on the future of the Kansas City Royals. The obvious answer, of course, would be that Kennedy needs to perform closer to his 2016 version to justify the guaranteed Before the market takes shape, former New York Mets salary. That would give the Royals a solid No. 2 or No. 3 General Manager Jim Duquette, and current MLB.com starter to slot behind Danny Duffy. That would be useful. columnist, predicted on Monday that Kansas City will re-sign both first baseman Eric Hosmer and third baseman Mike But there are ways to look at value from a dollar perspective, Moustakas. and even some of the best methods we have offer varying perspectives. So let’s take a look. Hosmer and Moustakas join Lorenzo Cain, Alcides Escobar, Jason Vargas and Mike Minor as the team’s top unrestricted FanGraphs converts a player’s WAR into monetary value, in free agents this offseason. an effort to determine how much it would cost to replace that WAR on the open market. It’s not perfect, and there are Kansas City offered qualifying offers to Hosmer, Moustakas multiple places that do this, so the calculations include a bit and Cain, which is a one-year deal in the vicinity of $18 of estimation. But in 2016 and 2017, one win was worth million. It’s essentially a formality, as each player is expected roughly $8 million on the open market. to decline the one-year offer in hopes of landing a long-term deal. So back to Kennedy. In 2016, he produced 4.0 bWAR, worth close to $32 million on the open market. Hey, that’s good. The Royals still extended the offer, even knowing the three And it probably sounds like a lot. Nobody is going to pay Ian will all decline, as it helps with draft pick compensation. Kennedy that much for one season. But again, the number is After extending the offer, if Hosmer, Moustakas and Cain sign for $50 million elsewhere, that team has to give Kansas Still, the thought of signing Hosmer or Moustakas is a City a sandwich pick in between the first and second round. headline Royals fans have to like seeing, after many thought they had said goodbye after tearful final regular season game. That means if the Royals lose all three players, they would Every impending free agent has expressed a great desire to have four picks first round picks since they extended return to Kansas City, but asking a 28-year old to turn down qualifying offers. This also makes it slightly less likely for an extra $50 million is a hard pill to swallow when push other teams to sign them, as doing so would cost the team a comes to shove. top draft pick. But if Duquette is right, the immediate future of baseball in This is a clause in the collective bargaining agreement meant Kansas City may not be as rough as once thought. to help deter other teams from swooping in on free agents. Kansas City Royals' Sluggerrr However, signing a player of the caliber of Hosmer, Moustakas or Cain, in the prime of their career, far outweighs inducted into Mascot Hall of Fame the gamble that drafting high school players in the MLB November 6, 2017 By Hailey Godburn/KSHB.com draft. http://www.kshb.com/sports/baseball/royals/kansas-city- royals-sluggerrr-inducted-into-mascot-hall-of-fame Duquette lists Hosmer as the fifth best free agent in all of baseball, with interest outside of Kansas City coming from Kansas City’s favorite king of the jungle has been inducted the Red Sox, Mariners and Mets. into the Mascot Hall of Fame.

Just two spots below the gold glove first baseman sits The Kansas City Royals’ Sluggerrr was inducted Monday, Moustakas at seven overall, with interest outside of Kansas the announcement made from the home of the Mascot Hall of City coming from the Cardinals, Yankees, Phillies, Mets and Fame in Whiting, Indiana. Angels. The Royals released a statement in which Sluggerrr was Sandwiching Moustakas at number six and eight are a pair of quoted as saying: former Royals, Wade Davis and Greg Holland, who also will hit free agency. Duquette does not expect Kansas City to be “I’d like to thank all the Royals fans who helped vote me into in the running for either bullpen arm. the Mascot Hall of Fame, the front-office for supporting my ambitions and everyone involved with the Mascot Hall of Duquette does not predict Kansas City will resign Cain, Fame for voting me in,” Sluggerrr roared. “I take a lot of instead opting for the 2014 World Champion San Francisco pride in being one of the mane attractions at Kauffman Giants. The 32-year old outfielder could also have interest Stadium. I’d be lion if I said this wasn’t one of my proudest from the Phillies and Mets. moments as the official mascot of the Kansas City Royals.”

Duquette also has Kansas City in the running for Vargas, The news release said Sluggerrr makes about 500 Reds shortstop Zack Cozart and Rockies outfielder Carlos appearances a year and has been doing so since April 5, Gonzalez. With Hosmer and Moustakas expected to garner 1996. He is the fourth MLB mascot to be inducted. contracts close to, if not surpassing $100 million, it’s hard to see much more available salary space from Royals owner According to the release, “Sluggerrr was selected for his fun David Glass. and innovative in-game antics, skits and videos, as well as a new school show program.” Still, many Royals fans would view the offseason as tremendous success if the team is able to retain one, let alone Other mascots inducted Monday include the Chicago Bulls’ two, of their household name free agents. Benny the Bull, the Chicago Blackhawks’ Tommy Hawk and Penn State’s Nittany Lion. For Hosmer, Duquette says teams looking for a vocal leader with postseason experience should have interest in Hosmer, and would not be surprised if the 28-year old lands a seven- MINORS year, $20 million per year deal.

