Shohei Ohtani to Sign with Toronto Blue Jays over Los Angeles Dodgers: Sources  —  The wait is over: Shohei Ohtani is signing with the Toronto Blue Jays.  —  According to multiple sources who spoke with Dodgers Nation on Friday, the two-way superstar has ended the suspense of the most lucrative free-agent pursuit in baseball history.

What I'm hearing about Rangers' pitching plans, Jorge Soler and more  —  Imagine Jacob deGrom and Clayton Kershaw both joining the defending World Series champion Texas Rangers sometime after the All-Star break.  It would be as if the team was making two stunning deadline additions …

Carlyle's Rubenstein Is in Talks to Acquire Baltimore Orioles  — Rubenstein's net worth is $4.6 billion according to Bloomberg … Rubenstein is among suitors pursuing a transaction, said one of the people, all of whom requested anonymity discussing confidential information.

Detroit Tigers re-sign Brenan Hanifee to minor-league contract with spring training invite  —  Right-hander Brenan Hanifee, who spent most of last season in Triple-A Toledo before his MLB debut in September, has re-signed with the Detroit Tigers.  —  Hanifee, 25, signed a minor-league contract …

Are they in?  On Yoshinobu Yamamoto and others, Red Sox seemingly remain on periphery  —  NASHVILLE, Tenn — As the market for top free-agent starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto narrows to a select few serious suitors, Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow was asked one simple question on Wednesday.

Braves Acquire Max Stassi, David Fletcher  —  The Braves and Angels have lined up a swap of change-of-scenery candidates.  Atlanta announced the acquisition of infielder David Fletcher and catcher Max Stassi for minor league first baseman Evan White and reliever Tyler Thomas.

Has Shohei Ohtani's super-secret sweepstakes slowed Cardinals' pursuit of trades, relievers?  —  Sports columnist Ben Frederickson wraps up the Cardinals' trip to Nashville for this year's winter meetings, where meetings were plentiful and one potential reliever was nabbed.

Yankees' Juan Soto trade means a risky move back to center for Aaron Judge  —  Let us hear from The Mayor, who just happens to be the Yankees' previous hitting coach, and hates the idea of Aaron Judge playing center field.  —  Sean Casey, step to the microphone.

Draft experts make the first 10 picks of 2024  —  The second annual MLB Draft Lottery took place at the Winter Meetings on Tuesday, with 17 teams having varying odds of landing the first pick in the 2024 Draft.  The Guardians came away with the No. 1 overall pick for the first time in franchise history …

Red Sox trade Alex Verdugo to Yankees for three pitchers  —  NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Yankees acquired outfielder Alex Verdugo from the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday night, with New York turning to the 27-year-old to improve its offense in just the eighth trade between the rivals since the start of the Divisional Era in 1969.

Hall of Fame to honor Negro League's East-West All-Star Game  —  NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The traditional format of the Negro Leagues' East-West All-Star Game will be revived in the spring when the National Baseball Hall of Fame hosts a tribute to the one-time fixture with a legends exhibition in Cooperstown, New York.