Boston
One day after trading for five-time All-Start left-hander Chris Sale, the Red Sox agreed to terms with Moreland on a one-year deal to share time with Hanley Ramirez at first base.
“It just shows you that we’re in it and trying to go all out and trying to make that happen,” Moreland told reporters on Thursday. “I’m glad to be a part of it.”
Manager John Farrell said Ramirez will get most of his at-bats at designated hitter, filling the spot that opened up when David Ortiz retired. Moreland will play primarily at first base, where he won a Gold Glove after committing just two errors in 1,103 total chances last season.
Moreland, 31, batted .233 with 22 homers and 21 doubles last year with the Texas Rangers. In 14 games at Fenway Park, he has a.341 average with four homers, two doubles and eight RBIs, according to MassLive.com.
“It’s one of those things where I’m just loose, I feel like I’m comfortable (there),” Moreland said. “It kind of brings the kid out in you when you get to do it at a place like this. That’s what makes it fun, and this place is one of the best at it.”
To make room for Moreland on the 40-man roster, the Red Sox designated left-hander Williams Jerez for assignment.
The deal finishes off a busy winter meetings for the Red Sox.
Shortly before acquiring Sale from the Chicago White Sox for four minor leaguers — including No. 1 prospect Yoan Moncada — Boston acquired reliever Tyler Thornburg from the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for a package that included infielder Travis Shaw. They also picked up the 2018 option on Farrell’s contract.
Oxon Hill, Md.
The hard-throwing closer reached agreement to return to the New York Yankees late Wednesday night with the highest-priced contract ever for a relief pitcher, an $86 million deal for five years.
Once it’s done, the 28-year-old lefty whose fastballs routinely top 100 mph would shatter the previous richest contract for a reliever — that was the $62 million, four-year deal Mark Melancon signed with San Francisco just a couple days ago during the winter meetings.
Chapman was acquired by New York from the Cincinnati Reds last offseason, then missed the first 29 games of the season due to a domestic violence suspension from Major League Baseball.
St. Louis
Fowler is en route to St. Louis for what’s presumed to be a physical.
If he signs, the 30-year-old switch-hitting Fowler would be a leadoff candidate who would make it possible for Matt Carpenter to move down in the order.
Fowler averaged .276 with a with a .393 on-base percentage and a .447 slugging percentage for the Cubs in 2016, his first season as an All-Star. He hit 13 homers, totaled 48 RBIs and stole 13 bases. Fowler’s nine-year career has seen him play with the Rockies, Astros and Cubs and produce a career slash line of .268/.366/.422.
Bautista, who actually made his major league debut with the O’s in 2004, has tussled in recent years with Baltimore pitcher Darren O’Day and outfielder Adam Jones, among others.
Orioles Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations Dan Duquette was asked about the 36-year-old Bautista on a Toronto radio station Tuesday night, and he said he wouldn’t sign the longtime Blue Jays star because Baltimore fans didn’t like him.
In a session with Baltimore reporters at the winter meetings, Duquette expanded on his remarks.
“Jose Bautista’s agent’s been knocking on the Orioles’ door for a while. I told him, ‘Look our fans don’t really like Jose Bautista,’ and they don’t.
“Not to mention he has a qualifying offer attached to him, and I just made a comment in that we weren’t going to be pursuing their client. It’s true, the guy’s a villain in Baltimore,” Duquette said.
Duquette was asked if Bautista could conceivably become more attractive if his price on the free agent market dropped.
“I’ll have to ask our fans,” Duquette joked.
Bautista was one of several AL East players who have been unpopular in Baltimore. But, three of them — New York’s Alex Rodriguez and Mark Teixeira and Boston’s David Ortiz — have retired.