For Moustakas, Duquette says the lack of demand for Dodger Storm Chasers Nab 10th Straight third basemen Justin Turner his free agent haul last 'Best of Omaha' Honor offseason, but expects Moustakas to a contract in the $100 Voters tab club as Omaha's Best Professional million range over five to six years. Sports Team For fans hoping for answers in the near future, it’s very November 6, 2017 Omaha Storm Chasers unlikely Kansas City will make a splash move early in the https://www.milb.com/storm-chasers/news/chasers-nab-10th- offseason. If the Royals want a chance at Hosmer or straight-best-of-omaha-honor/c-260789200 Moustakas, it will most likely come after the market gets somewhat watered down. The Omaha Storm Chasers have once again earned top honors by being named Omaha's Best Professional Sports The timeline could play out very similar to Alex Gordon after Team, as selected on by voters at BestOfOmaha.com. This 2015, as it wasn’t until early January until the Kansas City year marks the tenth consecutive year the organization has left fielder dotted the bottom line. The Royals may miss out received the "Best Professional Sports Team" award. on free agents from other team’s by waiting on Hosmer or Moustakas, but many in baseball believe if the Royals can’t "We are proud to be the Metro's top professional sports team sign either, that 2018 will be the start of a rebuild. for 50 seasons," said Storm Chasers President and General Manager Martie Cordaro. "Our organization constantly strives to deliver the best fan experience possible. With our 2018 campaign on the horizon featuring the Kansas City city, per award -- who had the season's final day as their Royals exhibition game and the year-long 50th Season deadline to turn in the ballots. celebration, Opening Day cannot come soon enough." Here are this year's finalists for each award, with candidates The ten-year stretch in which the Storm Chasers organization listed in alphabetical order: has received Omaha's Best Professional Sports Team honor encompasses all seven seasons the franchise has played at MOST VALUABLE PLAYER Werner Park, where the squad has won four division titles, as well as three Pacific Coast League Championship and Back- American League to-Back Triple-A National Championships in 2013-14. The ballpark also hosted the First National Bank Triple-A All- Jose Altuve, Astros: With all the talent on the Astros, it's Star Game in 2015. Altuve who clearly sets the tone with his excellence in every facet of the game. Altuve led the Majors in bWAR (8.3) and Since hosting its initial Opening Day on April 16, 2011, a led the AL in batting at .346 and hits with 204, his fourth total of over 2.7 million fans have come through the gates of straight 200-hit season. He had remarkable consistency Werner Park. The upcoming 2018 season will mark the 50th before and after the All-Star break, and he held things Season in franchise history since the organization first began together when double-play partner Carlos Correa was out for play in 1969 at Rosenblatt Stadium. The Storm Chasers are six weeks. In short, the 5-foot-6 dynamo did it all. slated to face off against the Kansas City Royals in an exhibition game presented by SAC Federal Credit Union on Aaron Judge, Yankees: The MVP-Rookie of the Year double Monday, March 26. is a rare one, and even Mike Trout couldn't quite pull it off in 2012 when he tried to become the first since Ichiro Suzuki in The Omaha Storm Chasers are the Triple-A Affiliate of the 2001 and just the third overall. Judge has put himself into Kansas City Royals. The Storm Chasers play at Werner Park that category of player with a stupendous rookie season that in Papillion, Sarpy County, Nebraska. For more information saw him break the rookie record for home runs with 52 to please visit omahastormchasers.com and follow us on Twitter lead the AL, also leading the league with 128 runs scored and @omastormchasers and at 127 walks. Of course, the one flaw: an MLB-leading 208 facebook.com/omahastormchasers. strikeouts. Still, the accolades stack up as high as the 6-foot-7 slugger's stature. Omaha begins their regular season slate with Opening Night 2018 on Thursday, April 5 against the Colorado Springs Sky Jose Ramirez, Indians: With his helmet flying and a special Sox. brand of energy, Ramirez has been a favorite of Tribe fans for longer than just 2017. But this year, he went national with an extra-special season. His 91 extra-base hits were the NATIONAL second-most by a Major League switch-hitter in history, just three shy of the mark set by Lance Berkman in 2001, and he led MLB in doubles with 56. In the Indians' biggest offensive Finalists for BBWAA awards unveiled season on record, Ramirez was the spark with streaks of nine November 6, 2017 By John Schlegel/MLB.com multi-hit games and seven games with a double. http://m.mlb.com/news/article/260802304/2017-bbwaa- awards-finalists-named/?topicId=27118122 National League

