We are a little more than two weeks into the 2024-25 MLB offseason and so far the Angels have been the most active team. They landed Jorge Soler in a salary dump trade with the Braves and signed Kyle Hendricks, Travis d'Arnaud, and Kevin Newman as free agents. The rest of the baseball world has yet to really kick things into gear. Here now are Friday's hot stove rumors.
Braves interested in Buehler
The Braves are among the teams with interest in free-agent righty Walker Buehler, reports MLB.com. Atlanta could lose rotation stalwarts Max Fried and Charlie Morton to free agency this winter, plus ace Spencer Strider may not be ready for Opening Day following this year's elbow surgery. We ranked Buehler as the 26th best free agent this offseason.
Buehler, 30, has of course spent his entire career with the Dodgers, and he threw the final pitch of this year's World Series. He had a poor season overall (5.38 ERA in 75 1/3 innings), his first since his second career Tommy John surgery, though the Braves love to bring in players with pedigree, and who knows what it takes to be great (like Chris Sale). Buehler fits the bill.
Irvin heads to Korea
Journeyman lefty Cole Irvin has signed with the Doosan Bears of the Korea Baseball Organization, per Yonhap News Agency. He gets a $1 million guarantee, the maximum allowed for a first-year foreign player in the KBO. Irvin, 30, split the 2024 season between the Orioles and Twins, pitching to a 5.11 ERA in 111 innings. He has a 4.54 ERA in parts of six big league seasons. Several pitchers, most notably Erick Fedde and Merrill Kelly, remade themselves in the KBO and then returned to have success in MLB.
Soto meets with Red Sox
Juan Soto and agent Scott Boras met with the Red Sox on Thursday. Soto and Boras reportedly have meetings scheduled with several teams (Blue Jays, Mets, Yankees, etc.), though the Red Sox meeting is the first one confirmed to have taken place. Boston's group made a formal presentation and Soto asked the team about their commitment to winning, their player evaluation, and Fenway Park. Money and contract terms were not discussed.
