MLB NEWS: In case you missed the news this morning, the Chicago Cubs have signed free-agent infielder/DH Justin Turner to round out their bench. Although Turner is kind of a pivot after missing out on Alex Bregman, I’m sure the hope is that he never smells the position for any meaningful stretch of time — not only because he’s now a poor defender at 3B, but also because everyone hopes Matt Shaw simply runs away with it.
HOWEVER, Alex Bregman absolutely would have played 3B for the Cubs had they landed him. And at least one other (somewhat shockingly) alternative was discussed: Nolan Arenado.
Cubs Discussed Nolan Arenado Trade
All offseason long, the St. Louis Cardinals have been very publicly trying to trade Nolan Arenado to shed payroll and begin a rebuild. But that never came to fruition, in part because Arenado rejected a trade to the Astros and then watched his preferred destination, Boston, sign Bregman.
But after Boston’s door was closed, Buster Olney wondered if a different door might open in Chicago. Admittedly, I thought that was a touch ridiculous. Not only are Cubs-Cardinals trades exceedingly rare, but also (I thought) the Cubs were never going to take on Arenado’s contract, which pays him $32M in 2025 and $27M in 2026 … while pushing Matt Shaw further down the depth chart.
And yet, according to Patrick Mooney, I may have been a little too quick to judge:
“At this point, it seems unlikely that the Cubs would add another position player on a major-league deal during spring training. The Cubs did their due diligence and evaluated Nolan Arenado as a possible long-shot fit, league sources said, but the St. Louis Cardinals have no plans to trade the All-Star third baseman to their biggest rival in the National League Central.”
Well, how do you like that? Perhaps it was nothing more than mere due diligence — Jed Hoyer is nothing if not a completist in terms of exhausting all options — but still. Pretty wild that it was even kicked around. I get that Arenado was a one-time Cubs target and that they were clearly open to adding an expensive third baseman. But still.
Ultimately, I’m happier with the move for Justin Turner, who costs just $6M on a one-year deal and keeps third open for Shaw, while providing a safety net at first base and the outfield (by way of Seiya Suzuki moving to the field and opening up DH).
© Ron Chenoy-Imagn ImagesTimes Up on Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
Another offseason-long effort that didn’t bear fruit: Toronto’s efforts to extend Vladimir Guerrero Jr. before his self-imposed deadline last night.
According to multiple reports from Jeff Passan, the Blue Jays were not able to reach an agreement before Guerrero’s deadline and he “does not plan to negotiate a potential contract extension in-season, paving the way for him to reach free agency in November.”
When asked if the Blue Jays were close to the contract number Vladimir Guerrero Jr. would have signed, his one-word answer: “No.”Still, Guerrero said he would re-sign in free agency and wants to be a Blue Jay for life. He also said: Now, they’ll have to beat 29 other teams.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) February 18, 2025I don’t know where the Blue Jays’ final efforts ultimately landed, but the most recent reporting had them offering a deal in the $350M range, while Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was looking for something closer to $450M.
Given his age (still 25) and the recent trend of mega contracts for young sluggers, a deal north of $400M isn’t out of the question for Guerrero. But this is still a risk. Clearly, he’ll have no trouble getting what he wants if he repeats his work in 2024: .323/.396/.544 with 30 HRs and a 13.8% strikeout rate. But he’s just one year removed from a 118 wRC+ (2023). And was more of an all-star bat, not an MVP bat, in 2022 (132 wRC+).
Throw in the fact that he plays first base, and not particularly well, and, well, it’s a gamble. Of course, with a $28.5M salary in 2025, it’s a gamble Guerrero Jr. can afford to make. And he’ll get paid no matter what. But if he really wanted to stay in Toronto, I think they could have gotten something done. Instead, it’s just another whiff from the Blue Jays, who are really struggling to land their big fish lately.
For what it’s worth, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is now a VERY strong bet to get traded midseason. The Blue Jays are not favorites in the AL East, and if they’re out of it by the deadline, Guerrero Jr. could be gone.
Quick up Aaaaaaaand he’s going to sign with the Dodgers, isn’t he?
Vladdy on what he wants in free agency:“Winning team. That’s what I’ll be looking for in free agency. As you guys know, my dad played a lot of years. He never won a World Series. My personal goal is to win a World Series and give the ring to my dad." #BlueJays
— Keegan Matheson (@KeeganMatheson) February 18, 2025 © Jonathan Dyer-Imagn ImagesSteven Cohen on the Dodgers Spending
Even the richest owner in MLB – by a longshot – can see the significant financial advantages afforded the Los Angeles Dodgers:
"They've built a great business over there with revenues that are significantly above almost any other team and that gives them the ability to do things that perhaps other teams can't do. Kudos to them. They've built a great organization."– Steve Cohen on the Dodgers pic.twitter.com/a8Twlso9HH
— SNY (@SNYtv) February 18, 2025He also – in no uncertain terms – reminded us that deferrals are extremely team-friendly machinations: “I love deferring money if I can (smirks). It just so happens my players, I’m not getting lucky enough….”
And then he stops himself mid-sentence to course-correct the narrative.
"I think people are focused on the deferral and maybe not thinking about the fact that they're advancing cash at the beginning"Steve Cohen was asked about the Dodgers deferring money in their deals with free agents: pic.twitter.com/OrdCdB0BLs
— SNY (@SNYtv) February 18, 2025Other MLB News:
Jon Heyman discusses how the Mets can pivot after learning that their already thin rotation will have to go without newly signed starter Frankie Montas for an extended period of time. And his answer? Just re-sign Jose Quintana: “Jose Quintana is a guy they all loved last year, and I can’t figure out why they haven’t brought him back already, or frankly, why he doesn’t have any job. The Mets should view this as an opportunity.” For what it’s worth, Heyman also mentions Luis Castillo (a former, but frequently rumored Cubs target this winter) and Dylan Cease as options. However, he concedes that the price for Cease is likely prohibitively high: “But a trade for either would take at least two top prospects and an aligning of the stars, neither of which seems especially likely at the moment.” Here’s some more on Mike Trout’s position change:MLB's best player no longer, Mike Trout has a new position and feels 'more like myself' and hungry to prove critics wrong t.co/lg10GSpvMl
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) February 18, 2025 Read More Details
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