The Dodgers just landed Japanese pitching sensation Roki Sasaki, but there’s still plenty of action heating up in MLB’s offseason market. With spring training just weeks away, teams are scrambling to fill their remaining roster holes.
The Blue Jays, who’ve struck out on several big-name targets this winter, aren’t giving up yet. They’re in talks with slugger Anthony Santander and have their eyes on Pete Alonso to boost their lineup.
It’s easy to see why they’re hunting for more firepower. Beyond Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette, their offense could use some serious help.
Santander’s got some pop in his bat. The 30-year-old switch-hitter crushed 44 homers last year while driving in 102 runs. His batting line wasn’t too shabby either at .235/.308/.506.
Alonso would be an even bigger catch. The first baseman’s been a monster at the plate, averaging 43 home runs and 112 RBI per full season in his career.
But the Jays aren’t just looking for bats. After missing out on Sasaki, they’re still shopping for pitching help. Their rotation’s actually looking pretty solid with Kevin Gausman, José BerrÃos, Chris Bassitt, and Bowden Francis, but you can never have too many arms.
There are some interesting pitchers still available. Jack Flaherty’s probably the best of the bunch, but guys like Max Scherzer, Nick Pivetta, and Andrew Heaney could help too.
Meanwhile, there’s drama brewing in St. Louis. The Cardinals are still trying to trade Nolan Arenado before spring training starts. They thought they had a deal with Houston, but Arenado vetoed it.
“I think it’s still a flip of a coin,” Cardinals president John Mozeliak said about getting a trade done. He’s making it his “top priority.”
In Chicago, Cubs owner Tom Ricketts is already talking about… the trade deadline? He’s promising they can add payroll during the season if needed, which might worry some fans who were hoping for another big move this winter.
The Cubs made waves by trading for Kyle Tucker earlier this offseason, but they’ve been pretty quiet since then. After letting Cody Bellinger walk, many expected another splash. Instead, they’re asking fans to wait and see what happens during the season.
