Yamamoto's contract with Dodgers includes 2 opt outs, but timing depends on elbow health  —  Yoshinobu Yamamoto will have two opportunities to opt out of his record $325 million, 12-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers, although the timing is tied to his pitching elbow's health.

Where MLB free agency, trades stand entering 2024  —  Every MLB offseason evolves at its own pace, and this winter, that tempo is slow.  It's not just slow for a specific subset of free agents.  It's slow for the nine-figure guys, slow for outfield bats, slow for relief pitchers.

Sources: Rays' Wander Franco arrested for shirking investigators  —  Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco was arrested Monday in his native Dominican Republic after being interviewed by prosecutors investigating him for alleged inappropriate relationships with minors, sources confirmed to ESPN.

2024 MLB International Prospects: Top 50 Bonus Board  —  Baseball America's International Bonus Board lines up the players expected to sign for the top 50 bonuses in the 2024 class, with scouting reports and the expected signing team for every player.  —  Players on the board are sorted in order of their expected signing bonus.

A stroke took Charlie Manuel's words away.  Baseball is giving them back  —  CLEARWATER, Fla. — When Charlie Manuel began to speak again, he could not talk.  It had been five days since his stroke.  His heart was better.  He'd regain the feeling in his right side with time.

Why the Braves concluded Chris Sale is worth the risk  —  Charlie Morton, that's the upside the Braves envision for Chris Sale.  It is a lot to ask.  But as Braves president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos weighed two powerful forces - the acquisition cost for starting pitching …

Padres Announce 2024 Major League Coaching Staff  —  SAN DIEGO — The San Diego Padres today announced the members of Manager Mike Shildt's coaching staff for the 2024 campaign.  — Ruben Niebla — Pitching Coach  — Ben Fritz — Bullpen Coach  — Tim Leiper — Third Base Coach, Infield & Base Running Instructor

‘That [expletive] was terrible’: Jayson Tatum agrees with Gordon Hayward that winning was not Celtics' primary focus in 2018-19  —  OKLAHOMA CITY — The Celtics entered the 2018-19 season as championship contenders, with a stacked and healthy roster featuring former All-Stars Kyrie Irving …

Yankee Swap!  Flawed, Revamped Estevan Florial Dealt to Guardians for Oft-Injured Cody Morris  —  On December 26, the New York Yankees sent 26-year-old outfielder Estevan Florial to the Cleveland Guardians in exchange for 27-year-old reliever Cody Morris.  —  Florial has appeared in parts …

Rose Bowl: Michigan beats Alabama in OT for trip to CFP National Championship  —  Rose Bowl live updates: No. 1 Michigan beats No. 4 Alabama in OT  —  “We called timeout because we had a bad look.  We had a good look on the first one.  They must have known it,” Saban said …

Cubs hire new director of player development, promote new director of pitching: Sources  —  While the Chicago Cubs remain the lone team in baseball not to have added a player from outside their organization to their 40-man roster this offseason, their front office continues to change.

No longer welcome in baseball, Omar Vizquel speaks for first time since lawsuit |  Exclusive  —  RICHMOND, Texas — Omar Vizquel slowly opens the front door, greets his visitor, and invites you into his home in this tree-lined community.  —  You go into the dining room where his fiancée sits …