Padres could be suitor for World Series MVP Stephen Strasburg  —  Team knows it has to add players, which means a bump in payroll; could bring San Diego State alum Stephen Strasburg home  —  The Padres' cover has been blown.  —  After two offseasons of essentially sneaking up on baseball …

J.D. Martinez Will Not Opt Out Of Red Sox Contract  —  Outfielder J.D. Martinez will not opt out of his contract with the Red Sox, per Jon Heyman of MLB Network (via Twitter).  The 32-year-old Martinez had the option of collecting a $2.5MM buyout to forgo the remaining three years and $62.5MM …

2019-20 Top 50 MLB Free Agents With Predictions  —  MLB Trade Rumors is proud to present our 14th annual Top 50 Free Agents list!  For the entire list of free agents, plus the ability to filter by signing status, position, signing team, and qualifying offer status, check out our mobile-friendly free agent tracker here.

Cubs exercise Anthony Rizzo's $16.5M option for 2020  —  CHICAGO — One day after picking up the 2020 option on pitcher Jose Quintana, the Chicago Cubs did the same with former All-Star first baseman Anthony Rizzo.  —  Rizzo will make $16.5 million next season, the first of two option years the Cubs hold on him.

Braves, Nick Markakis Agree To New Deal  —  The Braves have agreed to re-sign outfielder Nick Markakis to a one-year deal worth $4MM, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic tweets.  Atlanta held a $6MM option on Markakis with a $2MM buyout, and it seems they've handled that option in the exact same manner …

Blue Jays Acquire Chase Anderson  —  12:39pm: The Blue Jays and Brewers have formally announced the trade.  —  10:40am: The Blue Jays are sending minor league first baseman Chad Spanberger to Milwaukee to complete the deal, TSN's Scott Mitchell tweets.  —  10:23am: The Blue Jays are set …

Twins To Issue Qualifying Offer To Jake Odorizzi  —  The Twins will issue a qualifying offer to righty Jake Odorizzi, Jim Duquette of MLB Network Radio on Sirius XM reports (Twitter link).  This year's qualifying offer value is $17.8MM.  —  While not unexpected, this move sets the stage for an interesting decision for Odorizzi.

Angels Decline Option Over Kole Calhoun  —  The Angels announced that they have declined their club option over outfielder Kole Calhoun, as Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register first reported (Twitter link).  He'll receive a $1MM buyout rather than a $14MM salary for 2019.

The luxury-tax implications of Aroldis Chapman's Yankees extension  —  The Yankees stayed relatively payroll neutral when it comes to the luxury tax with their extension for Aroldis Chapman.  —  Chapman could have opted out of the final two years at $30 million left on his five-year contract by midnight Saturday.

Madison Bumgarner receives qualifying offer from Giants  —  Madison Bumgarner has received a $17.8 million qualifying offer from the  —  San Francisco Giants, a move that likely will decrease demand for him in the free-agent market.  —  San Francisco's decision Monday means a team signing Bumgarner …

Marvin Miller gets another shot at MLB's Hall of Fame as a member of the Modern Era ballot  —  Marvin Miller — the man responsible for strengthening the players' union — is once again up for induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum.  Miller is among the 10 baseball figures on 2020's Modern Baseball Era ballot.

Yankees fail to make qualifying offer to Gregorius  —  Yankees failed to make a $17.8 million qualifying offer to  —  Didi Gregorius and will not receive draft-pick compensation if the free-agent shortstop signs with another team.  —  Gregorius, who turns 30 in February …

Rockies 3B Nolan Arenado headlines Gold Glove winners with 7th straight  —  Nolan Arenado extended his streak of winning a Rawlings Gold Glove Award in every season of his career on Sunday, when the Colorado Rockies star captured the award for National League third basemen for the seventh consecutive year.