The St. Louis Cardinals and Houston Astros had outlined a trade that would have sent veteran third baseman Nolan Arenado and significant cash to Houston. However, Arenado utilized his full no-trade clause to block the deal, as is his contractual right. This does not necessarily mean that an Arenado-to-Astros trade is entirely off the table.

According to The Athletic, Arenado "remains open to exploring the idea," and both Houston and St. Louis will maintain contact regarding a potential deal. It's unclear how aggressively the Astros will continue their pursuit, but multiple team sources indicate Arenado preferred to wait until the third-base market is more established before making any decisions.

One reason for this wait could be the availability of Alex Bregman, currently a free agent and a long-time Astro. Bregman is likely a top choice for teams needing a third baseman and willing to meet market rates. By waiting, Arenado might gain more clarity on his market value and leverage. This could lead to renewed talks between the Astros and Cardinals. Other potential fits for Arenado include the Yankees, Mets, Red Sox, and Phillies (if they decide to trade Alec Bohm).

The Cardinals are looking to move Arenado as part of a broader youth movement and to clear salary commitments for 2025 and beyond. An eight-time All-Star and 10-time Gold Glove winner, Arenado has shown signs of offensive decline over the last two seasons, raising concerns as he approaches his age-34 season. Nevertheless, he remains a stellar defender at third base.

Arenado is owed $74 million over the next three seasons, but $10 million of that total will be covered by his former team, the Rockies. The Cardinals have also expressed willingness to include $15 million in cash in their talks with Houston, which would reduce the remaining commitment to below $50 million for any acquiring team. This assumes St. Louis ownership remains willing to pay down his contract to such an extent.

Cody Bellinger was thrilled to share the news of his trade to the New York Yankees with his father, Clay Bellinger, who previously played for the same team. During a Zoom call with reporters on Thursday, Cody expressed his excitement about joining the Yankees and following in his father's footsteps.

"It's truly wild," Cody said. "When I got the news, I called him, and he was very excited. He plays it all cool, but I know deep down he's really excited."

Bellinger reminisced about his childhood memories of his father's time with the Yankees, recalling home videos captured on a camcorder. "My parents did a good job of bringing the camcorder around, and back when I was younger in high school or even before that, we would watch home videos. So that's how I remember it a lot through the camcorder, but I still have some very solid memories of it," he added.

Clay Bellinger appeared in 181 games during his three seasons with the Yankees and was part of their World Series-winning teams in 1999 and 2000. With Cody joining the Yankees, they now become the fourth father-son duo to play for the team, following in the footsteps of Yogi and Dale Berra, Ron and Ike Davis, and Mark Leiter and Mark Leiter Jr.

Acquired by the Yankees in a trade that sent pitcher Cody Poteet and cash to the Chicago Cubs, Cody Bellinger is expected to fill a key role in the lineup and potentially play multiple positions. In a conversation with manager Aaron Boone, Cody emphasized his versatility, saying, "Whether it's left, center, if [Aaron] Judge gets a DH day, I'll play right. Or if you need me at first base, I'll play first. And I enjoy doing that stuff. ... Wherever they need me, I'm available and I like doing it and it excites me."

Last season with the Cubs, Bellinger appeared in 49 games in right field, 48 in center, and 22 at first base, while batting .266 with 18 home runs. Reflecting on his time at Wrigley Field, Cody acknowledged that playing conditions could be challenging due to the elements. However, he is enthusiastic about the prospect of playing at Yankee Stadium.

"Everything about it excites me," he said. "The organization, the fans, the stadium, the atmosphere, and I actually have only played there once, and that was in 2023, and it was a really cool moment. You don't want the elements of the field to dictate how you feel, whether it's a cold day or hot day, wind's blowing in, wind's blowing out. You kind of want to stay within yourself, stick with your plan, and that's for me just how I stay even keel."

The Chicago Cubs have been highly active in the trade market over the past week, but their latest negotiations have encountered a significant obstacle. According to Bruce Levine of 670 The Score, talks between the Cubs and the Miami Marlins for left-hander Jesús Luzardo have stalled after showing considerable momentum earlier in the week.

