MLB Hot Corner: Blue Jays on the move? Closers & Summer Camp (Video)

Jen Piacenti breaks down the top stories from the past week of the MLB

Jennifer Piacenti

Published Tue Jul 21, 2020 9:15 am (EDT)

MLB Hot Corner

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Greg Jewett

2021 MLB Draft Guide: Full-Hand Draft Strategy

Published 2:30 pm (EST)

Greg Jewett

2021 MLB Draft Guide: Full-Hand Draft Strategy

Greg Jewett shows you how the Full Hand draft strategy can give you balance...

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2021 MLB Draft Guide: Full-Hand Draft Strategy

Greg Jewett

Published 2:30 pm (EST)
Greg Jewett

2021 MLB Draft Guide: Sustainable Breakouts

Published 8:00 am (EST)

Greg Jewett

2021 MLB Draft Guide: Sustainable Breakouts

Greg Jewett looks at the players coming off a breakout season and tell you...

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2021 MLB Draft Guide: Sustainable Breakouts

Greg Jewett

Published 8:00 am (EST)
Dan Malin

2021 MLB Draft Guide: Points League Draft Strategies

Published Yesterday 8:00 pm (EST)

Dan Malin

2021 MLB Draft Guide: Points League Draft Strategies

Dan Malin offers up a variety of successful draft strategies for those...

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2021 MLB Draft Guide: Points League Draft Strategies

Dan Malin

Published Yesterday 8:00 pm (EST)
Matthew Selz

2021 MLB Draft Guide: Old Faces in New Places

Published Yesterday 10:45 am (EST)

Matthew Selz

2021 MLB Draft Guide: Old Faces in New Places

Matt Selz takes a look at every MLB free agent, where they signed and what...

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2021 MLB Draft Guide: Old Faces in New Places

Matthew Selz

Published Yesterday 10:45 am (EST)
Greg Jewett

2021 MLB Draft Guide Player Profile: Mookie Betts

Published Jan 24 5:25 am (EST)

Greg Jewett

2021 MLB Draft Guide Player Profile: Mookie Betts

Greg Jewett takes an in-depth look at Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder...

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2021 MLB Draft Guide Player Profile: Mookie Betts

Greg Jewett

Published Jan 24 5:25 am (EST)
Greg Jewett

2021 MLB Draft Guide Player Profile: Ronald Acuna Jr

Published Jan 24 5:20 am (EST)

Greg Jewett

2021 MLB Draft Guide Player Profile: Ronald Acuna Jr

Greg Jewett takes a closer look at Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna...

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2021 MLB Draft Guide Player Profile: Ronald Acuna Jr

Greg Jewett

Published Jan 24 5:20 am (EST)
Greg Jewett

2021 MLB Draft Guide Player Profile: Gerrit Cole

Published Jan 24 5:15 am (EST)

Greg Jewett

2021 MLB Draft Guide Player Profile: Gerrit Cole

Greg Jewett takes a closer look at New York Yankees starting pitcher...

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2021 MLB Draft Guide Player Profile: Gerrit Cole

Greg Jewett

Published Jan 24 5:15 am (EST)
Greg Jewett

2021 MLB Draft Guide Player Profile: Francisco Lindor

Published Jan 24 5:10 am (EST)

Greg Jewett

2021 MLB Draft Guide Player Profile: Francisco Lindor

Greg Jewett takes an in-depth look at new New York Mets shortstop...

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2021 MLB Draft Guide Player Profile: Francisco Lindor

Greg Jewett

Published Jan 24 5:10 am (EST)
Greg Jewett

2021 MLB Draft Guide Player Profile: Tyler Stephenson

Published Jan 24 5:05 am (EST)

Greg Jewett

2021 MLB Draft Guide Player Profile: Tyler Stephenson

Greg Jewett takes a closer look at Cincinnati Reds catcher Tyler Stephenson...

