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 …

MLB free agency: Latest on Dylan Cease trade rumors, fits  —  From the first day of the offseason, right-handed starter Dylan Cease has been among baseball's most talked-about trade candidates.  Executives around the league expected the Chicago White Sox ace would be on the move …

Shohei Ohtani, Dodgers picked for first ‘Sunday Night Baseball’  —  BRISTOL, Conn. — ESPN's early-season baseball schedule will be the Sho Show, as Shohei Ohtani and the Los Angeles Dodgers will be featured on two of ESPN's first three “Sunday Night Baseball” telecasts this season.

Soto, Guerrero among 194 still with uncertain salaries ahead of Thursday's abitration swap deadline  —  Juan Soto, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Pete Alonso are among 194 players across Major League Baseball still with uncertain salaries for 2024 heading into Thursday's deadline to exchange proposed figures in arbitration.

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 …

Sources: Cubs, lefty Shota Imanaga finalizing 4-year, $53M deal  —  CHICAGO — The Cubs finalized a deal with Japanese lefty Shota Imanaga on Wednesday, agreeing to a four-year, $53 million contract, sources familiar with the situation told ESPN.  —  The deal has several provisions …

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.

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.

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?

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.

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.

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.