Thread: Major League Baseball 2023 Season

Carlos Correa agrees to 13-year megadeal with Giants

The Giants finally got their superstar.

After coming up short in their pursuit of the reigning American League MVP, the Giants won the Carlos Correa sweepstakes, agreeing to a 13-year, $350 million deal with the star shortstop, a source told MLB.com's Mark Feinsand. The deal has no opt-out and a full no-trade clause. The club has not confirmed the move.

Earlier on Tuesday evening, The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal reported that the Mets were entering the fray for Correa, likely driving the Giants to move quickly to get this deal done. The Twins were also among the final teams involved in talks.

Correa’s arrival will usher in a new era for the Giants, who had been looking for a new face of the franchise following the retirement of Buster Posey in 2021 and were in the mix for Aaron Judge before he agreed to return to the Yankees. Correa’s megadeal easily ranks as the biggest contract in club history, surpassing the nine-year, $167 million extension Posey signed in March 2013. It also exceeded Francisco Lindor's $341 million deal for the largest shortstop contract by total value and tied Bryce Harper for the longest free-agent contract in history.

Nathan Eovaldi and Lance Lynn set to join Team USA

The embarrassment of riches that is Team USA's World Baseball Classic roster just got a few more additions. On Wednesday, starting pitchers Nathan Eovaldi and Lance Lynn committed to the team for this spring's tournament.

Eovaldi, the hero of the 2018 World Series for the Red Sox and currently a free agent, battled injuries last year en route to a 6-3 record with a 3.87 ERA across 20 starts. The right-hander has been one of the game's best at limiting free passes, holding the opposition to a second best in baseball 1.64 BB/9 since 2020 (min. 300 IP).

Lynn, who has three top-6 Cy Young Award finishes since 2019, returned from knee surgery in June and posted a 3.99 ERA in 121 2/3 IP last season. The White Sox starter is one of the most durable hurlers when healthy, though: From 2019-21, Lynn's 449 1/3 IP were fifth among all Major League starters.

Rosters won't be finalized until later this winter, but here is how Team USA's roster currently looks:

C: J.T. Realmuto, Will Smith
1B: Pete Alonso, Paul Goldschmidt
2B: Trevor Story
SS: Tim Anderson, Bobby Witt Jr.
3B: Nolan Arenado
OF: Mookie Betts, Cedric Mullins, Mike Trout, Kyle Tucker
SP: Nestor Cortes, Nathan Eovaldi, Kyle Freeland, Merrill Kelly, Lance Lynn, Miles Mikolas, Brady Singer, Adam Wainwright, Logan Webb
RP: Daniel Bard, David Bednar, Nick Martinez, Ryan Pressly, Dillon Tate, Devin Williams

Team USA will begin its title defense on March 11 in Phoenix, taking on Mexico, Colombia, Canada and Great Britain in Pool C.

MLB Insider Details The Kevin Kiermaier Deal

The Toronto Blue Jays are trying to put together the best possible team to compete for the AL East’s top spot.

They recently added pitcher Chris Bassitt and outfielder Kevin Kiermaier, a former Gold Glove winner in center field.

They announced the signing of the latter on Thursday, on a one-year deal worth $9 million.

It’s a good payday for a player who appeared in just 63 games this past season and had a .650 OPS.

Still, he has a game-changing ability to play defense that teams found appealing.

There are also some incentives included in his deal that make it more attractive.

“Kiermaier deal includes $750K in possible bonuses he can earn by staying on the active roster,” MLB insider Ken Rosenthal tweeted.

When he is at his best, Kiermaier can offer a solid power-speed combo, league-average offense, and his trademark defense.

Age and injuries, however, are starting to affect his performance.

He will be 33 next season, so he is a bit past his prime and has also lost half a step defensively.

In 2022, he slashed .228/.281/.369 with a 90 wRC+ (100 is considered league average) in 221 plate appearances with the Tampa Bay Rays.

If he is fully healthy, he can surely improve, but his ceiling is somewhat capped at this point.

He would be an ideal fourth outfielder for a contending team, but the Blue Jays might give him a starting gig and it could prove to be a mistake for those comparing him with the now-departed Teoscar Hernandez.

Carlos Rodon, Yankees agree to deal

Rodón, Yankees agree to six-year deal (source)

Carlos Rodón is headed to the Bronx, a move that projects to give the Yankees one of the American League’s most formidable starting rotations.

Rodón and the Yankees agreed on Thursday to a six-year, $162 million contract, a source told MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand. The deal includes a full no-trade clause and has not been formally announced by the club.

The agreement with the 30-year-old Rodón follows the Yankees’ splashy move at the Winter Meetings to bring back superstar outfielder Aaron Judge on a nine-year, $360 million deal.

While negotiating that agreement, managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner promised Judge that the club could satisfy his demands and do more to improve the roster. With Rodón, Steinbrenner delivered.