The exact reasons for the breakdown in talks remain unclear. Levine suggests that medical reviews might have caused the negotiations to falter. While it might seem logical to assume that Luzardo’s medical records were the issue, there is no concrete evidence to confirm this. It's equally plausible that the Marlins reviewed the medical records of one of the Cubs' prospects involved in the proposed trade and were not satisfied with what they found.

It remains to be seen whether the Cubs and Marlins will attempt to rekindle their negotiations or move on to other trade opportunities. For now, the deal for Luzardo appears to be on hold, leaving both teams to reconsider their next steps in the trade market.

Los Angeles Dodgers utility man Kiké Hernández was riding high after his team clinched the National League Division Series (NLDS) against the San Diego Padres. Perhaps feeling a bit too euphoric, Hernández's exuberance during a postgame interview led to an unexpected fine and almost more.

In a live interview with Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal, Hernández was asked what set the 2024 Dodgers apart, a team that had just advanced to the National League Championship Series (NLCS) for the first time in three years. With a mischievous grin, Hernández bluntly replied, "The fact that we don't give a f***," creating an immediate stir.

Despite the explicit language, the uncensored clip remains on Fox Sports' MLB account, reflecting the spontaneous nature of the moment. However, the league was not amused. In an interview on LeBron James' talk show, "The Shop," Hernández revealed that he was nearly suspended for Game 1 of the NLCS due to his remark. Thanks to the efforts of his agent at Wasserman and representatives from the MLB Players Association, he avoided the suspension but was still fined and had to issue an apology.

Hernández admitted that his apology was somewhat half-hearted, explaining, "I did get fined for that. I was going to get an even heftier fine and a game suspension, but having a good agent and a good players' union came in handy. They got rid of the suspension and lowered the fine a little bit, which was good. I did have to apologize, which you could say was 50/50 on the honesty part of it."

He further elaborated, "What I answered was my honest answer from the bottom of my heart, and I didn't think there was any other way of describing the team. I felt like I had already taken a while to think about my answer, because I didn't want to answer it that way. But when I asked if we were live, he said yes, and I figured, 'There's got to be some sort of delay.' There was no delay, and I was on live TV cussing. And there was a lot of criticizing that."

Spencer Horwitz, formerly of the Toronto Blue Jays, has found a new home with the Pittsburgh Pirates after an eventful day that saw him traded twice. The young first baseman is enthusiastic about his fresh start with the Pirates, particularly appreciating the potential of the team's young pitching staff.

Horwitz aims to make a significant impact with his quality at-bats and versatility across the infield, primarily focusing on first base but also capable of playing second. His journey to Pittsburgh included a brief stint with the Cleveland Guardians, highlighting the unpredictable nature of baseball trades.

The New York Mets have reached an agreement with right-hander Griffin Canning on a one-year, $4.25 million contract, reports Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. The deal, which is pending a physical, also includes an additional $1 million in performance bonuses.

Canning, 27, is aiming to make his return to the major leagues after a challenging few years. He debuted with the Seattle Mariners in the shortened 2020 season but struggled with injuries that limited his playing time over the next two years. After being released by the Mariners in 2022, he briefly joined the New York Yankees but continued to face injury setbacks, missing the entire 2023 season and part of the 2024 season on the minor league injured list.

The Tampa Bay Rays have signed right-handed reliever Joey Gerber to a minor league contract, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. As part of the deal, Gerber will receive a non-roster invitation to the Rays' MLB Spring Training camp.

Gerber, 27, is on a mission to return to the big leagues for the first time in five years. The Illinois native made his major league debut with the Seattle Mariners during the abbreviated 2020 season, where he pitched 15 2/3 innings, allowing eight runs (seven earned). Unfortunately, a forearm injury sidelined him for the better part of the next two years, leading to his release by the Mariners midway through the 2022 season.

After his release, Gerber signed with the New York Yankees but continued to struggle with injuries. He missed the entire 2023 season and spent the first half of this past season on the minor league injured list.

The Chicago White Sox have announced the signing of infielder Andre Lipcius to a minor league contract, via Daryl Van Schouwen, which includes a non-roster invitation to MLB Spring Training. This move brings Lipcius back to the American League Central, where he has spent the majority of his career.

