Morning Rundown: Angels stay busy, trade rumors, best free agent fits
Angels remain busiest team of the offseason, trade rumors and potential free agents
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim continued their aggressive start to the offseason, making another free agent signing.
On Monday, they nabbed left-handed pitcher Yusei Kikuchi, signing him to a three-year, $63 million contract.
Kikuchi, 33, posted a 9-10 record (4.05 ERA) with the Toronto Blue Jays and Houston Astros. After a trade to the Astros, Kikuchi was 5-1 in 10 starts, posting a 2.70 ERA in that span.
Los Angeles has been the most aggressive team this offseason, adding Jorge Soler (by trade), as well as Travis d’Arnaud, Kevin Newman, Kyle Hendricks and now Kikuchi.
Garrett Crochet may be one of best players available this offseason, with multiple teams checking in on what it would take to get him away from the Chicago White Sox.
A current rumor involves the Philadelphia Phillies with third baseman Alec Bohm and prospect Justin Crawford being mentioned as a possible return. It was reported by Bob Nightengale and relayed on this MLB.com article tracking rumors surrounding Crochet.
Unless you are the Angels, most of the action around the league is just rumors at this point, with one particularly interesting out in Toronto.
The Blue Jays are reportedly looking at turning some former divisional foes into friends. Nightengale also reports that Toronto is interested in former Orioles Anthony Santander and Corbin Burnes (he also mentions Max Fried as well).
Santander hit 44 home runs last year for Baltimore, and Burnes won 15 games in his only season with the team.
MLB.com looked at a free agent match for each team, with an eye on bullpen help for the Pirates.
With David Bednar having troubles last year as the closer, they have them turning to right-handed pitcher Jose Leclerc, previously of the Texas Rangers.
Leclerc, 30, has a career 3.27 ERA with 41 saves and 473 strikeouts in 360.1 innings pitched.
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FYI. Angels misspelled in headline.
Mlb put an article with 1 team with each division that has an interesting pitch for Sasaki. They chose us for the NL central and basically said come pitch with Skenes... man its fun to dream