Rumors: JV, Correa, Cruz, Stroman, Phillies

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Oct. 7: Astros will ‘probably’ extend QO to JV, per Crane

Astros owner Jim Crane said the team will “probably” extend a qualifying offer to Justin Verlander, who is set to hit free agency in November after completing a two-year, $66 million contract.

Only 10 players have accepted a QO since it was implemented in 2012, with 86 rejecting it. But it’s possible Verlander would accept it after making just one start in 2020 and missing all of ’21 while recovering from Tommy John surgery.

The qualifying offer was worth $18.9 million last offseason, and it’s uncertain if the 38-year-old Verlander would be able to get that type of money on the open market. Corey Kluber, another former two-time Cy Young Award winner, signed a one-year, $11 million contract with the Yankees prior to 2021 after similarly missing the better part of two seasons.

If Verlander rejects a QO and signs with another team, the Astros would receive Draft-pick compensation. Carlos Correa is also a candidate to receive a QO this offseason.

Oct. 7: Astros will make a run at re-signing Correa

The Astros have lost a top free agent in each of the past two offseasons, with Gerrit Cole leaving to sign with the Yankees after 2019 and George Springer joining the Blue Jays after ’20. Another key member of Houston’s roster will be a free agent this offseason, as Carlos Correa will be eligible to test the open market for the first time.

While Correa could command a deal north of $200 million, especially after Francisco Lindor signed a 10-year, $341 million contract extension with the Mets prior to the 2021 campaign, Astros owner Jim Crane isn’t closing the door on the team bringing back the 27-year-old. Crane said prior to Game 1 of the American League Division Series on Thursday that Houston plans to make a run at re-signing Correa.

It’s not exactly shocking to hear that from Crane. Frankly, it would have been more surprising if he said the opposite or danced around the question, considering Correa is still on the roster as the team tries to bring home another World Series championship.

If Correa proves to be out of Houston’s price range, there will be a number of other enticing free agents Houston could target to fill its vacancy at shortstop, with Corey Seager, Trevor Story, Javier Báez and Marcus Semien hitting free agency as well. Alternatively, the Astros could move Alex Bregman to short and target a third baseman.

Oct. 7: Cruz plans to continue career

Rays designated hitter Nelson Cruz said Wednesday that he plans to continue his career beyond 2021. The 41-year-old slugger will be a free agent for the second straight offseason after signing a one-year, $13 million deal with the Twins in February.

Cruz hit just .226 with a .283 on-base percentage after joining the Rays in a July trade, but he finished the season with 32 homers, 86 RBIs and an .832 OPS (130 OPS+) over 584 plate appearances. Cruz has produced 292 homers and a 147 OPS+ since the beginning of 2014.

Cruz may choose to wait until later in the offseason to sign a new deal, as his market could receive a boost if the next collective bargaining agreement includes a universal designated hitter. The current CBA expires on Dec. 1.

Oct. 6: Padres a fit for Stroman?

The Padres made a number of big additions to their rotation last offseason, acquiring Blake Snell from the Rays, Yu Darvish from the Cubs and Joe Musgrove from the Pirates. However, the team’s starting depth proved to be a major weakness in the second half, and the club was forced to turn to the likes of Jake Arrieta and Vince Velasquez to start crucial games in September.

Although Snell, Darvish and Musgrove are all under control for 2022 and Mike Clevinger is expected to return from Tommy John surgery, San Diego is nonetheless expected to pursue veteran starters this offseason, according to Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune.

One name being brought up in the club’s “preliminary” discussions? Marcus Stroman, who can become a free agent after the World Series and is ineligible for a qualifying offer after receiving one last offseason.

If the Padres end up pursuing Stroman, they figure to have a lot of competition. He’ll join Max Scherzer, Kevin Gausman, Robbie Ray, Clayton Kershaw and Carlos Rodón as one of the best free-agent starters on the market.

After electing not to play in 2020, Stroman turned in a strong season for the Mets in ‘21, posting a 3.02 ERA over 179 innings with 158 strikeouts, 44 walks and 17 homers allowed. Not including 2020, the 30-year-old has averaged 30 starts and 174 innings per season dating back to 2016.

Oct. 6: Phillies seeking ‘middle-of-the-lineup hitter’

The Phillies missed the postseason again in 2021, running their drought to 10 years — the second longest in MLB after the Mariners’ 21-year hiatus — despite getting award-caliber seasons from Bryce Harper and Zack Wheeler.

General manager Dave Dombrowski has his work cut out for him as he looks to improve a top-heavy roster this offseason. On his agenda? Adding a “middle-of-the-lineup hitter,” he said Wednesday.

Dombrowski also said that Didi Gregorius has been informed that he is not guaranteed to begin 2022 as the team’s starting shortstop.

The Phillies’ two-year, $28 million deal with Gregorius last winter was thought to take them out of the mix for one of this offseason’s top free-agent shortstops, but after Gregorius recorded a .639 OPS and produced -0.8 bWAR in 2021, it’s possible the club will take a look at a free-agent shortstop class that is set to include Carlos Correa, Corey Seager, Trevor Story and Javier Báez as well as Marcus Semien, who played second base for the Blue Jays in 2021 but was a shortstop before that.

Another possibility is that the Phillies will promote No. 2 prospect Bryson Stott, who recorded a .299/.390/.486 slash line with 16 homers in the Minors this past season and reached Triple-A in September. If Philadelphia thinks Stott is ready to handle the everyday shortstop job, it would be able to spend its resources to address other holes on the roster. Center field, left field and third base are its most glaring holes besides shortstop on the position-player side.

Oct. 6: Judge an extension candidate this offseason

Significant changes could be coming for the Yankees after a 12th straight season without a World Series appearance. Among the team’s top priorities are deciding whether to bring back manager Aaron Boone, whose current deal expires after the Fall Classic, finding a starting shortstop and improving the rotation.

Another potential item on the team’s to-do list? Signing Aaron Judge to a contract extension.

Judge, 29, has one more year to go before reaching free agency. After battling injuries in 2018, ‘19 and ‘20, the slugger played 148 games in ‘21 and produced 39 homers, 98 RBIs, 89 runs and a .916 OPS while remaining a solid defender in right field.

Recent extensions with Aaron Hicks (7 years, $70 million through 2025) and Luis Severino (4 years, $40 million through 2022) haven’t worked out fo r the Yankees, but Judge is the face of the franchise and one of the best players in MLB. Judge addressed his future after Tuesday’s American League Wild Card Game loss to the Red Sox, saying he wants “to be a Yankee for life.”