MLB trade rumors and news: Freese’s new deal highlights another day of option decisions

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• This week has been mostly quiet around baseball, but teams and players are starting to make decisions on options for 2019 in advance of free agency. Though the quantity of those moves has slowed down as the week has progressed, the Dodgers made a decision on Thursday, retaining playoff hero David Freese — he of the .911 career postseason OPS and the .364/.423/.773 slash line during this year’s playoffs — on a one-year deal. The transaction essentially required Freese to take a $1 million paycut, as the Dodgers declined his $6 million option for 2019, then promptly gave him a $4.5 million deal while paying him the $500,000 buyout on the declined club option.
• Trying to keep track of all the decisions on options and qualifying offers? You’re in luck, because we created a tracker so you don’t miss out on anything.
• After exercising his postseason demons and winning a World Series, David Price has decided to return to the Red Sox by opting into his final four years of his contract.
• The Yankees have brought back beloved veteran outfielder Brett Gardner on a one-year, $7.5 million deal.
• The Nationals have a deal in place to sign former Cardinals closer Trevor Rosenthal.
• J.T. Realmuto’s name has been batted around for a while now on the trade market as a potential option, even though it was unclear whether or not he would be willing to work things out in Miami. According to his agent, he has no interest in signing a long-term extension and expects to be on a different team in 2019.
• Our own Anthony Spaulding went through all of the options for the AL Silver Slugger Awards and highlighted the favorites at each position.

The Cardinals’ Marcell Ozuna was hampered by shoulder issues during large portions of the 2018 season. While St. Louis had hoped that the injury wouldn’t require surgery, Ozuna did end up having a clean-up surgical procedure Tuesday. It looks like he will be ready for the 2019 season.

• The Cardinals and Adam Wainwright came to terms on a deal that will keep the veteran pitcher in St. Louis for 2019. His contract has a LOT of escalators/bonuses in it based on playing time.
• Elvis Andrus had the option to opt out of this contract with the Rangers after the season, but decided to stay put after an injury plagued season. However, he also has an opt out after the 2019 season, so we will see if he can rebuild his value and how that impacts his decision if he does.
• The Mets made an out-of-the-box move to fill their front-office vacancy, hiring agent Brodie Van Wagenen as their new general manager.
• Our Anderson Pickard is exploring the Yankees’ options at shortstop, and whether or not they’ll need to make a blockbuster signing to address the position this winter.
• The race is close, with seemingly a three-way tie for the title. Who should be this year’s AL MVP?
• David Bell, a Cincinnati native whose grandfather, father, and brother all played for the Reds, has been hired for his dream job and will succeed Jim Riggleman as the Reds’ manager.
• There are several managerial and front office openings already and teams are busy interviewing candidates and seeing who is available. Make sure you stay up to date on all of the latest rumors on that front in our managerial and executive openings tracker.
• Our Wayne Cavadi has broken down the five biggest takeaways from the Yankees’ season.
• Winter is here...and with it, hot stove season. Here’s a look at the biggest free agents this offseason and what we might see go down when baseball hits the Winter Meetings in Vegas.