Red Sox Winter Meetings tracker: rumors, free agents, live updates
Welcome to the Winter Meetings, where the Boston Red Sox may or may not attempt to salvage their offseason (yes, it’s already pretty bad) and their standing with some very demoralized fans.
Signing Chris Martin on Friday was a promising move, but pretty much every other update about the two months since the 2022 Red Sox last played a ballgame has been concerning, frustrating, or downright bad. The Xander Bogaerts reports are growing worse by the hour and no Rafael Devers news certainly doesn’t feel like good news. Meanwhile, the rumors are flying thick and fast, names are already coming off the free-agent board, and the Winter Meetings are about to kick signings and trades into high gear.
Throughout the week, we’ll be updating this tracker with real-time Sox news, Bogaerts reports, and other important Winter Meetings tidbits*…
*The most recent news is at the top of each section
When are the MLB Winter Meetings?
The 2022 Winter Meetings are in San Diego from Sunday, December 4 through Wednesday, December 7.
Red Sox rumors
- Matt Carpenter is a ‘potential option’ for the Red Sox (Chris Cotillo, MassLive)
- Red Sox among teams interested in Seth Lugo (Chris Cotillo, MassLive)
- Red Sox making ‘push’ to sign former Yankees reliever Tommy Kahnle (Boston Globe)
- Chaim Bloom says Sox “would entertain a reunion” with Nathan Eovaldi and/or Michael Wacha. (Boston Globe)
- The Red Sox are telling teams that Bobby Dalbec is available, and the Tampa Bay Rays have expressed interest (Sean McAdam, Boston Sports Journal)
- The Padres, Guardians, and Twins are all “in the mix” for Christian Vázquez, and the Cubs, Cardinals, and Astros have all been linked to him as well (Ken Rosental, The Athletic)
- The Red Sox have been in touch with Aaron Judge but are not considered a ‘serious suitor’ (Chris Cotillo, MassLive)
- Red Sox have been linked to Sean Murphy. The St. Louis Cardinals, Tampa Bay Rays, and Cleveland Guardians are among the Oakland A’s catcher’s other suitors. (Mark Feinsand, MLB)
Red Sox updates
- Red Sox in agreement with Kenley Jansen on a 2-year, $32M deal
- Matt Strahm signing a 2-year deal with Phillies
- Sox failed to sign outfielder Mitch Haniger, another top target
- Chaim Bloom says the Red Sox are interested in Christian Vázquez (Chris Cotillo, MassLive)
- Sox made an offer to Andrew Heaney before he chose the Rangers
- Sox had “extensive talks” with the Milwaukee Brewers about a Kolten Wong trade, making it even harder to believe they’ve actually been prioritizing Bogaerts (Boston Globe)
- Chaim Bloom and Alex Cora addressed members of the Boston media in San Diego
- Chris Sale will start throwing next week.
- Garrett Whitlock will be a starting pitcher in 2023, but the Sox are also planning to add another starter and at least five other players, including another bullpen arm, more bats, and a shortstop.
- Trevor Story and Kiké Hernández have been helping recruit free agents
- A reunion with Christian Vázquez is unlikely, but Chaim Bloom says the Sox are looking for a catcher upgrade
Xander Bogaerts rumors and updates
- The Red Sox met with Bogaerts’ agent, Scott Boras, on Monday night, but “no progress” has been made. (Boston Globe)
- Bogaerts is “holding out hope the Sox will make him a viable offer but is moving forward with other teams.” (Pete Abraham, Boston Globe)
- The Chicago Cubs are reportedly considering signing Bogaerts and Dansby Swanson if they can convince Bogaerts to move to third base. (Mark Feinsand, MLB)
- Chaim Bloom listed Story and Hernández as in-house options for shortstop but says he hopes it doesn’t come to that. Awkward.
- The Arizona Diamondbacks are “among the most serious” Bogaerts suitors. GM Mike Hazen and manager Torey Lovullo were both in Boston in the early years of Bogaerts’ career. (Jon Morosi, MLB Network)
- The Angels are looking for a shortstop, but are reportedly “wary” of the high-priced options such as Bogaerts
- Unsurprisingly, with Turner getting an 11-year deal, Bogaerts reportedly could look for nine years instead of eight (Marino Pepén)
- The Phillies are no longer in the Bogaerts sweepstakes now that they’re signing Trea Turner
- 8-11 teams have interest in Bogaerts, and that range reportedly does not include the Sox, who apparently have not made him a ‘competitive’ offer. (Boston Globe, subscription required)
Aaron Judge updates
- Judge is returning to the Yankees, who matched the Giants’ 9-year, $360M offer
- The Giants have offered Judge approximately $360M.
- Cashman says he has “no idea” what the Yankees will do this offseason if Judge signs elsewhere. (Bryan Hoch, MLB)
- Judge’s reps have not given Cashman an indication that the Yankees will have a chance to match or exceed another club’s final offer. (Mark Feinsand, MLB)
- The Yankees have made Judge “a number of offers” and his reps have countered back and forth since the season ended, but “it’s a fluid situation.”
- Brian Cashman spoke with Aaron Judge’s agent on Monday.
Winter Meetings predictions
- The Mets will sign Justin Verlander or Carlos Rodón to replace Jacob deGrom.
- Aaron Judge is the first non-pitching domino that needs to fall in order for the other top free agents to start signing, so if he signs this week, expect at least one other big name to follow. The Yankees and Giants are the frontrunners to land him, but other teams are interested as well.
- More free-agent signings than trades
MLB Winter Meetings updates
- New York Mets in agreement with Jose Quintana
- Philadelphia Phillies are in agreement with Matt Strahm
- San Francisco Giants are in agreement with Mitch Haniger
- Chicago Cubs are in agreement with Cody Bellinger.
- Texas Rangers are in agreement with Andrew Heaney.
- Cleveland Guardians are signing 1B/DH Josh Bell to a 2-year, $33M deal with an opt-out after the first year.
- The starting pitcher market is outrageous. Andrew Heaney, who owns a career 4.56 ERA and 93 ERA+ over nine seasons, has three-year offers and wants a fourth year. The Blue Jays have made an unknown offer, and are also interested in Cody Bellinger. (Jon Heyman, New York Post)
- Padres made Trea Turner a bigger offer than the Phillies. (Matt Gelb, The Athletic)
- Cubs met with Carlos Correa. Their ownership has told team president Jed Hoyer that he has the “green light to spend what he needs to spend to turn the team around.” (David Kaplan, NBC Sports Chicago)
- Astros are a potential suitor for Oakland A’s catcher Sean Murphy (Mark Feinsand, MLB)
- White Sox closer Liam Hendriks could be traded, but he has a limited no-trade clause that permits him to veto five teams. (Mark Feinsand, MLB)
- The Yankees have re-signed GM Brian Cashman to a 4-year contract
- Carlos Rodón, the last top free-agent pitcher unsigned, is reportedly seeking a 6-year deal (MLB Trade Rumors)
- Phillies sign Trea Turner to 11-year, $300M deal
- Mets sign Justin Verlander to 2-year, $86M deal
- Dodgers sign Clayton Kershaw for one year, $20M
- The Astros have been talking to Andrew Benintendi (USA Today)