After a postseason that left everyone breathless, baseball Paul Goldschmidt, D-backs: A perennial MVP candidate, the hearts are pounding again with the official arrival of awards D-backs first baseman took his game to a new level this season, starting with finalists for Baseball Writers' season, helping lead Arizona into the postseason for the first Association of America honors. time since 2011. In a fifth straight All-Star season, Goldschmidt hit for a .297/.404/.563 slash line with a career- The finalists revealed Monday by the BBWAA for each high-tying 36 home runs and 120 RBIs -- similar numbers to league's Most Valuable Player, Cy Young, Manager of the what he posted in 2013, when he finished second to Andrew Year and Rookie of the Year awards are just the start of the McCutchen in the NL MVP voting race. discussion. Winners of those prestigious honors will be announced from Nov. 13-16, all on MLB Network at 6 p.m. Giancarlo Stanton, Marlins: Stroke by powerful stroke, ET each night. Stanton went on a march into home run history this season. He whacked 59 homers, the most in the Majors since 2001 Between now and then, baseball fans and pundits alike will (Barry Bonds, 73; Sammy Sosa, 64). The gap of 20 to No. 2 be taking sides on the "M-V-P" chants that echoed through (L.A.'s Cody Bellinger, 39) was the largest in NL history. different ballparks, dissecting which pitchers really delivered Stanton also led the Majors with 132 RBIs, but it was homers the best seasons, and examining the rookies who rocked the that told his story -- one every 10.12 at-bats, and 11 in the baseball world. first 15 days of August.

Reminder: While the historic exploits of the 2017 postseason Joey Votto, Reds: Like Stanton, Votto is a finalist looking to are embedded in every baseball fan's memory banks, all that buck the idea that an MVP has to be a member of a good stuff must be erased from the mental picture for the postseason team. In fact, Votto is in position to perhaps purposes of the BBWAA awards, leaving only regular-season become the first player on a last-place team to win the award accomplishments. The 2017 Esurance MLB Awards, since Texas' Alex Rodriguez in 2003, and the third player however, will include postseason awards, which will cap off overall. He had a very Votto-like season, leading the NL with awards season Nov. 17 (8 p.m. ET on MLB Network). 134 walks, 20 of them intentional, as well as in on-base percentage at .454 and in OPS at 1.032. The 2010 winner, Of course, focusing on the regular season was much easier Votto made his mark despite the Reds' struggles, continuing for the voting members of the BBWAA -- two per league to be a perennial candidate. CY YOUNG AWARD Paul Molitor, Twins

American League This is a story of expectations -- both Francona and Hinch led teams with high hopes heading into 2017, and Molitor had Corey Kluber, Indians: The 2014 winner and third-place one that was under the radar. In one sense, Molitor guiding finisher in 2016, Kluber had in many respects his finest the Twins back to the postseason for the first time since 2010 season in 2017. His 2.25 ERA was the Majors' best, and a has an air of accomplishment all its own. Then again, there's career best. He reached 203 2/3 innings despite missing much leading the defending AL champs through all the challenges of May, and he displayed his normal controlled dominance and putting together a record 22-game winning streak the with 265 strikeouts and just 36 walks, giving him baseball's way Francona did. And there's taking a talented team and best strikeout-to-walk ratio at 7.4, another in a long list of pushing it over the 100-win plateau while winning the AL career bests. West by 21 games the way Hinch did.

Chris Sale, Red Sox: In his first season after changing Sox in National League a trade from Chicago to Boston, Sale was spectacular from the start of 2017. Often in the running for the Cy Young Bud Black, Rockies Award, finishing as high as third in 2014, Sale is very much at the forefront of the discussion this year. He struck out 308 Torey Lovullo, D-backs batters to lead the Majors, also topping MLB with a 12.93 K/9 ratio and 214 1/3 innings pitched. His ERA of 2.90 was Dave Roberts, Dodgers second in the AL to Kluber, and he led the Majors with 10 scoreless starts and 18 double-digit strikeout games. He had a Neither Black's Rockies nor Lovullo's D-backs necessarily few starts in August and September that got away from him, had huge expectations coming into the season, but both found but overall the season was superb. their way to the postseason, thanks in large part to their leadership. The Rockies had a difficult Spring Training, to Luis Severino, Yankees: Going from a second-year ERA of say the least, but they rebounded for a stellar regular season 5.83 ERA in 2016 to the ace of the Yankees' rotation at age to reach Rocktober for the first time since 2009. Lovullo, in 23 in 2017 is quite the feat for Severino. His 2.98 ERA over his long-awaited debut season as a Major League manager, 31 starts was the lowest by a Yankees hurler since 1997. He flipped the D-backs' record to 93-69, an improvement of 24 ranked third in the AL in ERA, fourth in strikeouts (230) and wins over 2016. That said, Roberts leading the Dodgers to ninth in innings pitched (193 1/3). This is the epitome of a their first 100-plus win season since 1974 can't be brushed breakout year. aside, either. Without a summer slump, the Dodgers were headed to all-time territory in the wins column. National League ROOKIE OF THE YEAR Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers: Always a Cy Young favorite (and a Cy Young-MVP winner in 2014), Kershaw lost a little American League time to a back injury in 2017 but managed to post numbers that make it hard to notice. He led the NL in wins (18), ERA Andrew Benintendi, Red Sox (2.31) and K/BB ratio (6.73). His 202 strikeouts marked his seventh time in his 10 seasons with 200-plus, the most in a Aaron Judge, Yankees pitching-rich franchise's history. Ultimately, just another Clayton Kershaw season. Trey Mancini, Orioles

