Darvish deal expected to be completed this week

Yu Darvish, arguably the top free-agent starting pitcher this winter, is expected to come off the market this week, according to MLB Network insider Jon Heyman, and the Cubs are reportedly the favorites to sign the right-hander.

The Twins, Brewers, Phillies and Yankees have also been linked to Darvish, with Milwaukee and Minnesota having reportedly made offers. However, the Twins are not willing to go beyond a five-year commitment, per Heyman, and view right-hander Alex Cobb as a potential backup should they not sign Darvish.

The Cubs have been in the market for starters all winter, as two members of their 2017 rotation, Jake Arrieta and John Lackey, are free agents. They have been long rumored to potentially bring Arrieta back -- particularly with how slow this offseason's free-agent market has progressed -- but have been more strongly linked to Darvish. The Cubs have already signed former Rockies starter Tyler Chatwood to a three-year, $38 million deal to shore up the back end of their rotation.

Darvish posted a 3.86 ERA in 31 starts with the Rangers and Dodgers last season, including a 3.44 ERA over nine starts down the stretch for Los Angeles following a deal just before the non-waiver Trade Deadline. The four-time All-Star was also excellent in the first two rounds of the postseason, posting a 1.59 ERA in two starts over the National League Division Series and the NL Championship Series. He was hit hard by the Astros over two World Series starts, surrend

Machado shifting to short, Beckham to 3B

Manny Machado is naturally a shortshop, but Buck Showalter and the Baltimor Orioles have been placing him at third base for years.

Machado has played much of his first six seasons in the Major Leagues at third while J.J. Hardy was positioned at short.

But now that Hardy left Baltimore this offseason, Machado may very well man shortstop. Tim Beckham would shift to third base.

"There could be some adjustments down in [Spring Training]," Showalter said. "That's where we're going to head into it and there's a chance we could adjust from there. But I've talk to both Manny and Tim about it and we think it's our best setup right now."

When Hardy missed time because of a left foot fracture in 2016, Machado took over for 43 games at shortstop but slid back over to third in 2017 and stayed there after the Orioles traded for Beckham. Machado spent a majority of his time in the Minor Leagues at short.

Beckham has appeared in nine career games at third, but showed the versatility to play both second base and shortstop during parts of four seasons with the Rays.

Mets, Jose Reyes agree to one-year deal; source

The New York Mets and Jose Reyes are reuniting after the two sides agreed to a one-year contract, a source confirmed to MLB.com's Anthony DiComo. MLB Network's Ken Rosenthal was first to report the deal, which is pending a physical.

According to Rosenthal, Reyes is returning to New York with the "understanding he will fill a utility role." Rosenthal adds that the club is still looking for an everyday second baseman.

Reyes has played the past two seasons with the Mets, batting a combined .253/.319/.423 with 23 home runs and 82 RBIs while stealing 33 bases in 205 games.

The 34-year-old played in 145 games in 2017 for New York at a number of different positions. His 15 home runs were his most in a season since 2008, when he hit 16 with the Mets.

Blue Jays sign OF Granderson to one-year, $5 million deal

The Toronto Blue Jags have officially signed free agent outfielder Granderson to a one-year, $5 million contract.

Granderson, 36, posted a .212 batting average in 2017 with 24 doubles, 26 home runs and an OPS of .775 in 147 games. The Chicago, Illinois, native appeared in 111 games for the New York Mets before his trade to the LA Dodgers where he appeared in 36 regular season games.

Granderson, who is entering his 15th season in the MLB, is a three time All-Star (2009, 2011, and 2012), Silver Slugger (2011) and was named the 2016 Roberto Clemente Award winner. The left-handed hitter holds a career batting average of .252 with 319 home runs an OPS of .812. 

Granderson will get $1.5 million in incentives for plate appearances.

Mets invite nine to major league camp

The Mets announced on Friday that the club has invited nine players to major league Spring Training including: first baseman Peter Alonso, LHP P.J. Conlon, outfielder Kevin Kaczmarski, catcher Patrick Mazeika, RHP Drew Smith, RHP Corey Taylor, outfielder Tim Tebow, infielder David Thompson and RHP Adonis Uceta. 

The Mets have previously invited outfielder Zach Borenstein, infielder Phil Evans, catcher José Lobatón and LHP Matt Purke to major league camp. 

Giants still looking for OF upgrades

Fresh off acquiring Andrew McCutchen from the Pirates on Monday, the Giants are trying to add even more talent to their outfield, with the former National League Most Valuable Player being told that he'll play a corner spot with the team this season, according to ESPN's Buster Olney.

San Francisco's main desire is to upgrade defensively in center field, and sources tell ESPN's Jerry Crasnick that the Giants rank Jarrod Dyson as their most coveted option behind Lorenzo Cain. The club is also interested in Jon Jay and Cameron Maybin, according to Crasnick, but values Dyson's "speed, defensive metrics and stolen-base ability."

The Giants, after bringing in McCutchen via a trade with the Pirates, do not have the space under the luxury-tax threshold to sign Cain at his projected salary, according to MLB.com's Jon Paul Morosi. Morosi reported that the club is looking to add a "defense-first player" in center field "who will be less expensive than Cain."

Dyson, Jay and Maybin will certainly all be less expensive than the former Royals center fielder, and Dyson led that group with seven Outs Above Average last season, according to Statcast™. Maybin was at plus-2 two while Jay was minus-3.

Dyson, 33, has stolen at least 25 bases in each of the past six seasons and would be a big boost to a Giants club that ranked 20th in the Majors with 76 steals last year. Jay has 51 steals in eight Major League seasons, but his .738 career on-base-plus-slugging percentage bests Dyson's .677 total.

Maybin owns a career .693 OPS and stole 33 bases during his time split between the Astros and Angels last season.

Castellanos on the trade block?

While the Tigers were ultimately able to avoid an arbitration hearing with Nicholas Castellanos, Anthony Fenech of the Detroit Free Press reports that Detroit remains open to trading the rising slugger, citing multiple clubs that have engaged in discussions with the Tigers this offseason.

Castellanos, 25, agreed to a one-year, $6.05 million contract with the Tigers on Friday. Detroit's first-round Draft choice from 2010 is about to embark on his first full season in right field, but Fenech reports that the Tigers' uncertainty about his defensive ability could still lead to a trade before Opening Day. Castellanos has primarily manned third base during his first four full seasons in the Motor City, but he has rated below average in terms of Defensive Runs Saved (DRS) in each of those campaigns. He played 21 games in right last season.

Castellanos' prowess at the plate is much less in doubt. He broke out for a career-high 26 home runs and 101 RBIs for the Tigers in 2017 while recording a league-adjusted 110 OPS+ (where 100 is average) and pacing the American League with 10 triples. He was even more productive in some respects in '16, finishing with a 120 OPS+ over 110 games. While Castellanos will be eligible for arbitration again next winter, he will not test the free-agent market until 2020. That means Castellanos, for the moment, represents a controllable, relatively cheap hitter coming into his own -- regardless of his defensive ability.

Tigers general manager Al Avila revealed at the Winter Meetings that the team approached Castellanos about a contract extension toward the end of last season, but that no progress has been made.