Top News:
Jeff Passan / ESPN:
Chiba Lotte Marines to post Japanese star Roki Sasaki to MLB — The Chiba Lotte Marines announced Saturday that they will begin the process of posting Roki Sasaki, the Japanese right-hander considered one of the most talented pitchers in the world, paving the way for the 23-year-old to join Major League Baseball in 2025.
Discussion:
jballallen.com, New York Times, masslive.com, Bless You Boys, MLB.com, The Ringer, Camden Chat, San Diego Union-Tribune, The Philadelphia Inquirer, MLB Trade Rumors, Pinstripe Alley, Yahoo Sports, Phillies Nation, Newsday, The Good Phight, Orange County Register, New York Daily News, cubsinsider.com, Bleed Cubbie Blue, Los Angeles Times, Baseball America, NESN.com, True Blue LA, Associated Press, Lookout Landing and baseballmusings.com
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Kiley McDaniel / ESPN:
MLB free agency: How ace Roki Sasaki could rock offseason — Roki Sasaki is coming to MLB! In a decision sure to rock this offseason, the Chiba Lotte Mariners of Japan's NPB announced they plan to post their 23-year-old star pitcher, allowing the ace to join the majors for the 2025 season.
Discussion:
MLB.com, New York Times, jballallen.com, Baseball America, True Blue LA, NESN.com, New York Post, Yahoo Sports and USA Today
Evan Petzold / Detroit Free Press:
Detroit Tigers' Kenta Maeda will get ‘every opportunity’ to win job in starting rotation — The Detroit Tigers aren't going to cut right-hander Kenta Maeda and eat the remaining $10 million of his two-year, $24 million contract, at least not before the 2025 spring training.
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
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Evan Petzold / Detroit Free Press:
Detroit Tigers sign Bligh Madris to minor league deal, acquiring him for 3rd year in a row — The Detroit Tigers called Bligh Madris to Cleveland before Game 5 of the ALDS as a contingency plan because Kerry Carpenter, a fellow left-handed hitter, suffered a hamstring injury.
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
Alden Gonzalez / ESPN:
Source: Miami Marlins to hire Clayton McCullough as manager — The Miami Marlins are hiring former Los Angeles Dodgers first-base coach Clayton McCullough as their new manager, a source familiar with the situation told ESPN on Sunday. — McCullough, 44, spent the past four seasons …
Matt Fisher / WFAA-TV:
Hot Stove priorities: What Rangers need to do to become contenders again — The Texas Rangers have a lot on their plate this winter as they try to rebound from a disappointing 2024 season after winning it all in 2023. — ARLINGTON, Texas — As the hangover period from the conclusion …
Discussion:
MLB.com and Just Baseball
Matt Ehalt / New York Post:
White Sox reveal what they're seeking in potential blockbuster Garrett Crochet trade as Mets show interest — The White Sox are making it easy for their trade partners. — With a “ton of interest” in lefty Garrett Crochet, White Sox general manager Chris Getz outlined what his team …
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors, Yahoo Sports, Battery Power and NESN.com
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Sean McAdam / masslive.com:
Red Sox ‘right in the thick’ of Garrett Crochet trade talks (MLB Notebook) — There are elite starting pitchers on the free agent market to pursue, but all along, the prevailing wisdom in the industry has been that the Red Sox will seek a top-of-the-rotation solution on the trade market rather than via free agency.
Discussion:
Sports Illustrated, MLB Trade Rumors, Boston.com, Yahoo Sports and NESN.com
New York Post:
Hal Steinbrenner, Steve Cohen have dueling Juan Soto visits planned in Mets-Yankees showdown — Hal Steinbrenner will not go down without a flight. — It is not just Mets owner Steve Cohen who is planning a trip to Southern California to see Juan Soto and Scott Boras, but the Yankees' owner, too.
Alex Speier / The Boston Globe:
Craig Breslow claims that this offseason, the Red Sox are ready to pursue top pitching: ‘I think we have to’ — SAN ANTONIO - If nothing else, the Red Sox are playing a different game at the start of this offseason. — A year ago, the Red Sox were very much an organization in transition at the GM Meetings.
Discussion:
masslive.com, MLB.com, NESN.com, Boston.com, Amazin' Avenue and Over the Monster
Jen McCaffrey / New York Times:
Red Sox free agent options: A detailed look at which starters fit best — With free agency in full swing, it's time to start breaking down which players might fit the Red Sox's needs. — Since the end of the season, chief baseball officer Craig Breslow has signaled on multiple occasions …
Discussion:
Just Baseball, The Boston Globe, Detroit Free Press, NESN.com, Boston.com and masslive.com
New York Times:
Though Cubs won't target top free agents, they're well positioned to make trades — SAN ANTONIO - The pressure on the Chicago Cubs' front office to make the playoffs next year was a topic of conversation this week at Major League Baseball's general manager meetings in Texas.
Discussion:
cubsinsider.com and Bleacher Nation
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
How Cardinals seek to keep veterans, clear path for youth and raise a roster, not raze it — In today's 10 a.m. “Ten Hochman” sports video — brought to you by Siteman Cancer Center — Ben Hochman discusses the potential role of Cards pitcher Matthew Liberatore! And a happy birthday shoutout to Sally Field!
Discussion:
The Good Phight, New York Times and MLB Trade Rumors
Brady Farkas / Sports Illustrated:
Seattle Mariners' Jerry Dipoto Spotted with Rival Executive at GM Meetings, Prompting Speculation — For now, we'll file this under these notes on the Mariners and Chicago Cubs as “interesting offseason conversation” and keep tabs on it, but it's nothing to overreact to just yet.
Discussion:
Lookout Landing