Cardinals take pay cuts, Pete Alonso is favorite, White Sox front-runner

With the 2024 MLB season almost over, it’s worth taking a moment to reflect on everything that happened this season. We have seen history in all its forms and the competitive balance in the league has rarely been better. If you want proof of how wild and unpredictable this season has been, look no further than the absolute instance that will unfold in the NL Wild Card over the next few days.

We also have to look ahead to what is likely to be a chaotic winter. Juan Soto and Corbin Burnes are expected to grab most of the headlines in free agency, but some big names could move locations in the coming months.

The latest MLB rumors are flooding Bob Nightengale USA today gives us a good idea of ​​what could happen this offseason. Here’s what needs your attention.

For more news and rumors, check out MLB Insider Robert Murray’s work The Baseball Insiders Podcastsubscribe The moonshotour weekly MLB newsletter and join the Discord to get the inside scoop leading up to the MLB offseason.

The Chicago White Sox fired Pedro Grifol in the midst of what was officially the worst season in MLB history, at least in terms of wins and losses. Not much has happened for Chicago this season. They couldn’t even trade their All-Star pitcher and borderline Cy Young candidate at the deadline because he sabotaged his own market.

Nevertheless, there is generally a positive mood surrounding Grady Sizemore as interim manager. A three-time All-Star coach, Sizemore feels like the manager the White Sox need. Young, hip and able to identify with the players in what will surely be a lengthy rebuilding process. There’s a very real chance things will get worse before they get better for the Sox. Therefore, the manager must be able to keep the dressing room intact even during severe dry spells.

Still, there’s a very real chance the White Sox move on from Sizemore in search of a more accomplished name. Not to oversimplify things, Carlos Beltran, who currently plays a supporting role with the New York Mets, has nine All-Stars on his resume compared to Sizemore’s three. Of course, that’s not a true indicator of his coaching ability, but Beltran is expected to interview for managerial positions this winter, according to reports USA today.

“It’s time for Carlos Beltran, a special assistant with the New York Mets, to begin receiving interviews from teams looking for a manager,” Nightengale writes. “He would be a good fit for the White Sox if they didn’t keep Grady Sizemore.”

In many ways, Beltran would mirror Sizemore as an accomplished former player. Whoever the White Sox hire, it’s important that they command the locker room with a strong voice that is respected by the players. Once the White Sox season ends in 2025, and it will, the locker room is at risk of falling apart. You need a manager to prevent that.

The Mets are expected to be at the forefront of free agents like Juan Soto and Corbin Burnes, which will complicate any efforts to retain Pete Alonso. The Polar Bear’s love for NYC is well documented and it’s safe to say he wants to return, but money is a choice. If the Mets withhold their resources elsewhere, it won’t be long before other teams come knocking.

In general, it’s unwise to give significant long-term money to hard-hitting first basemen with limited defensive value, especially if they’re on the wrong side of 30 (Alonso’s birthday is in December). However, Alonso has been one of the best hitters in baseball since his debut in 2019. A four-time All-Star, Alonso slashed .241/.330/.464 with 34 homers and 88 RBI over 597 ABs in his so-called “down” season. The Mets probably want him back, but if he’s too low on the priority list, other teams are lurking.

Accordingly USA todayRival executives believe Alonso will end up with the Seattle Mariners or Chicago Cubs, if not the Mets.

The financial aspect could get tricky, but Seattle was extremely aggressive in its pursuit of power at the trade deadline, acquiring Randy Arozarena and Justin Turner, among others. The Cubs, meanwhile, desperately need an offensive spark. Cody Bellinger has regressed from his recovery a year ago and the Isaac Paredes trade didn’t work out as expected.

Chicago would have to find a new positional home for Michael Busch assuming Alonso doesn’t take over the DH duties, but there are certain risks that are worth taking when a hitter of Alonso’s caliber is involved. The strikeouts will always be an issue, but when he rakes, Alonso can change the trajectory of a game with one hit.

In perhaps the most predictable twist ever, the St. Louis Cardinals are expected to include Sonny Gray in trade negotiations after a commendable debut season from the former All-Star. Gray was one of the few bright spots in a season marked by mediocrity in St. Louis. The veteran was expected to help get the Cards back into the postseason mix, but the rotation around him wasn’t nearly good enough.

Gray, who signed a three-year, $75 million contract last winter, has a full no-trade clause. Among the expected applicants per USA todayare the Cincinnati Reds, who could use Gray alongside Hunter Greene at the top of their rotation. That’s a scary thought for NL Central teams, so St. Louis may have to think twice about sending its veteran ace to a division rival.

This certainly wasn’t his best season, but Gray continued his 2023 Cy Young runner-up admirably. In 28 starts for St. Louis, Gray posted a 3.84 ERA and 1.01 WHIP and recorded 203 strikeouts in 166.1 innings pitched. That was just a hair below Gray’s best mark in the punch-out department of his career, and without the injuries he probably would have set his personal record. So while Gray allowed more runs than he did a season ago, hits, walks and base runners were all down and K’s were up. The point is: he can still bring it.

Gray’s no-trade clause gives him significant control over the situation. He can orient himself towards a real candidate or an ideal location. Cincinnati doesn’t make the most sense at first glance, but Gray spent three of his best years here. Elly De La Cruz is ultimately leaning towards an MVP campaign and the Reds will certainly be better in a victorious NL Central. Maybe with Gray on his guard, Cincy can start making noise again.