Astros Reportedly Sign Victor Caratini To Two-Year Deal

The Houston Astros reportedly signed free-agent catcher Victor Caratini to a two-year, $12 million deal Tuesday, per MLB's Theo DeRosa. The team has not confirmed the deal. The Astros needed a backup catcher to Yainer Diaz with Martin Maldonado also a free agent and will seemingly turn to the 30-year-old Caratini. Caratini served as the... Read More

Marco Gonzales Traded To Pirates

The Atlanta Braves traded newly-acquired starting pitcher Marco Gonzales and cash considerations to the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday in exchange for a player to be named later. The Braves acquired the left-handed veteran from the Seattle Mariners on Sunday night as part of a deal for outfielder Jared Kelenic. Gonzales will now slot into a... Read More

Yankees Acquire Alex Verdugo In Four-Player Trade

The Boston Red Sox traded outfielder Alex Verdugo to the division-rival New York Yankees on Tuesday in exchange for three right-handed pitchers, the most notable being 23-year-old right-hander Richard Fitts. The 27-year-old Verdugo fulfills the Yankees' search for a left-handed bat. Verdugo finished 2023 as a Gold Glove finalist while slashing .264/.324/.421 with 13 home... Read More

Shohei Ohtani, Blue Jays Believed To Have Met Monday

The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal reported Monday that it is believed that free-agent superstar Shohei Ohtani met with Toronto Blue Jays club officials at the team's spring training complex in Dunedin, Florida. While an official timetable for Ohtani's signing decision is unknown, previous reporting suggested that he was expected to make a decision within the week.... Read More

Rays Simply "Listening" To Trade Talk For Randy Arozarena, Isaac Paredes

Tampa Bay Rays baseball operations president Erik Neander said Monday, "I would very much classify anything as listening," referring to trade talks related to key players other than starting pitcher Tyler Glasnow. This includes outfielder Randy Arozarena and infielder Isaac Paredes, whose names have popped up in trade rumors this offseason. While Glasnow is due... Read More

Orioles Among Teams Interested In Dylan Cease

MLB Network's Jon Morosi reported Monday that the Baltimore Orioles are among the teams that have talked with the Chicago White Sox about starting pitcher Dylan Cease. General manager Mike Elias said, "I'm hopeful that this pitching staff will look stronger at the end of the offseason than it did a month ago." The O's... Read More

White Sox, Mets Top Contenders For Erick Fedde

The Chicago White Sox and the New York Mets appear to be the top two teams interested in free-agent starting pitcher Erick Fedde, MLB's Mark Feinsand reported Monday. The 30-year-old is coming off a fabulous 2023 season with KBO's NC Dinos, going 20-6 with a 2.00 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, and 29.5% strikeout rate. A deal,... Read More

Dodgers "Among Most Aggressive" Teams For Dylan Cease

The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal reported Tuesday that more than a dozen teams have inquired about Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Dylan Cease, but the Los Angeles Dodgers are "among the most aggressive." The Dodgers' current starting rotation contains some young, exciting players but is much shallower than it has been in some time. They also... Read More

Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto "Above All Other Options" For Giants

MLB Network's Jon Morosi reported Tuesday that acquiring one of free-agent two-way star Shohei Ohtani and top free-agent starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto is a priority "above all other options this offseason" for the San Francisco Giants. The Giants had a disappointing 2023 season, finishing in fourth place in the National League West with a 79-83... Read More

Juan Soto "Almost Certain To Be Traded"

The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal reported Tuesday that San Diego Padres superstar outfielder Juan Soto is "almost certain to be traded" this offseason. Rosenthal cited the team's current payroll issues and lack of pitching as reasons for a trade. The 25-year-old is entering his final year of team control and is projected to make $33 million... Read More

Cody Bellinger Earns NL Comeback Player Of The Year Award

Free-agent first baseman/outfielder Cody Bellinger was named the 2023 National League Comeback Player of the Year Tuesday. After winning the 2017 NL Rookie of the Year Award and the 2019 NL MVP, the 28-year-old struggled mightily offensively through the 2020 through 2022 seasons. However, he looked like his old self in 2023 with the Cubs,... Read More

Liam Hendriks Earns AL Comeback Player Of The Year Award

Free-agent relief pitcher Liam Hendriks (elbow) was named the 2023 American League Comeback Player of the Year Tuesday. The recognition was very fitting for the 34-year-old, who was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma last December but went into remission and made five appearances during the 2023 season in May and June with the White Sox. Unfortunately,... Read More

Jason Heyward Reportedly Re-Signs With Dodgers Monday

Free-agent outfielder Jason Heyward and the Los Angeles Dodgers reportedly agreed to a one-year, $9 million deal Monday, per MLB.com's Juan Toribio. The deal is pending a physical and the club has not confirmed the agreement. The 34-year-old veteran had a resurgent offensive 2023 season with the Dodgers, slashing .269/.340/.473 with 15 home runs and... Read More

Several Teams Showing Interest In Shane Bieber

MLB Network's Jon Morosi reported Tuesday that "several teams have been showing interest" in trading for Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Shane Bieber. Morosi thinks trade interest in the 28-year-old could pick up after the Winter Meetings. Bieber has one year of team control remaining, and while he did miss time in 2023 with right elbow... Read More

Could Dodgers Sign Shohei Ohtani And Yoshinobu Yamamoto?