Rodón was widely viewed as the top remaining starting pitcher on the free-agent market, with Jacob deGrom having relocated to the Rangers and Justin Verlander now across town with the Mets.

“He’s really good,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said during the Winter Meetings in San Diego. “Really good.”

The Yankees’ offseason work is not yet complete, even with Judge, Rodón and first baseman Anthony Rizzo agreeing to new deals this offseason. General manager Brian Cashman continues to seek a left fielder, with free agent Andrew Benintendi thought to be one of their choices.

White Sox sign Andrew Benintendi for five years, $75 million

The Chicago White Sox have agreed to terms with free-agent outfielder Andrew Benintendi on a five-year contract worth $75 million, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post. Benintendi joins starting pitcher Mike Clevinger as the second notable free agent signed this winter by the White Sox. His contract, meanwhile, becomes the richest signed by a free-agent in franchise history, surpassing the $73 million agreement fetched by Yasmani Grandal a few years back.

Benintendi, 28, is coming off an All-Star season that doubled as the second most productive of his big-league career, trailing only his 2018 efforts. He batted .304/.373/.399 (120 OPS+) in split duty between the Kansas City Royals and the New York Yankees, homering five times and tallying 3.2 Wins Above Replacement, according to the estimates housed at Baseball Reference.

Shortstop Dansby Swanson finalizing seven-year, $177 million deal with Cubs, per reports

The best remaining free agent shortstop has a deal. Dansby Swanson and the Chicago Cubs have agreed on a seven-year, $177 million deal, reports Russell Dorsey of Bally Sports. The team has not yet confirmed the signing. The other top free agent shortstops -- Xander Bogaerts, Carlos Correa, and Trea Turner -- all signed earlier this offseason. The Cubs were long rumored to be on at least one of them and the smoke was the heaviest around Swanson from the beginning of the offseason.

Swanson, 29 in February, was selected No. 1 overall in the 2015 draft by the Arizona Diamondbacks, though they traded him to this hometown Atlanta Braves six months later in the ill-fated Shelby Miller deal. In parts of seven seasons with Atlanta, Swanson authored a .255/.321/.417 line and averaged 20 home runs and 2.8 WAR per 162 games. He was part of their 2021 World Series-winning club.

The 2022 season was Swanson's best. He slashed .277/.329/.447 with 25 home runs, and a big jump in defensive stats allowed him to post a career best 5.7 WAR. Swanson rated as an above-average defender previously, then this past season the numbers jumped to among the best in the le

Red Sox land Justin Turner with two-year contract, per report

The Boston Red Sox have added to their lineup. The Red Sox and Justin Turner have agreed to a two-year contract worth $22 million, according to ESPN. The deal includes an opt out after 2023. The team has not yet confirmed the signing.

Although he has spent most of his career at third base, the 38-year-old Turner won't unseat Rafael Devers at the hot corner, and he is likely to see most of his action at DH in Boston. Boston's previous DH, J.D. Martinez, signed recently with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Turner's former team. Martinez received a one-year contract worth $10 million.

Devers, of course, is a trade candidate, particularly since the two sides reportedly remain far apart in contract extension talks. He is a year away from free agency and the Red Sox were unable to lock up Xander Bogaerts and Mookie Betts to long-term extensions in recent years. If they trade Devers like they traded Betts, Turner could be at least a part-time replacement at third base.

Turner hit .278/.350/.438 with 13 home runs in 128 games this past season, including .340/.412/.514 in 58 games after July 1.

Carlos Correa Mets deal

Correa pivots to Mets after Giants deal falls through

Steve Cohen’s boldness in fortifying the Mets knows no apparent bounds. Having already committed nearly half a billion dollars in payroll to improve the team this winter, Major League Baseball’s richest owner shocked the industry early Wednesday morning by agreeing to terms on a 12-year deal, $315 million deal with infielder Carlos Correa, a source told MLB.com.

The deal is not yet official and is pending a physical, which is an important distinction. The Mets have not confirmed the agreement.

The New York Post was first to report that Correa and the Mets had come to terms on a deal, mere hours after the shortstop’s 13-year, $350 million contract with the Giants fell apart over apparent medical concerns. That gave Cohen, who is on vacation in Hawaii, a window to slip through and reopen negotiations with Correa.

“We need one more thing, and this is it,” Cohen the Post. “This was important … This puts us over the top. This is a good team. I hope it’s a good team!”

As late as Tuesday morning, the Giants were expected to finalize their deal with Correa, a two-time All-Star and former No. 1 overall Draft pick who had negotiated with the Mets, among other teams, before agreeing to move to San Francisco. But the Giants abruptly cancelled Correa’s press conference over a medical concern that arose during his physical, according to multiple reports. That allowed the Mets to make Correa the new centerpiece of an offseason overhaul that has seen Cohen approve the acquisition of numerous players to improve the Mets.

