MLB free agency: Braves sign Jurickson Profar to 3-year, $42 million deal; Max Scherzer joining Toronto Blue Jays

Live156 updates

• Fri, January 31, 2025 at 6:25 AM GMT+8

  Max Scherzer joining Blue Jays on 1-year deal

  Future Hall of Famer Max Scherzer will spend his 18th MLB season in Toronto. Scherzer and the Blue Jays have reportedly agreed on a one-year, $15.5 million deal, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan.

  Scherzer was No. 42 on Yahoo Sports’ list of this winter’s top 50 free agents. He was injured for much of 2024, pitching just 43 1/3 innings with a 3.95 ERA, but the season prior, he helped the Texas Rangers win the World Series.

  Read more here.

• Fri, January 31, 2025 at 5:30 AM GMT+8

  Carlos Estévez reportedly joining Royals on 2-year, $22 million deal

  Reliever Carlos Estévez has reportedly agreed to join the Kansas City Royals on a two-year, $22 million deal with a $13 million club option, per multiple sources.

  Estévez spent last year with the Angels and Phillies, pitching to a 2.45 ERA with 50 strikeouts in 55 innings. In the postseason with Philadelphia, Estévez made three appearances, pitching 2 2/3 innings and surrendering two runs while recording four strikeouts.

  He was No. 28 on Yahoo Sports’ list of this winter’s top 50 free agents.

• Thu, January 30, 2025 at 6:28 AM GMT+8

  Reds reportedly acquiring Taylor Rogers from Giants

  Rogers has spent the past two seasons with San Francisco, posting a 3.06 ERA and throwing 128 strikeouts in 111 2/3 relief innings.

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  The Cincinnati Reds are finalizing a trade to acquire left-handed reliever Taylor Rogers from the San Francisco Giants, sources tell me and @kileymcd. Rogers, 34, is owed $12 million this season and adds a late-inning arm to Cincinnati’s bullpen. On the news: @ByRobertMurray.

  — Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) January 29, 2025

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  Thu, January 30, 2025 at 5:22 AM GMT+8

  What to make of Kim’s deal with the Rays?

  Amid an offseason of uncertainty for the franchise due to the damage done to Tropicana Field by Hurricane Milton, the Rays have quietly gone about their business in hopes of upgrading a roster coming off the franchise’s worst finish since 2017.

  This deal addresses an obvious short-term need in a similar fashion to the one-year pact with backstop Danny Jansen inked earlier this offseason. While Junior Caminero appears primed to seize the third-base job, shortstop projected as a position of weakness for the Rays. Taylor Walls is a tremendous defender but an abysmal hitter, and Jose Caballero profiles better in a utility role than as an every-day shortstop. The 21-year-old Carson Williams is one of baseball’s top overall prospects and spent all of 2024 at Double-A, but his strikeout issues suggest he might still be a year or two away from being ready to contribute in the big leagues. Kim represents an ideal bridge to Williams, whether he ends up opting out after 2025 or sticks around for both years of his deal.

  A fantastic glove in his own right, Kim offers similar defensive upside to Walls and far greater upside with the bat. The unknown with Kim — and surely the reason the 29-year-old had to settle for a deal much lower than what many projected — is how he’ll bounce back from shoulder surgery, which cut his 2024 season short. Walls and Caballero will likely continue to cover short to open the season, but the hope is that Kim can return in May and upgrade the position in a meaningful way. It’s a sensible landing spot for Kim and a nice upside play for a Rays franchise whose limited budget generally precludes them pursuing free agents capable of 4-plus WAR seasons.

• Thu, January 30, 2025 at 3:49 AM GMT+8

  Rays agree to two-year, $29 million deal with infielder Ha-Seong Kim

  Infielder Ha-Seong Kim is heading to the Tampa Bay Rays, agreeing to a two-year, $29 million contract with the team, per multiple reports. The deal reportedly includes an opt-out after the first season.

  Kim, who spent the past four seasons with the San Diego Padres, is recovering from shoulder surgery but is reportedly expected to return to play in May. He is expected to take over at shortstop in Tampa.

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  Thu, January 30, 2025 at 2:21 AM GMT+8

  Tigers reportedly in agreement with Tommy Kahnle

  The Detroit Tigers and right-handed pitcher Tommy Kahnle are in agreement on a one-year, $7.75 million deal, per multiple reports. Kahnle spent the previous two seasons with the New York Yankees, posting a 2.38 ERA with 94 strikeouts in 83 1/3 innings pitched.