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2021 MLB Draft Guide Player Profile: Tyler Stephenson

Greg Jewett

Published Jan 24 5:05 am (EST)
Greg Jewett

2021 MLB Draft Guide Player Profile: George Springer

Published Jan 24 5:00 am (EST)

Greg Jewett

2021 MLB Draft Guide Player Profile: George Springer

Greg Jewett takes a closer look at new Toronto Blue Jays outfielder...

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2021 MLB Draft Guide Player Profile: George Springer

Greg Jewett

Published Jan 24 5:00 am (EST)

Greg Jewett

2021 MLB Draft Guide: Full-Hand Draft Strategy

Published 2:30 pm (EST)

Greg Jewett

2021 MLB Draft Guide: Full-Hand Draft Strategy

Greg Jewett shows you how the Full Hand draft strategy can give you balance...

Read Article

2021 MLB Draft Guide: Full-Hand Draft Strategy

Greg Jewett

Published 2:30 pm (EST)

Greg Jewett

2021 MLB Draft Guide: Sustainable Breakouts

Published 8:00 am (EST)

Greg Jewett

2021 MLB Draft Guide: Sustainable Breakouts

Greg Jewett looks at the players coming off a breakout season and tell you...

Read Article

2021 MLB Draft Guide: Sustainable Breakouts

Greg Jewett

Published 8:00 am (EST)

Dan Malin

2021 MLB Draft Guide: Points League Draft Strategies

Published Yesterday 8:00 pm (EST)

Dan Malin

2021 MLB Draft Guide: Points League Draft Strategies

Dan Malin offers up a variety of successful draft strategies for those...

Read Article

2021 MLB Draft Guide: Points League Draft Strategies

Dan Malin

Published Yesterday 8:00 pm (EST)

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NEWEST DRAFT GUIDE FEATURE

Matthew Selz

2021 MLB Draft Guide: Old Faces in New Places

Published Yesterday 10:45 am (EST)

Matthew Selz

2021 MLB Draft Guide: Old Faces in New Places

Matt Selz takes a look at every MLB free agent, where they signed and what...

Read Article

2021 MLB Draft Guide: Old Faces in New Places

Matthew Selz

Published Yesterday 10:45 am (EST)

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NHL Trade Reaction: Jets trade Laine to Blue Jackets for Dubois

Fantasy Alarm Show: Sean Mitchell Highlights The Esports DFS Coverage

MLB Offseason Report: Astros re-sign Michael Brantley

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Fantasy Alarm Show: Jim Gives Update on MLB Offseason

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MLB Report: Marcus Semien moving closer to a decision

MLB Nationals officially announce signing of Brad Hand

MLB Phillies 'trying to close the deal' for Realmuto

MLB Well, then: Mets not offering record AAV to Bauer

MLB Report: JBJ remains 'solid on the Mets' radar'

MLB Report: Indians, Cesar Hernandez reach new deal

MLB Report: Tanaka in negotiations to return to Japan

MLB Astros, Brantley finalize new 2-yr, $32M contract

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S. Watkins - RP

DET

Orioles signed RHP Spenser Watkins to a minor league contract.

Watkins joins the Orioles after spending seven seasons in the Tigers' minor league system. The 28-year-old pitched between three different levels in 2019 while posting a 6.07 ERA over 24 starts and three relief appearances. He'll give the Orioles some upper-level depth in their system.

Added 2:10 pm (EST)

William Boor on Twitter

N/A

M. Semien - SS

Darren Wolfson of SKOR North reports that free agent shortstop Marcus Semien is "moving closer to a decision."

Wolfson adds that the Twins and Brewers are among the teams who have talked to Semien, though Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic mentioned earlier this month that the Dodgers were looking at him as an alternative to Justin Turner at third base. Things have been in a holding position with the shortstop position, as Didi Gregorius and Andrelton Simmons are also on the market. It's worth wondering whether Semien could take a one-year prove-it contract after struggling to the tune of a .223/.305/.374 batting line over 236 plate appearances in 2020.