Max Scherzer, Nationals: The reigning NL Cy Young winner Any time a rookie is seriously involved in the MVP and the AL winner in 2013, Scherzer had another great discussion, that's bad news for the other candidates for season as part of a 1-2 punch at the top of the Nationals' Rookie of the Year. But Benintendi and Mancini both put rotation. Notably, he became just the fourth pitcher in MLB together impressive seasons for their clubs. Benintendi history with a K/9 IP ratio of 12.0 or better (12.02) in a became just the 11th rookie in Major League history to post a season of 200-plus innings, thanks in part to 15 games of 10 20-homer/20-steal season, hitting both numbers on the or more strikeouts. Like Kershaw, he's a Cy Young candidate button. And Mancini's 24 homers were third-most for a every year, and he performed to that reputation again. rookie in Orioles history, while he also led MLB rookies with 159 hits and ripped off a 17-game hitting streak, longest in Stephen Strasburg, Nationals: In the spotlight since his first O's rookie history. pitch in the Majors, Strasburg had a career year in 2017. His career-best 2.52 ERA ranked fourth in the Majors, and he led But Judge was simply extraordinary. He not only set the the NL with 0.67 HR/9 IP and was second with an opponents' rookie record in home runs, but he was the fourth qualifying OPS of .581. He finished strong, too, going 5-1 with a 0.84 rookie ever to exceed a 1.000 OPS, at 1.049. It's just a very ERA in his last eight starts. It's the best shot at Cy Young powerful case, perhaps open and shut. hardware to date for a player whose expectations have been huge from the start. National League

