Shohei Ohtani to defer $68 million per year in unusual arrangement with Dodgers: Sources  —  Shohei Ohtani's record-setting 10-year, $700 million deal includes a series of unprecedented deferrals, a person briefed on the terms told The Athletic on Monday.  —  In an effort to enable the Dodgers …

Giants, Jung Hoo Lee Agree To Six-Year Deal  —  The Giants and outfielder Jung Hoo Lee are in agreement on a six-year, $113MM deal, per Jon Heyman of The New York Post.  There is an opt-out after four years.  In addition to that guarantee, the Giants will owe a posting fee of $18.825MM to the Kiwoom Heroes.

Shohei Ohtani turned down Giants' $700M offer.  Buster Posey reflects on team's ‘free-agent slump’  —  Buster Posey is learning how to draw parallels.  —  He is still figuring out his transition from the San Francisco Giants' franchise catcher to member of its ownership group.

Former Phillie Jorge Alfaro reportedly signs with Cubs  —  Former Phillies catcher Jorge Alfaro has agreed to a minor-league deal with the Chicago Cubs, according to a Wednesday report from FanSided's Robert Murray.  —  The Cubs will be Alfaro's sixth Major League organization and his fifth since December 2021.

Mets sign OF Trayce Thompson to minor league deal with spring training invite  —  The Mets are singing outfielder Trayce Thompson to a minor league deal with an invite to spring training, SNY MLB Insider Andy Martino reported.  —  Thompson, 32, has bounced around several big league teams since getting his first MLB action in 2015.

Pirates, Rowdy Tellez reach deal; Endy Rodríguez out for 2024  —  PITTSBURGH — The Pirates agreed to a $3.2 million, one-year contract with first baseman/designated hitter Rowdy Tellez on Tuesday.  —  Tellez, 28, can earn $800,000 in performance bonuses as part of the deal, which is pending a successful physical.

Julio Urías police investigation complete, L.A. County D.A.'s office reviewing for charges  —  After months of investigation by authorities, the case of Julio Urías' arrest on suspicion of felony domestic violence has finally moved to its next stage.

Goold's chat: Readers ask as costs soar, are Cardinals ‘complacent,’ conservative or cagey?  —  Your Cardinals questions in the weekly baseball chat here at StlToday.com prompted more than 14,200 words and nearly 400 inches of baseball conversation, all of it hosted by baseball writer Derrick Goold.

What I'm hearing about potential trades for Pascal Siakam, Zach LaVine and more: Shams' Inside Pass  —  LAS VEGAS — With the NBA's In-Season Tournament's conclusion and critical trade eligibility dates nearing, the NBA trade marketplace is beginning to shape up.