Japan's Senga says it's 'surreal' to join MLB Mets rotation

Japanese pitcher Kodai Senga joined the New York Mets on Monday, taking his place alongside idols Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander in the Major League Baseball club's starting roster.

"It almost feels surreal," Senga said through a translator at a news conference, showing off his new uniform after completing a five-year deal reportedly worth $75 million.

"I'm very happy and excited to be in the Big Apple," Senga said in English. "Let's go Mets."

The 29-year-old right-hander won five Japan Series titles with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks and helped Japan win gold at last year's Tokyo Olympics.

"We're thrilled to welcome Kodai," Mets general manager Billy Eppler said. "We've scouted him from afar for a number of years and we knew when he hit free agency that we would want to make this day a reality."

Mets manager Buck Showalter, this year's National League Manager of the Year, and Eppler were among a host of Mets officials who met with Senga in November and convinced him New York was where he needed to play.

"The Mets really showed they wanted (me)," Senga said through a translator. "And also the opportunity to pitch with such great veteran pitchers," calling World Series champion hurlers Scherzer and Verlander "legendary pitchers" known well in Japan.

Senga said he was excited to pitch for Mets fans, who last celebrated a World Series crown in 1986.

"I hope to live up to the highest of their expectations," Senga said.

Senga had a 1.89 earned-run average with 159 strikeouts and 50 walks over 148 innings this year in Japan.

Dodgers' Trevor Bauer reinstated after suspension cut to 194 games

Trevor Bauer's initial 324-game suspension for violating Major League Baseball's domestic violence policy has been reduced to 194 games by an independent arbitrator, who also reinstated him.

Bauer's legal representatives and his employer, the Los Angeles Dodgers, were informed of the arbitrator's decision Thursday afternoon, ending a seven-month grievance process and bringing some clarity to a saga that has been unfolding for the past year and a half.

Bauer has served 144 games of the suspension, but arbitrator Martin Scheinman essentially gave him credit for the time he served on MLB's restricted list in the second half of the 2021 season. Bauer will be docked pay through the first 50 games of the 2023 season but will be officially reinstated Friday.

The Dodgers then will have 14 days, until Jan. 6, to determine whether to release him or add him to their 40-man roster.

Padres to make Caroline Perry one of highest-ranking female executives in MLB

The oldest of Caroline Perry’s two young daughters frequently states her intention to one day play baseball in the major leagues.

Whether or not Adeline, who is 8, breaks that barrier, she and her 6-year-old sister, Amelia, have a role model at home who is demonstrating what is possible.

“It’s tremendously meaningful to me — the idea that they’re going to grow up thinking they can do anything,” Perry said Tuesday. “… I love the fact they can view things that way.”

Perry, who has been with the Padres for almost 12 years, has been promoted to be the team’s Chief Operating Officer, making the Fallbrook High graduate the highest-ranking female employee in franchise history and one of the highest-ranking team executives in Major League Baseball.

Perry joins Marti Wronski of the Brewers as the only female COOs in MLB. Wronski was promoted earlier this month. In November, the Marlins made Caroline O’Connor their president of business operations. The Marlins also employ the only female general manager, Kim Ng. The Mariners’ Cati Griggs is the only other female serving as president of business operations.

“She is greatly respected by all her colleagues and all who report to her,” Padres CEO Erik Greupner said of Perry. “Her promotion is well-deserved, regardless of the fact she is a woman. But that is sort of the icing on the cake. That one of the most senior executives in our organization is a female, I think that sends an important message to all the females in our organization that there is an opportunity in our organization to rise.”

Perry will be the club’s third-ranking executive behind Greupner and President of Baseball Operations A.J. Preller. The only other woman to hold a higher position within the Padres was Joan Kroc, who owned the team from 1984 to ’90.

The team has been without a COO since Greupner was promoted from that position to president of business operations in 2019. He was named CEO in 2021.

Perry, a graduate of Stanford and Columbia Law School, began her career in finance and later worked as a corporate attorney. She worked for Davis Polk & Wardell, one of the country’s largest law firms, immediately before joining the Padres.

“It really hadn’t crossed my mind,” she said of working in professional sports. “I was a big sports fan, particularly of the football franchise that shall not be named. I was in college when the Padres went to the World Series in 1998. I remember watching games in my dorm room. I don’t think I ever really (considered) the idea you could work in sports when you weren’t working on the sports side, and being part of a sports team in particular had never crossed my mind.”

Perry saw a job posting for an associate general counsel for the Padres.

“I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, this is my childhood team, and I could come back to San Diego,’ ” she recalled. “That was one of the most exciting days of my life. I still vividly recall getting the call from Erik and him offering me the job.”

She was hired by Greupner shortly after he joined the team in 2010.

“She was my first hire,” Greupner said. “She’s just done an outstanding job over the last decade. That makes her historic promotion even more meaningful to the Padres and to me.”

