Let the bidding begin.
This year’s MLB Hot Stove features a bumper crop of free-agent shortstops: Los Angeles Dodgers’ Corey Seager, Colorado Rockies’ Trevor Story, Houston Astros’ Carlos Correa, Toronto Blue Jays’ Marcus Semien and New York Mets’ Javier Baez.
All five will be looking for nine-figure contracts on the open market.
Among the front-runners in the shortstop sweepstakes are the New York Yankees, who have a hole to fill in their lineup after moving Gleyber Torres to second base.
But a pair of struggling American League clubs are set to challenge the Yankees, according to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale.
Those reversing direction are the Detroit Tigers and Texas Rangers, who have shed payroll and endured a painful rebuild, but are now letting agents know they plan to spend, and spend big. ... The Tigers need a shortstop, and although Correa appears to be out of their price range, they are strongly looking at Seager and Story. The Tigers’ steepest competition may not necessarily be the Yankees, but the Rangers, who could have as much as $100 million to spend.
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Last week at the GM Meetings in Carlsbad, Calif., Rangers general manager Chris Young warned Texas is ready to go big. Per MLB.com:
“Now’s the time to buy stock in the Rangers. That’s how I feel. And that’s as a player, that’s what you want to hear. You see the good things that are happening. And I think to get in early and be part of that makes it even more special. ... We have some financial flexibility that allows us to be creative, and we’re looking at this as a multiyear approach. This is what impacts us for the next several years, and how we can build a championship team. What decisions we make right now, those impact not only 2022, but beyond.”
The Rangers finished in last place in the AL West this season, losing 102 games. So Texas has nowhere to go but up.
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Mike Rosenstein may be reached at mrosenstein@njadvancemedia.com.
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