MLB.com | Bryan Hoch: Spencer Jones, who was added to the Yankees’ 40-man roster Tuesday, has been working out at Yankee Stadium this offseason, per Brian Cashman. The Yankees’ number-four prospect is expected
to “hit the ground running heading into spring training” after his time spent in the Bronx, the Yankees GM said. With Trent Grisham accepting the Yankees’ $22.025 million qualifying offer Tuesday and the team expected to pursue a reunion with free agent Cody Bellinger, their outfield mix remains in flux. Alongside Aaron Judge in right, the team is also returning Jasson Domínguez, who failed to live up to Rookie of the Year hype as a rookie but still showed a promising skill set in his age-22 season. When asked about a possible outfield glut should Bellinger return, Cashman suggested “maybe it creates trade flexibility,” implying that either Jones or Domínguez could be on the chopping block.
MLB.com | Mark Feinsand: A breakdown on the free agency of the man expected to be the Yankees’ top priority this offseason: Bellinger. Rival executives gushed over the veteran’s value and versatility. “This should be the best market he’s had,” an AL executive said. “He was a real difference-maker for the Yankees this season.” “I do think he will get a more substantial guarantee than the last few years,” said an NL executive. “He’s proved he can stay healthy, he’s still on the younger side and he’s an athlete who can legitimately play multiple spots.”
Outside of the Yankees, who Feinsand agrees are the likeliest landing spot for the former MVP, he lists the Mets, Phillies, Giants, and Tigers — as well as each of his former clubs, the Dodgers and Cubs — as potential suitors.
The Athletic | Andrew Marchand: ($) After months of negotiations, MLB has announced its new TV partnership deals. ESPN will receive the rights to out-of-market games for all 30 teams as well as a full slate of games for six in-market clubs, a coup for the network that amounts to a takeover of the coveted MLB.TV package. NBC/Peacock will air the first round of the playoffs as well as Sunday Night Baseball, adding to their existing “Sunday Night” series with the NFL and NBA. While some of their games will air on NBC, the network is expected to hold some back as exclusives on the Peacock streaming platform. Similarly, Netflix will be the sole home of the standalone Opening Day game, the Home Run Derby, and the annual ‘Field of Dreams’ game. FOX/FS1, TBS, and Apple will retain the bulk of their offerings, which include such premiere events as the World Series, All-Star Game, LCS and Division Series games, and Friday Night Baseball
This paradigm shift was prompted by ESPN opting out of a three-year, $1.65 billion deal that included Sunday Night Baseball, the first round of the playoffs, and the Home Run Derby. That decision led MLB commissioner Rob Manfred to deride the network as a “shrinking” platform, calling into question if a continued relationship would materialize. It’s yet to be determined how ESPN will market MLB.TV, though it’s likely they will continue to package it separately as an add-on. T-Mobile is expected to continue partnering to offer the package for free to its customers.
MLB Trade Rumors | Anthony Franco: The Yankees signed Jonathan Ornelas to a minor-league deal Wednesday, as first noted on MLB.com’s transaction tracker. The infielder is expected to be a non-roster invitee during spring training and receive an opt-out in he’s not added to the 40-man roster during the season. The 25-year-old appeared for both the Rangers and Braves last year but spent most of the year at Triple-A, where he hit just .196 in 454 plate appearances. Ornelas is valued more for his glove than his bat, providing the Yankees depth as they’re expected to start the season without shortstop Anthony Volpe, who underwent shoulder surgery at the beginning of the offseason. Ornelas has played over 3,500 minor league innings at shortstop, providing versatility should he be called upon (though José Caballero should be the primary with Volpe out).
New York Post | Associated Press: The Tampa Bay Rays moved on from Everson Pereira Tuesday, shipping the outfielder off to the White Sox in a multi-player deal. A former top prospect with the Yankees’ organization, Pereira’s stock had dropped after he failed to stick in the majors, batting .151 with no homers in 27 games with New York in 2023. The Yankees flipped him at this year’s trade deadline for Caballero, who was a valuable role player down the stretch and into the playoffs while leading the majors with 49 steals on the season. (Pereira did get to hit his first two career homers with Tampa Bay down the stretch, though he struggled otherwise.) One of the players the Rays got in their return for Pereira was Yoendrys Gómez, another former Yankees farmhand who spent much of last year with the White Sox.
