Top News:
Bob Nightengale / USA Today:
10 predictions for the rest of the 2024 MLB offseason | Nightengale's Notebook — Spring training is just a few weeks away and most of baseball's free agents are still unsigned. — PHOENIX — It has been nine weeks and four days since the Texas Rangers celebrated their first World Series championship in franchise history.
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Sahadev Sharma / The Athletic:
Why the Cubs remain optimistic about 2024, despite their offseason inactivity — The optimism that surrounded the Cubs' 2023 season has dissipated over the last few months, even after the surprise hiring of Craig Counsell. It's difficult to envision what the upcoming season holds considering …
Discussion:
Cubs Insider, Bleacher Nation and Chicago Tribune
Joel Sherman / New York Post:
The Mets' free-agent approach and Pete Alonso plan is exactly what David Stearns said it would be — Whether you like the plan or not, David Stearns has stuck to his word on what strategy he was following this offseason. — Namely, that unless it was to sign 25-year-old Yoshinobu Yamamoto …
Discussion:
New Jersey Online, Yahoo Sports and MLB Trade Rumors
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The Athletic:
Mets mailbag Part 1: On a slow offseason and the long-term plan — Over the first week of the new year, the Mets' offseason plans clarified, if not to the satisfaction of much of their fan base. New York has added Harrison Bader and Sean Manaea in the past week, and there are fewer …
Discussion:
FanGraphs Baseball, Amazin' Avenue, MLB Trade Rumors and New York Post
ESPN:
Reports: Lefty Sean Manaea joins Mets' revamped rotation — Sean Manaea became the latest pitcher to join the revamped rotation of the New York Mets, agreeing to a two-year, $28 million contract, according to multiple reports. — A 31-year-old left-hander, Manaea gets $14.5 million this year and $13.5 million in 2025.
Discussion:
The Athletic and Yahoo Sports
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Jon Heyman / New York Post:
Mets sign Sean Manaea to two-year, $28M deal — The Mets agreed to a $28 million, two-year deal with free agent left-hander Sean Manaea early Sunday morning, The Post has learned. — The deal includes a player opt-out after the 2024 season. — The Manaea signing will further enhance …
Nick Deeds / MLB Trade Rumors:
Mets In Agreement On Two-Year Deal With Sean Manaea
Discussion:
McCovey Chronicles, AZ Snake Pit, Last Word On Baseball, DraftKings Network and Yahoo Sports
Jeff Passan / ESPN:
Sources: Teoscar Hernández, Dodgers reach 1-year, $23.5M deal — Outfielder Teoscar Hernández and the Los Angeles Dodgers agreed on a one-year, $23.5 million contract, sources told ESPN on Sunday, adding another All-Star bat to the lineup of a team that's already the World Series favorite.
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Mark Polishuk / MLB Trade Rumors:
Dodgers To Sign Teoscar Hernandez — The Dodgers have continued their free agent spending spree, agreeing to one-year, $23.5MM deal with outfielder Teoscar Hernandez. Only $15MM of that salary will be paid to Hernandez this year, as the rest is deferred and will be paid out in installments from 2030-39.
Discussion:
Low Three Quarter Media, True Blue LA, Yahoo Sports, ClutchPoints, Boston Herald and Bluebird Banter
Ken Rosenthal / The Athletic:
How Matt Chapman could fit with the Giants, plus more offseason notes — One club, in considering free-agent third baseman Matt Chapman, researched the question: What was the biggest free-agent contract for a position player who batted under .250 with fewer than 20 homers in his platform season?
Discussion:
DraftKings Network, MLB Trade Rumors, ClutchPoints, McCovey Chronicles and Forbes
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Mark Feinsand / MLB.com:
5 free agents whose markets could heat up soon
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue, ClutchPoints and Camden Chat
Christina De Nicola / MLB.com:
Marlins hire trailblazer Balkovec as director of player development (sources) — MIAMI — Rachel Balkovec has agreed to become the Marlins' director of player development, sources told MLB.com. The club did not confirm the news. — Balkovec, 36, is no stranger to the Minor League landscape …
Discussion:
New York Daily News, New York Post, New Jersey Online, Yahoo Sports, Baseball America and MLB Trade Rumors
J.J. Cooper / Baseball America:
Which MLB Teams Are The Best And Worst At Drafting Pitchers? — A while ago, we looked at which teams have had the most success at drafting, signing and developing hitters since the current draft bonus format was adopted in 2012. Now, we're taking a look at how teams have done at identifying, signing and developing pitching.
Discussion:
Viva El Birdos, Redleg Nation and Battery Power
Bill Shaikin / Los Angeles Times:
Shohei Ohtani could avoid paying tens of millions in California taxes. Not so fast, state says — California Politics — Congress should narrow a loophole that could spare Shohei Ohtani from paying tens of millions in California taxes, the state controller said Monday.
Discussion:
Associated Press and baseballmusings.com
