Major League Baseball’s hot stove hasn’t quite warmed up just yet, but teams and players alike are making preparations, regardless. Let’s take a look at what’s cooking.

Bumgarner to the Braves? 

According to Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sport California, the Braves are going to make veteran left-handed starter Madison Bumgarner a priority this offseason.

Bumgarner, 30, had a 3.90 ERA, 3.90 FIP, 1.13 WHIP and made 34 starts for the Giants in 2019. His strikeout rate saw a boost (7.6 K/9 in 2018 to 8.8 K/9 in 2019) and has walk rate dropped (3.0 BB/9 in 2018 to 1.9 K/9) as well.

The 2019 season was the first time since 2016 that Bumgarner pitched over 200 innings in a season and his 3.2 fWAR was higher than the previous two seasons (1.6 in 2017 and 1.4 in 2018) combined.

Braves’ starters ERA of 4.20 ranked seventh in the NL and their 4.32 FIP ranked sixth during the 2019 season. Fellow lefty starter Dallas Keuchel had a 3.75 ERA in 112 innings for the Braves in 2019, but is also a free agent.

Kendrick Sparking Intrigue

According to Brittany Ghiroli of The Athletic, recent Nationals postseason standout Howie Kendrick is “drawing a lot of early interest” this offseason. Ghiroli lists two Florida teams — the Marlins and Rays — as potential suitors, noting that the 36-year-old utility player is from Florida and is “looking for a short deal”.

Kendrick hit .344/.395/.572 with 17 homers, 23 doubles, a triple, and 49 strikeouts over 370 plate appearances with Washington last season. His 146 wRC+ and .400 wOBA ranked 13th and 11th, respectively, among MLB hitters with over 350 plate appearances in 2019, per FanGraphs.

During the Nats’ thrilling drive to their first World Series title this October, he slashed .286/.328/.444 with two homers, four doubles over 67 plate appearances, contributing a number of huge hits along the way and securing NLCS MVP honors.

Kendrick didn’t play in the outfield at all last season but accumulated -1 defensive runs saved and a -1.3 ultimate zone rating per 150 innings at first base (336 innings), 1 DRS and 1.2 UZR/150 at second (165.2 innings), and -2 DRS and 12.3 UZR/150 at third (126 innings).

Heyman’s Veteran Updates

Jon Heyman of MLB Network provided updates on two major league stalwarts on Wednesday.

According to Heyman, backstop Russell Martin “plans to return” in 2020, noting that the 36-year-old “remains hungry”.

Martin hit .220/.337/.330 with six homers and 20 RBIs over 249 plate appearances with two DRS and 5.6 framing runs above average (FanGraphs) over 486 innings behind the dish in his return to the Dodgers last season.

After spending four seasons playing in his home country with Toronto (2015 to 2018; .225/.336/.399, 99 OPS+), Martin was traded to Los Angeles — the team that drafted him in the 17th round of the 2002 draft (2006 to 2010; .268/.362/.391, 100 OPS+) — last January to play out the final year of the five-year, $82 million deal he signed with the Jays ahead of the 2015 season.

Heyman also reports that Martin Prado, 36, has “told friends he will likely retire”. Prado began his 14-year MLB career as an international free agent signing of the Braves in 2001.

After spending the first seven seasons of his career in Atlanta (2006 to 2012; .295/.345/.435, 109 OPS+), the Venezuelan native bounced between Arizona (2013 and part of 2014) and the Yankees (rest of 2014) before settling down in Miami, where he slashed .278/.325/.374 with a 92 OPS+ from 2015 through last season (.233/.265/.294 over 260 PA).

Another Reliever Hits The Market

As per a team announcement, Kansas City Royals requested waivers on right-hander Jacob Barnes, presumably to make room for Salvador Perez (UCL) and/or Kelvin Gutierrez (right toe fracture) (both of whom were activated off the 60-day IL on Monday) on the team’s 40-man roster. The 29-year-old was designated for assignment on Monday.

Barnes found success with Milwaukee from 2016 through 2018, pitching to a 3.54 ERA with 153 strikeouts and 62 walks over his first three MLB seasons (149 relief appearances; 147.1 IP) before being DFA’d by the Brewers in August of this season (6.86 ERA over 18 appearances). He landed in Kansas City but didn’t fare much better (8.31 ERA over 15 appearances).