Added 1:01 pm (EST)

Darren Wolfson on Twitter

N/A

B. Hand - RP

WSH

Brad Hand said Tuesday that increasing his fastball velocity has been his top priority this winter.

Hand's average four-seam fastball velocity decreased from 92.7 mph to 91.4 mph last season, though that didn't stop him from posting a 2.05 ERA over 23 appearances. Of course, his slider was still on point. Still, it can't hurt to get his velocity back up to where it was in the past.

Added 12:49 pm (EST)

Mark Zuckerman on Twitter

N/A

I. Paredes - 3B

DET

Tigers manager A.J. Hinch plans to give Isaac Paredes work at multiple positions in the spring.

Paredes primarily played third base as a rookie last year, but Hinch wants to see what he can do as a middle infielder. It's worth a shot to test his versatility with Spencer Torkelson on the way. Barring an outside addition, the Tigers figure to go into the year with Paredes, Niko Goodrum, Willi Castro, Jeimer Candelario, and Harold Castro in their infield. Paredes turns 22 in February and batted .220/.278/.290 with one home run over 108 plate appearances last season.

Added 11:55 am (EST)

Jason Beck on Twitter

N/A

B. Hand - RP

WSH

Nationals signed LHP Brad Hand to a one-year, $10.5 million contract.

The deal was reported over the weekend and is now official. Hand also drew interest from the division rival Mets as a possible set-up man for Edwin Diaz, but he should function as the closer in Washington. The 31-year-old led MLB with 16 saves last season while posting a 2.05 ERA and 29/4 K/BB ratio over 22 innings. It's worth noting that Indians declined their $10 million option on Hand in order to make him a free agent, so he actually did slightly better for himself in the end. Per Jim Bowden of CBS Sports HQ, Hand will make $4 million in 2021, with $6.5 million in 2022, 2023, and 2024.

Added 11:18 am (EST)

N/A

J. Realmuto - C

Jon Heyman of MLB Network reports that the Phillies are "trying to close the deal" to bring back free agent catcher J.T. Realmuto.

The Braves have been mentioned in recent days, though they appear more of a longshot given that they'd prefer a shorter contract and they already have Travis d'Arnaud under contract for 2021. Heyman reports that it's believed the Phillies have made an offer around $110 million -- presumably over five years -- and it's hard to believe someone else has topped that until this point. It's a clear fit if the Phillies have any intention of contending this year, so we could be entering the closing stages here.

Added 10:38 am (EST)

Jon Heyman on Twitter

N/A

T. Bauer - SP

Jon Heyman of MLB Network reports that the Mets did not offer a deal to Trevor Bauer with a record AAV (average annual value).

Mark Feinsand of MLB.com and Andy Martino of SNY.tv are reporting the same. This stands in direct contrast to Bob Nightengale's reporting. For the record, Nightengale has since walked back his report, saying that the AAV would approach Gerrit Cole's $36 million, but not top it. Nobody is denying that the Mets have interest and Martino writes that the club has indeed made an offer, but not to the point of $36 million AAV. Either way, there's a lot of smoke here and the Mets have been one of only a handful of teams willing to spend this offseason.

Added 10:24 am (EST)

Jon Heyman on Twitter

N/A

J. Bradley Jr. - CF

Mike Puma of the New York Post reports that Jackie Bradley Jr. remains "solid on the Mets' radar."

The Mets are also reportedly engaged on Trevor Bauer, so it's unclear whether they are looking to sign one or both, but there's no question that the club could use an upgrade in center field. One major unknown for all teams is whether the DH will remain in the National League this season. That's especially relevant for the Mets, who could be forced to put Dom Smith in left field. If the club was to sign Bradley, they would have a playing time crunch on their hands with Brandon Nimmo on their roster. But that talks are continuing suggests that the Mets are still optimistic the DH will be in place come Opening Day.

Added 10:15 am (EST)

Mike Puma on Twitter

N/A

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