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Google Translate: This was the first home run of the season for #BlueJays No. 1 prospect Gabriel Moreno.

Jeff Passan @JeffPassan Details from the tick-tock of baseball's free agent frenzy: - Toronto was very much in on Corey Seager - The Mets were hoping to get Kevin Gausman AND Max Scherzer - Detroit was heavy on Marcus Semien before pivoting to Javier Baez Plenty more at ESPN+: https://t.co/LFZH2LhuXD

Minor League rule 5 draft: Round 1 1. Orioles: Nolan Hoffman, RHP (Mariners) 2. Pirates: Zach Matson, LHP (Rockies) 3. Nationals: Andrew Young, 2B (D-backs) 4. Marlins: Charles Leblanc, SS (Giants) 5. Cubs: Conner Menez, LHP (Giants) 6. Rockies: Gabriel Rodriguez, LHP (Braves) 7. Tigers: Elvis Alvarado, RHP (Mariners) 8. Angels: Kenneth Rosenberg, LHP (Rays) 9. Mets: Alex Valverde, RHP (Rays) 10. Padres: Grant Gavin, RHP (Royals) 11. Guardians: Erik Sabrowski, LHP (Padres) 12. Phillies: Matt Seelinger, RHP (Giants) 13. Reds: Ronnie Dawson, OF (Astros) 14. Athletics: Gabriel Maciel, OF (Twins) 15. Braves: John Nogowski, 1B (Giants) 16. Mariners: Tanner Kirwer, OF (Blue Jays) 17. Cardinals: Ben Deluzio, OF (D-backs) 18. Blue Jays: Abdiel Mendoza, RHP (Rangers) 19. Red Sox: Austin Lambright, LHP (Royals) 20. Yankees: Steven Jennings, RHP (Pirates) 21. White Sox: Moises Castillo, SS (Cardinals) 22. Brewers: Caleb Boushley, RHP (Padres) 23. Astros: Ruben Garcia, RHP (Tigers) 24. Dodgers: Kekai Rios, C (Brewers) 25. Giants: MIchael Gigliotti, OF (Rays) Round 2 1. Orioles: Cole Uvila, RHP (Rangers) 2. Pirates: Nick Laio, RHP (Rangers) 3. Nationals: Curtis Taylor, RHP (Blue Jays) 4. Marlins: Robert Garcia, LHP (Royals) 5. Tigers: Nick Kuzia, RHP (Padres) 6. Mets: Carlos Ocampo, RHP (Cubs) 7. Guardians: Brett Daniels, RHP (Astros) 8. A's: Vince Fernandez, OF (Giants) 9. Braves: Luis De Avila, RHP (Royals) 10. Mariners: Walking Cabrera, OF (Rockies) 11. Cardinals: Carlos Guarate, RHP (Padres) 12. Red Sox: Brian Keller, RHP (Yankees) 13. Yankees: Manny Ramirez, RHP (Astros) 14. Dodgers: Carson Fulmer, RHP (Reds) Round 3 1. Pirates: Jacob Gonzalez, 3B (Giants) 2. Nationals: Matt Brill, RHP (D-backs) 3. Marlins: Cobie Vance, 2B (A's) 4. Braves: Allan Winans, RHP (Mets) 5. Mariners: Tommy Wilson, RHP (Mets) 6. Cardinals: Jonah Davis, OF (Pirates) 7. Dodgers: Jon Duplantier, RHP (Giants) Round 4 1. Nationals: Dakody Clemmer, RHP (Guardians) 2. Marlins: Laurbert Arias, RHP (Padres) 3. Braves: Tanner Andrews, RHP (Marlins) 4. Cardinals: Nelfri Contreras, LHP (Dodgers) Round 5 1. Marlins: Carlos Santiago, SS (Dodgers)

Blake Murphy @BlakeMurphyODC Blue Jays effectively trade Tanner Kirwer (picked by Seattle) for Abdiel Mendoza (picked from Rangers) in the Rule 5 draft. Mendoza's a small righty who hasn't gone above A ball. My guess is they see a conversion opportunity turning him into a long man/lower-leverage RP. Blake Murphy @BlakeMurphyODC Kirwer has interesting legs as a 4th OF type and is closer to majors, but not a lot of bat there, and obvious OF logjam. Book is that Mendoza has great feel for the curve & started to miss a lot more bats last year, and obviously clearer path/area of need if he's an RP. Blake Murphy @BlakeMurphyODC Jays also lost Curtis Taylor to Nationals, a 26-year old fastball/slider/changeup guy who split last year in AA/AAA in the pen.

