Sources: Roki Sasaki expected to be posted at winter meetings  —  Japanese right-hander Roki Sasaki is expected to be officially posted at Major League Baseball's winter meetings next week, sources told ESPN on Saturday, opening a 45-day window in which teams will try to convince him to choose …

MLB free agency notes: What we're hearing about the Orioles and Mets' pitching pursuits  —  The Baltimore Orioles are reluctant to pursue the remaining free-agent starting pitchers who received qualifying offers from other clubs - Max Fried, Sean Manaea and Nick Pivetta.

Dodgers defend record spending, unprecedented deferred deals  —  LOS ANGELES — Blake Snell's introductory news conference took place amid commotion.  The two-time Cy Young Award winner sat behind a dais in the right-field corner while bulldozers and cranes dotted Dodger Stadium's playing surface …

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).

Sources: Giants, Willy Adames agree on 7-year, $182M deal  —  Shortstop Willy Adames and the San Francisco Giants are in agreement on a seven-year, $182 million contract, the largest outlay in franchise history, sources told ESPN on Saturday.  —  Adames, 29, was the Giants' top target this winter.

Marcus Smart returns to Boston, where Grizzlies want to end Jayson Tatum's unbeaten streak  —  Desmond Bane didn't need any reminders.  —  The stat is already engraved in the head of the Memphis Grizzlies shooting guard ahead of a matchup against the Boston Celtics.

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.

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.

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 …

MLB Notebook: As Craig Breslow prepares for winter meetings, lots on his plate  —  Starting Monday, chief baseball officer Craig Breslow will oversee the Red Sox' efforts at the Winter Meetings, his second year in charge.  —  Last year, newly hired, Breslow, handcuffed by payroll limitations imposed …

As MLB's Winter Meetings loom, the Houston Astros are still in search of a direction  —  HOUSTON — The baseball world will descend upon Dallas with the Houston Astros still in search of a direction.  Conversations with people inside and outside of the organization have yielded more ambiguity …