MLB free agency: Jesse Winker reportedly returning to Mets; Dodgers, Padres, Blue Jays waiting on Roki Sasaki

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• Fri, January 17, 2025 at 5:25 AM GMT+8

  Cubs, Kyle Tucker avoid arbitration, agree on $16.5 million deal

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  Breaking News: The Cubs and OF Kyle Tucker have agreed on a $16.5 mil contract for 2025, sources tell ESPN. The sides avoid an arbitration hearing and Tucker will be in Chicago for the team’s fan convention this weekend.

  — Jesse Rogers (@JesseRogersESPN) January 16, 2025

• Fri, January 17, 2025 at 3:18 AM GMT+8

  Mets re-sign outfielder Jesse Winker to one-year deal reportedly worth up to $9 million

  The New York Mets are bringing back Jesse Winker for another year, signing the 31-year-old outfielder to a one-year deal that is reportedly worth up to $9 million. Winker joined the team in July 2024 via trade from the Washington Nationals and was a key part of the team’s postseason run.

  The move also hints at the Mets’ tactics on first baseman Pete Alonso, who is one of the top free agents this offseason. With talks to bring back Alonso stalled, and with the first baseman reportedly receiving significant interest from other teams, re-signing Winker might be a signal that the Mets are not expecting Alonso to return and are starting to look at other options.

• Thu, January 16, 2025 at 5:58 AM GMT+8

  Yankees make a trade

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  The New York Yankees today announced that they have acquired minor league right-handed pitcher Michael Arias from the Chicago Cubs in exchange for cash considerations.

  — New York Yankees (@Yankees) January 15, 2025

• 

  Thu, January 16, 2025 at 3:02 AM GMT+8

  Roki Sasaki’s decision imminent as international signing period opens

  One of the most highly anticipated and unique free agencies in Major League Baseball history is nearing its conclusion in the next week or so. Roki Sasaki, a 23-year-old, right-handed pitcher whose generational talent has been revered in his native Japan since he was a teenager, will soon decide where he will begin his big-league career.

  A process that began in earnest when his NPB team, the Chiba Lotte Marines, posted him on Dec. 10 has gradually unfolded over the past month, with the entire baseball industry eagerly awaiting his decision and the potential fallout. With his window to sign officially opening Wednesday and extending through Jan. 23, Sasaki has reportedly narrowed the field to three finalists: the Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres and Toronto Blue Jays.

  If you haven’t been tracking each and every plot point of Sasaki’s free agency along the way, don’t fret — it’s not too late to get caught up and prepare for his entrance into the MLB universe as one of the most intriguing characters of the upcoming season.

  Here’s everything you need to know about how we got to this point and how things might transpire from here.

• Wed, January 15, 2025 at 3:28 AM GMT+8

  Sasaki meeting with Dodgers again

  The Roki Sasaki sweepstakes are down to just three teams: the Dodgers, Padres and Blue Jays. According to The Athletic, the Dodgers are getting one more meeting with Sasaki on Tuesday, which will reportedly involve “several of their star” players.

  The international signing period opens on Wednesday, at which point Sasaki will have eight days to sign with a team.

• Tue, January 14, 2025 at 7:27 AM GMT+8

  No Sasaki for Cubs

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  Source says Cubs have been informed they are out on Roki Sasaki

  — Sahadev Sharma (@sahadevsharma) January 13, 2025

• 

  Tue, January 14, 2025 at 6:57 AM GMT+8

  Sasaki sweepstakes down to three teams

  The Roki Sasaki sweepstakes is down to just three teams. The Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres and Toronto Blue Jays are the three finalists to land the Japanese star once the international signing period opens on Wednesday. According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, we should have his decision shortly.

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  The finalists for Japanese star right-hander Roki Sasaki are the Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres and Toronto Blue Jays, sources tell ESPN. Sasaki will decide on his team by the closing of his posting window Jan. 23.

  — Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) January 13, 2025

• Tue, January 14, 2025 at 5:39 AM GMT+8

  Mariners sign Donovan Solano to 1-year deal

• Tue, January 14, 2025 at 5:10 AM GMT+8

  Mets, Rangers also out on Sasaki

  With the international signing period opening Wednesday, Roki Sasaki is narrowing down his options. His camp has reportedly informed the Mets and Rangers that he will not be signing with them.

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  The Mets have been told they are out on Roki Sasaki.

  — Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) January 13, 2025

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  Roki Sasaki has informed Rangers he will be signing elsewhere, per person familiar with process.

  — Evan Grant (@Evan_P_Grant) January 13, 2025

• Tue, January 14, 2025 at 3:38 AM GMT+8

  Yankees also not getting Roki Sasaki

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  Source: The Yankees have been told Sasaki will not be signing with them.

  — JackCurryYES (@JackCurryYES) January 13, 2025

• Tue, January 14, 2025 at 2:51 AM GMT+8

  Giants out on Roki Sasaki

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  Giants have been told Sasaki is not coming to SF.

