Trade, reliever pacts close out meetings
LAS VEGAS — Carlos Santana and Jeurys Familia found friendly landing spots, Edwin Encarnacion took off for a more uncertain future, Joe Kelly joined the team he helped beat in the World Series and the Brewers boosted their bullpen.
The winter meetings concluded Thursday with a threeteam trade involving Cleveland, Seattle and Tampa Bay, and a few more relievers reached free-agent deals.
Even so, baseball fans might’ve felt a bit cheated this week. Because even after all clubs gathered along the Strip, no one went all in.
Bryce Harper and Manny Machado remained unsigned. And a lot of trade talk about Corey Kluber, Noah Syndergaard and J.T. Realmuto went nowhere.
Blame that, maybe, on a new way of doing business.
“There are a lot of great agents who have done big, high-profile deals that are involved with these guys, so contracts have gotten more complicated in recent years with the opt-outs and various deferrals and other mechanisms that it’s very possible that in the end, we see something that we haven’t seen before in terms of deal structure,” White Sox general manager Rick Hahn said.
In the biggest trade of the week, the Indians brought back Santana and sent Encarnacion to Seattle. The Rays got infielder Yandy Diaz in a swap that also included a couple more players, cash and a draft pick. The Rays also have a pending deal with All-Star pitcher Charlie Morton.
“Looking at history, I think to expect to come out of the winter meetings with as many things either completed or possible as we have is not something that you can expect,” Rays senior vice president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom said. “Here we were able to get something over the finish line before getting on the plane.”
Encarnacion hit 32 homers and drove in 107 runs this year, increasing his major-leaguebest totals in both departments since 2012. He could provide the power the Mariners lost when designated hitter Nelson Cruz became a free agent.
“We’ll see how it goes with Edwin, whether he stays with us or he moves on to another destination,” Seattle assistant general manager Justin Hollander said.
A month before he turns 36, Encarnacion is guaranteed $25 million: $20 million next season and a $5 million buyout of a $25 million club option for 2020.
Santana, 32, spent the first eight seasons of his career in Cleveland and was a fan favorite. The first baseman/DH signed a three-year, $60 million deal with Philadelphia last offseason, was traded to Seattle this month and moved again this week.
“We know what makes him tick,” Cleveland GM Chris Antonetti said. “We know all of the things that he brings to a team into a clubhouse, so that does help.”
Kelly cashed in, reaching agreement with the Dodgers on a three-year, $25 million deal after he was 4-2 with a 4.39 ERA and two saves in 73 games this year for Boston, then excelled in October. He pitched in all five World Series games against the Dodgers and didn’t allow a run, striking out 10 in six innings.
The Mets’ revamped bullpen will include a familiar face in Familia, who agreed to a threeyear, $30 million deal.
Familia had spent his entire career with New York before being traded to the A’s in July. He’ll return to the Mets as a setup man to recently acquired Edwin Diaz.
The Brewers got left-handed reliever Alex Claudio from the Rangers for a draft pick. Claudio was 4-2 with a 4.48 ERA and one save in 65 relief appearances and one start this year.