Morning Rundown: Hunter Stratton resigned, Juan Soto sweepstakes, Tyler O'Neill signs
Updates on Juan Soto sweepstakes, Tyler O'Neill signs with Baltimore, Stratton returns to Pittsburgh
As the Winter Meetings get ready to kick off, the Juan Soto sweepstakes seems to be heading down the final stretch. There have been only a handful of teams apparently vying for Soto; both from New York, the Red Sox and Blue Jays are all among them.
It appears the two teams from New York have crossed over the $700 million mark in their offers, at least according to Jon Heyman.
Shohei Ohtani signed a deal worth $700 million last offseason, so there is a strong possibility that Soto will break that mark this time around.
The Baltimore Orioles stepped in and grabbed their replacement for Anthony Santander, who is also a free agent.
They came to an agreement on a three-year deal worth $49.5 million with outfielder Tyler O’Neill. It also comes with an opt-out after the first year.
O’Neill, 29, hit .241/.336/.511 last year with the Boston Red Sox, his only season with the organization. He also hit 31 home runs and put up a 2.5 fWAR.
Another big-name free agent is off the board, as the San Francisco Giants signed Willy Adames to a seven-year, $182 million contract.
He spent the last 3+ seasons with the Brewers after a trade sent him to Milwaukee from Tampa Bay. Adames hit a career-high 32 home runs and 112 RBI with a 4.8 fWAR.
After non-tendering him at the deadline, the Pittsburgh Pirates have resigned right-handed pitcher Hunter Stratton to a minor-league contract.
Stratton pitched well for the Pirates this past season, but an injury late in the year will force him to miss some time in 2025.
In 36 games, he posted a 3.58 ERA and a 2-1 record in 72.2 innings pitched.
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Parker made the Hall
The Pirates should definitely take a Rule 5 guy this year(Tuesday). Get a cheap LHRP for the bullpen.