We're already a full month into the MLB offseason, and the hot stove is in full swing. Several big trades have already been made, and while a few of the most notable free agents have been taken off the market already, there are a plethora of rumors swirling around the league. Here is all the latest MLB news and rumors you need to know:
Rangers, Indians negotiating with Encarnacion
Edwin Encarnacion has been the top free agent available since Yoenis Cespedes re-signed with the New York Mets, and it appears that only two teams have a chance to sign him. According to ESPN's Marly Rivera, Encarnacion is in talks with both the Texas Rangers and Cleveland Indians:
Sources tell me that Texas Rangers and Cleveland Indians both still in talks with Edwin Encarnación
— Marly Rivera (@MarlyRiveraESPN) December 7, 2016
Encarnacion hit .263 with 42 home runs and 127 RBIs for the Toronto Blue Jays last season.
Orioles not interested in Jose Bautista
Encarnacion's teammate in Toronto, Jose Bautista, is another slugger available, but he has had a harder time receiving offers. The Baltimore Orioles were rumored to be interested, but Orioles GM Dan Duquette shot those down:
Duquette: "We told (Bautista's) agent that we are not interested because our fans don't like him." #Bluejays #Jays #Orioles
— Mike Wilner (@Wilnerness590) December 7, 2016
Bautista hit .234 with 22 home runs with 69 RBIs in 116 games last season.
Yankees still shopping Gardner
The New York Yankees put Brett Gardner on the trade block at the start of the offseason, but general manager Brian Cashman says the team has not dealt him yet because they have not received an offer they like:
"He’s here not because I can’t move him; he’s here because I’m not comfortable moving him, or haven’t been satisfied in my asks that would make me move him,” says Cashman. “You’re going through the process, and you see if that changes. So far to this point, I’ve said no to a lot of different concepts thrown my way on it."
However, the Yankees are still taking calls. Gardner hit .261 with seven homers and 41 RBIs in 148 games last season.
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