MLB winter meetings: Free agency intel from Olney and Passan  —  MLB's winter meetings begin Monday in Dallas, signaling when baseball's offseason activity is likely to take off after a relatively slow first month.  —  All eyes will be on the free agency of superstar outfielder Juan Soto …

With or without Juan Soto, Cody Bellinger should be part of Yankees plans  —  Whether the Yankees sign Juan Soto or don't, they should try to obtain Cody Bellinger from the Cubs.  —  If the Yankees have Soto, they will attempt thrift at first base (Ben Rice) and/or left field (Jasson Dominguez).

Astros have offer in to Bregman, but there's a contingency plan in place  —  HOUSTON - The Astros haven't ruled out a reunion with free-agent third baseman Alex Bregman as the Winter Meetings approach, but their ability to re-sign him hinges on what other offers he's received on the market.

The Mets are getting calls about Brett Baty.  Are they ready to make a move?  —  Teams are asking about Brett Baty this winter.  That's not to say the Mets are in a hurry to trade the third baseman, but the outside interest is understandable given Baty's potential upside and what the team's roster could become by spring training.

W&W: Is MLB creating Savannah Bananas-like sideshow with Golden At-Bat idea?  —  Jason Williams Gordon WittenmyerCincinnati Enquirer … Williams: Rob Manfred must love being the most hated guy in baseball.  And he's working on making that a lifetime achievement with his latest stupid idea …

Cubs adding Jose Javier from Yankees as Craig Counsell reshapes coaching staff: Sources  —  The Chicago Cubs are putting Jose Javier on their major-league staff as the new first-base coach, league sources told The Athletic, continuing the adjustments ahead of Craig Counsell's second year as manager.

Sources: Athletics, Luis Severino reach 3-year, $67M deal  —  Right-hander Luis Severino and the Athletics are in agreement on a three-year, $67 million free agent contract that is the largest guarantee in the franchise's history, sources told ESPN on Thursday.

Free agent Juan Soto likely to pick a team by end of next week's Winter Meetings  —  Juan Soto's end game is nearing.  —  Though agent Scott Boras said on Tuesday that a decision by his client wasn't “imminent,” he also said Soto had started to eliminate teams.

Where the Phillies stand heading into the Winter Meetings  —  As baseball gathers next week in Dallas for the annual Winter Meetings, little has changed for the Phillies.  They remain in search of an outfielder and a right-handed reliever.  They have shopped numerous players on their current roster in an effort to shake up things.

Competitive Balance rounds set for 2025 Draft  —  The top of the 2025 Draft won't be set until Tuesday's MLB Draft Lottery presented by Nike.  But the overall Draft order is beginning to take shape, now that the Competitive Balance rounds are set.  —  Since 2017, Major League Baseball …