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 …

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 …

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.

Yankees brass in Tampa for summit that may lead to Blake Snell signing, Dylan Cease trade  —  Five weeks before spring training starts, the Yankees' front office and coaching staff were together in Tampa on Monday strategizing.  General manager Brian Cashman and his top aides were there.

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.

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 …

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?

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.

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.

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.

Mariners' roster looks mostly complete after recent moves  —  In offseasons past, where the climate surrounding the organization was more than withering skepticism, the trio of moves made by the Mariners over the last two weeks, including two trades Friday, might've been met with optimism.