In her current role as executive vice president for business affairs and general counsel, Perry has overseen the Padres’ legal, finance, government affairs and IT operations. She will now assume responsibility for ballpark operations and business strategy and analytics. She will continue to lead the franchise’s efforts to develop the Tailgate Park area.

“She is a trusted adviser to me and (team Chairman) Peter Seidler and A.J. Preller,” Greupner said.

The promotion will be officially announced within the organization Wednesday and Perry will assume the COO role Jan. 1.

MLB greats who passed away in 2022

Roger Angell (1920). Perhaps the best baseball writer ever, Angell was a writer and editor for The New Yorker for decades, most notably serving as the magazine’s fiction editor. But he became known mostly for his baseball writing -- including his legendary essay, “Gone For Good,” about pitcher Steve Blass. He was the winner of the Spink Award, the PEN/ESPN Award for Lifetime Achievement in Sportswriting and an inductee into the American Academy of Arts and Letters, the only man to achieve all three honors. His 2014 essay, “This Old Man,” remains one of the best pieces of writing this journalist has ever read.

Tommy Davis (1939). A two-time batting champ (he hit .346 in 1962, a year in which he also had 153 RBIs), he won a World Series with the Dodgers in 1963. Davis, who initially signed with the Dodgers rather than the Yankees on the advice of Jackie Robinson, was famously well-traveled in his career, once playing on 10 teams in 10 seasons.

Jeremy Giambi (1974). The young brother of Jason Giambi, Jeremy was a key player for the A’s (and famously immortalized in the book "Moneyball") in the mid-2000s. Like many members of those A’s teams, he was adept at drawing walks and posted a career .377 OBP, though for some fans he is best known for being the player tagged out by Derek Jeter on the famous “Flip Play” in the 2001 American League Division Series.

Hector Lopez (1929). Among the best Panamanian baseball players, Lopez was the other Yankees outfielder in 1961 and '62, playing alongside Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle. He homered and had seven RBIs in the four-game World Series sweep of the Reds in '61. After he retired, he would go on to become the first-ever Black Triple-A manager when he took over the Buffalo Bisons in 1969.

Gaylord Perry (1938). The first pitcher ever to win the Cy Young Award in both the National League and the American League, Perry was perhaps most famous for his spitball -- a pitch he made sure to note that he threw a lot less than hitters thought he did. (He once tried to secure a sponsorship from Vaseline.) He pitched until he was 45, winning 314 games. He was finally ejected for doctoring the ball for the first time in his career during his second-to-last season in 1982. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1991.

Vin Scully (1927). The first Dodgers game Vin Scully ever broadcast in 1950 featured future Hall of Famers Jackie Robinson, Pee Wee Reese, Duke Snider and Richie Ashburn. The last game he ever broadcast featured Buster Posey, Corey Seager and Justin Turner. In between was most of baseball history, with Scully right there in the middle of all of it -- the narrator, soundtrack and soul of the national pastime. “Hi, everybody and a very pleasant good evening to you, wherever you may be.”

Bruce Sutter (1953). Sutter did not invent the split-fingered fastball, but he was the one who mastered it -- a pitch he only started using because he had nerve surgery when he was 19 and discovered when he came out of surgery that none of his pitches worked anymore. He was a reliever from the beginning -- in the Minors, then with the Cubs. He was traded to St. Louis along with Leon Durham and Ken Reitz prior to the 1981 season, where he would be known as Engine No. 42. Sutter struck out Gorman Thomas to win the 1982 World Series. He was on the Hall of Fame ballot for 13 years before being elected in 2006.

Ralph Terry (1936). A starting pitcher who appeared in five consecutive World Series for the Yankees, Terry actually won the Series MVP in 1962, when he put together a 1.80 ERA in three games against the Giants -- most notably a shutout win in Game 7 in which he outdueled Jack Sanford. He is perhaps still most famous for giving up Bill Mazeroski's homer that won the 1960 World Series for the Pirates.

Anthony Varvaro (1984). A reliever for the Red Sox, Braves and Mariners from 2010-15, Varvaro, a Staten Island native, became a police officer for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey after he retired and was stationed at the new World Trade Center. He was killed in September by a driver going the wrong way in Jersey City while he was reporting to his post on the 21st anniversary of 9/11 attacks.

Gerald Williams (1966). A 14-year veteran who came up in the Yankees organization with Bernie Williams (and who would later befriend Derek Jeter, who considered him one of his closest friends), Williams would end up facing the Yankees as a member of the Braves in the 1999 World Series. Jeter once wrote, “Williams speaks softly and thoughtfully and is more like a philosopher than a baseball player. You could sit down next to Gerald on a plane, take a three-hour flight, talk the whole time and never, ever guess that he played baseball. Gerald would talk to you about politics, religion, health care, the judicial system, anything. He is a person who thrives on life. He always finds positives and has told me that he doesn’t think he could ever overuse the word positive.”

