Nov 18, 2014
MLB Off-Season Watch: Jays have interest in Lester
With Major League Baseball’s winter GM Meetings having wrapped up last week, the league's 30 general managers are in the midst of off-season renovations. TSN.ca looks at the day’s hottest rumours as free agent season gets off the ground. The Blue Jays could be looking at Jon Lester while the Braves may look to trade Justin Upton.
TSN.ca Staff
With Major League Baseball’s winter GM Meetings having wrapped up last week, the league's 30 general managers are in the midst of off-season renovations. TSN.ca looks at the day’s hottest rumours as free agent season gets off the ground.
Tip of the Iceberg?
The Toronto Blue Jays dropped a lot of cash on Russell Martin on Monday, handing the Canadian catcher the second-largest free agent contract in franchise history. So, naturally, the Jays were immediately rumoured to be in the running for long-time divisional rival Jon Lester.
Red Sox beat reporter Rob Bradford cited multiple sources stating the Jays are still showing legitimate interest in the 30-year-old lefty. In order to land Lester's services, however, the Jays may well have to outbid both his old club (Boston) and his old GM (Theo Epstein, now of the Cubs).
Lester made $13 million last season in the final year of a six-year deal he signed with Boston prior to the 2009 season. The 2014 year was a club option held by the Red Sox.
Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com reported that ESPN's Buster Olney confirmed that Lester will be meeting with the Atlanta Braves on Thursday.
Navarro No Mo'?
Ken Rosenthal is reporting the Blue Jays are receiving a lot of interest for catcher Dioner Navarro in the wake of the Russell Martin signing on Monday.
Toronto is willing to move the Venezuelan to fill other team needs but are also considering using him as the DH as well as the backup catcher to Martin.
Navarro hit .274 last season belting 12 homers and collecting 69 runs batted in.
Signed, Shields and Delivered?
Ken Rosenthal reported that the Arizona Diamonbacks are interested in free agent starter James Shields.
ESPN's Jim Bowden also wrote that the Miami Marlins are said to be already involved in negotiations with the righty.
Shields registered a 14-8 record with a 3.21 earned run average and 180 strikeouts last season.
The 32-year old helped lead the Kansas City Royals to their first World Series appearance in 29 years, but was shaky in the post-season going 1-2 with a 6.12 earned run average.
Upton and Away
The Atlanta Braves shook up their roster in a big way on Monday by shipping Jason Heyward and Jordan Walden to the Cardinals for Shelby Miller and a prospect, but USA Today's Bob Nightengale stated that the team may not be done reconstructing its roster.
Nightengale tweeted Monday night that outfielder Justin Upton could be the next piece to go and listed the Seattle Mariners as a "strong suitor" for the 27-year-old right fielder.
ESPN's David Schoenfield also floated the idea on Monday, reminding that the M's thought they had a deal in place for Upton two years ago only to have the then-Diamondback refuse to waive his no-trade clause. Schoenfield reported that Upton is believed to have removed the Mariners from his no-trade list.
Does a deal go down to further alter the suddenly-sub-.500 Braves' roster under new GM John Hart?
O's Ps Drawing Interest
Ken Rosenthal has reported the Baltimore Orioles may consider trading starting pitcher Bud Norris and are also drawing "moderate interest" for starter Ubaldo Jimenez.
Norris went 15-8 with a 3.65 earned run average last season while Jimenez compiled a record of 6-9 with an earned run average of 4.81.