Top News:
U.S. Department of Justice:
Former MLB Player Agrees to Plead Guilty to Felony Charge for Lying to Federal Agents Investigating Illegal Gambling Operation — LOS ANGELES - A former Major League Baseball (MLB) player has agreed to plead guilty to a federal charge for lying to federal law enforcement officials about bets …
Discussion:
Sports Illustrated, NBCSports.com, New York Post, MLB Trade Rumors, True Blue LA, MLB Baseball News … and Bleacher Nation
Ken Rosenthal / MLB - The Athletic:
Will Dodgers, Yankees show more restraint in free agency? — Scott Boras probably is right. The Major League Baseball's free-agent market figures to be a carnivore's market, at least based on the evidence at hand. — Teams historically spend freely in the first year of a new collective-bargaining agreement.
Discussion:
NBCSports.com, NESN.com, Union-News and Sports Illustrated
RELATED:
Ken Rosenthal / The Athletic:
What I'm hearing about MLB free agency with Justin Verlander, Anthony Rizzo and more — What I'm hearing: — • The market for free-agent starting pitchers is quite active, and the early asks from the three biggest names — Jacob deGrom, Justin Verlander and Carlos Rodón— are, to no one's surprise, quite high.
Discussion:
Battery Power and Bleacher Nation
Jon Heyman / New York Post:
Examining where biggest MLB star free agents stand as offseason begins — MORE FROM: — LAS VEGAS — With four star free-agent shortstops providing excellent but somewhat comparable choices for the nine or so teams in play for them, the new American League single-season home run record …
Discussion:
NESN.com, Bleacher Nation, Sports Illustrated and MLB Baseball News …
Jeff Fletcher / BBWAA:
Mariners outfielder Julio Rodriguez wins AL Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year — Mariners outfielder Julio Rodriguez took 29 of 30 first-place votes on his way to winning the 2022 American League Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year. — Rodriguez, who was the only player to be named on every ballot …
RELATED:
Jeff Fletcher / BBWAA:
Braves outfielder Michael Harris II wins battle of teammates for NL Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year — Braves outfielder Michael Harris II outpolled his teammate, pitcher Spencer Strider, to win the 2022 National League Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year Award. — This marks the ninth time a Braves player has been honored.
Discussion:
Sports Illustrated, Associated Press, FanSided, MLB Baseball News …, MLB - The Athletic and baseballmusings.com
Will Sammon / The Athletic:
Mets rumblings: Why Andrew Heaney might fit the rotation, plus the team's search for depth — When asked about the Mets' success in 2022 and outlook ahead, executives around the league opined that the depth New York accumulated for the active roster last season was impressive.
Discussion:
Sports Illustrated, Union-News, MLB Trade Rumors and New Jersey Online
Jeff Passan / ESPN:
Sources: Astros, Rafael Montero reach 3-year, $34.5M deal — Reliever Rafael Montero agreed to a three-year, $34.5 million contract that will bring the right-hander back to the Houston Astros' dominant bullpen a week after the team rode its pitching staff to a World Series title, sources familiar with the deal told ESPN.
Discussion:
New Jersey Online, MLB.com, MLB Baseball News …, New York Post, Sports Illustrated and MLB - The Athletic
Alex Speier / The Boston Globe:
Red Sox have options when it comes to rebuilding their roster, but which paths will they choose? — LAS VEGAS — So what now? — As executives from around baseball scattered Thursday morning following the GM Meetings, the Red Sox embarked upon an offseason that is not so much a single path forward …
Discussion:
Union-News, MLB Trade Rumors and Boston.com
Gordon Wittenmyer / NBCSports.com:
Bogaerts, Bell, Bellinger buzz for Cubs as GM Meetings close … LAS VEGAS — The bustle, the buzz, the bells, the beeps, the spinning and dinging all day and through the night. — “It definitely felt like the Winter Meetings,” Cubs general manager Carter Hawkins said Thursday …
Discussion:
Sports Illustrated, Bleed Cubbie Blue, Bleacher Nation, MLB Trade Rumors and Cubs Insider
Alden Gonzalez / ESPN:
Astros GM James Click out after turning down 1-year offer — The Houston Astros announced Friday that they “will not enter into a renewal for the 2023 season” with general manager James Click, a bizarre conclusion to a three-year run that culminated in a championship and somehow ended in divorce.