Selected by the Detroit Tigers in the third round of the 2019 draft, Lipcius made his MLB debut with Detroit at the end of the 2023 season, posting a .286/.342/.400 slash line over 13 games. However, he was removed from the Tigers' 40-man roster last winter and subsequently traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers, who outrighted him just before Opening Day.

Lipcius, a right-handed hitter, spent the entire 2024 season with the Dodgers' Triple-A affiliate in Oklahoma City. He had a strong season, hitting 25 home runs and recording a .271/.351/.458 slash line in 140 games. He demonstrated patience at the plate with a 10.7% walk rate while maintaining a league-average strikeout rate of 22.8%. Despite his solid performance, he was not called up to the majors, leading him to elect minor league free agency at the season's end.

The Chicago White Sox recently introduced infielder Chase Meidroth and right-hander Wikelman Gonzalez to the local media, following their acquisition in a trade with the Boston Red Sox that saw left-hander Garrett Crochet head to Boston.

Meidroth, who is ranked as the 13th-best prospect in the White Sox organization by MLB Pipeline, is coming off his best professional season to date. Playing for Triple-A Worcester, he posted an impressive slash line of .293/.437/.400. Meidroth attributes much of his success to his college coach at the University of San Diego, Bob Ungricht.

“It’s just leaning into my strengths,” Meidroth explained. “I think I’ve always been a pretty decent bat-to-ball guy. I kind of figured out my whole approach when I got to college. [Ungricht’s] entire hitting philosophy, I really bought into it. I leaned on it the last three years of Minor League baseball. I’m really happy and really grateful for where he’s brought me in this game and led me to where I’m at.”

Gonzalez, the 14th-best prospect in the White Sox system, had a promising 2024 season with Double-A Portland. He appeared in 24 games, making 19 starts, and posted a 4.73 ERA. Most notably, Gonzalez shone in the second half of the season, recording a 1.84 ERA and holding opponents to a .149 batting average.

Reflecting on his season, Gonzalez acknowledged the mental hurdles he overcame. “I had a lot of stuff on my mind – I was thinking a lot,” Gonzalez said through interpreter Billy Russo. “Then I just cleared my mind, paid more attention to my bullpens, paid attention to details. That’s the reason I was able to get the results in the end. Not thinking too much. … I know I can trust myself, that I can pitch the way I always pitched just like I was as a kid. I realize once I do that, I tend to do a good job.”

Meidroth is expected to join the White Sox at big league camp in February, with a solid chance of making the Opening Day roster. His bat-to-ball skills make him a strong candidate to face major league pitching.

“I’m fired up,” Meidroth said. “It’s obviously what every player wants to hear. I’m not looking toward the regular season. I’ve got to get out to Spring Training first and take it day by day out in Arizona.”

The New York Yankees are gearing up for a significant meeting with Japanese right-hander Roki Sasaki, as confirmed by General Manager Brian Cashman to ESPN on Wednesday. Sasaki, ranked as the No. 7 free agent, won't be signing with any team until the 2025 international signing period opens on January 15. Given that he is under 25, Sasaki is subject to international bonus pool restrictions, meaning he will be limited to a minor league contract.

At just 23 years old, Sasaki is widely regarded as the most talented pitcher in the world who is not currently under contract with an MLB team. His pitching arsenal includes upper-90s fastballs, a devastating slider, and a splitter that has left batters flummoxed. The international bonus pools, which range from $4 million to $8 million annually depending on the market size, will play a crucial role in determining his contract. Unlike other top free agents like Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Sasaki isn't eligible for a massive contract, which levels the financial playing field for his suitors.

The Chicago White Sox announced on Wednesday that they have traded catcher Chuckie Robinson to the Los Angeles Angels in exchange for cash considerations. In a corresponding move, the Angels designated right-handed pitcher Davis Daniel for assignment to make room on their 40-man roster.

The trade likely opens up space for the White Sox to add righty Bryse Wilson, who reportedly agreed to a one-year deal with the team earlier in the day. Both teams currently have full 40-man rosters.

Robinson, 30, has played in parts of two major league seasons, appearing in 25 games with the Cincinnati Reds in 2022 and 26 games with the White Sox in 2024. While he has struggled offensively, with a combined .132/.170/.194 slash line in 135 MLB plate appearances, his defensive skills have been a bright spot. Robinson has received good marks for his framing and has demonstrated a solid caught-stealing rate, nabbing nine of 31 would-be base stealers in 2024 (29%).

