Good morning, Mets fans! Today’s hot stove rumor roundup calls for even more Manny Machado updates, as well as a comeback on the catching front.

Padres Have Yet to Meet With Machado 

Jon Morosi from the more familiar MLB Network downplayed the buzz around the report shortly thereafter, offering that no such decision is imminent, and that the San Diego Padres have yet to even set up a meeting with Machado.

Under different circumstances, Ofman’s report could simply be chalked up to a baseless report designed to galvanize local fans along the south side. It is certainly worth noting, however, the backstory to Machado’s involvement with the Sox, which in turn makes it easier to envision the organization truly leading the pack in the hunt for his services.

Just five days ago, team GM Rick Hahn told reporters that he would be “personally disappointed” if he failed to come away with either Machado or six-time All-Star Bryce Harper. What’s more, USA Today‘s Bob Nightengale had confirmed earlier in the month that the team did indeed offer either seven or eight years and over $200MM. No such details have come into the picture from either a mystery team, the Philadelphia Phillies, or formerly-involved New York Yankees.

Rockies Ink Reynolds

Corner infielder and 12-year veteran Mark Reynolds has agreed to a deal with the Colorado Rockies, as relayed by Thomas Harding of MLB.com. A minor-league pact with an invitation to Spring Training, it also comes with a $1MM base, plus an additional million in incentives should Reynolds make the team (hat tip to Heyman for the financial details).

Reynolds, 35, was an everyday power threat in the middle of Colorado’s order just two years ago, when he hit 30 homers and drove in 97 while putting together an .839 OPS – his highest since 2009, when he hit 44 home runs as a promising third baseman with the Arizona Diamondbacks. Inexplicably, Reynolds didn’t latch on with a team until April 17, at which point he served primarily as a pinch-hitter off the Washington Nationals’ bench. Despite a .248/.328/.476 line that could definitely pass as that of a reserve, his 27.3% strikeout rate presents a reasons for concern, and his career -73 DRS along the corners has never shown tangible signs of improvement.

Padres Ahead of Dodgers in Race for Realmuto

While they may not be ahead of the game regarding Machado, the Padres do in fact remain in the hunt for Miami Marlins catcher J.T. Realmuto, according to Morosi, who adds that they currently stand as “more of a factor than the [Los Angeles] Dodgers.

Prior to today’s news, the Cincinnati Reds were the last team reported to be involved in trade talks, with Jon Heyman of Fancred Sports citing fifth overall draft pick Jonathan India as a particularly intriguing prospect for the Marlins’ consideration. Though with nine of MLB Pipeline‘s 100 top prospects in their own system, the Padres may have the best pieces to work with of any engaged team. Just five days ago, Morosi tweeted that the Marlins had shown special interest in catcher Francisco Mejía, who currently ranks as the second best catching prospect in baseball behind San Francisco Giants’ draft pick Joey Bart.

Unknown Teams Entering Harper Sweepstakes?

According to Chris Russell of 106.7 the Fan in Washington, D.C., Bryce Harper is meeting with an unidentified team in Las Vegas on Thursday. Russell also reports that other teams are trying to join the fray late.

The Harper market has been very quiet this week as we close in on pitchers and catchers reporting in under two weeks.

Vogt to Host Tryout

As part of his plan to take back his playing time in 2019, two-time All-Star backstop Stephen Vogt has scheduled a workout this week in front of potentially interested big-league teams, according to Jeff Passan of ESPN.

Vogt missed all of 2018 following major shoulder surgery, a disheartening blow to a career that had already taken a detour the prior year, when he hit just .217/.287/.357  before the Oakland Athletics designated him for assignment in late-June. He brought his slugging percentage up to .423 as he launched eight homers in just 122 at-bats with the Milwaukee Brewers, but also floundered on the defensive front, throwing out just 14% of baserunners on the entire season – a mark half the size of his 28% clip in 2016. Vogt will be 35 next season.

It should be noted that Vogt’s workout, per Passan, almost certainly won’t be the last for big-league scouts to attend. With pitchers and catchers scheduled to report in two weeks and a diverse, sprawling list of free agents that remain unsigned, players will very likely take whatever measures are necessary to grab anyone’s attention in a market that continues to spiral out of control.