MLB executives head home as top hitters remain on the market

Baseball executives headed home from Nashville, Tennessee, on Thursday with top free-agent sluggers still on the market and trade talk percolating that could lead to more swaps in coming weeks.

Outfielder Jason Heyward and first baseman Chris Davis figure to strike the largest deals among hitters. The top pitchers already have signed, with David Price getting a $217 million, seven-year contract with Boston and Zack Greinke a $206.5 million, six-year deal with Arizona.

“I think the market is waiting to see what happens with Jason Heyward,” said Arizona general manager Dave Stewart, who finalized Greinke’s deal and acquired Shelby Miller during the meetings.

Dan Duquette, the Baltimore Orioles’ executive vice president for baseball operations, thinks it is clear why pitchers were pursued first.

“There’s more teams chasing fewer players in that market. Supply and demand,” he said.

Teams announced 10 trades and 11 free agent signings at the meetings, and several more free agents reached agreements that have not yet been announced.

In moves Thursday as people left, reliever Jonathan Broxton stayed with the St. Louis Cardinals, agreeing to a $7.5 million, two-year contract, and reliever Juan Nicasio agreed to a deal with Pittsburgh, one week after he was cut by the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Reliever Tony Sipp stayed with the Houston Astros for an $18 million, three-year contact and first baseman Mark Reynolds accepted a $2.6 million, one-year contract with the Colorado Rockies. Those two deals were disclosed by a person familiar with each negotiation who spoke on condition of anonymity because no announcement was made.

While a ballroom at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center was set up with a dais, 105 MLB logos as a backdrop, 150 seats in front and 336 media work spaces to the side, not a single trade or signing was announced at the podium. The only active player who spoke under the lights was Ben Zobrist, a Nashville resident who appeared Wednesday, a day after he finalized a contract with the Chicago Cubs. Teams prefer to make announcements in their suites.

In the old days, clubs liked the national stage of the meetings and often tried to have the core of their rosters in place before the holiday break.

New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said the feeling-out process in trade talk can be lengthy. He used a surfing analogy.

“You’re sitting on a board, waiting for the right wave to come,” he said. “And if it doesn’t come, you paddle back to shore and walk on the beach, plant the board and then show up the next day and swim on out and see if any more good waves come. And if they do come, you ride it. And if they don’t come, you wait for that right wave.”

Talks with free agents who turned down $15.8 million qualifying offers from their former clubs can be complicated by reticence to give up draft pick compensation.

“They’re getting increased recognition for the value that they provide,” new Los Angeles Angels general manager Billy Eppler said. “Teams have recognized the value of having draft selections.”

Having bulked up his pitching staff, Stewart is looking for more arms. Mike Leake, 11-10 with a 3.90 ERA this year for Cincinnati and San Francisco, is a possibility.

“We did have some conversations with him and hope that continues,” Stewart said. “We’re hopeful that we can continue to talk.”

Right now, most rosters are far from complete. After trading pitchers Adam Warren and Justin Wilson and adding infielder Starlin Castro, Cashman said he pleased new hitting coach Alan Cockrell and displeased pitching coach Larry Rothschild.

“Alan’s got the nice Christmas card probably coming,” Cashman said, “and I’m getting coal from Larry right now.”

Mets sign Asdrubel Cabrera pending physical

Free-agent shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera and the New York Mets have agreed to a two-year, $18.5 million contract, a person familiar with the deal told the AP.

Cabrera would be the second middle infielder added by the Mets at the winter meetings after they acquired second baseman Neil Walker from the Pittsburgh Pirates for left-hander Jon Niese.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity Thursday because the deal will not be completed until Cabrera passes a physical. The contract also includes an option for 2018.

“We’re trying to build a team with a lot of flexibility, versatility and depth. That’s what we’re doing,” assistant general manager John Ricco said Thursday.

A 30-year-old switch hitter, Cabrera batted .265 with 15 homers and 58 RBIs for the Tampa Bay Rays last season. Cabrera finished at the bottom in several defensive metrics for shortstops, according to Fangraphs.com.

The two-time All-Star has hit .267 with 102 homers and 509 RBIs in a nine-year career with Cleveland (2007-14), Washington (2014) and the Rays.

The additions of Cabrera and Walker give the N.L. champion Mets the options they were looking for in the infield. New York already had Ruben Tejada and Wilmer Flores. Both Tejada and Flores can spell David Wright at third base. Wright missed significant time last year with spinal stenosis and it is unknown how many days in a row he will be able to play in the future.

“We think we have some good players. But whether it be through giving them more rest or finding ways to get them at-bats in situations where they’ll thrive, that’s the goal,” Ricco said. “And trying to find pieces that allow us to do that is what we’ve been focused on.”

The Mets are still looking for bullpen help, another outfielder and, with the trade of Niese, a starter – at least until Zack Wheeler’s expected return this summer from Tommy John surgery.

“I think we have the ability to do all three if the pieces that we like are there,” Ricco said. “We have the resources to do it. We have the money to do it.”

Angels, Nationals pull off trade

The Los Angeles Angels have acquired infielder Yunel Escobar from the Washington Nationals for right-handed pitchers Trevor Gott and Michael Brady.

The Angels also received cash considerations in the deal.

Escobar fills the hole left by David Freese’s departure for free agency. Escobar played third base last season and batted .314 with nine homers and 56 RBIs in 139 games. He is due $7 million in 2016 and has a $7 million team option for 2017 with a $1 million buyout. Los Angeles will be his sixth team in seven years.

As a rookie last year, Gott went 4-2 with a 3.02 ERA in 48 games. The 23-year-old has a knack for inducing groundballs and has allowed just two homers in 47 2/3 big league innings.

Brady, 28, made 19 starts and 32 appearances with Double-A Arkansas last year. He went 7-7 with a 3.77 ERA.