The Chicago White Sox have bolstered their pitching staff by signing right-hander Bryse Wilson to a one-year contract worth $1.05 million. Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported these terms prior to the official announcement, noting that Wilson will compete for a rotation spot and can earn up to $250,000 in bonuses. The White Sox made room on their 40-man roster for Wilson by trading catcher Chuckie Robinson to the Angels.

For Wilson, who turns 27 on Friday, this deal serves as an early birthday present. Despite his relatively young age, he has already pitched in parts of seven major league seasons, having made his debut with the Atlanta Braves as a 20-year-old in 2018. Although Wilson was considered a top 100 prospect entering the 2019 season, his career thus far has seen him primarily serve as a swingman rather than an All-Star.

As Wilson joins the White Sox, he brings with him the experience of navigating the major leagues from a young age. This opportunity with Chicago offers him a chance to solidify a spot in the rotation and demonstrate the potential that once made him a top prospect.

The Detroit Tigers have bolstered their pitching depth by signing right-hander Ryan Miller to a minor league contract, as reported by Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press. Miller, who will turn 29 in March, receives an invite to the team's big league spring training and will earn $800,000 if he makes the major league roster.

Miller made his major league debut with the Los Angeles Angels in late August of 2024. In his brief stint, he pitched 13 innings, allowing six earned runs, striking out 11 batters, and issuing eight walks. Despite showing some promise, he was designated for assignment at the end of the season following the Angels' acquisition of Kyle Hendricks and was subsequently released.

Given the limited major league sample size, the Tigers are likely placing more emphasis on Miller's minor league performance. In 2024, he pitched 62 1/3 innings over 34 appearances at the Triple-A level, posting an impressive 2.45 ERA in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League. He also recorded a 24.6% strikeout rate and a 5.6% walk rate. His 2023 performance in Double-A with the Red Sox organization was similarly solid, with a 4.03 ERA, 25.8% strikeout rate, and 7.3% walk rate over 60 1/3 innings in 41 appearances.

The St. Louis Cardinals are actively exploring trade options for star third baseman Nolan Arenado this offseason. However, these discussions are complicated by Arenado's full no-trade clause, which allows him to veto any proposed deal. According to a report by Mark Feinsand, John Denton, and Brian McTaggart of MLB.com, the Cardinals were in discussions with the Houston Astros about a potential trade, but Arenado informed the team that he would not waive his no-trade clause to join the Astros.

The Cardinals are planning for 2025 to be a reset year, which has led to Arenado's name being frequently mentioned in trade rumors. During the winter meetings last week, Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak expressed his intention to pursue a deal. A trade could be mutually beneficial: Arenado, who turns 34 in March, could join a team with immediate competitive aspirations, while the Cardinals could free up salary space and give playing time to emerging talents like Nolan Gorman and Jordan Walker.

Despite the potential benefits, Arenado's no-trade clause gives him significant control over his future. Last week, it was reported that he would consider waiving his clause for six teams: the Angels, Dodgers, Padres, Phillies, Mets, or Red Sox. The Astros were notably absent from this list.

Following the trade of Cody Bellinger, the Chicago Cubs are now turning their attention to the free-agent reliever market to bolster their bullpen, as reported by MLB.com. Currently, the Cubs' bullpen features right-handers Porter Hodge, Tyson Miller, and Nate Pearson, but there's ample room for adding one or more veteran late-inning relievers to enhance their pitching depth.

Among the top 50 free agents, there are seven notable unsigned relievers that the Cubs might consider:
- Jeff Hoffman (No. 24)
- Tanner Scott (No. 27)
- Kenley Jansen (No. 30)
- Carlos Estévez (No. 34)
- David Robertson (No. 35)
- Kirby Yates (No. 36)
- A.J. Minter (No. 48)

In addition to these top-tier options, there are other potential lower-cost value additions such as Andrew Kittredge, José Leclerc, and Chris Martin. The availability of quality relievers in free agency provides the Cubs with multiple options to strengthen their bullpen.

