Scott Baker rumors: Blue Jays, Red Sox, Cubs, Rangers

The Toronto Blue Jays, Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, Texas Rangers and Minnesota Twins all "have varying degrees of interest" in free agent right-hander Scott Baker, reports Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports:

The Blue Jays also are among the clubs to inquire on right-hander Scott Baker, a free agent after going 8-6 with a 3.14 ERA over 134-2/3 innings during an injury-shortened 2012 season with the Minnesota Twins. The Red Sox, Cubs and Rangers have varying degrees of interest in Baker, as well, sources say.

The Twins notified Baker earlier this week that they were not going to exercise his $9.25 million team option for the 2013 season. Still, Minnesota said that it has interest in re-signing the right-hander to a lesser deal. The Twins are likely to be seeking starting pitching help beyond Baker this winter as they only have one arm, left-hander Scott Diamond, currently penciled into their 2013 rotation.

Baker was putting together a career year for the Twins in 2011 before it was cut short due to injury. The right-hander eventually underwent Tommy John surgery and missed the entire 2012 campaign. Over seven seasons with the Twins the 32-year-old owns a career ERA of 4.15 with 7.2 strikeouts per nine innings and 2.1 walks per nine inning.