Inside The Clubhouse: Yadier Molina’s market and more offseason buzz

Inside the Clubhouse this week explores the market for Yadier Molina and the latest offseason rumblings around the Los Angeles Angels and the Seattle Mariners.

There are signs that free agency may soon pick up — at least temporarily.

“I expect there to be a good number of signings leading up to the holidays,” one prominent agent said Monday. “Then it won’t go black but it will go dark grey until after the New Year.”

To date, only 24 major-league deals have been signed this offseason. The average MLB salary last season was $4.4 million. Of those 24 deals, 15 of them have been for $3.1 million or less, with the largest being the four-year, $40.6 million deal that James McCann inked with the New York Mets.

A saturated free-agent market and unanswered questions regarding the upcoming season have been the primary reasons for the slow offseason. Teams have been told to operate as if there will not be a designated hitter in the National League, though Milwaukee Brewers manager Craig Counsell said Thursday he believes there is a “decent chance” the DH will return in 2021.

The expectation is that mid-tier players will continue to be the first to sign. And until teams receive clarity on what the 2021 season will look like, both on the field and financially, there is an increasing likelihood the top free agents will remain unsigned until January.

“Inching closer is the best that I can say,” the agent said. “Beyond frustrating since clubs are fearful, indecisive or waiting on ownership approval to buy a roll of napkins.”

Are the Padres a fit for Sonny Gray?

The San Diego Padres are looking for a starting pitcher to replace Mike Clevinger, and rival executives believe that Cincinnati Reds pitcher Sonny Gray is a strong fit.

Gray, 31, has bounced back since being reunited with pitching coach Derek Johnson, finishing the last two years in Cincinnati with a 3.07 ERA and 277/94 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 231.1 innings. He would prove stability atop the Padres’ rotation with Clevinger out and uncertainty surrounding Dimelson Lamet coming off an arm injury.

The Padres are interested in Gray, according to league sources, though it may prove challenging for general manager A.J. Preller to complete a deal.

Preller said recently that, “it’s going to be another challenging year from a finance standpoint,” with Dennis Lin of The Athletic reporting that the Padres’ payroll will likely be lower than this year’s non-prorated Opening Day total (roughly $150 million).

It means that Gray, who is signed for a team-friendly $10 million the next two seasons, may be out of the Padres’ price range. And while Gray figures to cost less via trade than Blake Snell or Joe Musgrove, whose asking prices are said to be “sky high,” there are questions how Gray would fit in San Diego with pitching coach Larry Rothschild after their time together with the New York Yankees.

Under Preller, the Padres have stretched the budget to upgrade the major-league roster. But unless the team is able to shed salaries – outfielders Wil Myers and Tommy Pham being candidates – it is hard to envision them being serious players for Bauer or any top starter this winter.

Evaluating the Yadier Molina market

Bengie Molina, the former major-league catcher and brother of Yadier Molina, said on 101 ESPN “The Fast Lane” in St. Louis that the longtime Cardinals catcher wants to be “appreciated” and “valued” in free agency.

“He wants to win, but he also wants to be appreciated,” Bengie said. “He’s finding out how valuable – that’s a big, big word – how valuable he could be for another team. When you are talking about a 38-year-old and they have 6-7 teams after them, that tells you how valuable he is. The bad thing for the Cardinals is he is finding out how valuable he is to other teams.”

It would be an upset if Molina did not return to the Cardinals. After all, he has played in St. Louis for 18 seasons and there is mutual interest in getting a deal done. But recent talks have not gone well, with a report from The Athletic stating that Molina and his agent Melvin Roman balked at a “ridiculous” offer, potentially opening the door for Molina to play elsewhere in 2021.

The Washington Nationals have emerged as a possibility for Molina, according to sources, joining other interested teams such as the New York Yankees, San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Angels. He is seeking a two-year deal in free agency, though he may ultimately have to settle for a one-year deal with an option for 2022.

The odds remain in favor of Molina returning to St. Louis. But it is surprising that the two sides have seemingly made little progress toward completing a deal this deep into the offseason. Now, Molina appears to be seriously considering all options.

“If the Cardinals are not the team willing to do everything and anything to bring him back, he’s not afraid,” Bengie said. “Yadi is not like me. If you do not want me, somebody else will appreciate me.”

The Mariners continue to look for bullpen upgrades

The Seattle Mariners have already added relievers Rafael Montero and Keynan Middleton, and a source familiar with the team’s thinking says the plan is to add one or two additional pieces to a bullpen that ranked worst in the American League in 2020.

Montero, 30, transitioned to full-time relief work following Tommy John surgery and became the Rangers’ closer in 2020. Middleton, 27, has consistently delivered an above-average fastball spin rate and was selected by Mariners general manager Jerry Dipoto when he was the Los Angeles Angels’ GM in 2013. Both players present intriguing skillsets and upside, and the Mariners plan to let both compete for high-leverage situations in 2021.

The Mariners, meanwhile, continue to evaluate late-inning options in free agency and one option is Blake Treinen, as Jeff Passan of ESPN first reported.

Treinen, 32, signed a one-year, $10 million deal last winter with the Los Angeles Dodgers to prove that a down 2019 season was an outlier. He finished the 2020 season with a 3.86 ERA in 25.2 innings and established himself as the most reliable high-leverage reliever in free agency after Liam Hendriks. His arm is relatively fresh compared to most others on the open market, and he has spent only 12 days on the Injured List in his career (the next closest free-agent reliever spent 40 days on the IL).

There are no indications, however, that Treinen is close to signing. One agent with knowledge of the reliever market said that “everything starts with Hendriks,” meaning that it is doubtful Treinen, Brad Hand, Alex Colome or any of the top relievers sign until Hendriks’ situation is resolved.

The Mariners have made it clear in their talks with agents and other teams that they are serious about upgrading their bullpen. But until they make a true impact addition, it will be hard for Dipoto to follow through on his promise of taking the Mariners back to the postseason.

Angels searching for a catcher

The Los Angeles Angels continue to prioritize upgrading the rotation and bullpen. But after finishing as the runner-up for James McCann, the team remains on the hunt for a catcher to pair alongside Max Stassi.

One catcher the Angels have expressed interest in is Kurt Suzuki, according to sources. Suzuki, 37, built a relationship with now-Angels general manager Perry Minasian when the two were together with the Atlanta Braves and it could help the sides facilitate a reunion.

Suzuki, who earned $1.5 million in 2020, is likely to land a similar contract this offseason. Signing Suzuki over McCann and Molina would allow the front office to devote more assets to the pitching staff and other parts of the roster.

Around the Horn:

• The New York Mets hiring Jared Porter as general manager has drawn rave reviews throughout the industry. Said one person who has worked alongside Porter, when asked about his leadership style: “Lots of questions. Really good listener. Really detail-oriented. Likes for you to make your point. This is not a very Mets-like hire, and I mean that in a really good way.”
• The Toronto Blue Jays have been in touch with star KBO shortstop Ha-Seong Kim, as Jon Heyman of MLB Network reported. Kim recently had dinner with Blue Jays pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu.