PITTSBURGH — As expected as it might've been given the challenge of signing Japanese players, especially ones of his caliber, the Pittsburgh Pirates failing to land Kazuma Okamoto was a tough pill to swallow.

But it won't define their offseason. At least it better not.

The important part becomes the pivot, the next move, and the good news is...Read more

PITTSBURGH —The Pittsburgh Pirates' biggest offseason need was an offensive upgrade, and they have made progress on that front so far by trading for second baseman Brandon Lowe and outfielder Jake Mangum and their reported signing of free agent Ryan O'Hearn.

But the Pirates also seem to be targeting something that won't be found on a Baseball...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — Maybe Bryce Harper is still ticked off. Maybe, even after his air-clearing with Dave Dombrowski, he implanted a chip on his shoulder. Maybe he’s just trying to sell T-shirts.

Either way, he got our attention.

As usual.

In case you missed it, because the holidays can be hectic, the Face of the Phillies posted a 101-second ...Read more

Happy new year!

With 2025 officially in the rearview mirror, it’s time for a clean slate of Major League Baseball.

Spring training is still six weeks away, but here’s a primer on the 2026 Boston Red Sox and the season ahead.

Key Red Sox and MLB dates

Though not officially announced, pitchers and catchers are typically due to report to ...Read more

Anthony Rendon’s time in an Angels uniform is over.

The Angels and Rendon have agreed to restructure his contract just before the final season of the seven-year, $245 million deal, a source confirmed on Tuesday.

It is unclear exactly how the money will be reallocated. Rendon was owed $38 million in the final year of the deal. Per the terms ...Read more

BALTIMORE — The Orioles’ one-year deal with Zach Eflin on Sunday ensured they will go into next season with a rotation of five quality starting pitchers and some capable depth behind them. As last year taught them, a team with World Series aspirations needs more than that.

Eflin, who re-signed for $10 million and a 2027 mutual option, is ...Read more

What is the best way to describe the 2025 Twins season in one word:

Embarrassing? Disappointing? Chaotic?

It was at least eventful. The Twins were rarely boring. They started out poorly, ripped off a 13-game winning streak in May, watched their pitching fall apart in June and traded more than a third of the roster in July.

As we reach the ...Read more

NEW YORK — David Wright looks as though he’ll receive enough votes to remain on the National Baseball Hall of Fame ballot for another year, allowing voters another year to examine his candidacy. The former Mets third baseman has received more votes in each of the last three years, but he’s still nowhere near the 75% threshold needed to be ...Read more

SEATTLE — When the Mariners announced the signing of veteran hitter Rob Refsnyder to a one-year, $6.5 million contract, there was some consternation among the fan base (like always) about his fit or need on the Mariners' 26-man roster.

Of course, many fans were awaiting some movement on potential trades for Cardinals infielder Brendan Donovan...Read more

SAN DIEGO — I like the basic thinking behind utility Sung-Mun Song, 29, joining the Padres this week.

Song’s best position is third base. He bats left-handed, a nice touch.

Out of respect for the daunting jump from the top Korean league to Major League Baseball, where fastball speeds tend to be 2-3 mph higher, any projection for Song must ...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — There were some signs that the Phillies and Matt Strahm weren’t long for this world. Small ones. The kind you see in a lot of relationships between headstrong people. Certainly nothing that suggested things were fractured beyond repair. Still, there was enough smoke to at least dampen the surprise when the Phillies decided to ...Read more

TAMPA, Fla. — In trading four big leaguers for six prospects plus a draft pick last week, the Rays continued their purge of players who finished last season on their roster or 60-day injured list, with 24 of 49 now gone.

That extreme makeover is part of a plan to rebuild with a core of young players who can, in theory, form a nucleus capable ...Read more

LAS VEGAS — The Athletics have agreed with left fielder Tyler Soderstrom on a seven-year, $86 million contract extension, ESPN reported Thursday.

The deal is reportedly the largest guaranteed contract in franchise history.

Soderstrom hit 25 homers with a .275 batting average and 93 RBIs last season for the A’s, who are scheduled to move to...Read more

PITTSBURGH — In some ways, I would imagine, the Pirates finally making significant moves might only serve to fuel one's rage over last offseason and the many before it.

Especially last offseason, and how they wasted another precious year of Paul Skenes.

But that is water under the Clemente Bridge now. The Pirates are finally putting action ...Read more

MIAMI — The Marlins made their first sizable free-agent investment in two years on Wednesday, agreeing to terms with veteran right-hander closer Pete Fairbanks on a one-year, $13 million deal.

The deal is agreed to but contingent on Fairbanks passing a physical, according to a source.

Fairbanks will become the team’s second-highest paid ...Read more

TAMPA, Fla. — The complaints are valid and, the way things work around here, pretty much eternal.

Yes, the Rays have gotten rid of another fan favorite. On the list of franchise records, Brandon Lowe is eighth in games played, third in home runs, fourth in slugging percentage and sixth in OPS. Odds are, the Rays will get less production out ...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — Bryce Harper’s dream is to compete in the Olympics.

First, he’ll suit up for the World Baseball Classic.

Harper announced his plans Tuesday on Instagram, posting a photo of himself superimposed in a Team USA jersey. The Phillies star joins a loaded roster that includes Aaron Judge, Cal Raleigh, Bobby Witt Jr., teammate ...Read more

PITTSBURGH — Three days after acquiring Brandon Lowe from the Tampa Bay Rays, the Pirates have doubled down on their pre-Christmas spending, signing free agent outfielder/first baseman Ryan O’Hearn to a two-year, $29 million contract with incentives, sources told the Post-Gazette.

O’Hearn, 32, batted .281 with 17 homers, 63 RBIs and an ....Read more

CHICAGO — Now would be a good time for all Chicago White Sox fans to declare their true feelings about the state of the organization as the team ends 2025 on an upbeat note.

Is the hard part of the rebuild finally over, or is “Mune Time” a mirage?

The signing of Japanese slugger Munetaka Murakami, whom Sox general manager Chris Getz ...Read more

NEW YORK — David Stearns has effectively taken a wrecking ball to the New York Mets core.

The team traded former NL batting champ Jeff McNeil to the Athletics on Monday, a source confirmed to the New York Daily News. It appears to be a bigger move for the A’s than the Mets. According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, the Mets are receiving only 17-...Read more