First basemen are on the move at the winter meetings as Cleveland flips DH Edwin Encarnacion to Seattle in return for 1B Carlos Santana, then acquires 1B Jake Bauers from Tampa Bay for IF Yandy Diaz and prospect Cole Sulser.
The 2018 Rule V Draft is held to conclude the meetings. Richie Martin, a shortstop from the Athletics organization is the first of 13 players selected by a major league club, in his case the Orioles. However, the most intriguing selection is made by the Blue Jays, who pluck 18-year-old P Elvis Luciano from the Royals. While he has never pitched above Rookie-class, he is described as having electrifying stuff and was made a available in spite of his limited professional experience because of a contract loophole.
The Marlins seem to be conducting yet another fire sale as they send OF Marcell Ozuna to the Cardinals for P Sandy Alcantara and three other prospects. Unimpressed, agent Scott Boras says that the Marlins “have turned into a pawn shop,” as they have already traded OF Giancarlo Stanton and 2B Dee Gordon in cost-cutting moves this off-season.
The Tigers trade All-Star 2B Ian Kinsler to the Angels for two prospects, P Wilkel Hernandez and OF Troy Montgomery, as they continue a rebuilding trend begun late last season when they traded J.D. Martinez, Justin Upton and Justin Verlander.
The White Sox continue their very active off-season, signing free agent OF Melky Cabrera to a three-year deal rumored to be worth $42 million.
Reds 1B Joey Votto is named recipient of the Tip O’Neill Award, given to the best player in Canada, for a record fourth straight year.
2012 – 2010 AL MVP Josh Hamilton, fresh off a 43-homer season, leaves the Texas Rangers to sign with the Los Angeles Angels for 5 years and $125 million, while Andres Torres signs with the Giants for one year and a considerably smaller salary.
The Associated Press reports a few more features of the new Collective Bargaining Agreement signed earlier this month. The All-Star break will go from three days to four beginning in 2013, with the Mid-Summer Classic being played on a Wednesday; teams will no longer be allowed to have players on the 40-man roster share a room during spring training; and players are forbidden from displaying tattoos with corporate logos.
The Phillies sign P Dontrelle Willis and the Red Sox add C Kelly Shoppach.
Canada Post announces that it will feature Hall of Famer Ferguson Jenkins on a postage stamp that commemorates black history month next February.