Minor League rule 5 draft underway. https://www.mlb.com/news/2021-rule-5-draft-minor-league-phase Listen here: https://www.mlb.com/video/2021-rule-5-draft-3991

Mitch Bannon @MitchBannon In 8 games (34 PA) in the Venezuelan Winter League, #BlueJays prospect Gabriel Moreno is slashing .346/.500/.346.

High Heat Stats @HighHeatStats 31 years ago today, the MLB trade featuring the highest average player value in a trade of 4+ players: Padres get Fred McGriff (52 WAR) & Tony Fernandez (45 WAR) while Blue Jays get Roberto Alomar (67 WAR) & Joe Carter (19 WAR). That average of 46 WAR per player is insane.

Josh Goldberg @JGoldberg12 Very interesting... Ken Rosenthal said that before they got Renfroe, the Brewers talked to the Jays about a JBJ-Grichuk 1 for 1 trade. I would have enjoyed that... https://t.co/HLIIsc8XRR

Jon Heyman @JonHeyman Free agency mystery: Justin Verlander’s $50M, 2-year Astros deal (w/opt out) never was announced and presumably is not official. That means Verlander and Astros have to wait to finalize until a new CBA is done. It is unclear why the deal reported 2 weeks ago is now in limbo. Kevin Acee @sdutKevinAcee Nick Martinez remains a free agent. The deal was not completed before the lockout.

Jeff Passan @JeffPassan Outfielder Hunter Renfroe has been traded from the Boston Red Sox to the Milwaukee Brewers, sources tell ESPN.

Alex Speier @alexspeier Milton’s Rich Hill is coming back to the Red Sox. He's in agreement with the team on a deal, which will become official pending the results of a physical https://t.co/9OcdMKLrCS via @BostonGlobe

Jeff Passan @JeffPassan Marcus Stroman signed a three-year, $71 million contract with the Chicago Cubs that includes an opt out after the second season, sources tell ESPN. He’ll make $25 million in 2022, $25 million in 2023 and $21 million in 2024. It includes $2M escalators for 160 IP in ‘22 and ‘23.

Marcus Stroman @STR0 CHICAGO! @Cubs

Andy Martino @martinonyc Billy Eppler said he was talking to a club within the past hour, and teams are behaving like there is still time to make trades tonight before CBA expires.

danhayesmlb @DanHayesMLB The #MNTwins have signed RHP Dylan Bundy to a one-year deal with a club option.

Keegan Matheson @KeeganMatheson Kevin Gausman says that the #BlueJays’ young core, commitment to winning and the resources they can offer him all helped lead him to Toronto. “This is the team that I think I’m going to win the most with.” Ben Nicholson-Smith @bnicholsonsmith Kevin Gausman says he was close to signing w/ #BlueJays each of the last 2 winters, so he wasn't surprised when Ross Atkins reached out Gausman then started asking players who had played in Toronto & "one common denominator was that everyone loved their time with the #BlueJays"

Jeff Passan @JeffPassan Right-handed reliever Corey Knebel is in agreement on a contract with the Philadelphia Phillies, a source familiar with the deal tells ESPN.

Jon Heyman @JonHeyman Byron Buxton has set a record for highest awards bonuses in his Twins deal $8,000,000 for MVP $7,000,000-2nd; $6,000,000-3rd; $5,000,000-4th; $4,000,000-5th; $3,000,000-6th thru 10th)

Joon Lee 이준엽 @joonlee Max Scherzer — who’s heavily involved in the MLBPA — on the CBA negotiations: “Hearing the tone in negotiations, the lockout seems like that’s a very likely scenario, let’s say that." Joon Lee 이준엽 @joonlee Scherzer indicates the lack of competition and teams tanking is a major sticking point for players in CBA negotiations “Adjustments have to be made to be made to bring up the competition … When we don’t have that, we have issues.” Joon Lee 이준엽 @joonlee Scott Boras on the stance of players during CBA negotiations: “It’s not about any team, it’s the rules. … We have something in our rules that drives non-competitiveness and drives down fan interest.”

Jon Heyman @JonHeyman Reds are still fielding interest in Luis Castillo, Tyler Mahle and Sonny Gray. Chance for a trade today.

Shi Davidi @ShiDavidi Breakdown of Kevin Gausman’s contract with Blue Jays: $21m in 2022-23; $22m in 2024; and $23m in 2025-26. Shi Davidi @ShiDavidi He also has bonuses for Cy Young ($150K), ASG, Gold Glove and WS MVP ($50K) and LCS MVP ($25K) plus an eight-team no trade.

Hazel Mae @thehazelmae Kevin Gausman will be formally introduced by the #BlueJays at a press conference over zoom this afternoon at 3p ET. The club made his 5 yr./$110 million dollar free agent contract official this morning.