Dodgers: Rumor recap of the Winter Meetings through Monday

With nearly two days of the MLB Winter Meetings over, here are the Dodgers rumors that have surfaced so far from San Diego.

MLB’s Winter Meetings began on Sunday when front office members for the Dodgers and all the other teams arrived in San Diego.  The Winter Meetings will continue through Thursday although the rule five draft is Thursday and most teams that do not participate leave the meetings when the rule five draft begins.

The biggest move made on Monday (so far) was the Nationals coming to terms on a new contract with Stephen Strasburg.  The deal should push Gerrit Cole towards a new deal and several experts have said he could sign by the end of the Winter Meetings.

Pollock, Hernandez, and Joc on the trade block

One of the rumor pieces that surfaced early Monday morning was that the Dodgers have made it known they are open to trading A.J Pollock, Enrique Hernandez, and Joc Pederson.  Pollock is an obvious one as he makes $12 million a season (luxury tax-wise) through 2022.  He is coming off a horrible postseason and a shortened season due to an elbow infection,

Enrique Hernandez is entering his final season before free agency and he is projected to earn $5.5 million in 2020 through arbitration.  Given that Chris Taylor is projected to make $5 million, the Dodgers might try to free up more spending money by trading Hernandez away.  The free-agent market could offer a cheaper utility option such as Charlie Culberson.

Joc Pederson is another Dodger entering his final season before free agency.  Joc is projected to earn $8.5 million in 2020 and the White Sox are one team that has been interested in acquiring him since last winter.  The White Sox could continue their aggressive off-season by trading for the power-hitting outfielder.

Dodgers still interested in Ryu

Although the Dodgers are interested in Gerrit Cole and Stephen Strasburg, the team does have interest in bringing Hyun-Jin Ryu back to Los Angeles.  Ryu is coming off a strong season that saw him finish as a finalist for the National League Cy Young award.  Ryu will be 33 years old next March so his next contract will likely be three years.  He should have a nice payday given the amount of interest in him.

Yankees offer record contract to Cole

The New York Yankees have reportedly offered a record-setting deal to Gerrit Cole.  The offer is said to be seven years and $245 million which would set the record for the most money given to a pitcher and the highest annual average (35 mil).

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The Dodgers are known to have interest but it remains to be seen how high they go on an offer to Cole.  Given that Stephen Strasburg received $245 million on his new deal, Gerrit Cole will likely top that mark and could even get eight or nine years on his new contract.

Anthony Rendon sweepstakes down to three teams?

Now that the Nationals have brought back Stephen Strasburg, they appear to be out in the Anthony Rendon Sweepstakes.  The three teams believed to be in the race for Rendon are the Texas Rangers, Dodgers, and the Philadelphia Phillies.  If the Dodgers truly want Rendon they should be able to outbid the Rangers and Phillies.

Make sure to keep checking back here as the latest rumors for the Winter Meetings will be updated here for Monday.