Report: Bauer seeking 5- or 6-year deal averaging $36M-$40M

Trevor Bauer is looking for the bag in free agency.

The reigning NL Cy Young Award winner wants a five- or six-year contract with an average annual value between $36 million and $40 million, Jon Heyman of MLB Network reports. A deal in that range would likely total around $200 million in guaranteed money.

Last offseason, Gerrit Cole's $36-million annual figure set a record for starting pitchers.

Bauer's agent, Rachel Luba, declined to comment on her client's reported asking price, according to Heyman. However, the always outspoken Bauer was quick to address the report himself:

Luba later tweeted at Heyman, saying she hasn't had time to respond to him yet:

Bauer won the Cy Young after a stellar season for the Cincinnati Reds, posting an NL-leading 1.73 ERA and 0.79 WHIP along with 100 strikeouts and a 2.88 FIP. The 29-year-old rejected Cincinnati's $18.9-million qualifying offer in November, and the team has since indicated it hasn't held talks of significance with the right-hander.

Earlier this month, it was reported that Bauer's asking price was too high for the Reds, though the hurler called that "fake news" on Twitter.

The New York Mets and Toronto Blue Jays are among multiple teams that have been connected to Bauer this offseason.