What we learned at the Winter Meetings: Day Three

Where does Juan Francisco’s future sit in Milwaukee? Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

In this third day of the Winter Meetings, the Milwaukee Brewers in general made up a rather significant chunk of the talk. What else happened around the major leagues today as the teams begin to wrap up day three?

Brewers

The biggest news to come out of today dealt with the Brewers and who will be playing first base next season. Corey Hart signed a one-year deal with the Seattle Mariners worth $6MM with incentives that could see the pay rise to $13MM. The Brewers had offered Hart a one-year deal with incentives that would have brought the total up to $8MM.

With Hart now out of the picture, the Brewers had turned their focus to a possible trade candidate in the Miami Marlins’ Logan Morrison, but he was traded to the Mariners only minutes after Hart’s deal became public. One player the Brewers had been talking with was James Loney, but it is unclear whether or not the team would be willing to give him a three-year deal.

As for what’s left at first base, it runs a dangerous thin thread. Loney is the only free-agent available that the Brewers had interest in and the other first baseman such as Ike Davis, Justin Smoak and Mitch Moreland would have to be traded for. General manager Doug Melvin hasn’t publicly announced what the team will do for first, but for the time being Juan Francisco may look to get the role should the team not make a deal with anyone else.

Rest of the MLB

Aside from the moves mentioned above, not too much happened at the Winter Meetings today. The Pittsburgh Pirates extended RHP Charlie Morton to a three-year deal worth $21MM, which has the potential to reach $30MM. The New York Mets signed 40-year-old RHP Bartolo Colon to a two-year, $20MM deal. Trade wise, the Oakland Athletics shipped LHP Jerry Blevins to the Washington Nationals for OF Billy Burns.

Other transactions today were pretty minor such as the Pirates inking RHP Edinson Volquez to a one-year, $5MM deal and the Houston Astros’ acquisition of RHP Anthony Bass. Just a day after they talked about trading him, the Cleveland Indians have made it clear that they do not plan on trading RHP Justin Masterson despite interest earlier this morning from the New York Yankees.

Around the league, the Philadelphia Phillies announced that they are shopping closer Jonathan Papelbon. Despite multiple teams showing interest in him, the Los Angeles Dodgers have no intention to trade outfielder Matt Kemp. Outfielder Shin-Soo Choo is still looking for a home, but the Detroit Tigers, Arizona Diamondbacks and Seattle Mariners have stepped down from that race.

Be sure to check in tomorrow night to see what happened in the fourth and final day of the Winter Meetings.