It feels like some major traction is beginning to build on a number of potential deals around Major League Baseball. Let’s take a look at what’s new on the hot stove.

Homer Goes to Los Angeles?

Nope, that’s not the title of a Simpsons episode. Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic is reporting that the Dodgers and Cincinnati Reds are discussing the parameters of a trade that could include some fairly big names.

“Different packages being discussed; Puig in play as well as other [Los Angeles] outfielders [and] pitchers,” Rosenthal tweeted. “In one variation of this deal, Dodgers would take back Homer Bailey.”

Bailey, 32 and a right-hander, pitched to a 1-14 record with the Reds last season with a 6.09 earned-run average, 1.636 WHIP, and 2.27 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 20 starts.

Rosenthal lists outfielder Yasiel Puig (.267/.327/.494 over 444 plate appearances in 2018) and left-hander Alex Wood (3.68 ERA, 3.38 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 27 starts) as potential candidates to head to Cincy in the deal.

Arizona Wants Sox’ Bradley

Jackie Bradley Jr. is coming off of a down year and has two arbitration-eligible seasons ahead of him. Apparently, the former is all the Arizona Diamondbacks needed to hear before reportedly tabbing the 28-year-old centerfielder as a potential trade target.

Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe is reporting that Bradley is “high atop [Arizona’s] wish list to replace A.J. Pollock, according to a major league source”.

Bradley, a left-handed hitter, was an AL All-Star in 2016 (.267/.349/.486, 26 homers, 87 RBI, 30 doubles in 156 games), but hasn’t enjoyed the same level of success in the two seasons since (.240/.319/.403, 30 home runs, 122 RBI, 52 doubles over 277 games).

With Pollock all but out of the door in the desert, Bradley would be an ideal replacement if they can pry him away from Boston.

Quick Notes

Joy Heyman of FanCred Sports reports that since the Phillies have signed outfielder Andrew McCutchen to a deal, they have turned their attention away from free agent Michael Brantley. He does note that the “door is still open” on both Bryce Harper and Manny Machado.

Sources tell Ken Rosenthal and Robert Murray of The Athletic that the New York Yankees are open to trading young third baseman Miguel Andujar, which Rosenthal notes would “line up with [Yankees’] pursuit of Machado”.

Andujar, 23, hit .297/.328/.527 with 27 homers, 92 RBI, 47 doubles, and a 126 OPS+ in his first full MLB season (606 plate appearances), finishing second in the AL Rookie of the Year race.

Jim Bowden of The Athletic is reporting that the Rockies are “focusing on [first base] trade candidates”, naming Carlos Santana, Edwin Encarnacion, Jose Abreu, and Wil Myers as potential targets.

George A. King III of the New York Post confirms that free agent starter J.A. Happ and the Phillies are “getting closer” to reaching a contract agreement.

Happ, 36, began his career in Philadephia (2007 to 2010) before bouncing around the league. He pitched to a 17-6 record with a 3.65 ERA over 31 starts between Toronto and the Yankees last season.

Last, but never least, Jon Heyman of FanCred notes that “eight teams have shown interest” in former Mets and Flushing fan favorite Wilmer Flores, adding that the 27-year-old “rakes versus lefties”. That he does, Jon.