Happy Thanksgiving, Mets fans. Let’s see what’s cooking on the hot stove today.

Orioles Place Villar On Waivers

In a surprising, to say the least, move, according to Roch Kubatko of MASN, the Baltimore Orioles placed middle-infielder Jonathan Villar on waivers “ahead of Monday’s deadline to tender contracts to arbitration-eligible players”.

Villar, 28, had a solid year for the O’s in 2019, slashing .274/.339/.453 with 24 home runs, 33 doubles, 111 runs scored, 40 stolen bases, 107 wRC+, and 4.0 wins above replacement (FanGraphs), fifth-most among qualified MLB second basemen last season.

The switch-hitter was expected to fetch close to $11 million via arbitration this winter and was set to become a free agent following the 2020 season.

Baltimore Shopping RHP Bundy

Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reported on Wednesday that the Baltimore Orioles are “working to trade” right-hander Dylan Bundy, adding “no deal is imminent, but one appears to be getting close.”

Bundy, 27, was drafted fourth overall by the O’s in the 2011 MLB draft and breezed through three MiLB seasons with a 2.59 ERA, 181 strikeouts, and 49 walks over 40 starts (167 innings) despite missing all of 2013 after undergoing Tommy John surgery.

His minor league success hasn’t translated to the major league level yet (4.67 ERA over 127 career appearances; 103 starts) but has managed to stay healthy, making 31 and 30 starts, respectively, over the past two seasons (5.45 ERA, 184 K, 54 BB in 2018; 4.79 ERA, 162 K, 58 BB in 2019).

Kansas City Southpaw Drawing Interest

Mark Feinsand of MLB.com provided multiple courses of hot stove goodies on Wednesday, noting that Kansas City Royals left-hander Tim Hill “is drawing plenty of trade interest, with the Yankees chief among the suitors”.

Hill, 29, made 46 appearances for the Royals in 2019 (39.2 innings, all in relief) pitching to a 3.63 ERA (3.84 FIP) with 39 strikeouts, 13 walks, and 1.11 WHIP.

Drafted in the 32nd round of the 2014 draft out of Bacone College in Oklahoma (mmm, bacon), Hill got a late start. He won’t be a free agent until 2025 and isn’t arbitration-eligible until 2022.

With the level of value he’s provided, including a glowing .186/.262/.203 slash line against versus lefties last season, it’s not surprising he’s drawn interest.

Quick Hits & Short Hops

Former New York Yankees first baseman Greg Bird cleared waivers and hit the open market on Wednesday, as noted by Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.

Bird, 27, broke onto the scene in 2015 with a .261/.343/.529 slash line, 11 homers, and 31 RBIs over 178 plate appearances but multiple injuries (torn right labrum in 2016, right ankle surgery in 2018, left plantar fascia tear in 2019) slowed his development to a crawl.

As per C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic, the Cincinnati Reds traded outfielder Brian O’Grady to the Tampa Bay Rays “for a player to be named later or cash” (Later or Cash? unique names..).

After being drafted in the eighth round of the 2014 draft out of Rutgers, O’Grady, 27, made his MLB debut last season, hitting .190/.292/.429 over 48 plate appearances with the Reds and owns a .252/.354/.453 line over six MiLB seasons.

The Seattle Mariners signed utility man Patrick Wisdom to a one-year deal, as per a team announcement, noting “per club policy, the terms of the contract were not disclosed”.

Wisdom, 28 and a former first-round draft pick (Cardinals, 2012; 52nd overall), has a .224/.306/.408 slash line over 86 MLB plate appearances and a .245/.318/.439 line over eight MiLB seasons (858 games).

According to Darren Wolfson of KTSP Minnesota, the Twins haven’t officially entered the Zack Wheeler sweepstakes but speculates that this is more of a when-not-if situation for Minnesota.

Wheeler, 29, has pitched to a 3.65 ERA (3.37 FIP) with 8.9 fWAR over the last two seasons (60 starts; 377.2 innings) for the New York Mets and appears to be one of the hotter commodities on this year’s free-agent wire.