MLB

2:00 PM ET It’s important to start with this context before diving into the industrywide reviews of the Boston Red Sox signing Masataka Yoshida, a free agent outfielder from Japan who received a five-year, $90 million contract from the Red Sox: Baseball is hard. The act of playing baseball is notoriously difficult, as is predicting

12:00 PM ET Like the boxer who keeps getting knocked down to the canvas, San Diego Padres manager A.J. Preller kept getting right back up. Trea Turner didn’t want the Padres’ money, Aaron Judge didn’t want the Padres’ money, but Xander Bogaerts was willing and it’s a whopper of a deal: 11 years and $280

7:00 AM ET Now that the New York Yankees are bringing back Aaron Judge after the two sides sweated out a negotiation that concluded with the reigning American League MVP agreeing to a nine-year, $360 million contract, what’s next? This is a franchise that has had plenty of success in recent seasons: 99 wins and

12:24 AM ET Shortstop Xander Bogaerts and the San Diego Padres are in agreement on an 11-year, $280 million contract, a source familiar with the deal told ESPN’s Jeff Passan. The 30-year-old Bogaerts, who has played his entire 10-year career with the Boston Red Sox, is a four-time All-Star and a two-time World Series champion.

8:40 AM ET SAN DIEGO — The New York Yankees are baseball’s flagship franchise and have been since the 1920s. You don’t have to be a fan of theirs to believe that. You only have to look at the championships, the names on the plaques at Cooperstown, the merchandise sales and so much else. That

1:20 AM ET The Chicago Cubs bolstered their starting rotation Tuesday night, reaching an agreement with free agent pitcher Jameson Taillon on a four-year, $68 million deal, sources told ESPN. Taillon, 31, was among the top pitchers remaining in free agency and is the latest big acquisition for the Cubs, who earlier Tuesday reached a

9:30 PM ET The Pittsburgh Pirates secured the No. 1 overall pick in next year’s draft on Tuesday, during Major League Baseball’s first draft lottery. The next five picks, respectively, went to the Washington Nationals, Detroit Tigers, Texas Rangers, Minnesota Twins and Oakland Athletics. MLB and the MLB Players’ Association agreed to a draft lottery

2:38 PM ET The Pittsburgh Pirates and right-hander Vince Velasquez have agreed to a one-year contract, a source told ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel on Tuesday. The contract is worth $3.15 million, a source told ESPN’s Jeff Passan. Velasquez, 30, was 3-3 with a 4.78 ERA in 75⅓ innings over 27 appearances for the Chicago White Sox

7:00 AM ET The first-ever MLB draft lottery is set to take place at the winter meetings tonight, so we’ll know the top order of the 2023 MLB draft, to be held in July at the All-Star festivities in Seattle. Tuesday night’s lottery will determine the top six picks in the draft, and the Washington

2:30 PM ET SAN DIEGO — When Jacob deGrom jumped to the Texas Rangers last week, it seemed certain that the New York Mets would move quickly to respond. There are only so many options at that stratosphere of the free agent market, and with the uncertainty over whether or not deGrom would return to

2:48 PM ET SAN DIEGO — The Philadelphia Phillies, reigning National League champions, have agreed to terms on a massive contract with star free agent shortstop Trea Turner, a source told ESPN’s Jeff Passan on Monday, the first full day of Major League Baseball’s winter meetings. Turner, a CAA client, attained an 11-year, $300 million

7:00 AM ET For the first time since 2019, baseball’s winter meetings are back! All signs point to an action-packed week of rumors, signings and trades in San Diego — and we’ve got it all covered for you right here, from our MLB experts’ predictions going into the meetings to the latest updates and analysis

11:10 PM ET ESPN News Services CHICAGO — Mike Clevinger says he thinks the Chicago White Sox have everything in place for a big 2023 season. Plus, he loves the mound at Guaranteed Rate Field. The move just made sense for the long-haired pitcher. Clevinger officially joined the White Sox on Sunday, finalizing a $12

10:00 AM ET Chris Young, the head of baseball operations for the Texas Rangers, called Bruce Bochy on Thursday with news that stunned the new manager. “Jacob wants to come with us,” Young said. Bochy’s response: “Are you kidding me?” Bochy knew the Rangers were going to be aggressive in their negotiations with Jacob deGrom,

3:07 PM ET Associated Press SAN DIEGO — Pittsburgh Pirates center fielder Bryan Reynolds has requested a trade ahead of baseball’s winter meetings. Reynolds hit .262 with 27 homers and 62 RBIs in 145 games last season, when Pittsburgh finished with a 62-100 record. In Reynolds’ four years with the team, the Pirates are 211-335

12:35 PM ET The Baltimore Orioles have reached an agreement on a one-year contract with right-handed starter Kyle Gibson, sources told ESPN’s Jeff Passan on Saturday. The deal is pending a physical, sources said. Gibson had spent the past 1½ seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies, who had acquired him in a trade deadline move from

Dec 3, 2022 Associated Press ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Rays, in partnership with a global real estate investment and development firm, have submitted a bid to redevelop Tropicana Field and surrounding land on the edge of downtown St. Petersburg. The club said Friday that in addition to a new ballpark, an ambitious

9:00 PM ET Bradford Doolittle Close ESPN Staff Writer Sports reporter, Kansas City Star, 2002-09 Writer, Baseball, Baseball Prospectus Co-author, Pro Basketball Prospectus Member, Baseball Writers Association of America Member, Professional Basketball Writers Association David Schoenfield Close ESPN Senior Writer Covers MLB for ESPN.com Former deputy editor of Page 2 Been with ESPN.com since 1995