MLB Network's Jon Heyman reported Tuesday that the Los Angeles Dodgers are considering the possibility of signing both two-way star Shohei Ohtani and top Japanese starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto this offseason. Both players are considered the top free agents this offseason and could command combined contracts of more than $700 million in guaranteed money, making... Read More

Yankees Hire Brad Ausmus As Bench Coach

The New York Yankees hired Brad Ausmus as their bench coach Tuesday, per MLB.com's Thomas Harrigan. The 55-year-old began his professional career in the Yankees organization and will bring five years of big-league managerial experience to the team. He also played for 18 seasons across four teams, earning three Gold Glove Awards as a catcher.... Read More

Yankees Reportedly Interested In Jung Hoo Lee

The New York Yankees are interested in left-handed Korean star outfielder Jung Hoo Lee, New York Post Sports reported Tuesday. The 25-year-old has hit .340 with 65 home runs, 69 stolen bases, and an .898 OPS through seven seasons in the KBO. Lee played just 86 games in 2023 due to an ankle injury but... Read More

"Majority Of Teams" Interested In Brandon Woodruff

MLB Network's Jon Morosi reported Monday that the "majority of teams" are interested in free-agent starting pitcher Brandon Woodruff (shoulder). The 30-year-old was non-tendered by the Brewers last week after undergoing right shoulder surgery. There is a chance that he may not pitch at all in 2024, but he is expected to sign a multiyear... Read More

Stone Garrett Out Of Walking Boot, Aiming For Spring Training Return

Washington Nationals outfielder Stone Garrett (leg) ran on the treadmill for the first time Monday and is still aiming to be ready for spring training, per MASN's Bobby Blanco. The 27-year-old had his 2023 season cut short in August after suffering a fractured left fibula. This was a shame, as he was putting together a... Read More

Osvaldo Bido, A's Reach Major-League Deal Monday

FanSided's Robert Murray reported Monday that free-agent pitcher Osvaldo Bido and the Oakland Athletics agreed to a major-league contract. Further details were not provided. The 28-year-old righty made his big-league debut last season with the Pirates, making 16 appearances (nine starts) with a 2-5 record, 5.86 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, and 20.3% strikeout rate. It remains... Read More

Josh Donaldson Wants To Play In 2024

Free-agent third baseman Josh Donaldson said in an interview with the Score's Josh Wegman Monday that he would like to play one more season. The 38-year-old dealt with a number of injuries in 2023 and was released by the Yankees, although he did sign with the Brewers and made their playoff roster. Donaldson finished the... Read More

Phillies Still In Play For Yoshinobu Yamamoto

The Philadelphia Phillies just signed a seven-year, $172 million contract extension with starting pitcher Aaron Nola, but Philadelphia Inquirer's Alex Coffey reported Monday that the team will likely try to sign one more starting pitcher this offseason. This includes Japanese right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who was officially posted Monday. Bringing in both Nola and Yamamoto would... Read More

Nationals, Blue Jays, Angels Among Teams Interested In Jeimer Candelario

MLB Network's Jon Morosi reported Monday that the Washington Nationals, Toronto Blue Jays, and Los Angeles Angels are among a number of teams interested in free-agent first/third baseman Jeimer Candelario. The soon-to-be 30-year-old had a solid 2023 season with the Nationals and Cubs, slashing .251/.336/.471 with 22 home runs, 70 RBI, and eight stolen bases... Read More

Mike Ford Designated For Assignment Tuesday

Seattle Mariners first baseman/designated hitter Mike Ford was designated for assignment Tuesday, per Seattle Sports. The move came to protect minor league outfielder Zach DeLoach from the Rule 5 draft. The 31-year-old provided power off the bench but little else, slashing .228/.323/.475 with 16 home runs and 34 RBI in 251 plate appearances. On the... Read More

Red Sox Close To Hiring Andrew Bailey As Pitching Coach

The Boston Red Sox are nearing an agreement to hire Andrew Bailey as their new pitching coach, per the Boston Globe's Alex Speier and Julie McWilliams. The former pitcher spent the last four seasons as the pitching coach of the Giants following two seasons as a member of the Angels' coaching staff. Bailey and new... Read More

Matt Chapman Declines Qualifying Offer

Free-agent third baseman Matt Chapman declined the $20.325 million qualifying offer from the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday. The 30-year-old was one of seven players who received an offer this offseason, with none of them accepting. Chapman cooled off considerably after a red-hot start offensively in 2023 and finished with a .240/.330/.424 slash line, 17... Read More

Skip Schumaker Earns NL Manager Of The Year Award

Miami Marlins manager Skip Schumaker was named the 2023 National League Manager of the Year on Tuesday. The Marlins had not posted a winning record in a full season since 2009, but Schumaker was able to earn a Wild Card spot with an 84-78 record in his first big-league season as a manager. Schumaker became... Read More

Brandon Hyde Wins AL Manager Of The Year Award

Baltimore Orioles manager Brandon Hyde was named the 2023 American League Manager of the Year on Tuesday. Hyde's first season as the O's manager in 2019 resulted in a 54-108 record during the beginning of a rebuild. However, he led his team to a 101-61 record this season, winning the franchise's first AL East title... Read More

Shohei Ohtani May Be Open To Short-Term Deal

ESPN's Alden Gonzalez reported Monday that free-agent two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani (elbow) "might be open to a short-term deal with an exceedingly high average annual value." While initial talks heading into the offseason revolved around Ohtani potentially signing the biggest contract in baseball history, a short-term deal could increase his number of potential suitors. This... Read More

Bo Porter Joining Angels As First Base Coach

The Los Angeles Angels have hired Bo Porter to join new manager Ron Washington's staff as a first base coach, the Athletic's Britt Ghiroli reported Monday. Porter previously played on the Oakland Athletics when Washington was the team's manager and also served as a front-office member of the Atlanta Braves while Washington was a coach.... Read More