By Chris Brown / STL Baseball Today | @cbrown_STLBBT | Dec. 7, 2015, 11:00 am CT, updated 2:00
The latest Cardinals-related news, reports, and rumors from a busy Day 1 of the MLB Winter Meetings in Nashville as they roll in:
[Related: Winter Meetings Quick Hits from Sunday: Price, Heyward, starters, trade for infielder]
Leake’s market value “appears to have spiked” [1:59 pm CT]: ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick reports that Mike Leake’s market value “appears to have spiked” after a person “familiar with Mike Leake’s talks” told him they think the right-hander could land a five-year contract for $75-80 million. Cardinals beat writer Rob Rains of STLSportsPage.com tweets he’d be surprised if the redbirds were still in the bidding at that contract length and price.
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Cards still interested in Leake [12:07 pm CT]: As first reported by CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman on Sunday, the Cardinals are interested in free agent right-hander Mike Leake, Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal reports. As Rosenthal first wrote yesterday, Leake’s preference is to play on the west coast, and the Giants are among the other teams interested in the 28-year-old. Rosenthal also reports that Leake would take a discount sign with Arizona, where he makes his offseason home, although it’s not clear how much interest the Diamondbacks have in him after agreeing to a massive six-year deal worth over $206 million with Zach Greinke.
Leake posted a solid 3.70 ERA and 1.16 WHIP over 192 innings (30 starts) this past season between the Reds and Giants. He had been with Cinncinati since his rookie season in 2010, and owns a 3.86 ERA from 2012-2014 while averaging 195 innings pitched per season.
Read more on Leake and the Cardinals’ interest here.
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Cardinals tied to Alex Gordon [10:50 am CT]: USA Today Sports’ Bob Nightengale reports that the Royals believe their stiffest competition for resigning outfielder Alex Gordon could come from the Cardinals. While the redbirds are reportedly continuing to focus on resigning Jason Heyward, Gordon could represent a similar backup option. Both are considered premium outfield defenders who hit for a solid average but don’t have the power many expect from corner outfielders. The major difference: age. Heyward is entering his age-26 season, while Gordon will turn 32 before the start in the 2016 season, meaning a decline in both offense and defense might not be far off. Gordon, who’s spent his entire MLB career with Kansas City, hit .271 with 13 home runs and 48 RBI over 104 games this past season. He’s averaged 17 home runs and 68 RBI over the last three seasons and is projected by MLB Trade Rumors to land a five-year, $105 million deal.
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Check back here at stlbaseballtoday.com throughout the day and week and follow @STLBBToday on Twitter for the latest news, reports, and rumors from the Winter Meetings.
More from STL Baseball Today:
Winter Meetings Quick Hits from Sunday: Price, Heyward, starters, trade for infielder
Report: Cardinals “looking closely” at free agent starter Mike Leake
