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MLB winter meetings rumor roundup: Cardinals zero in on Marcell Ozuna

In a busy day at the winter meetings, the Cardinals have emerged as favorites to land a different Marlin.
Sep 29, 2017; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Marlins left fielder Marcell Ozuna (13) connects for an RBI single in the seventh inning against the Atlanta Braves at Marlins Park. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

With significant action expected at Major League Baseball's winter meetings, USA TODAY Sports breaks down the latest rumblings from the hot stove. Check back often right here for the latest from our reporters and other media sources from Lake Buena Vista, Fla.:

Cardinals favorites to land Marcell Ozuna

With Giancarlo Stanton off the market, Marcell Ozuna is more than just a consolation prize as the strip mining of the Miami Marlins continues. He slammed 37 homers and drove in 124 runs last year, and now the St. Louis Cardinals - rebuffed by Stanton's no-trade clause - are the favorites to land him.

Phillies showing interest in Addison Reed

The Philadelphia Phillies may not be done adding to their bullpen. A day after agreeing to sign Pat Neshek, the Phillies are in discussions with free agent RHP Addison Reed, according to The Athletic.

Reed appeared in 77 games last season splitting time between the New York Mets and Boston Red Sox. He posted a 2.84 ERA with 9.0 K/9 and 1.8 BB/9.

Orioles make Manny Machado available

What was anticipated for months is finally coming to fruition: The Orioles making All-Star third baseman Manny Machado available in trade. The Athletic is reporting that not only are the Orioles listening on their franchise player and pending free agent, they're also shopping him. And Machado also prefers a return to shortstop full-time in 2018.

Machado is a three-time All-Star and over the past three seasons has averaged 35 homers, 92 RBI and an .840 OPS. Orioles owner Peter Angelos has been reluctant to consider dealing Machado.

Cubs rotation: Moving on from Arrieta?

Jake Arrieta won a Cy Young Award in 2015 and a pair of World Series games in 2016 for the Chicago Cubs, remaking his career at Wrigley Field. But his understandable desire to get paid has for months made it appear a parting of the ways was inevitable this winter.

And it seems the Cubs and Arrieta are gradually reaching that point.

A pair of reports from Fan Rag Sports indicate the Cubs could be wrapping up their winter shopping for starting pitchers, an alignment that would not include Arrieta. The Cubs already signed former Colorado right-hander Tyler Chatwood to a three-year, $38 million contract and now reportedly are honing in on free agent Alex Cobb, late of the Tampa Bay Rays.

That would make plenty of sense for Chicago, in that Cobb, 30, is nearly two years younger than Arrieta and would come at a significantly cheaper price tag than Arrieta, who is represented by Scott Boras.

It would also give the Cubs, from Day 1, a solid and diverse rotation after a year in which that unit struggled: Lefty Jon Lester, right-hander Kyle Hendricks, lefty Jose Quintana, Cobb and Chatwood.

As for Arrieta? He'll certainly find a home, perhaps with a nascent contender - or an established one.

Padres: Ready to strike on Hosmer, Russell?

Eric Hosmer seems to face a choice this winter: Complementary piece on big-market club, or catalyst on a smaller-market team. And perhaps that latter scenario is picking up steam in the days after the former Kansas City Royal met with the San Diego Padres.

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