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MLB Trade News

With training camps set to open in about two weeks, all eyes are on the free-agent market as plenty of good names remain. While some of the big names, like George Springer and J.T. Realmuto, have signed, others like Trevor Bauer are still mulling over their options.

With baseball almost upon us, news has been steady from around the league. Let’s take a look at some of the biggest stories from the week.

Cardinals Add Superstar At The Hot Corner

It seemed as if the N.L. Central was competing to see who could do the least this offseason. The Reds had lost a couple of their biggest bullpen pieces, the Cubs had traded away Yu Darvish, the Pirates had traded star Josh Bell, and the Brewers and Cardinals were seemingly inactive.

This week that all changed.

The St. Louis Cardinals made one of the biggest splashes of the offseason, trading with the Colorado Rockies for superstar third baseman Nolan Arenado.

In what was one of the most complex trades in recent history, the Cardinals sent starting pitcher Austin Gomber and prospects Elehuris Montero, Tony Locey, Mateo Gil, and Jake Sommers to the Rockies.

Not only did the Rockies send Arenado, but they sent money as well. In total, they will pay $51 million, including all of this year’s salary (according to Mark Feinsand and Jon Morosi of MLB.com). Furthermore, the Cardinals have added an extra year worth $15 million to the contract.

If that wasn’t complex enough, Arenado waived his no-trade clause only to be given the no-trade rights back by the Cardinals. Furthermore, Arenado has a couple of opt-outs in the contract, including one that the Cardinals added in the deal.

When the dust settles, the Cardinals added one of the best defensive third basemen in the game and a major bat to the middle of their lineup. In total, Arenado has won eight Gold Glove Awards despite being only 29 years old.

Offensively, he did have a bit of a down year during the shortened season of 2020. In total, he hit .253/.303/.434 with 8 home runs, 26 runs batted in, and 23 runs scored in 182 at-bats.

Still, he is only a couple years removed from hitting .315/.379/.583 with 41 home runs, 118 runs batted in, and 102 runs scored in 2019.

While no division titles are won in the offseason, the Cardinals have shown that they are currently the only team in the N.L. Central willing to spend to contend this offseason.

Chris Archer Returns To The Rays

According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, right-handed starting pitcher Chris Archer has agreed on a one-year, $6.5 million contract with the Tampa Bay Rays.

Of course, Archer pitched for several years with the Rays, from 2012 to partway through the 2018 season. It was during that season that the Rays made the amazing trade with the Pirates, sending Archer to Pittsburgh for Tyler Glasnow, Shane Baz, and Austin Meadows.

Glasnow and Meadows helped propel the Rays to the World Series last season, while Baz is one of their top prospects. For Pittsburgh, Archer was disappointing, only going a combined 6-12 over 23 starts.

Now, Archer will have the chance to return to the Rays, where he had his best seasons. 2015 was probably his most productive season with the Rays, going 12-13 with a 3.23 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, and striking out 252 in 212 innings.

Archer did not pitch last season after undergoing surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome, but the Rays are hoping that at just 32, he can once again have success in Tampa Bay.

Reds Sign Doolittle

After jettisoning relievers Raisel Iglesias (trade to the Angels), Archie Bradley (non-tender), and Curt Casali (non-tender), the Cincinnati Reds added a reliever on Tuesday.

According to Jon Morosi of MLB.com, the Reds signed former Nationals’ closer Sean Doolittle to a one-year, $1.5 million deal. The contract also includes some incentives as well.

Last season, with Washington, Doolittle struggled with injuries and finished with a 5.87 ERA, 1.70 WHIP, and struck out just 6 over 7.2 innings.

Still, it was in 2019 that he had 29 saves for the Nationals and 2018 when he had 25 saves and a 1.60 ERA. At 34 years old, he will certainly give manager David Bell another option in the bullpen.

It is not clear whether Doolittle will automatically inherit the closer role, but he will likely be one of the frontrunners alongside lefty Amir Garrett.

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