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.

Yankees, Mets up Juan Soto bids north of $700 million as his historic free agency nears end  —  DALLAS — The Yankees and Mets both remain heavily involved in the five-team Juan Soto Derby, with both clubs recently upping offers into the $710 million-$730 million range — MLB record territory …

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.

Tyler O'Neill joins Orioles on 3-year, $49.5 million deal after resurgent season, per report  —  Tyler O'Neill is staying in the American League East.  —  The former Boston Red Sox outfielder has agreed to a three-year, $49.5 million deal, according to the New York Post's Jon Heyman.

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.

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 …

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.