What is the story about?
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morning.
- The Guardians and star third baseman José Ramírez have agreed on a seven-year, $175 million extension that will keep Ramírez in Cleveland until 2032. Jesse Rogers reports.
- Zack Meisel thinks that Ramírez and Cleveland are a perfect match that almost never happened. (The Athletic sub. req.) Ramírez has now twice agreed to a below-market extension to stay in the Western Reserve.
- Tim Stebbins thinks that the Ramírez extension and its attached deferrals could give the Guardians the flexibility they need to add some other bats.
- The White Sox have signed free agent reliever Seranthony Dominguez to a two-year, $20 million deal. Dominguez is expected to close for the Pale Hose.
- Former Cub Craig Kimbrel has signed a minor-league deal with the Mets. Jack Baer has the story.
- It sounds like free agent and future Hall-of-Famer Max Scherzer will wait until after the season starts to sign with a team.
- The Mets also traded right-handed swingman Cooper Criswell to the Mariners for the most-traded player in history, cash considerations.
- Thomas Harrington lists the ten top positional upgrades that teams made this winter.
- The Mets have made a lot of moves this winter. Matt Snyder has one question: Will the 2026 Mets be any better than the disappointing 2025 version?
- Anthony Castrovince ranks every non-LA National League team by how likely they are to dethrone the Dodgers.
- After re-signing Cody Bellinger, Mike Axisa has what’s left on the Yankees to-do list this winter.
- Pete Caldera also has some suggestions of you the Yankees can yet improve.
- Jordan Schusterman has five questions for the Mariners.
- Andrew Baggarly looks what the Giants still want to accomplish this winter and reports that San Francisco’s attempts to trade for Nationals infielder C.J. Abrams were rejected. (The Athletic sub. req.)
- Bob Nightengale talks about deferred contracts and speaks with the godfather of such deals, former Met Bobby Bonilla.
- David Adler has four keys to a bounceback season in 2026 for free agent right-hander Zac Gallen.
- Jared Greenspan notes that the two remaining big-name free agent hitters, Eugenio Suárez and Luis Arraez, could not be more different at the plate.
- Gabe Lacques argues against a salary cap in baseball, saying that the real problem is owners who aren’t trying.
- In case you care, MLB released their “Top 100 Players Right Now” list for 2026. Brian Murphy with the details.
- Murphy also has the 18 players who made the biggest rise on that list over the past year.
- Sarah Langs has 11 players looking to set historic milestones in 2026.
- Tyler Kepner looks at newly-elected Hall-of-Famer Carlos Beltrán’s cap dilemma for his plaque in Cooperstown. (The Athletic sub. req.) Kepner also notes that this has been an increasing issue in recent years. Beltrán appears to be debating between a Mets cap, a Royals cap or going in without a team insignia on his plaque.
- Jen Vestuto has a preview of Team Brazil in the upcoming World Baseball Classic.
- And finally, Shohei Ohtani wasn’t the only member of his family to be honored at the BBWAA Awards Banquet over the weekend. Jeffrey Lutz reports that Decoy went home with the MVD—“Most Valuable Dog” Award.
