ORLANDO, Fla. — As the hotel lobby at the Signia by Hilton Orlando filled at MLB's winter meetings on Tuesday morning, an unexpected prize was falling into the Dodgers' lap.

Edwin Díaz, the top reliever on this year's free-agent market, was suddenly slipping away from the incumbent New York Mets, who reportedly made the fan favorite closer ...Read more

BALTIMORE — Rejoice, Orioles fans.

This isn’t winter business as usual for Mike Elias. This is what you’ve been waiting for. This is a declaration of a new era across Birdland.

The jaw-dropping free agent signing of power-hitter Pete Alonso Wednesday afternoon represents the richest average annual salary ever given to an MLB first ...Read more

The Pittsburgh Pirates, so often ridiculed for their cheapness, are being painted as possibly prolific spenders this offseason by some of baseball’s most respected insiders — notably Tom Verducci, Jeff Passan and Ken Rosenthal.

Bob Nutting must feel pretty good about that. It makes the Pirates look respectable for once. And they must feel ...Read more

NEW YORK — Pete Alonso‘s departure from the Mets played out in slow motion.

For more than two years, uncertainty surrounding Alonso’s future hung over the fan-favorite first baseman and the franchise.

There was an extension offer in 2023, Alonso’s first foray into free agency in 2024, his return to the open market this offseason, and ...Read more

ORLANDO, Fla. — In one of the most significant moves in franchise history, the Baltimore Orioles landed the big bat they’ve been chasing.

Baltimore reached an agreement with first baseman Pete Alonso on a five-year, $155 million free agent contract at MLB’s winter meetings Wednesday, a source with direct knowledge of the move confirmed to...Read more

LOS ANGELES — After 18 months of shopping the script, the proposed Lionsgate Television series based on the gambling scandal involving Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani's interpreter is in development at Starz.

The project will spotlight the audacious theft by Ippei Mizuhara of $16 million from Ohtani to pay off staggering gambling debts. ...Read more

There is perhaps no baseball visual more awkward, yet still universally accepted, than the one you see in teams’ introductory press conferences.

You know the one. A grown man, usually nine figures richer, stands at a podium, wearing a suit and tie.

Then, a team executive hands him a jersey.

Jacket off.

The tie? That stays on.

The player ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — Could two members of the Buss family add some green and gold to their purple and gold?

Joey and Jesse Buss, fired last month as Lakers executives, have explored pursuing an ownership stake in baseball's Athletics, according to two people familiar with the discussions but not authorized to speak publicly about them.

The ...Read more

ORLANDO, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Rays’ first experience in MLB’s draft lottery didn’t go well last year.

With senior adviser Jon Daniels as their representative, they had the 10th-best chance to earn the top pick, were 12th in the raw order based on record and ended up dropping to the 14th pick.

In an effort to improve their fortune this ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — What kind of team would commit $141 million to two closers?

The one that won last year. The one that won this year. The one that plans to win again next year.

"All I have to say to you," Dodgers owner Mark Walter told fans at the team's World Series championship celebration last month, "is we'll be back next year."

The Dodgers...Read more

ORLANDO, Fla. — After winning the National League Rookie of the Year and Cy Young Award his first two seasons, Paul Skenes already has a different title in Year Three: recruiter.

As the Pirates assume a more aggressive posture this offseason, actively engaged in free agency and trades to try and improve their offense, sources told the ...Read more

ORLANDO, Fla. — Coming into the offseason, the Dodgers signaled that they would be conservative when it came to pursuing help in the bullpen.

Turned out, they were quietly plotting one of the most surprising — and impactful — signings of the winter.

In a blockbuster move on Tuesday, the team agreed to a three-year, $69 million deal with ...Read more

ORLANDO, Fla. — He’s back.

The Philadelphia Phillies and Kyle Schwarber agreed to a five-year, $150 million contract on Tuesday, according to a source, confirming an ESPN report.

The contract will take Schwarber, who turns 33 in March, through his age-37 season.

Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said repeatedly ...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — Kyle Schwarber was going to finish his career in a Phillies uniform. They’d been saying it without saying it since October. On Tuesday, they said it explicitly.

Five years, $150 million.

It is a remarkable sum of money on a number of different levels. But, then, Schwarber is a remarkable hitter on a number of different ...Read more

ATLANTA — Greatness takes many forms. Unfortunately for Dale Murphy and his legion of fans, the gatekeepers of the Baseball Hall of Fame clearly don’t think his version of it merits the game’s ultimate honor.

The contemporary era committee spoke loudly Sunday night by again denying the beloved Braves legend a spot in the Hall. Barring ...Read more

ORLANDO, Fla. — There are two ways that most seem to be characterizing the Pittsburgh Pirates, as the baseball world descends on Signia by Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek for the annual winter meetings.

Most everyone expects the Pirates to be active.

Yet there's skepticism regarding how this could go.

How those two thoughts square, and if they ...Read more

ORLANDO, Fla. — Whether or not he needs it, Chase Utley’s Hall of Fame bid just got a boost.

Pete Rose’s? Forget about it.

Those were the Phillies-centric takeaways Sunday night from the voting results of the Hall’s Contemporary Era Committee. A 16-person panel of Hall of Fame players, major league owners and executives, media members,...Read more

LOS ANGELES — A Chavez Ravine dream was yet again dashed on Sunday.

Fernando Valenzuela was once more denied induction to the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

Fourteen months removed from his death at the age of 63 in October 2024, and 27 years removed from the end of a pitching career measured by more than just wins, losses and ERA, ...Read more

SEATTLE — Aggressiveness is expensive.

But comfort may be more costly.

After the Seattle Mariners made MLB’s first offseason splash, bringing back first baseman Josh Naylor on a five-year deal worth $92.5 million, president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto admitted on Nov. 18:

“We behaved in a way that’s a little different than we ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — In 2023, the Dodgers finally retired the number 34, worn with distinction by Fernando Valenzuela. It had been 42 years since the season of Fernandomania, 26 years since Valenzuela last threw a pitch in the major leagues.

Better late than never. The Dodgers generally do not retire the numbers of players not selected for the Hall ...Read more