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  Source confirms: Tommy Kahnle in agreement with Tigers on one-year, $7.75M contract. First with terms: @ByRobertMurray

  — Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) January 29, 2025

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  Wed, January 29, 2025 at 10:18 PM GMT+8

  Dodgers add RP Kirby Yates

  The former Texas Rangers closer has agreed to a one-year, $13 million contract with an additional $1 million in incentives for games played, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan.

  The Dodgers are now on track for a $379 million payroll, per Fangraphs’ estimate, which would be the largest payroll in MLB history. The 110% CBT surcharge would mean this deal is more like a $27.3 million deal for them.

  Yates is coming off one of the best seasons by a reliever in 2024, with a 1.17 ERA that ranked behind only Cleveland Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase for the best mark among relievers.

• Wed, January 29, 2025 at 7:11 AM GMT+8

  MLB The Show announces cover athletes: Paul Skenes, Gunnar Henderson, Elly De La Cruz

  For the first time ever, MLB The Show has three cover athletes: 2024 NL Rookie of the Year and Pirates ace Paul Skenes, 2023 AL Rookie of the Year and Orioles slugger Gunnar Henderson, and Reds All-Star shortstop Elly De La Cruz.

• Tue, January 28, 2025 at 2:14 AM GMT+8

  Is Steve Cohen right to complain about the Mets’ Pete Alonso negotiations?

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  Mon, January 27, 2025 at 6:12 AM GMT+8

  Ryan Pressly to the Cubs

  The Houston Astros stuck a deal on Sunday to send closer Ryan Pressly to the Chicago Cubs. Pressly waived his no-trade clause in order to make the deal happen.

  The 36-year-old held a 3.49 ERA in 56 2/3 innings last season with the Astros. The longtime veteran earned two All-Star nods during his seven-year run in Houston, with the most recent coming in 2021.

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  The Chicago Cubs are finalizing a trade to acquire closer Ryan Pressly from the Houston Astros, pending medical review, sources tell ESPN. Pressly will waive his no-trade clause to Chicago to facilitate the move, and Houston will send money to help cover his $14 million salary.

  — Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) January 26, 2025

• Sun, January 26, 2025 at 6:05 AM GMT+8

  Mets owner Steve Cohen gets candid about Alonso trade: “I don’t like what’s been presented to us”

  The New York Mets have been making big moves this offseason, including signing Juan Soto to a mega contract. But one stubborn piece of the Mets’ offseason has been trying to bring back Pete Alonso.

  At a fan fest event on Saturday, Mets owner Steve Cohen made it clear that negotiations are ongoing, but he is frustrated with the process.

  “Personally, this has been an exhausting conversation and negotiation. I mean, Soto was tough — this is worse,” Cohen said.

  With things dragging on, Cohen even hinted that the team might have to move on from Alonso if the two sides remain in limbo.

  “As we continue to bring in players, reality is [it] becomes harder to fit in Pete to what is a very expensive group of players that we already have,” he said.

  Read more here.

• 

  Sun, January 26, 2025 at 4:03 AM GMT+8

  Jose Altuve open to changing positions if it helps bring Alex Bregman back

  On the news that the Astros have reengaged with Alex Bregman, second baseman Jose Altuve was asked how he would help bring the longtime third baseman back to Houston.

  “For Alex, I’ll do whatever,” Altuve said. That reportedly includes moving to the outfield and allowing Isaac Paredes, who was acquired in the Kyle Tucker trade with the Cubs, to take his spot at second base.

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  “For Alex, I’ll do whatever,” Jose Altuve said. “Whatever I have to do for him to stay, I’m willing to do.”

  Yes, that includes moving to the outfield, Altuve said.

  — Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) January 25, 2025

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  Fri, January 24, 2025 at 10:58 AM GMT+8

  Astros renew talks with 3B Alex Bregman: Report

  Alex Bregman’s career with the Astros appeared to be over after Houston signed free-agent first baseman Christian Walker. However, with Bregman’s market apparently stalled, the Astros have resumed talks with the third baseman, who has played all nine of his MLB seasons with Houston, The Athletic reports.

  Bregman has reportedly attracted interest from the Red Sox, Blue Jays and Tigers. But his rumored pursuit of a contract in the five-year, $200 million range has apparently been an obstacle, as it was with the Astros.

  Houston made a six-year, $156 million offer to Bregman, and that deal is still available, according to reports.

