MLB Rumors: Yankees Trying To Trade Pitcher Before Signing Gerrit Cole, Nationals Eyeing Kris Bryant

Stephen Strasburg has re-signed with the Washington Nationals, leaving Gerrit Cole and Anthony Rendon as the two remaining stars in MLB free agency. The decisions of both players could be the impetus for a few teams to make notable trades this offseason.

The New York Yankees are considered by many to be the frontrunners in the Gerrit Cole Sweepstakes. The right-hander has been expected to land a record-setting contract, but his price tag got even higher when Washington agreed to give Strasburg $245 million over seven years.

It might cost the Yankees $300 million and more than $35 million per season to sign Cole. That has New York searching for ways to shed payroll.

According to The New York Post’s Joel Sherman, the Yankees are actively trying to trade J.A. Happ. The veteran is guaranteed to make $17 million in the 2020 season. Happ’s $17 million option for the 2021 season would vest with 165 innings or 27 starts.

Happ won’t be easy to move after a poor 2019 campaign. He pitched to a 4.91 ERA before turning 37 years old in October and was left out of the Yankees’ playoff rotation. New York might need to add another player in the deal to incentivize a team to acquire Happ.

The Los Angeles Angels and Los Angeles Dodgers are also in the mix for Cole. It might make sense for New York to keep Happ if they are unable to land the top free-agent pitcher.

Washington’s decision to give Strasburg more money than any pitcher in history seemed to decrease its chances of re-signing Rendon. The third baseman could get a deal similar to Strasburg’s. The Dodgers, Philadelphia Phillies and Texan Rangers are all rumored to have interest in Rendon.

The defending World Series champions are reportedly already preparing to replace their star hitter. According to MLB.com’s Jon Morosi, the Nationals have inquired with the Chicago Cubs about a potential trade for Kris Bryant.

There have been rumors that Chicago might deal its third baseman for the right price. Executives have told ESPN’s Jeff Passan that the Cubs are being aggressive in trying to trade one of their top players.

Bryant is three years removed from winning the NL MVP award. He made his third All-Star team in five years this past season, hitting .282/.382/.521 with 31 home runs.

Rendon finished third in the 2019 NL MVP race with 34 home runs, an MLB-high 126 RBI and .319/.412/.598 splits. Rendon had a 1.003 OPS in the playoffs with some of the biggest hits in the World Series.