"The top of the free agent market picked up late last week with a frenzy of activity. Kyle Tucker, Bo Bichette, Ranger Suarez, and J.T. Realmuto all came off the board over the course of just a couple of days. That series of moves took this offseason's free agent class from still being rather deep in quality options to looking relatively barren at the very top. At this point, the best options still available are left-hander Framber Valdez and outfielder Cody Bellinger."
"Bellinger's market has gotten plenty of attention of late thanks to the apparent impasse between his camp and the incumbent Yankees in negotiations. The team's apparent willingness to include opt outs after the second and third seasons of their five-year offer in the $150MM to $160MM range has not motivated Bellinger to sign so far. The Blue Jays, Mets, and Cubs are among the other teams that have been connected to Bellinger and could be lurking as potential rivals."
"Valdez, meanwhile, has had a relatively quiet market but remains connected to the Orioles and Mets. The Blue Jays reportedly met with him back in November, but that was before the club brought in Dylan Cease. Where will the remaining stars on the market ultimately land? 2. Braves take a big hit to their infield: Yesterday's news that Ha-Seong Kim had suffered a hand injury that required surgery with a four-to-five month recovery timeline was a brutal blow for fans in Atlanta."
Late-week signings of Kyle Tucker, Bo Bichette, Ranger Suarez and J.T. Realmuto rapidly thinned the top of the free agent market, leaving Framber Valdez and Cody Bellinger as the leading remaining options. Bellinger and his camp have stalled on a proposed Yankees five-year, $150–160 million deal that reportedly includes opt-outs after years two and three, while the Blue Jays, Mets and Cubs are potential competitors. Valdez has drawn quieter interest, with links to the Orioles and Mets and an earlier meeting with the Blue Jays before they acquired Dylan Cease. The Braves will miss Ha-Seong Kim for about four to five months after hand surgery.
Read at MLB Trade Rumors
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