MLB trade rumors and news: Run on free-agent catchers continues as D-Backs sign Stephen Vogt

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• After resurrecting his career with the Giants this past season, free-agent catcher Stephen Vogt joined an NL West rival on Tuesday, signing a one-year deal with the Diamondbacks that includes a vesting option for 2020. The Vogt signing continues an aggressive run on catchers during the first month of free agency — of the eight free agents to sign major-league contracts so far, four of them have been backstops.
• 28-year-old right-hander Kendall Graveman, who was considered an intriguing major-league starter in the not-too-distant past (he was the Athletics’ Opening Day starter in 2018) signed a one-year deal with the Mariners in hopes of resurrecting his career. Graveman spent the 2019 season rehabbing from Tommy John surgery in the Cubs organization but had his option for 2020 earlier this month.
• Both of the catchers from the Astros’ 2019 AL pennant-winning club — Martín Maldonado and Robinson Chirinos — are free agents this offseason, so Houston secured a potential low-cost replacement on Tuesday, signing journeyman Dustin Garneau to a one-year major-league deal. It’s still possible that Houston could add as many as two major-league caliber catchers this offseason, as the new 26-man roster rule will make it much more feasible for teams to carry three catchers all season.
• The Rays found themselves in need of a catcher when Travis d’Arnaud inked a two-year deal with the Braves earlier this week. They decided to stay in house for the moment, avoiding arbitration with Mike Zunino by signing him to a one-year deal with a club option for 2021.
• The White Sox had gone a couple of days without doing something, so based on their track record so far this offseason, they were due. They did shake up their roster a bit as they placed Gold Glove winner Yolmer Sanchez on waivers Monday.
• The White Sox showed interest in basically every big free agent last offseason. While they came up empty, that is not the case this offseason as they landed the best catcher on the market, Yasmani Grandal, on a four-year deal worth $73 million. The team has gone on to say that this is likely only the beginning of their moves as they look to become relevant again.
• Stop the presses. The Mariners are making some critical moves for their future, signing top prospect Evan White to a long-term deal. MLB Pipeline ranks the first baseman as the No. 58 prospect in baseball. He’ll receive $24M over the first six years, and his contract also includes three club options.
• With the Braves losing Team Dad Brian McCann to retirement following the 2019 season, they needed a new catching timeshare partner for Tyler Flowers. They found their man on Sunday, signing veteran backstop Travis d’Arnaud to a two-year, $16 million deal.
• This time of year is an important one for all teams from a roster management perspective as they have to plan for incoming free agents in addition to potentially having open roster spots to be able to pick players in the upcoming Rule 5 Draft. The Yankees made the biggest waves thus far in that arena as they released Jacoby Ellsbury (leaving them on the hook for $26 million) and designated Greg Bird for assignment.
• The White Sox are ringing in this offseason with a significant extension. Jose Abreu will be sticking with Chicago for three more years to the tune of $50M. Abreu had previously been offered and accepted this year’s qualifying offer.
• In addition to removing players from rosters to make room, teams were also very busy in adding eligible prospects to their 40-man rosters in order to protect them from the upcoming Rule 5 Draft. To make keeping track of who got added and who didn’t, our own Patrick Karraker put together a tracker with all of the roster additions from the past couple of days.
• The Phillies are a reborn team and ready for the world to know it. Philadelphia is reportedly aggressively pursuing Didi Gregorius and Madison Bumgarner this offseason. Sir Didi has no qualifying offer attached to him and would be an easy snag for the Phillies this winter. MadBum has some higher stakes to him, requiring draft compensation if signed.
• Rob Manfred made his first public comments on the Astros sign-stealing scandal last week, saying that MLB’s investigation is currently limited to Houston and that the team could face severe, unprecedented discipline if they are found guilty. We’ll keep you updated on this situation as it evolves, as it certainly seems to be getting worse by the day.
• The Braves made another addition to a bullpen that will likely be significantly improved in 2020, re-signing reliever Chris Martin to a two-year deal after acquiring him from the Rangers in a deadline deal this past July.
• If you were one of those who bet that Will Smith, the top reliever on the free agent market who was widely expected to sign his qualifying offer, was going to be the first major free agent signing of the offseason... you are likely very rich. The Braves struck early as they signed Smith to a lucrative three-year deal and the team has, for the moment, a bullpen that should be a strength even if it is rather pricey.
• The Pirates were next up in the good old fashion general manager shuffle, hiring Ben Cherington as the team’s new GM. The 45-year-old contributed to the construction of three World Series-winning Red Sox teams and can hopefully end Pittsburgh’s World Series drought. After leaving the Red Sox in 2015, he moved on to become the Blue Jays’ vice president of baseball operations.
• New manager, who dis? The Phillies are in the midst of negotiating an extension with catcher J.T. Realmuto, reports Jim Salisbury of NBC Sports Philadelphia. As of now, Realmuto is only under team control through the 2020 season. If he hits the free-agent market after that, he is set to have a big payday and be one of the biggest names of next winter‘s class. Currently, he is projected to earn $10.3M in his last year of arbitration eligibility. If the Phillies are smart to work something out with the young catcher now before they have to deal with negotiation talks next off-season, with said extension not taking effect until 2021.
• Stealing signs is no new baseball phenomena, but the lengths to which the Astros took it are both astounding and stomach-churning.
• The Cardinals made a rather unsurprising move, re-signing starter Adam Wainwright to a one-year deal. The new contract, which will allow Wainwright to spend a 16th season wearing the Birds on the Bat, pays Wainwright a $5 million base salary with $5 million in incentives based on games started.
• Contrary to last offseason, when he had to sign a one-year prove-it deal with the Braves, Josh Donaldson has quite a few interested suitors on the free-agent market this winter.
• The Giants have hired Scott Harris as their new general manager. The former assistant general manager for the Cubs will now be the Robin to what was for the past year Farhan Zaidi’s solo Batman show in San Francisco’s baseball operations Gotham. Harris is now the youngest person with the title of general manager in Major League Baseball.
• After snapping a three-year playoff drought and reaching the NLCS, the Cardinals rewarded their key leadership figures by handing out contract extensions all around, re-upping with president of baseball operations John Mozeliak through 2023 and general manager Michael Girsch and manager Mike Shildt through 2022.
• Excited (or nervous) to find out where your favorite free agent is going to end up this offseason? Our Andersen Pickard made his best guess, predicting landing spots and contract values for each of MLB Trade Rumors’ top 50 free agents.
• The Yankees and Aroldis Chapman have agreed on a contract extension through 2022. This extra year includes $18M on top of the $30M he was set to earn in the two years remaining on his five-year, $86M deal. Which will come first, the end of the contract or Chapman’s arm falling off from sheer torque? Stay tuned, kiddos.
• Tommy John surgery has historically been reserved for major-league pitchers and washed up Division III sidearmers who injure themselves trying to show off in a company softball game. But in recent years we’ve seen an uptick in non-pitching position players go under the knife for UCL injuries. SB Nation’s Ginny Searle looks into this phenomenon and if there’s anything players or athletic trainers can do to stop it.