The Cubs are in a prime position to enhance their late-game pitching strategy, whether by securing a reliable closer, setup man, or additional depth. With the market teeming with talent, the team can make strategic moves to improve their overall pitching staff and better prepare for the upcoming season.

Free-agent outfielder Teoscar Hernández is reportedly seeking a three-year contract worth between $22 million and $24 million annually, according to MLB.com. Despite the Dodgers' interest in a reunion, the team has yet to agree to his terms. The Toronto Blue Jays and Boston Red Sox are also in the mix, making this a competitive bidding war.

Hernández's demand is particularly appealing compared to fellow free-agent slugger Anthony Santander, who is seeking a five-year deal. With Mookie Betts moving back to shortstop in 2025, the Dodgers still need another outfielder. Their current outfield lineup includes Tommy Edman in center, with a mix of Michael Conforto, James Outman, Andy Pages, and Chris Taylor in the corners.

Initially, it seemed like Hernández's return to the Dodgers was a done deal, but the ongoing negotiations indicate that the team is hesitant about his asking price. The Dodgers recently signed Michael Conforto, but they still need to solidify their outfield for the upcoming season.

The New York Yankees have made a notable addition to their roster by acquiring former National League MVP Cody Bellinger from the Chicago Cubs in a trade. The deal also includes the Cubs paying $5 million to the Yankees, with right-handed pitcher Cody Poteet going to Chicago.

Bellinger, known for his versatility in the outfield and occasional play at first base, is expected to take over center field duties for the Yankees. This shift means that Aaron Judge will likely move back to right field, where he has spent the majority of his career.

Since 2020, Bellinger has primarily played center field, although he did appear in 49 games in right field in 2024. The offseason expectation was for Judge to return to right field for the Yankees after playing almost exclusively in center during the 2024 season. Judge's ability to adapt between center and right field showcases his defensive versatility and value to the team.

The addition of Bellinger in center and Judge in right likely pushes top prospect Jasson Dominguez to left field. This reshuffling aims to optimize the Yankees' outfield defense and overall team performance.

The Chicago White Sox have announced a rebranding of their stadium, changing the name from Guaranteed Rate Field to simply 'Rate Field' for the 2025 season. This change follows the rebranding of their sponsor from 'Guaranteed Rate' to 'Rate'.

The name change has sparked a wide range of reactions among fans. Some express disappointment, feeling that the new name lacks the inspiration and historical significance they cherished. Others have taken to social media with humorous alternative names like 'Third Rate Field' or 'Very Low Win Rate Field', a playful jab at the team's recent performance.

Many fans are also nostalgic for the stadium's original name, Comiskey Park, and have voiced their preference for a return to this classic moniker. The frequent changes in the stadium's name have led to a perceived lack of identity and continuity, which fans argue could impact the team's image and fan confidence.

The Milwaukee Brewers have unveiled their coaching staff for the 2025 season, featuring a notable new addition. Former MLB outfielder Julio Borbón has been hired as the team's first base coach. Borbón replaces Quintin Berry, who recently left to take the third base coaching job with the Chicago Cubs.

Borbón, 38, was known for his speed during his playing days, stealing 47 bases over 294 games in the Major Leagues. Most of his career was spent with the Texas Rangers between 2009 and 2011, with brief stints at the Cubs and Orioles in later years. After retiring as a player in 2019, Borbón transitioned into coaching, starting in the Yankees' system. He managed New York's rookie ball affiliate briefly before moving to a player development role with the Twins in 2022. This marks Borbón's first MLB coaching position.

The remainder of Pat Murphy’s second staff in Milwaukee includes:
- **Associate Manager**: Rickie Weeks
- **Lead Hitting Coach**: Al LeBoeuf
- **Hitting Coaches**: Eric Theisen and Connor Dawson
- **Pitching Coach**: Chris Hook
- **Assistant Pitching/Strategy Coach**: Jim Henderson
- **Bullpen Coach**: Charlie Greene
- **Third Base Coach**: Jason Lane
- **Field Coordinator**: Néstor Corredor
- **Assistant Coach**: Daniel De Mondesert
- **Infield Coach**: Matt Erickson

Adam McCalvy of MLB.com highlighted that the “strategy coach” component of Jim Henderson’s title is a new development. Henderson, a former closer, has been on staff as an assistant pitching coach for three seasons. With Walker McKiven leaving to become Will Venable’s bench coach at the White Sox, Henderson will now take on additional responsibilities in game planning.

