MLB rumors: 3 things to watch at Day 3 of the 2022 MLB Winter Meetings

MLB Winter Meetings continue on Tuesday in San Diego, and the focus could be on more big names to make their free agent decision.

SAN DIEGO — Monday at the MLB Winter Meetings saw Justin Verlander and Trea Turner each find new homes thanks to large free agent contracts. Could there be more offseason dominoes to fall on Tuesday? Don’t bet against it at as the MLB Winter Meetings are keeping the hot stove on fire here in San Diego.

3 things to watch on Day 3 of the MLB Winter Meetings

MLB rumor: Aaron Judge will make an appearance

If you thought Monday was wild at the MLB Winter Meetings, just wait until this rumor comes true on Tuesday.

Yes, Judge could descend upon San Diego and have plenty on his mind as he continues to weigh his options between the San Francisco Giants and New York Yankees. The American League MVP reportedly already has a nine-year offer in his hand, so could his decision be close? Judge’s appearance in San Diego on Tuesday could be a sign that that biggest free agent of them all could be off the board sooner than later.

MLB rumor: Colorado Rockies out on Brandon Nimmo

Take heart, New York Mets fans. One of the potential landing places for free agent outfielder Brandon Nimmo could be off the table, and it’s one that made a lot of sense for the 29-year-old native of Cheyenne, Wyoming.

According to Colorado Rockies general manager Bill Schmidt, the Rockies are more likely to fill their need for an outfielder who can hit from the left side of the plate through a short-term contract rather than with someone like Nimmo, who is looking for a long-term deal. The reason? Colorado doesn’t want to block prospects who are coming up through the farm system and will likely be ready to take their place in the Coors Field outfield in the near future.

With former National League MVP Cody Bellinger looking for a one-year contract that will allow him to once again show his value after two down seasons in Los Angeles, the Rockies are keeping their eye on the former division rival to see if he could be a short-term fit for them. Schmidt said that he has talked with Bellinger’s agent, Scott Boras.

With Kris Bryant on track to report to spring training fully healthy, according to Schmidt and Rockies manager Bud Black, Colorado is hoping someone like Bellinger could come in and be a missing piece to a fragmented puzzle that saw the Rockies finish 68-94 last season.

If Nimmo is to leave the Mets this offseason, it won’t be to patrol Coors Field, the closest MLB stadium to his hometown.

Nimmo, by the way, is also expected to visit the MLB Winter Meetings on Tuesday.

MLB rumor: Catching market heating up

There have been plenty of talks about how MLB teams can land Sean Murphy in a deal with the Oakland A’s, or where Willson Contreras may end up as a free agent (including Houston, with Astros manager Dusty Baker explaining on Monday why his team didn’t pull off a trade for him last season). Now it appears that the market for former Astros and Boston Red Sox catcher Christian Vazquez could be heating up as well.

Like Contreras, the 32-year-old Vazquez is a free agent this offseason and, while considered behind Contreras in terms of capabilities, he offers a cost-conscious alternative for those teams looking to improve at catcher. Eight teams have been linked to Vazquez recently, meaning he is drawing plenty of interest after slashing .274/.315/.399 last season with nine home runs and 52 RBI in 426 plate appearances between Houston and Boston.

Vazquez has two World Series rings to his credit (one each with the Red Sox and Astros), showing that he can bring postseason experience to any team as well.

Look for the rumors around Vazquez, Murphy, and Contreras to continue to heat up as the MLB Winter Meetings continue.