With today being the deadline to offer in-house impending free agents the one-year, $15.3 million qualifying offer, some interesting transactions may transpire. In this case, the New York Yankees and Toronto Blue Jays are dealing with such issues, while the Boston Red Sox have a possible trade in mind.
The Yankees perhaps have the least glaring issue, but it could still be a concern for the team. Jon Heyman of CBS Sports reported that the team will extend the qualifying offer to closer David Robertson, but it doesn't "seem especially likely" they do the same with starting pitcher Hiroki Kuroda. The Japanese right-hander was the only starting pitcher on New York's starting rotation to last the entirety of the 2014 season, posting an 11-9 record with a 3.71 ERA in 32 starts. But Kuroda will be 40 next year and he has provided little insight regarding his return to baseball.
It's tough to gauge this situation because the Yankees might be going after one of the top-tier free-agent pitchers, but they also have a number of starters returning from significant injuries and their health is no guarantee to last them the 2015 season. C.C. Sabathia is coming off knee surgery; Ivan Nova had Tommy John surgery; Masahiro Tanaka's elbow is still a question mark and; Michael Pineda's health has proven to be an issue in general. Kuroda has been consistent for the Yankees over the past three seasons, which is why the possibility of his exit remains a concern.
The Toronto Blue Jays are dealing with a situation regarding the qualifying offer as well. They presented outfielder Melky Cabrera with the one-year, $15.3 million deal, but it's a forgone conclusion he will decline it. It's been known for a quite a while that Cabrera is seeking a multi-year contract that will pay him nicely, but it's relatively unknown if the Blue Jays are willing to offer him the deal he wants. It was reported last week that the front office was planning to prepare at least a three-year deal, but the demand for the switch-hitting outfielder may be changing.
"Estimates on a contract for Cabrera vary wildly, with some pointing to Jhonny Peralta's $53-million, four-year deal with the St. Louis Cardinals as a baseline, others arguing that the $72.5-million, seven-year contract the Boston Red Sox gave Cuban outfielder Rusney Castillo in August is a more realistic starting point," writes Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.
Cabrera could be heading for the free-agent market if he declines the qualifying offer and Toronto cannot come up with a long-term deal before November 10.
The Red Sox haven't any free agents to deal with, but they do seemingly have a player they want out of town. There have been talks about the team potentially looking to trade Yoenis Cespedes because the coaches aren't very fond of his behavior and the outfielder doesn't want to play right field, which is where the Red Sox feel he would be most effective. As a result, if they're able to ship Cespedes - which is very possible because he has a decent 2015 salary just above $10 million - Boston might enter the sweepstakes for Cuban defector Yasmany Tomas, who is a right fielder.
Tomas' agent, Jay Alou Jr., tweeted on Sunday that the23-year-old worked out at the Red Sox Academy in the Dominican Republic. However, Tomas is expected to command a contract in the $100 million range and it's not clear if Boston wants to spend that money, especially after signing the Cuban-defecting center fielder Rusney Castillo to a seven-year, $72.5 million contract in August. Additionally, third baseman Pablo Sandoval has been mentioned as an interest of Boston's, which is another contract that will cost them in the $100 million range.
It should get more interesting in the coming days. Teams have until 5 p.m. on November 3 to present their impending free agents with the qualifying offer and those players have five days to accept it. If they decline, they'll be headed for free agency. But if no qualifying offer is presented, those free agents can sign with any team starting on November 4.