  Bregman batted .260 with a .768 OPS, 26 home runs, 30 doubles and 75 RBI in 634 plate appearances last season for the Astros.

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  Fri, January 24, 2025 at 7:48 AM GMT+8

  What to make of Profar’s deal with Atlanta?

  Traditionally one of the more active teams each winter, Atlanta had been eerily quiet this offseason coming off its seventh consecutive trip to October. The Braves were one of just a handful of teams that had yet to sign a free agent to a guaranteed big-league deal this winter, but they finally got on the board with the addition of Profar on a three-year deal worth $42 million.

  The Padres — with whom Profar starred in his breakout 2024 season — have also yet to sign a major-league free agent this winter, and they surely would’ve loved a reunion with Profar. But San Diego’s ongoing ownership dispute and bloated payroll apparently made retaining Profar difficult. Instead, he joins a Braves team that had an unsettled left-field depth chart that projected to feature the largely unproven Jarred Kelenic and recent signee Bryan De La Cruz in a platoon of sorts. Now that duo can cover right field until Ronald Acuña Jr. returns from ACL injury, at which point Acuña should join Profar and center fielder Michael Harris II to form one of the more dangerous outfield trios in the National League.

  The switch-hitting Profar and his excellent on-base skills will provide some much-needed balance to a Braves lineup that severely underwhelmed in 2024. While Profar’s plate discipline has always been stellar, it was a notable uptick in power production supported by huge strides in his batted-ball quality that fueled his 2024 breakout that he has now parlayed into an eight-figure deal. Although he’ll no longer be a main character in the Dodgers-Padres rivalry, Profar could continue to play a key role for a team hoping to dethrone the champs in 2025.

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  Fri, January 24, 2025 at 5:58 AM GMT+8

  Jurickson Profar signs with Braves

  Outfielder Jurickson Profar has signed a three-year, $42 million deal with the Atlanta Braves, the team announced Thursday.

  According to the Braves, Profar, who was No. 15 on Yahoo Sports’ Top 50 MLB free agent list, will earn $12 million in 2025 and $15 million in 2026 and 2027.

  Last season with the San Diego Padres, Profar posted a career year, batting .280, hitting 24 home runs and driving in 85 runs with 10 stolen bases. Among National League left fielders, his 4.3 fWAR was highest, and he was above the 90th percentile in expected wOBA (.364) and expected batting average (.283). He was also the sixth-best hitter by wRC+ in the NL.

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  Fri, January 24, 2025 at 4:39 AM GMT+8

  Anthony Santander’s deal with Blue Jays includes $61.75M in deferred money, opt-out

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  Anthony Santander’s five-year, $92.5M includes $61.75M deferred, according to a copy of the deal viewed by The Athletic. Present-day overall value by union’s calculation is $68.6M with a $13.7M AAV.

  — Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) January 23, 2025

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  Santander deal includes opt out after third year. If he opts out, Jays can void it by increasing salary by $2.5M in each of final two years and exercising option for 2030 at $17.5M.

  — Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) January 23, 2025

• Fri, January 24, 2025 at 2:45 AM GMT+8

  Tanner Scott is officially a Dodger

  Read about his signing here.

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  Fri, January 24, 2025 at 12:32 AM GMT+8

  Roki Sasaki says Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto didn’t influence decision to join Dodgers

  The Los Angeles Dodgers celebrated their latest talent coup on Wednesday at Dodger Stadium, officially introducing Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki as a member of the team.

  After statements from Dodgers CEO Stan Kasten and president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman, Sasaki introduced himself through an interpreter before facing questions from media for the first time as a Dodger.

  The primary question concerned the influence of fellow Japanese Dodgers stars Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto on his decision.

  Read the full story here.

• Thu, January 23, 2025 at 4:14 AM GMT+8

  Guardians sign reliever Paul Sewald to 1-year deal

  The Cleveland Guardians are adding reliever Paul Sewald on a one-year, $7 million deal, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan. The contract includes a mutual option for 2026.

  Sewald spent the past season and a half with the Arizona Diamondbacks after a 2023 deadline trade from the Seattle Mariners. In 2024, he pitched 39 2/3 innings and posted a 4.31 ERA with 43 strikeouts.

• Thu, January 23, 2025 at 1:46 AM GMT+8

  Tim Anderson signing minor-league deal with Angels: Report

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  Former All-Star shortstop Tim Anderson signs a minor league deal with the Los Angeles Angels as he tries to revive his career with manager and infield guru Ron Washington.

  — Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) January 22, 2025