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MLB News and Notes: Braves Sign Ozuna

Spring training is just weeks away, but the free-agent offseason is still in full swing. While most of the biggest names have already signed, there were some notable signings over the last week. Let’s take a look at some of those signings and other news from around the league.

Ozuna Signs With Braves

While the biggest names like Gerrit Cole, Stephen Strasburg and Anthony Rendon signed a while ago, there have still been a couple of big names left on the market this offseason. One of those names just agreed to a deal this week.

The Atlanta Braves have signed Marcell Ozuna to a one-year, $18 million deal. This signing was likely a reaction to the Braves losing out on Josh Donaldson, who signed with the Twins.

Ozuna joins a very solid outfield that also includes Ronald Acuna Jr. and Ender Inciarte (with Nick Markakis and Adam Duvall as reserves).

Last season with the St. Louis Cardinals, Ozuna was solid, hitting .241/.328/.472 with 29 home runs, 89 runs batted in, 80 runs scored and 12 stolen bases.

Ozuna rejected a qualifying offer from the Cardinals, and while he will make slightly more with this deal than the qualifying offer, he did not get the long-term contract he was likely seeking. Additionally, the Braves will have to surrender a draft pick in the acquisition.

While Ozuna doesn’t quite offer the same thump that Donaldson has, he is not too shabby of a replacement in the batting order at this stage of the offseason.

The move also will shift Austin Riley back into the infield to play third base, likely platooning with Johan Camargo.

Rockies Agree To Deal With Story

The Colorado Rockies and star shortstop Trevor Story agreed to a two-year deal this week that will pay him $27.5 million over the next couple seasons. This is not really an extension but merely buys out the last two years of arbitration for Story.

Still, this is probably a savvy deal by Colorado as, with a good season, Story may have been more expensive through the arbitration process.

Last season, Story hit .294/.363/.554 with 35 home runs, 85 runs batted in, 111 runs scored and 23 stolen bases. He is certainly a star-caliber player, and this will likely serve as some good news for a fan base that is probably a bit nervous given their other star, Nolan Arenado, has seen his name floated about in trade rumors for weeks.

Royals Bring Back Gordon

Alex Gordon has always been with the Kansas City Royals, and that does not appear to be changing any time soon. The Royals and Gordon agreed to a one-year, $4 million deal that includes some incentives. Last season with Kansas City, Gordon hit .266/.345/.396 with 13 home runs, 76 runs batted in and 77 runs scored in 556 at-bats.

The soon-to-be 36-year-old has been up with the big club since 2007 when he was just 23. While his offense has been a bit suspect as of late, he is still an above-average defender and serves as a veteran leader for Kansas City.

Interestingly, this deal does include a provision that calls for Gordon to forfeit his 10-and-5 no-trade rights in the middle of June. Presumably, if Gordon were playing well and Kansas City was out of it, this would give the Royals the opportunity to try to get something for him, while also giving Gordon the opportunity to finish his career playing for a contender.

Nationals Re-Sign Zimmerman

Gordon wasn’t the only player to re-sign with the only team he has ever known this week. The Washington Nationals are bringing back Ryan Zimmerman for another year on a one-year, $2 million deal that includes incentives.

Last season, Zimmerman hit .257/.321/.415 with six home runs, 27 runs batted in and 20 runs scored in just 171 at-bats. Zimmerman is no longer the All-Star-caliber player that he once was, but he does provide leadership for the reigning World Series champions.

It is likely that Zimmerman will serve in a platoon-type role this year, as the Nationals have also brought in Eric Thames, Howie Kendrick, Asdrubal Cabrera and Starlin Castro to compete on the infield alongside shortstop Trea Turner.

Marlins Sign Kintzler

The Miami Marlins have been relatively quiet this offseason, but they did sign a reliever this week in the form of righty Brandon Kintzler. Kintzler signs a one-year deal for $3.25 million, plus a $4 million club option.

Last season, with the Chicago Cubs, Kintzler was 3-3 with a 2.68 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and struck out 48 in 57 innings pitched as a reliever.

Cubs Ink Souza

According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, the Cubs are close to a deal with outfielder Steven Souza Jr. Souza, who missed all of last season with a knee injury, last played with the Diamondbacks.

In 2018, he hit .220/.309/.369 with five home runs in 241 at-bats. His best campaign came in 2017 with the Tampa Bay Rays, when he hit 30 home runs and 78 runs batted in.

Mets Hire Rojas

Three teams fired their managers as a result of the sign-stealing scandal associated with the Houston Astros, and this week one of those teams found their replacement. The New York Mets have signed Luis Rojas to be their newest manager.

Rojas had interviewed for the position before it was given to Carlos Beltran, so the Mets were already familiar with him. Rojas has served in the Mets organization as a coach but does not have much managerial experience at the big-league level.

Rather, he has worked mostly in the minors or managing the Dominican Winter League. Still, the son of Felipe Alou, he certainly has the pedigree, and the Mets hope that he can lead them back to relevance in a tough NL East division.

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