Maury Wills (1932). The man who brought the stolen base back, Wills won the 1962 MVP largely because of his 104 stolen bases, which broke Ty Cobb’s then-record of 96. This was after an inauspicious start to his career in which he was asked to take over for Pee Wee Reese as Dodgers shortstop. He would make seven All-Star teams and win three World Series with the Dodgers. Wills also took the first-ever at-bat for the Montreal Expos.

John Wockenfuss (1949). The eccentric, magnificently mustachioed (and magnificently named) Wockenfuss nearly quit baseball in 1975 to run his own pizzeria. He hung around as a utility player with a highly unusual batting stance and was ultimately part of the infamous 1984 Tigers-Phillies trade that gave Detroit Willie Hernandez, who would win the AL MVP and Cy Young, as well as the World Series that season.

Larry Biittner (1946). Pinch-hitter extraordinaire for four teams over 14 years.

Chuck Carr (1967). A stolen-base champ for the Marlins in 1993, Carr was a member of the Milwaukee Brewers in 1997 until, ordered to take a pitch 2-0 by manager Phil Garner, he swung away and popped out. Afterward, he told Garner, “That ain't Chuckie's game. Chuckie hacks on 2-0.” He was released shortly afterward, but it worked out fine for him: He hit a homer off John Smoltz as a member of the Astros in Game 3 of the NLDS that year. It would turn out to be his final MLB at-bat.

Julio Cruz (1954). A slick-fielding second baseman who was also a prolific basestealer -- Cruz once said Lou Brock told him, “Don’t go unless you’re going to make it eight out of every 10 times.” He ended up being the Mariners’ Spanish language announcer for nearly 20 years after retirement.

Gene Clines (1946). Pirates outfielder on their 1971 World Series team, Clines was also part of the Bucs' historic all-minority lineup that season. He was later a first-base coach for Dusty Baker when he managed the Cubs.

Terry Cooney (1933). Longtime umpire who joined the profession after serving as a prison guard.

Jim Corsi (1961). Massachusetts native pitched for the A’s on three different occasions before finally playing for the Red Sox, for whom he later worked as an announcer.

Ike Delock (1929). Longtime relief specialist for the Red Sox.

Dick Ellsworth (1940). Named an All-Star in 1964, one year after he won the NL Comeback Player of the Year Award.

Bill Haller (1935). Umpired in four World Series, but may be most famous for a profane Earl Weaver tirade directed at him that was caught on tape.

Joe Horlen (1937). Led all AL pitchers in ERA (2.32) from 1964-68.

Odalis Perez (1978). The first pitcher ever to win a postseason game before a regular-season game, Perez was also once traded for Gary Sheffield.

Dick Schofield (1935). Played for 19 seasons, mostly for the Cardinals and the Pirates. The Springfield, Ill., native was the first player ever to bat at Shea Stadium.

Dwight Smith (1963). The runner-up for NL Rookie of the Year in 1989 behind teammate Jerome Walton, Smith was one of the best pinch-hitters in baseball and a key member of the 1995 World Series champion Atlanta Braves. He also platooned with Bo Jackson in Anaheim before Jim Edmonds showed up and forced him to the bench.

John Stearns (1951). The “Bad Dude” once got involved in an infamous brawl with Gary Carter, but, like Carter, the four-time All-Star will forever be known as a Met -- the team he both played for and coached with for more than a decade.

Lee Thomas (1936). An All-Star first baseman for the Angels, Thomas is perhaps better known as the general manager of the Phillies, where he built the 1993 World Series team.

Pete Ward (1937). Third baseman for the White Sox, who was acquired from the Orioles (along with Hoyt Wilhelm) for Luis Aparicio.

David West (1964). Crafty left-hander who won a World Series with the Twins in 1991 (and almost won one with the Phillies in '93).

Dave Wickersham (1935). One of four players (along with Aurelio Monteagudo, Moe Drabowsky and Ken Sanders) to appear with both the Kansas City A’s and the Kansas City Royals.

MLB rumors: Yankees eyeing Bryan Reynolds trade to pair with Aaron Judge; Reds DFA Mike Moustakas

The time between the Winter Meetings and Christmas was, once upon a time, a slow period for Major League Baseball news. We've had quite the week, though, with the Yankees announcing the Aaron Judge signing and naming him captain as the appetizer for the Carlos Correa fiasco -- and coup, from the Mets' perspective.

As we near the end of the week, expect things to be slow while leaving open the possibility that some really cool stuff happens. Here are the latest news and rumors from MLB.

Yankees in on Reynolds
Pirates center fielder Bryan Reynolds has reportedly been a trade candidate this offseason after asking to get out of town, though the Pirates are said to want such a big return that it's possible nothing happens. Still, a name like this moves the needle. The Yankees have shown interest in Reynolds, according to Jon Morosi of MLB Network, who he notes that the Pirates mostly wanted starting pitching in a prospect return for Reynolds, while the Yankees are best suited to give up position players.

