Pool/Getty ImagesSplashy free-agent signings make headlines Jake Smolinski Jersey , and this offseason will be no different with Bryce Harper and Manny Machado likely to dominate the rumor mill until they ink a new deal.However, an under-the-radar signing can sometimes be as fruitful as a headline-grabbing addition.No one batted an eye when the Los Angeles Dodgers signed a non-tendered utility infielder by the name of Justin Turner to a minor league contract prior to the 2014 season. Now, he's one of the best hitters in baseball and a key cog for the NL champs.Ahead is a quick look at some of the latest notable rumors surrounding some of the underrated options on this year's free-agent market.Nick Hundley to re-sign with the San Francisco Giants?Lachlan Cunningham/Getty ImagesVeteran catcher Nick Hundley has made quite an impression on the San Francisco Giants in his two seasons with the team."Hundley is one of the most popular players in the clubhouse and some in the organization think he鈥檒l one day be a strong candidate to manage the Giants," wrote Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area.That's high praise for a backup catcher, though Hundley has seen more action than most second-string backstops during his time with the Giants:2017:101 G, 303 PA, .244/.272/.418, 9 HR, 35 RBI, 0.5 WAR2018:96 G, 305 PA, .241/.298/.408, 10 HR, 31 RBI Bruce Maxwell Jersey , 0.0 WARBuster Posey underwent hip surgeryat the end of August, and while rookie Aramis Garcia showed some potential in September, it's a stretch to think he's ready for the starting gig with just 19 big league games under his belt.With that in mind, Pavlovic provided this sweeping overview of the team's catching situation:"The Giants hope their franchise catcher is 100 percent by Opening Day, but there are no guarantees, and the safe plan would be to have Hundley ready as the backup, with Garcia set to play every day in Triple-A, or serve as Hundley's backup early in the season. Long term, the Giants have Garcia ready and Joey Bart looking like he might be up as soon as next September, but for 2019, it seems a pretty good bet that Hundley is back on another one-year deal."It only cost a one-year, $2.5 million deal to bring him back last winter, and a similar contract should get the job done again this winter.Tampa Bay Rays now the favorite to sign Sandy Gaston?With the Miami Marlins officially signing Victor Victor Mesa and Victor Mesa Jr. to a combined $6.25 million worth of bonus money, it appears they're now out on fellow Cuban standout Sandy Gaston.Gaston http://www.athleticsfanproshop.com/authentic-chad-pinder-jersey , 16, was the No. 16 international prospect in this year's class, according to MLB.com, who wrote the following:"Gaston is an especially hard thrower. His fastball has been clocked as 97 mph and it's not uncommon for him to sit at 94-95. That type of velocity is rare in any market and not surprisingly, some scouts wonder if he will be able to command the high velocity on a consistent basis. But his skill is extraordinary, and Gaston is the type of pitcher any club would like to put it in its system"Who then has emerged as the favorite to sign the hard-throwing teenager?At least one MLB insider likes the Tampa Bay Rays.Joe Frisaro JoeFrisaroMy sense is Sandy Gaston will wind up with the #RaysThe Rays are said to have roughly $3.6 million in remaining bonus money, according to Jesse Sanchez of MLB.com. That was third to the Orioles ($6.7 million) and Marlins at the time, and the Rays have much stronger ties to the international pipelines than an Orioles team that is just starting to wade into those waters.Tampa Bay already has a stacked farm system鈥攔anked No. 5 in B/R's final update of the season鈥攁nd Gaston would be another excellent addition.Wade Miley a candidate to be re-signed by the Milwaukee Brewers?Pool/Getty ImagesWade Miley began last offseason by having his $12 million club option declined by the Baltimore Orioles, as he was instead bought out for $500,000 and sent into free agency.After struggling to a 5.61 ERA and 1.73 WHIP in 157.1 innings in 2017, he was forced to settle for a minor league deal with the Milwaukee Brewers, and that proved to be one of the best bargains of the year.While the 31-year-old was slowed by injury in the first half鈥攈e made just two starts over the first three months of the season鈥攈e returned full bore on July 12 and went 4-2 with a 2.66 ERA and 1.21 WHIP in 14 starts to close out the season.His success stemmed in part from the Brewers' unique pitching philosophy, as he was rarely asked to face opposing lineups for a third time and averaged just 5.1 innings per start during that span.Now, he looks like a candidate to be re-signed."