MLB hot stove: Mike Moustakas to Yankees or Cardinals? Mets hot for Eduardo Nunez? Todd Frazier update

2017 clubs: Tampa Bay Rays, Durham Bulls (AAA)

Age: 25 (26 on July 18)

2017 stats: .333 average, 9 AB, 2 runs, 3 hits, 0 doubles, 0 triples, 1 HR, 3 RBIs, 0 SB, 0 CS, 3 BB, 3 K, 9 games. Durham (AAA), .263 average, 300 AB, 36 runs, 79 hits, 10 doubles, 0 triples, 3 HR, 48 RBIs, 0 SB, 0 CS, 37 BB, 65 K.

The latest: The free agent who is a .199 hitter in 161 career games with Tampa Bay from 2014-17 signed a minor-league deal with the Texas Rangers. Casali had signed a minor-league deal with the Angels on Nov. 28, but was released on Tuesday after Los Angeles signed free agent Rene Rivera to be its No. 2 catcher. Casali will compete in spring training to be the backup to Rangers starting catcher Robinson Chirinos, who hit 17 homers in 263 at-bats last season.

2017 club: Tampa Bay Rays

Age: 30 (31 on Oct. 7)

2017 stats: 12-10, 3.66 ERA, 29 starts, 179.1 IP, 175 hits, 78 runs, 73 ER, 22 HR, 44 BB, 128 K.

The latest: The Cubs are looking to sign a free agent starting pitcher and they reportedly made a three-year, $42-million to Cobb two weeks ago that’s still on the table despite being rejected. MLB Network analyst Carlos Pena thinks Cobb ultimately may take the best deal that he can get from the Cubs. “Alex Cobb to me is just a perfect fit over there,” Pena said on MLB Tonight. “You’re going to make some good money and you’re going to be in an unbelievable, beautiful, great baseball city. Looking forward, this (Cubs) team has got the capability of being a contender year in and year out. So it’s perfect fit. The fact that (Cobb) rejected that, he might revisit that decision and say, ‘You know what? Maybe I should be where I’m happy and where I’m comfortable and where I can really succeed.”

2017 club: Chicago White Sox, Yankees

Age: 31 (32 on Feb. 12)

Bats: Right

2017 stats: .213 average, 474 AB, 74 runs, 101 hits, 19 doubles, 1 triple, 27 HR, 76 RBIs, 4 SB, 3 CS, 83 BB, 125 K, 147 games.

The latest: Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports expects the Yankees to add a veteran infielder and/or a starting pitching before spring training. Like others, he thinks bringing back free agent Frazier to play third is a good option. “I feel they would like to get a veteran,” Heyman said during a WFAN radio interview. “They’ve loved Frazier. We’ll see where his market lands. He’s still out there. Really good player. He was a great in the clubhouse for them and productive. But I do think that they would like to add a starting pitcher, too. They’re $23 million under (the luxury tax threshold) from what I understand. To add two players and still stay $10 million under (to add someone in-season), it’s not going to be easy. It’s going to take that trade of (Jacoby) Ellsbury or somebody else. I don’t think they want to trade (reliever David) Robertson or (left fielder Brett) Gardner. They may end up getting one or the other between a second-third base guy or a pitcher. They may not be able to do both, but I think that’s their goal to get a starting pitcher and an infielder.”

2017 club: Chicago Cubs

Age: 32 (33 on March 15)

Bats: Left

2017 stats: .296 average, 379 AB, 65 runs, 112 hits, 18 doubles, 3 triples, 2 HR, 34 RBIs, 6 SB, 2 CS, 37 BB, 80 K, 141 games.

The latest: The Giants greatly improved their lineup this winter trading for third baseman Evan Longoria and outfielder Andrew McCutchen, and free agent Jay could be next. “They definitely want one more outfielder and the guy they like a lot is John Jay,” Bob Nightengale of USA Today said during a MLB Network guest appearance on the MLB Tonight show. “Jay meant so much to the Chicago Cubs last year. He hit … and he’s just a huge clubhouse leader. As you’ve seen with the Giants all winter Longoria and McCutchen, they’re really trying to change that clubhouse culture and get it back to where it was with a bunch of ultimate games, and John Jay is one of everybody’s favorite teammates.”