Reynolds, 27, hit .262/.345/.461 (126 OPS+) with 19 doubles, four triples, 27 homers, 62 RBI, 74 runs, seven steals and 2.9 WAR last season, but he put up 6.0 WAR with a 145 OPS+ in 2021. He's capable of being a star.

Reds sign Myers; DFA Moose

The Reds have signed outfielder/first baseman Wil Myers to a one-year deal with the mutual option for 2024. Full story here.

Best Minor League system development 2022

It’s the last week of the calendar year. Time for some good old-fashioned retrospection.

The end of the Minor League season, the Arizona Fall League and offseason trades may have impacted how we view some of these groups a little since then, but for the most part, these are the five systems that showed the largest improvements in 2022:

1 Rockies
Preseason rank: 24
Re-rank: 9

2 Reds
Preseason rank: 15
Re-rank: 4

3 Guardians
Preseason rank: 12
Re-rank: 3

4 Cubs
Preseason rank: 18
Re-rank: 10

5 Nationals
Preseason rank: 23
Re-rank: 15

Sean Murphy signs six-year extension with Braves

Newly acquired Murphy lands 6-year extension from Braves

Two weeks after acquiring Sean Murphy from the A’s, the Braves have added him to the long list of high-caliber players who could spend a majority of this decade playing for Atlanta.

Murphy became a part of the Braves’ long-term future when he signed a six-year, $73 million extension on Tuesday night. The recently-acquired catcher’s deal includes a $15 million club option with no buyout for 2029.

"I immediately felt comfortable with the staff in Atlanta," Murphy said. "It was reassuring that through the conversations we had with people, this was a good place to commit to. I got glowing reviews from teammates and everything has good things to say about it."

All told, the Braves could end up giving Murphy a seven-year deal worth $88 million. Not bad for a guy who is regarded as one of the game’s best defensive catchers. He’s drawn some comparisons to J.T. Realmuto, who is currently earning $23.1 million a season with the Phillies.

10 people convicted in attempted murder of Red Sox legend David Ortiz

A Dominican court convicted 10 people involved in the 2019 attempted killing of baseball Hall of Famer David Ortiz, authorities confirmed on Tuesday.

Ortiz, a Dominican native, was ambushed by a man who got off a motorcycle and shot him in the back at close range while the former Red Sox slugger was at a bar with friends in a well-off neighborhood of Santo Domingo.

Two men, including the alleged shooter Rolfi Ferreyra Cruz, were each sentenced to 30 years in prison by Santo Domingo's First Collegiate Court.

Eight others received prison sentences of between 5 and 20 years. Three other defendants were acquitted due to insufficient evidence, including Víctor Hugo Gómez Vásquez, who was accused of planning the attack.

American private investigators hired by Ortiz said that the slugger affectionately known as Big Papi was targeted by a Dominican drug trafficker who was jealous of him.

The findings by former Boston police commissioner Edward Davis contradicted a previous theory by law enforcement in the Dominican Republic that the hitman was actually hired to shoot Ortiz's cousin Sixto David Fernandez, who was sitting at the same table.

Dominican authorities said the hitmen confused Fernandez with Ortiz, one of the country's most beloved ballplayers.

A fearsome power hitter with a ready smile, Ortiz led the Red Sox to three World Series championships, was a 10-time All-Star and hit 541 home runs before retiring in 2016. When he was shot, he was living part of the year in the Dominican Republic.

Ortiz was seriously wounded in the June 2019 shooting. Doctors in the Dominican Republic removed Ortiz's gallbladder and part of his intestine after the shooting and he underwent further surgery in the U.S.

Among the crimes for which the 10 men were sentenced were criminal organization, use of illegal firearms, attempted murder, and complicity, the court wrote in a statement.

Authorities noted that more details of the sentencing will be released on Feb. 8, 2023.

Evan Longoria signs with Arizona Diamondbacks on one-year deal, per report

The Arizona Diamondbacks have signed third baseman Evan Longoria to a one-year deal, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post. He's guaranteed $4 million and could make up to another $1 million in bonuses, according to the Arizona Republic.

Longoria, 37, spent the last five seasons within the National League West as a member of the San Francisco Giants. He batted .250/.312/.438 (103 OPS+) with 70 home runs during that time. Baseball Reference estimated that his contributions were worth 6.9 Wins Above Replacement.

Carlos Correa Rumors: Insider Would 'Be Surprised' If Mets Contract Isn't Finalized

The Carlos Correa saga remains in flux, but one insider believes it will eventually end with the shortstop suiting up for the New York Mets.

"I'd be surprised if he's not [a Met]," a person close to the situation told Jon Heyman of the New York Post.

While headline players such as Aaron Judge and Justin Verlander signed new deals, the Correa story has become the most memorable one of the offseason.

