The 2024-25 Major League Baseball offseason has begun, and that means there are almost daily rumors about free agency, trades, and the like. With General Managers' Meetings still ongoing, this week is no exception, even though we're just entering hot oven season. Speaking of which, Thursday’s supply of Scuttlebutt – Scuttlebutt! — can be found directly below.
Sasaki's agent denies handshake agreement with Dodgers
23-year-old right-hander Roki Sasaki is the latest star to make the jump from the Japanese major leagues to the U.S. major leagues, and he's also one of the most sought-after starters on the market. Because Sasaki is so young and doesn't have the required seniority in the NPB, Japan's top professional tournament, he is subject to MLB's rules for international amateur free agents. As such, he will be subject to signing bonus limits and will sign for much, much less than he would receive in anything resembling an open market.
In theory, this means all teams are involved based on the amount of money left in their international bonus pools. However, expectations and rumors suggest that the Dodgers are Sasaki's preferred destination, perhaps to the extent that an informal agreement already exists. However, this week Sasaki's agent Joel Wolfe firmly rejected that possibility. :
“While a number of executives who know me better and should do a lot of business with me insult my integrity by insinuating that I would be part of a nefarious arrangement, in reality that is just bad sportsmanship.”
MLB is nearing the end of the current international signing period and the Dodgers actually still have the most bonus money available. However, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred recently announced this . At that point, the Dodgers' spending advantage would have disappeared and teams could generally offer Sasaki a much larger bonus — though still nowhere near what he would receive on an open market.
The Snell market is heating up
The market was difficult for two-time Cy Young winner Blake Snell last offseason, as he signed a late-hour contract with the Giants in March. After coming off a strong 2024 — a year marred by early troubles that surely stemmed from not having a normal ramp-up in the spring — Snell exercised his opt-out. Suffice it to say, he probably won't sign a two-year contract with an opt-out option this time around.
Indeed, as Ken Rosenthal reports . According to Rosenthal, Snell has already met with the Red Sox and Dodgers. Rosenthal adds that Snell may have met or soon will meet the Orioles and Blue Jays.
Snell, who turns 32 in early December, is coming off a 2024 season in which he posted a 3.12 ERA and an even more impressive 2.43 FIP in 20 starts and 104 innings for the Giants. He was on the injured list for more than a month due to groin problems. In his 14 starts after returning from the IL, he posted a 1.23 ERA with 114 strikeouts in 80 1/3 innings.
Cubs want to move Bellinger
The Cubs would like to move outfielder/first baseman Cody Bellinger. . However, Rosenthal points out that other teams believe it will be difficult for the Cubs to actually pull off a trade, due in part to his performance and in part to the unusual structure of his contract.
The 29-year-old Bellinger posted an OPS+ of 111 last season, compared to his 139 in 2023. He opted out of his contract through the 2025 season, a decision that will pay him more than $30 million will come as a potential $5 million buyout is weighed. To complicate matters, Bellinger's deal includes another opt-out opportunity this offseason, meaning an acquiring team would face additional uncertainty for the 2026 season.
