Good morning.
- Late breaking news last night has right-hander Michael King agreeing to return to the Padres on a three-year, $75 million deal. King has opt outs after each season.
- Japanese slugger Munetaka Murakami has to sign by 5 pm Eastern time on Monday if he wants to play in MLB next season. Yet there has been almost nothing on the rumor mill about teams interested in him. Mark Feinsand guesses what might be going on behind the scenes and which teams may be interested.
- Gabe Lacques has a general summary of who Murakami is, where he might sign and what’s next.
- Will Sammon thinks that Murakami could be the next Kyle Schwarber, but that he may have to prove it on a short-term deal first. (The Athletic sub. req.)
- A roundtable discussion of where Murakami might sign.
- Jordan Schusterman has a reason that every team will and won’t sign Murakami.
- Jeff Passan has a roundup of rumors he’s hearing on the Hot Stove. Including a bit on the market for Japanese players.
- Ken Rosenthal has rumors about the Diamondbacks, Cardinals and Rays. (The Athletic sub. req.) Plus a few other assorted tidbits.
- David Schoenfield predicts where the top remaining free agents might sign.
- Steve Gilbert assesses the chances that Arizona might sign Alex Bregman.
- Justin Leger says the signs point to Bregman leaving Boston.
- Jake Mintz has five questions about the Red Sox.
- Mike Axisa has five reasons why the Yankees have been so quiet this winter (so far).
- Jake Mintz also has five questions for the Dodgers.
- Thomas Harrington has three factors that will determine the Dodgers quest for a three-peat.
- Julian McWilliams reports that making (and losing) the World Series has changed the Blue Jays approach to the offseason this year.
- Jorge Castillo details how team president David Stearns is re-making the team this winter.
- Presented without comment
- The Yahoo! baseball writers have six trades they’d like to see.
- Now for some actual real transactions. Right-hander Luke Weaver agreed to a two-year, $22 million deal with the Mets.
- The Rays traded outfielder Tristan Peters to the White Sox for a player to be named later or “cash considerations.”
- Michael Baumann praises the Angels signing relievers Drew Pomeranz and Jordan Romano as “sensible” moves to build their bullpen. The Angels, of course, not being famous for “sensible.”
- However, Baumann is less enthused with the Twins signing first baseman Josh Bell and the Phillies signing Adolis García.
- Aaron Gleeman reports that Tom Pohlad is replacing his younger brother Joe as the principal owner of the Twins. (The Athletic sub. req.) Gleeman also reports on the Twins new minority owners and what Minnesota’s plans are going forward.
- Here’s a less-detailed article from the AP about the management changes with the Twins that isn’t behind a paywall.
- The Nationals have hired 31-year-old Ani Kilambi as their new general manager. Kilambi was previously an assistant GM with the Phillies.
- Team USA isn’t fooling around with the World Baseball Classic this time around. Tigers ace Tarik Skubal has agreed to pitch for the USA in the WBC in March.
- Jason Beck details how Skubal was recruited for Team USA.
- Mets pitchers Nolan McLean and Clay Holmes talk about their decisions to pitch for the USA.
- R.J. Anderson writes that with Skubal, Paul Skenes and Joe Ryan among others, Team USA finally has a championship caliber pitching staff for the WBC.
- Mike Petriello examines how the Blue Jays pitching staff intends to use different arm angles to keep hitters off balance.
- Padres pitcher Yu Darvish is reportedly considering retirement as he recovers from elbow surgery. Matt Snyder reports.
- Sam Dykstra predicts every team’s number-one prospect at this time next year.
- MLB managers are surveyed on various topics at the Winter Meetings.
- Fifty years ago next week, arbiter Peter Seitz ruled that baseball players could become free agents after their contracts ran out. Brittany Ghiroli recounts the story of how free agency came to be and the difference it has made on the game ever since. (The Athletic sub. req.)
- And finally, as I’m sure you’ve heard, we lost the great actor/director Rob Reiner, as well as his wife Michele this past week. Steve Buckley reminds us of Reiner’s lifelong love of baseball. (The Athletic sub. req.)