MANAGER OF THE YEAR Josh Bell, Pirates

American League Cody Bellinger, Dodgers

Terry Francona, Indians Paul DeJong, Cardinals

A.J. Hinch, Astros Another powerful case was made in the NL, this one by starting his career as a catcher. The 31-year-old's season at Bellinger, whose 39 homers set an NL record -- not bad for a the plate in 2017 was typically solid: Santana slashed . guy who didn't even make his debut until April 25. He also 259/.363/.455 while posting one of the Majors' best strikeout- led NL rookies with a .581 slugging percentage and a .933 to-walk rates. OPS, showing he's more than just homers with a cycle in July. Bell was no slouch in the power department, either, 1B Eric Hosmer, 3B Mike Moustakas and CF Lorenzo Cain, setting an NL record for a switch-hitting rookie with his 26 Royals homers, while ranking second among NL rookies in RBIs (90) and in homers behind Bellinger. DeJong, meanwhile, Kansas City has officially extended qualifying offers to three managed his 25 homers in 417 at-bats, or 132 fewer than members of the core that helped lead the franchise to a World Bell, while ranking first in the NL in average (.285) and tied Series title in 2015. The 28-year-old Hosmer, who played in for first in doubles (26) among rookies. That's a lot of offense all 162 games in 2017, has spent the first seven seasons of his from that set of rookies. career with the Royals. He enjoyed a career year this past Qualifying offers: Who got one; who season, hitting .318 with 25 home runs and 94 RBIs. didn't? Moustakas, 29, has also spent the first seven years of his Deadline to extend 1-year, $17.4M contract has career with Kansas City. In 2017, he established a new passed franchise home run record for a single season with 38 while racking up a career-high 85 RBIs. November 6, 2017 By David Adler/MLB.com http://m.mlb.com/news/article/260724482/track-qualifying- Considered one of the best center fielders in the Majors, the offers-for-mlb-free-agents/ 31-year-old Cain hit .300 with 15 home runs and 49 RBIs in 2017. Major League Baseball's free-agent signing period has officially begun, and teams had until 5 p.m. ET on Monday RHP Lance Lynn, Cardinals to extend their prospective free agents a qualifying offer. For 2018, the qualifying offer is a one-year contract worth $17.4 The 30-year-old Lynn provided St. Louis' rotation with million (the amount is the mean salary of MLB's 125 highest- durability in 2017, posting a 3.43 ERA and racking up 11 paid players). Players who received a qualifying offer have wins over 33 starts. The former reliever bounced back well 10 days -- until Nov. 16 -- to accept or reject the offer. this past season in his return from Tommy John surgery. If a player accepts a qualifying offer, like then-Phillies right- RHP Alex Cobb, Rays hander Jeremy Hellickson and then-Mets second baseman Neil Walker did last offseason, he remains with his club at The Rays extended a qualifying offer to the 30-year-old the designated salary, becoming eligible for free agency right-hander, who is a free agent after spending his first six again next offseason. seasons with Tampa Bay. Cobb made 29 starts and went 12- 10 with a 3.66 ERA and 128 strikeouts in 179 1/3 innings in Players who decline the offer enter free agency but have 2017, his second season removed from Tommy John surgery. Draft-pick compensation attached to them. If such a player signs with another team, the team that loses him receives a RHP Greg Holland, Rockies Draft pick the following year, generally following Competitive Balance Round B, which comes after the second Colorado struck gold with a one-year deal for Holland last round. On the flip side, the team that signs the player is offseason, and the club is open to a reunion after Holland's subject to surrendering one or more Draft picks, although a great bounceback year. The righty finished tied with Kenley team's highest first-round pick is exempt from Jansen for the National League lead in saves with 41, and he forfeiture.Under the rules of the new Collective Bargaining led the NL in games finished with 58. Agreement, for a player to receive a qualifying offer, he must never have received one previously in his career. He also RHP Jake Arrieta and RHP Wade Davis, Cubs must have spent the entire season on his current team's roster -- so players who were traded during the 2017 season are not The Cubs watched Arrieta evolve from disappointment into eligible to receive a qualifying offer. an NL Cy Young Award winner after trading for him in 2013. He has given Chicago some of its most memorable So who got one -- and who should say yes? moments since then, though 2017 was his least productive season with the club. Davis was integral to the Cubs' NLCS Here's a breakdown of the prominent free agents who have run in 2017, anchoring Chicago's bullpen en route to and have not received a qualifying offer. We've divided this converting 32 saves in 33 opportunities. list into two sections, leading with players who received a qualifying offer. A list of the most prominent players who NO QUALIFYING OFFER did not get an offer is listed below that. LHP CC Sabathia, Yankees RECEIVING QUALIFYING OFFER If Sabathia does return to the Bronx, it won't be with a $17.4 1B/OF Carlos Santana, DH, Indians million salary. The Yankees did not extended a qualifying offer to Sabathia, whom they signed in 2008 to what was Cleveland has extended a qualifying offer to Santana, who then the richest contract for a pitcher in Major League put up another productive season in the middle of the Indians' history. Sabathia went 120-73 with a 3.75 ERA over nine order in 2017. Santana has been with the organization since seasons in New York, over which he reinvented himself 2008, when he was traded from the Dodgers as a 22-year-old several times. prospect. In Cleveland, he developed into a patient and powerful hitter, and an above-average first baseman after DH Logan Morrison, Rays doing the math defines how difficult this particular process The 38 home runs Morrison hit this season rank as third most is. in a single season in Rays history. Morrison has what the Rays look for in a hitter: power, and