It seemed to have a straightforward ending when he agreed to a 13-year, $350 million deal with the San Francisco Giants, but that fell apart when the team grew concerned with an old leg injury after a physical examination.

The Mets jumped at the chance to add the star shortstop, agreeing to a 12-year, $315 million contract. However, that deal is in a holding pattern after similar concerns arose following a physical examination.

Giants speak on Carlos Correa situation

Zaidi addresses 'frustrating' Correa saga

Ten days after the Giants’ 13-year, $350 million deal with star shortstop Carlos Correa fell apart over medical concerns, president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi publicly addressed the situation for the first time, calling the free-agent saga “frustrating” and “disappointing” during a Zoom call with reporters on Friday.

The Giants were expecting to introduce Correa during a media conference at Oracle Park on Dec. 20, but the event was called off three hours before it was scheduled to take place. According to multiple reports, the Giants expressed concerns about Correa’s surgically-repaired lower right leg, prompting agent Scott Boras to quickly pivot and strike a 12-year, $315 million agreement with the Mets.

Correa’s deal with the Mets is not yet official -- New York reportedly found a similar issue during the 28-year-old’s physical -- but Zaidi said he doesn’t expect the Giants to jump back into the fray this offseason.

“We’ve had some conversations since then, but our understanding is they’re focused on a deal elsewhere at this point,” Zaidi said. “So I think the chances of a deal with us at this point are pretty unlikely based on their position.”

Roberto Clemente impact is still felt 50 years after his tragic death

Look back at what the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C., did in August 2015 to learn all you need to know about the late Roberto Clemente.

The museum asked people to vote on whose portrait it should showcase in one of its exhibition halls. The voters had Clemente, Sandy Koufax and Babe Ruth — yes, the “Sultan of Swat” himself — to pick from.

And who did they pick?

Well, it wasn’t the Babe.

Clemente, a star right fielder with the Pittsburgh Pirates, beat the other Hall of Famers in a landslide (Clemente 2,034; Koufax 225; Ruth 190) in an online voting for the Smithsonian.

Surprising? Perhaps not. For when you strip away all the things the Babe did in life and understand how reclusive Koufax has been since his playing career ended, neither of them can match what Clemente did on the field and off.

One has to wonder if Koufax and the Babe would have gotten the votes that they did get had Clemente, a Black Latino, lived to see his 60s.

He didn’t. Clemente died on New Year’s Eve in 1972. He was 38.

On that fateful night 50 years ago, Clemente, three crewmen and another passenger boarded a Douglas DC-7 for Nicaragua, an impoverished country trying to recover from a series of catastrophic earthquakes.

Their cargo plane took off around 9:30 p.m. from San Juan, Puerto Rico, and people who witnessed the lift-off heard the engines misfire. The plane reached an altitude of 200 feet; it then exploded and plunged into the Atlantic Ocean.

Clemente and the others were killed. Their bodies were never found.

Marlins – 22^nd & Tampa Bay Rays – 10^th . Well at least one Florida team made top 10

MLB New Year's Power Rankings 2023

Here are the first Power Rankings of 2023

While it’s still the offseason, the New Year provides a perfect mile-marker for baseball fans.

It’s almost the halfway point between the World Series ending, and Spring Training games beginning.

At MLB.com, we produce two way-too-early Power Rankings during the offseason. The first one lands before the confetti has even been vacuumed up following the World Series parade, and the second arrives just as the calendar turns, when we have a little better idea of how the upcoming season might shake out but still are far from being able to predict anything with anything close to pinpoint accuracy.

The general consensus among our small and mightily confused voting body is that it’s been a dizzying offseason of deals so far, there’s still more work to be done and the best teams on paper often don’t even make it to the postseason.

In order……

Astros
Mets
Braves
Padres
Yankees
Phillies
Dodgers
Mariners
Blue Jays
Rays
Cardinals
Guardians
Rangers
Brewers
Orioles
White Sox
Angels
Twins
Cubs
Giants
D-backs
Marlins
Red Sox
Rockies
Reds
Royals
Tigers
Pirates
Nationals
A’s

Pete Rose, recipient of lifetime MLB ban for betting, places first legal sports bet in Ohio

Pete Rose, the all-time Major League Baseball hit king who received a lifetime ban from the sport for betting on games in which he managed, just placed the first legal sports bet in the history of the state of Ohio at Hard Rock Casino.

The Buckeye state's new sports gambling law took effect on Jan. 1, though Gov. Mike DeWine initially signed it in December 2021.

According to Spectrum News 1, George Goldhoff, property president of Hard Rock Casino, said: "Ohioans are crazy about their sports, they really love their sports, and we think it’s going to be quite popular."

He added, "The money that was being bet by Ohioans, whether it was in Michigan or Indiana, is all going to stay here in the state and the taxpayers are gonna benefit."

