Hot Stove roundup: Phillies may be shoppers
Byrd signing may only be a start; Orioles rumored to seek Beltran's services
The Hot Stove endured a quiet day on Friday, but there's always the promise of weekend moves to come. Phil Rogers sees the Phillies as a team that could be aggressive this winter, and he points to the recent Marlon Byrd signing as evidence that Philadelphia won't be rebuilding.
The Angels got some good news on Friday, as veteran slugger Albert Pujols said that his left foot is "99.9 percent healthy." Pujols has been taking batting practice in the Dominican Republic, and he met with reporters on Friday to say that his rehab is going well and that he's excited for 2014.
The Red Sox are heavily impressed by what they've seen from 21-year-old shortstop Xander Bogaerts, but they're going to need to see more before they engage him in talks for a long-term contract.
Here's some other news from around the league:
AL East
• Toronto signed Dan Johnson to a Minor League deal on Friday. Johnson, a career .237 hitter, clinched a playoff spot for Tampa Bay with a dramatic homer on the final day of the 2011 campaign.
• Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports and MLB Network tweets that the Orioles may have interest in outfielder Carlos Beltran, but only if they can find a trade for catcher Matt Wieters before then.
Sources: #Orioles interested in Beltran. Pursuit may hinge on team clearing Wieters or another high-salaried player.
- Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) November 15, 2013
AL Cental
•The White Sox have a mercurial talent in shortstop prospect Tim Anderson.
• Our Jordan Bastian ponders a couple offseason issues for the Indians.
AL West
• The Astros are interested in improving their team across the board this winter.
NL East
• After last winter's trading spree, the Marlins are flush with a lot of young talent.
• The Nationals are in the final stages of building an Urban Youth Academy.
• Josh Satin hopes to emerge from a logjam at first base for the Mets.
NL Central
• Great American Ball Park is planning a great show for the 2015 All-Star Game.
• Prospect Jason Rogers is going to great lengths to impress the Brewers' brain-trust this winter.
NL West
• Miles Scott, aka Batkid, was treated to a special day in San Francisco on Friday.
• After injury and adversity, Matt Stites may turn into one of Arizona's most promising young arms.
• J.P. Howell clarified some earlier comments he'd made about bullying and Yasiel Puig.