lots of it. But with home Since Joe Gordon was elected in 2009, only two players have runs so plentiful in 2017, all power production has to be been enshrined through the Veterans' Committee process: considered relative to its price. Cubs third baseman Ron Santo in 2012, and Deacon White, a 19th-century catcher, in '13. RHP Andrew Cashner, Rangers The committees were shuffled again last year in an attempt to Cashner is set to hit free agency after his first season in correct that shortcoming. Texas. The 31-year-old went 11-11 with a 3.40 ERA in 2017, throwing 166 2/3 innings in 28 starts. "This is not unusual. It's about staying relevant," Hall of Fame president Jeff Idelson said at the time. "There's now SS Zack Cozart, Reds stronger emphasis on players who have recently fallen off the BBBWAA ballot. No group of candidates is being left out. A source told MLB.com's Mark Sheldon that the Reds are We've always left the door open." exploring their options, but the Reds did not extend a qualifying offer to Cozart, who is coming off a career year in The committee was comprised by an 11-member panel of which he was an All-Star for the first time. Cozart, 32, has historians that boasted 10 members of the BBWAA who all battled health issues each of the past three seasons, most saw these particular players compete. recently dealing with a right quad injury in late summer. In all, he missed 40 games in 2017 but still posted a career-best About the players: slash line of .297/.385/.548 with a career-high 24 homers. 10 on Hall of Fame's Modern Era Garvey: Appeared on the BBWAA ballot for 15 years, ending in 2007, and never compiled higher than the 41.6 ballot percent of the vote he amassed in his first year of eligibility Garvey, John, Mattingly, Miller, Morris, in 1993. This is his third time on a Veterans' Committee Murphy, Parker, Simmons, Tiant, Trammell to ballot. He holds the record for consecutive games played in the National League (1,207) while playing for the Dodgers be considered and Padres. He hit .338 with 11 home runs and 31 RBIs in 11 November 6, 2017 By Barry M. Bloom/MLB.com postseason series, was named the 1978 and '84 NLCS MVP http://m.mlb.com/news/article/260794290/10-on-hall-of- and won the '81 Roberto Clemente Award. Garvey also won fames-modern-era-ballot/?topicId=27118122 the 1974 NL Most Valuable Player Award and four Gold Glove Awards. The Modern Baseball Era Committee, which is charged with the process of electing players into the National Baseball Hall John: Appeared on the BBWAA ballot for 15 years, ending of Fame through the Veterans Committee process, announced in 2009, with his highest percentage of 31.7 coming in that 10 candidates for election on Monday. last season. He pitched 26 seasons for the Indians, Dodgers, Yankees, Angels and A's, winning 288 games, 164 of them The candidates include nine players whose careers spanned a after missing the 1975 season because of ligament- good chunk of the era from 1970-87, plus the late Marvin replacement surgery in his left elbow, a surgery that still Miller, the MLB Players Association leader who put an bears his name. A four-time All-Star selection, John won the indelible stamp on the game. '76 Hutch Award for persevering through adversity and '81 Lou Gehrig Memorial Award for integrity on and off the The players are Steve Garvey, Tommy John, Don Mattingly, field. Jack Morris, Dale Murphy, Dave Parker, Ted Simmons, Luis Tiant and Alan Trammell. Mattingly: Appeared on the BBWAA ballot for 15 years, ending in 2015. His top year was 28.2 percent of the ballots The 16-person panel assigned to vote on them will be in 2001, his first season of eligibility. The current manager of determined later this fall. the Marlins played 14 seasons, all for the Yankees, batting . 307 with 222 home runs and 2,153 hits. A six-time All-Star The vote is slated to be announced Dec. 10 live on MLB and nine-time Gold Glove Award winner at first base, Network and MLB.com at 6 p.m. ET as the Winter Meetings Mattingly led the American League in total bases in both open this year in Orlando, Fla. Any electees will be 1985 and '86, won the '84 AL batting title, captured three introduced at a media conference there the next day. Silver Slugger Awards and was named the '85 AL Most Valuable Player. The induction ceremony in Cooperstown, N.Y., next year is July 29 and will also include any inductees from the Miller: Was last on the Expansion Era ballot in 2013, the BBWAA ballot, which is slated to be released on Nov. 20. year managers Joe Torre, Bobby Cox and Tony La Russa were all elected. Became the head of the MLB Players "Of course I'd love to be in," Garvey said when reached by Association in 1966 and quickly turned the union into a phone immediately after the ballot was released. "It's been so powerhouse. Within a decade of being named head of the long. The managers come up, and they've been grandfathered union, Miller had secured free agency for the players. By the in. Yeah, let's get some players in. Have some fun." time he retired in 1982, the average player salary was approximately 10 times what it was when he took over. The 16 members of the committee can vote for a maximum of five candidates, a total of 80 votes. As in any Hall of Fame Morris: Was on the BBWA ballot for 15 years, ending in vote, a candidate needs 75 percent to be elected. In this case, 2014. He had a high of 67.7 percent in 2013 and became only his name must appear on at least 12 of the 16 ballots. Just the second player in history to amass an excess of 60 percent of the vote and not eventually make the Hall, joining Gil Hodges. Morris was one of the best pitchers in the American League in the 1980s and played on World Series winners for "With the recent completion of the sale of a majority stake in Detroit, Minnesota and Toronto. He won 254 games over the BAMTech to The Walt Disney Company, and recognizing course of 18 seasons, capturing the 1991 World Series MVP the enormous talent pool that exists at MLB and MLB.com, it following 10 shutout innings in a Game 7 victory for the is an ideal time for new leadership," said Bowman in a Twins over the Braves. written statement.

