MLB’s annual Winter Meetings ended Thursday but the hot stove continued to rage on Friday. The Astros traded Kyle Tucker to the Cubs and the Brewers and Yankees swapped Devin Williams for Nestor Cortes. Is another big trade in the works for Saturday? Here now are the day’s hot stove rumblings.
A’s make deal for Springs
The Athletics have finalized a deal to acquire lefty Jeffrey Springs from the Rays, per multiple reports. Per ESPN, the Rays will get three players (pitchers Joe Boyle and Jacob Watters and outfielder Will Simpson) and a compensation Round A draft pick in the swap. There is also reportedly another unnamed player heading to the A’s. Springs, 32, had a 3.27 ERA in seven starts after returning from Tommy John surgery this past season. He is owed $10.5 million in 2025 and $10.5 million in 2026 with a $15 million club option ($750,000 buyout) for 2027.
Earlier this offseason the A’s signed Luis Severino to the largest contract in franchise history (three years, $67 million) in part because they have to raise payroll to avoid the MLBPA filing a grievance about their revenue-sharing money. Springs will help the club boost payroll in addition to upgrading a rotation that was quite thin in 2025.
Astros willing to listen on Valdez
After trading Kyle Tucker, Astros GM Dana Brown said he is