[The]Brewers may seek to re-sign him Brett Anderson Jersey , or he鈥檒l end up with a National League team," wrote Nick Cafardo of theBoston Globe.More than anything, he fits the Brewers roster well, so a bidding war on the open market seems unlikely. It may not cost much more than the $2.5 million he wound up making this season to bring him back, and he may welcome a chance to return to a comfortable situation where he's enjoyed success and has a chance to win.All stats courtesy of Baseball Reference and FanGraphs, unless otherwise noted. TORONTO (AP) — John Gibbons wasn’t sure he had the energy to oversee a rebuild in Toronto, so he’s moving on from his job as manager of the Blue Jays at the end of the season.“We are going to have a new voice. We are going to have a new approach,” general manager Ross Atkins said before Wednesday’s home final against Houston.The 56-year-old Gibbons has one season left in a two-year extension he received in April 2017.“I’ve been here a long time and I agree it’s probably time for a change,” Gibbons said. “We’re rebuilding here, and actually I think I’m the perfect guy for a rebuild. But I don’t know if I have the energy, necessarily.”Outfielder Kevin Pillar, the longest-tenured Blue Jays player, stood at the back of a packed news conference to hear the announcement in person. Gibbons received a standing ovation when he brought the lineup card out to home plate before the game. He acknowledged the crowd with a wave and a tip of his cap.Atkins said Gibbons can decide whether to take a new role in the organization. Gibbons didn’t rule that out, but also said he’d like to manage in the big leagues again.“These jobs are hard to come by Blake Treinen Jersey ,” he said. “But we’ll see. It’s not going to destroy me if I don’t. But time is on my side, age-wise, I think. I’d like to try it again.”Gibbons is 791-787 in 11 seasons during two stints managing Toronto, his 1,578 games second only to Cito Gaston’s 1,764. Gibbons also trails Gaston (913) in career wins with Toronto.Gibbons replaced Carlos Tosca in August 2004, was fired in June 2008 and returned ahead of the 2013 season.Two years later, the Blue Jays won the AL East and ended a 22-year postseason drought, buoyed by the addition of slugger Josh Donaldson. They lost the AL Championship Series in six games against Kansas City, which went on the win the World Series.“We finally became relevant in baseball again,” Gibbons said. “It had been a long time.”A wild-card winner in 2016, the Blue Jays lost to Cleveland in a five-game championship series.Gibbons feared me might lose his job when former GM Alex Anthoplouos left the Blue Jays at the end of 2015 and Mark Shapiro became president, bringing Atkins on as GM.“To be honest with you, I thought I was probably gone then http://www.athleticsfanproshop.com/authentic-chris-hatcher-jersey ,” Gibbons said. “I can’t thank (Atkins) enough for keeping me around. That doesn’t always happen. He put a lot of money in my pocket. That’s not bad, either.”Atkins said he will discuss the future of Toronto’s coaches this the weekend as the Blue Jays finish the season with three games at Tampa Bay.In between his stints with the Blue Jays, Gibbons served three seasons as a bench coach with the Royals, working alongside managers Trey Hillman and Ned Yost. Gibbons also spent one season managing his hometown team, the Double-A San Antonio Missions, a minor league team in the San Diego Padres organization.A first-round draft pick by the New York Mets in 1980, Gibbons hit .220 with one home run and two RBIs in 18 career games as a catcher, eight of them in New York’s World Series-winning season in 1986. He became a minor league instructor in 1991 and got his first managerial job with the Mets’ Appalachian League team in 1995.Gibbons is the second big league manager to lose his job this month. Texas fired Jeff Banister last Friday.Before the game, Toronto Mayor John Tory issued a statement declaring Sept. 26, 2018, to be ‘John Gibbons Day’ in the city. Maple Leafs president Brendan Shanahan honoured his sporting colleague too, sending a jersey with Gibbons’ name and number 5 to the departing manager.