MLB trade candidates: Five teams, including Cardinals and Rangers, with intriguing players to swap

1. Cincinnati Reds: left-side infielders
No other MLB organization has more compelling left-side prospects than the Reds do. Last summer alone, they added Noelvi Marte, Edwin Arroyo, Spencer Steer, Christian Encarnacion-Strand, Cam Collier, and Sal Stewart through trades and the draft to a group that already featured notables like Elly De La Cruz, Matt McLain, Tyler Callihan, and Jose Torres, among others. Cruz (No. 11) and Marte (No. 13) both made CBS Sports' top 20 prospect list, and Arroyo and Collier weren't far off. The Reds, still very much in the talent-accumulation phase of their rebuild, would be wise to move some players they consider extraneous to fill other holes on their depth chart.


2. Milwaukee Brewers: outfielders
We've mentioned the Brewers' potential outfield logjam before. The short version is that they're rolling into the season with a starting group that includes Christian Yelich, Garrett Mitchell, and Tyrone Taylor or some other so-so option. They'll have the chance to replace the latter in due time, as top prospects Sal Frelick and Joey Weimer are slated to start their years in Triple-A. What's more is that Jackson Chourio, one of the best prospects in the entire sport, will kick off his 2023 campaign in Double-A. If Chourio plays the way he did last season, he could force his way into the majors before he celebrates his 20th birthday and leave the Brewers with more talented outfielders than roster spots.

3. Texas Rangers: pitchers
Likewise, we covered the Rangers' newfound pitching depth elsewhere. Texas has continued signing, re-signing, and trading for veterans, giving them a starting five that ought to feature some combination of Jacob deGrom, Nathan Eovaldi, Andrew Heaney, Martín Pérez, Jon Gray, and Jake Odorizzi. Additionally, the Rangers have several youngsters who have yet to fully establish themselves in the majors who they could move; think Taylor Hearn, the injured Dane Dunning, Glenn Otto, Spencer Howard, and Cole Ragans. As if that wasn't enough, there's also an incoming crop of recent high draft picks, including top-five selections Jack Leiter and Kumar Rocker and the 2018 duo of Owen White and Cole Winn. It should surprise no one if the Rangers move some of the above names over the coming weeks to improve their offensive output.

4. St. Louis Cardinals: outfielders
As with the Brewers, the Cardinals project to more talented outfielders than they have roster spots. St. Louis is likely to enter the year rocking some combination of Dylan Carlson, Tyler O'Neill, Lars Nootbaar, and Juan Yepez. They'll have Alec Burleson on the bench and a pair of intriguing thumpers (albeit from significantly different backgrounds) just a call away: former minor-league free-agent signing Moisés Gómez, and former first-round pick and top prospect Jordan Walker. The Cardinals almost seem guaranteed to trade from their outfield depth ahead of August. O'Neill, by far the closest to free agency, would seem to be the likeliest to depart.

5. Cleveland Guardians: middle infielders
We started with one Ohio-based team's collection of infielders, let's end with another. The Guardians have plenty of up-the-middle options to offer other teams. They're likely to open the 2023 campaign with Amed Rosario and Andrés Giménez as their double-play combination, but they'll have Gabriel Arias and Tyler Freeman around in case of emergency. The Guardians' depth goes well beyond those four, too, with intriguing prospects Brayan Rocchio and Jose Tena in Triple-A, and Angel Martinez at Double-A. You can understand if the Guardians want to hold on to more of their depth than they normally would -- Rosario is an impending free agent, after all -- but they should still be able to part with one or two of those players to upgrade elsewhere at some point between now and the trade deadline.

Rafael Devers Red Sox deal for 2023

As extension talks continue, Red Sox, Devers settle on '23 salary

Reaching a long-term extension with Rafael Devers has long been a goal for Red Sox chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom. While it hasn’t come to fruition yet, the Sox announced on Tuesday that they’ve avoided arbitration with their star third baseman by agreeing with him on a one-year contract for 2023.

The deal is worth $17.5 million, a source told MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand.

More important, the Red Sox, according to sources, are expected to continue negotiating with their left-handed-hitting slugger on a multiyear extension that would prevent Devers from reaching free agency after the 2023 season.

After losing longtime leader and shortstop Xander Bogaerts via free agency last month to the Padres, the Red Sox can ill afford to have another homegrown All-Star slip away.

In February of 2020, the Sox traded Mookie Betts to the Dodgers, though that was more of a calculated decision based on several years of unsuccessful negotiations with the five-tool star.

Devers and oft-injured ace Chris Sale are the only star players who remain from the 2018 juggernaut that won the World Series. Relievers Matt Barnes and Ryan Brasier are the other players who remain from that squad.

The Red Sox will have a new look to their team next season, as former core members Bogaerts, J.D. Martinez (Dodgers), Nathan Eovaldi (Rangers) and Christian Vázquez (Twins) have all moved on.