  — Susan Slusser (@susanslusser) January 13, 2025

• Tue, January 14, 2025 at 2:15 AM GMT+8

  Roki Sasaki meets with Toronto Blue Jays: Report

  According to a report from The Athletic, the Blue Jays hosted prized free agent Roki Sasaki for a meeting in Toronto ahead of his impending signing deadline.

  The international signing period opens Wednesday, at which point Sasaki is free to sign with an MLB team. He has until Jan. 23 to make his decision. The Dodgers, Rangers, Cubs, Mets, Padres and Mariners are also believed to be in the running for Sasaki’s services.

• 

  Sun, January 12, 2025 at 5:00 AM GMT+8

  Reliever Jorge López joins Nationals

  López had an eventful 2024 season, as he was DFA’d by the New York Mets after he was ejected from a game and threw his glove into the crowd.

  He moved on to the Chicago Cubs and had a solid finish to the 2024 season, recording a 2.03 ERA and 1.09 WHIP in 26 2/3 innings pitched with the Cubs.

• 

  Sat, January 11, 2025 at 8:46 AM GMT+8

  Jeff Hoffman gets 3-year, $33 million deal from Blue Jays

  The molasses-slow reliever market got some movement Friday, as former Philadelphia Phillies reliever Jeff Hoffman signed a three-year deal with the Toronto Blue Jays. The deal is reportedly worth $33 million, with $6 million in incentives.

  Hoffman was drafted by the Blue Jays and then traded as one of the prospects in the Troy Tulowitzki deal in 2015. He has moved around since then, finding success in the Phillies’ bullpen, with a 2.28 ERA in 118 1/3 innings across two seasons.

• Fri, January 10, 2025 at 1:22 PM GMT+8

  Orioles agree to one-year, $10 million deal with reliever Andrew Kittredge

  Reliever Andrew Kittredge has agreed to a one-year, $10 million deal with the Baltimore Orioles, per The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal. Kittredge’s contract reportedly includes $9 million guaranteed and a $9 million club option with a $1 million buyout.

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  Free-agent reliever Andrew Kittredge in agreement with Orioles on one-year, $10M contract, source tells @TheAthletic. Kittredge’s guarantee includes $9M in salary and a $1M buyout on a $9M club option.

  — Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) January 10, 2025

  Kittredge spent seven seasons with the Tampa Bay Rays before being traded to the St. Louis Cardinals ahead of last season. The 34-year-old reliever finished 2024 with an ERA of 2.80 across 70 2/3 innings for the Cardinals.

• Fri, January 10, 2025 at 4:54 AM GMT+8

  Why are the A’s finally spending in free agency?

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  Fri, January 10, 2025 at 2:44 AM GMT+8

  Tigers, SP Tarik Skubal work out 1-year, $10.15M deal

  Skubal, the 2024 AL Cy Young Award and Triple Crown winner, avoids arbitration. The 28-year-old left hander went 18-4 for the Tigers last season with a 2.39 ERA, 0.92 WHIP and 228 strikeouts.

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  AL Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal and the Detroit Tigers are in agreement on a one-year, $10.15 million contract to avoid arbitration, sources tell ESPN. Skubal gets a big raise in his second time through the system. He’ll get one more try before reaching free agency after 2026.

  — Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) January 9, 2025

• Fri, January 10, 2025 at 2:03 AM GMT+8

  Dodgers trade Diego Cartaya to Twins

  The Los Angeles Dodgers traded catcher Diego Cartaya to the Minnesota Twins on Thursday in exchange for right-handed pitcher Jose Vasquez, the teams announced.

  Cartaya, 23, is a former top catching prospect who spent the 2024 season between Double-A and Triple-A, posting a .221/.323/.363 slash line in 95 total games. Vasquez has spent the past two seasons in the Dominican Summer League.

• Fri, January 10, 2025 at 12:39 AM GMT+8

  Could Nolan Arenado finally be on the move?

  After he reportedly blocked a trade to the Houston Astros a few weeks ago, Nolan Arenado is reportedly more “open-minded” to waiving his no-trade clause to more teams, per MLB Network’s Jon Morosi. The Boston Red Sox seem to be a top destination.

• 

  Thu, January 9, 2025 at 9:13 AM GMT+8

  A’s All-Star Brent Rooker agrees to $60M extension

  A’s designated hitter Brent Rooker has agreed to a five-year, $60 million contract extension, according to multiple reports. Rooker, 30, slashed .293/.365/.562 with 39 home runs, 11 stolen bases and 112 RBI in 2024, all career bests. He was an All-Star in 2023.

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  Brent Rooker
  A’s

  $60M/5+opt 2030

  Bonus – $10M

  $2M – 2025
  $6M – 2026
  $12M – 2027
  $13M – 2028
  $17M – 2029

  Club option 2030 — $22M

  Option vests if: 900pa 2028-2029, 500pa 2029 OR (1st-10th MVP) twice 2027-2029

  2030 BASE INCREASES BY: $2M each 1st-5th MVP, $1M 6-10 2025-2029

  — Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) January 9, 2025