Hot Stove roundup: Cano in no hurry
Free-agent second baseman prepared to test market into January
The MLB Hot Stove is starting to warm as we head into the winter, but there have been indications that one of baseball's top players will draw his free agency well into winter. What other free agent news came about on Saturday?
• While there have been reports circulating that the Padres were in on the pursuit of starting pitcher Ricky Nolasco, MLB.com's Corey Brock reports that that is not the case. The Padres would like to add a starting pitcher, but they are likely unwilling to go as far as the pricey, multiyear deal that Nolasco, who finished 2013 in the Dodgers' rotation, seems to be commanding.
• Could a Cy Young Award winner be on the trade block for the second year in a row? A year removed from R.A. Dickey being traded from the Mets to the Blue Jays after his National League Cy Young campaign, there have been rumors circulating that the Tigers would do the same with 2013 American League Cy Young winner Max Scherzer. But the righty, who is set to become a free agent after the 2014 season, told MLB Network Radio that he wants to remain with Detroit.
• One of the most high-profile free agents of this winter apparently plans to draw the process out through the winter, if need be. According to the New York Daily News, Robinson Cano is "ready for this to go past Christmas, into January if necessary."
• Mets GM Sandy Alderson spent a considerable amount of time on the radio Friday convincing Mets fans that the club would make some considerable moves this offseason and feature some new faces entering 2014.
"No," Alderson said of a Newsday report saying the club will be skimping on signings. "No way. Why would we want to do that? I've got to watch all those games too, you know."
• While the Marlins may consider trading position players like Logan Morrison, they are not willing to deal starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi, according to MLB.com's Joe Frisaro.