Top News:
Jeff Passan / ESPN:
Jeff Passan's 2024-25 MLB offseason preview and predictions — Executives and agents left baseball's general manager meetings last week more optimistic than they usually are. In recent years, it has felt more common for the sides to talk past one another — failing to communicate the sort …
Marc Topkin / Tampa Bay Times:
City report: Trop can be fixed for Rays' 2026 season for $55 million — The stadium that opened in 1990 appears structurally sound, though further assessments could add to repair costs. — ST. PETERSBURG — Tropicana Field can be repaired in time for the Rays' 2026 season for about $55.7 million …
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors, Bleacher Nation and DRaysBay
RELATED:
Associated Press:
Rays' hurricane-damaged home can be fixed for $55M+, ready for '26 — ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — A detailed assessment of the hurricane damage to Tropicana Field concludes that the home of the Tampa Bay Rays is structurally sound and can be repaired for about $55.7 million in time for the 2026 season.
Discussion:
New York Times, Field of Schemes, Yahoo Sports and baseballmusings.com
Jon Heyman / New York Post:
Blue Jays could play spoiler in Yankees-Mets Juan Soto sweepstakes — The field of suitors for megastar free agent Juan Soto is said to have narrowed to eight finalists — including the Mets and Yankees, of course. But there's one club in particular our two teams need to keep an eye on.
Discussion:
ESPN, NESN.com, masslive.com, New Jersey Online, Mercury News, Bleacher Nation, MLB Trade Rumors, Yahoo Sports and The Good Phight
Juan Recio / ESPN:
Police: Wander Franco arrested in D.R. after altercation — Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco was arrested Monday in San Juan de la Maguana, 100 miles west of Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic after what two police sources said was an altercation Sunday in the parking lot of an apartment complex in which guns were drawn.
Discussion:
USA Today, New York Times, MLB Trade Rumors, New Jersey Online, masslive.com, New York Post, Yahoo Sports, Orlando Sentinel, DRaysBay and Bleacher Nation
Manny Randhawa / MLB.com:
Finalists for MVP, Cy Young, Rookie & Manager of the Year revealed — It's awards season, and that means some of MLB's most prestigious hardware will soon be handed out as the Baseball Writers' Association of America recognizes the best of the 2024 season with the Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year Awards …
Gordon Wittenmyer / Cincinnati.com:
Brad Mills returns to Terry Francona's side as Cincinnati Reds bench coach after hiatus — Terry Francona isn't the only longtime, respected baseball figure coming out of “retirement” to join the Cincinnati Reds field staff for the upcoming season. — Francona's closest confidante through …
Discussion:
Red Reporter, MLB Trade Rumors and The Boston Globe
Jason Owens / Yahoo Sports:
Ex-Braves All-Star C Travis d'Arnaud reportedly agrees to sign with Angels — Former Braves All-Star catcher Travis d'Arnaud has a new home. — d'Arnaud has agreed to a two-year, $12 million deal to join the Los Angeles Angels, according to multiple reports.
Discussion:
New York Times, New Jersey Online, Lone Star Ball, Orange County Register, Battery Power and MLB Trade Rumors
Eva Geitheim / Sports Illustrated:
Padres Finalize Massive Offseason Move Fans Hoped to See — The Padres are securing another member of the team. — The San Diego Padres have reportedly finalized a multi-year contract with pitching coach Ruben Niebla, per Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union Tribune.
Discussion:
KNSD-TV and San Diego Union-Tribune
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
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
RELATED:
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.