Murphy: Was on the BBWAA ballot for 15 years, ending in "Of all that we have accomplished, I am most proud of the 2013. His percentage high of 23.2 came in 2000. Murphy people I have worked with, many of whom have been with played 18 seasons with the Braves, Phillies and Rockies, me each step of the way over the past 17 years." winning back-to-back National League Most Valuable Player Awards with Atlanta in 1982 and 1983. A seven-time All- “Like the owners of our 30 clubs, I am grateful for the Star, Murphy won five Gold Glove Awards and four Silver groundbreaking work that he and his team have performed Slugger Awards in center field, finishing with 398 home runs for our sport," said commissioner Rob Manfred. and 1,266 RBIs. "Bob’s vision made our game even more accessible and Parker: Appeared on the BBWAA ballot for 15 years, ending enjoyable to millions of fans.” in 2011, with his high of 24.5 percent coming in 1998. He MLB TRANSACTIONS was the right fielder for the World Series-winning "We Are November 7, 2017 •.CBSSports.com Family" Pirates in 1979 and posted a .345 batting average in http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/transactions his club's seven-game win over the Orioles. The 1978 NL Most Valuable Player played 19 seasons, was named to seven All-Star teams and won three Gold Glove Awards. TEAM PLAYER TRANSACTION

Simmons: The catcher may be the greatest anomaly in BBWAA Hall of Fame voting. He lasted one year on the ballot in 1994 and didn't amass the minimum of 5 percent to Chicago Cubs Wade Davis Tendered Qualifying Offer carry over, logging 3.7 percent. Yet his numbers are compatible with Hall of Fame catchers Johnny Bench, Yogi Berra, Gary Carter and Mike Piazza. An eight-time All-Star, he played for 21 seasons, batting .285 with 2,472 hits, 483 Chicago Cubs Matt Carasiti Purchased From Minors doubles, 248 home runs and 1,389 RBIs for the Cardinals, Brewers and Braves.

Tiant: Was on the BBWAA ballot for 15 years, ending in 2002, with his high percentage being 30.9 percent in 1988, Acquired Off Waivers From Chicago Cubs Cory Mazzoni his first year. He won 229 games in 19 seasons and recorded from Padres, San Diego a 3.30 ERA, mostly for the Indians, Red Sox and Yankees. The Cuban native known as "El Tiante" won at least 20 games in four seasons, earning three All-Star selections. He won two American League ERA titles, including a 1.60 ERA in 1968, and led the league in shutouts three times. Chicago Cubs Leonys Martin Outrighted to Minors

Trammell: Was on the ballot for 15 years and had his best year (40.9 percent) in 2016, his final year of eligibility. Trammell's numbers compare favorably with career-long Chicago Cubs Jake Arrieta Tendered Qualifying Offer shortstop inductees Ozzie Smith and Barry Larkin. In Trammell's 20 seasons, all with the Tigers, he batted .285 with a .976 fielding percentage, while Smith hit .262 with a . 978 fielding percentage and Larkin hit .295 with a .975 Cleveland fielding percentage. In addition, Trammell was named the Carlos SantanaTendered Qualifying Offer 1984 World Series Most Valuable Player after leading Indians Detroit to the championship with a .450 batting average in five games. Longtime executive Bob Bowman to Removed From 60-Day DL, leave MLB after 17 years Cleveland Cody November 6, 2017 USA Today (Right elbow surgery - out for Indians Anderson https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2017/11/06/bob- season) bowman-leave-mlb-end-year/837083001/

Bob Bowman, longtime president and CEO of MLB Advanced Media, is leaving Major League Baseball when his contract expires next month. Cleveland Removed From 60-Day DL, Dylan Baker Indians (Right shoulder strain) Bowman helped the league and owners generate billions of dollars thanks in large part to BAMTech, the video-streaming company that governs and profits all the sport’s streaming broadcast packages and highlights, such as At Bat, Statcast, mlb.tv. Cleveland Boone Logan Removed From 60-Day DL, Indians (Left latissimus dorsi strain) Removed From 60-Day DL, Los Angeles Alex Meyer (Right shoulder surgery - out Angels for season) Colorado Greg Holland Tendered Qualifying Offer Rockies Removed From 60-Day DL, Los Angeles Yimi García (Right elbow surgery - out for Houston Removed From 60-Day DL, Dodgers David Paulino season) Astros (Bone spurs, right elbow)

Los Angeles O'Koyea Removed From 60-Day DL, Outrighted to Minors Houston Dodgers Dickson Brady Rodgers(Right elbow surgery - out for Astros season) Los Angeles Logan Signed, ( 2018)(team option Dodgers Forsythe exercised) Removed From 60-Day DL, Houston Jandel Gustave(Right elbow surgery - out for Astros season) Removed From 60-Day DL, Los Angeles Andrew Toles (Torn right ACL - out for Dodgers season) Kansas City Eric Hosmer Tendered Qualifying Offer Royals Los Angeles Removed From 60-Day DL, Josh Ravin Dodgers (Abdomen strain) Kansas City Lorenzo Cain Tendered Qualifying Offer Royals Los Angeles Adam Removed From 60-Day DL, Dodgers Liberatore (Left forearm tightness) Kansas City Mike Tendered Qualifying Offer Royals Moustakas Los Angeles Removed From 60-Day DL, Scott Kazmir Dodgers (Sore hip) Removed From 60-Day DL, Los Angeles Nick Tropeano(Recovery from right elbow Angels surgery) Los Angeles Removed From 60-Day DL, Grant Dayton Dodgers (Neck stiffness)

Los Angeles Matt Removed From 60-Day DL, Angels Shoemaker (Strained right forearm) Minnesota Ryan Outrighted to Minors Twins O'Rourke

Los Angeles Removed From 60-Day DL, J.C. Ramírez Angels (Right forearm strain) Minnesota Ryan Removed From 60-Day DL, Twins O'Rourke (Strained left forearm) Minnesota Oakland Paul Removed From 60-Day DL, Chris GimenezOutrighted to Minors Twins Athletics Blackburn (Bruised right forearm)

Minnesota Removed From 60-Day DL, Philadelphia Vince Removed From 60-Day DL, J.T. Chargois Twins (Right elbow impingement) Phillies Velasquez (Right middle finger pain)

Removed From 60-Day DL, Philadelphia Removed From 60-Day DL, Minnesota Zach Eflin Phil Hughes (Recurrence of thoracic outlet Phillies (Right shoulder strain) Twins syndrome)

Philadelphia Removed From 60-Day DL, Jerad Eickhoff Removed From 60-Day DL, Phillies (Nerve irritation in right hand) Minnesota Trevor May (Torn right UCL - out for Twins season) Philadelphia Pedro Refused Minor League Phillies Florimón Assignment - Free Agent New York Nick Purchased From Minors Yankees Rumbelow Pittsburgh Refused Minor League Dan Runzler Pirates Assignment - Free Agent Oakland Removed From 60-Day DL, Dustin Fowler Athletics (Ruptured right patellar tendon) Removed From 60-Day DL, Pittsburgh Josh Harrison (Fractured metacarpal, left Pirates Oakland hand) Michael Brady Outrighted to Minors Athletics

Pittsburgh Acquired Off Waivers From Nik Turley Oakland Pirates from Twins, Minnesota Josh Smith Outrighted to Minors Athletics

San Diego Hector Refused Minor League Oakland Removed From 60-Day DL, Padres Sanchez Assignment - Free Agent Andrew Triggs Athletics (Strained left hip)

Removed From 60-Day DL, San Diego Oakland Colin Rea (Right elbow surgery - out for Simon Castro Outrighted to Minors Padres Athletics season)

Oakland Removed From 60-Day DL, San Diego Refused Minor League Bobby Wahl Tim Melville Athletics (Strained right shoulder) Padres Assignment - Free Agent Removed From 60-Day DL, Removed From 60-Day DL, San Diego St. Louis Robbie Erlin (Recovery from left elbow Álex Reyes (Right elbow surgery - out for Padres Cardinals surgery) season)

San Diego Alex Removed From 60-Day DL, St. Louis Trevor Released Padres Dickerson (Disc protrusion in back) Cardinals Rosenthal

San Diego Removed From 60-Day DL, Tampa Bay Shawn Refused Minor League Carter Capps Padres (Blood clots) Rays Tolleson Assignment - Free Agent

San Diego Removed From 60-Day DL, Tampa Bay Matt Strahm Alex Cobb Tendered Qualifying Offer Padres (Torn left patellar tendon) Rays

San Francisco Madison Signed, ( 2018)(team option Tampa Bay Refused Minor League César Puello Giants Bumgarner exercised) Rays Assignment - Free Agent

San Francisco Pablo Signed, ( 2018)(team option Tampa Bay Refused Minor League Curt Casali Giants Sandoval exercised) Rays Assignment - Free Agent

San Francisco Signed, ( 2018)(team option Texas Matt Moore A.J. Jimenez Outrighted to Minors Giants exercised) Rangers

St. Louis Removed From 60-Day DL, Lance Lynn Tendered Qualifying Offer Texas Chi Chi Cardinals (Right elbow surgery - out for Rangers González season)

Removed From 60-Day DL, St. Louis Trevor (Right posterior elbow Texas Hanser Removed From 60-Day DL, Cardinals Rosenthal irritation) Rangers Alberto (Right shoulder tightness)

St. Louis Texas Signed, ( 2018)(team option Alex Mejia Outrighted to Minors Martin Perez Cardinals Rangers exercised)

St. Louis Alberto Refused Minor League Texas Austin Bibens- Outrighted to Minors Cardinals Rosario Assignment - Free Agent Rangers Dirkx Toronto Blue Luis Santos Outrighted to Minors Jays

Toronto Blue Taylor Acquired Off Waivers From Jays Guerrieri from Rays, Tampa Bay

Toronto Blue Taylor Cole Outrighted to Minors Jays

Toronto Blue Raffy López Outrighted to Minors Jays

Toronto Blue Leonel Outrighted to Minors Jays Campos