The New York Yankees have made a major splash in the offseason by signing left-handed ace Max Fried to an eight-year, $218 million contract. This deal makes Fried the highest-paid left-handed pitcher in MLB history. The contract includes a $20 million signing bonus, with $10 million payable on January 31, 2025, and the remaining $10 million on January 31, 2026.

Here's a breakdown of Fried's annual salary:

• 2025: $12,000,000
• 2026: $12,000,000
• 2027: $29,000,000
• 2028: $29,000,000
• 2029: $29,000,000
• 2030: $29,000,000
• 2031: $29,000,000
• 2032: $29,000,000

Additionally, the contract includes a full no-trade clause, ensuring that Fried cannot be traded without his consent.

Fried, who spent his first eight seasons with the Atlanta Braves, has been one of the most consistent and reliable pitchers in baseball over the past five years. He boasts a career 2.81 ERA and has been a key contributor to the Braves' 2021 World Series championship. His addition to the Yankees' rotation, which already includes Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodón, solidifies New York's pitching staff as one of the most formidable in the league.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone expressed his excitement about the signing, stating, "He’s one of the game’s really, really good pitchers and has a really good track record now of success. He’s a special talent."

The Chicago White Sox have made a move to bolster their catching depth by acquiring Matt Thaiss from the Chicago Cubs in exchange for cash considerations. Thaiss, who spent the 2024 season with the Los Angeles Angels, brings a wealth of experience to the White Sox roster.

In 2024, Thaiss hit .204 with nine doubles, two home runs, and 16 RBIs over 57 games with the Angels. He was originally selected by the Angels in the first round of the 2016 First-Year Player Draft out of the University of Virginia. Over his six-year MLB career, Thaiss has a career slash line of .208/.313/.342 with 23 doubles, 22 homers, and 79 RBIs in 245 games.

Thaiss has also shown versatility, appearing in 142 games at catcher, 47 at third base, 31 at first base, one at second base, and one in left field. This flexibility will be a valuable asset for the White Sox as they continue to build a competitive roster.

After nearly two months of delays, the Pinellas County Commission has voted in favor of financing for a new $1.3 billion Tampa Bay Rays ballpark. This decision is part of a comprehensive plan aimed at keeping the team in St. Petersburg for another 30 years.

The "Here To Stay" plan was initially approved by the county commission and city officials in St. Petersburg over the summer. However, votes on the funding were more contentious and experienced delays. Earlier this month, the St. Petersburg City Council approved its share of the bonds required to build the new 30,000-seat ballpark.

On Tuesday, the county commission voted 5-2 in favor of funding the project through tourist or "bed" taxes, which are not allocated for uses such as hurricane recovery. Under the agreement, the city and county will cover about half of the ballpark's cost, while the Rays will handle the remaining expenses, including any cost overruns.

"We're upholding our part of the bargain," City Council Chair Deborah Figgs-Sanders said during a recent meeting. "We said we were going to do this. We're doing it. Now what you got?"

The county's share of the bond financing, approved on Tuesday, amounts to approximately $312.5 million. MLB commissioner Rob Manfred recently met with several skeptical commissioners to emphasize the project's significance and the league's commitment to maintaining a team in the Tampa Bay area. "He is committed to this market. Rob Manfred is the reason I am voting yes on this today," Pinellas County Commissioner Chris Latvala stated.

With the financing now in place, the Tampa Bay Rays and their supporters can look forward to a new state-of-the-art ballpark that will serve as a long-term home for the team in St. Petersburg.

The Detroit Tigers have announced that outfielder Akil Baddoo has cleared waivers and been outrighted to Triple-A Toledo. This decision came after Baddoo was designated for assignment last week as part of the corresponding move to accommodate the signing of Alex Cobb.

Baddoo first made headlines in 2021 as a Rule 5 success story, boasting a .259/.330/.436 slash line with 13 home runs across 461 plate appearances during his debut season. Despite this strong start, the left-handed outfielder has struggled to replicate his early success over the past three seasons. Between 2022 and 2023, Baddoo's performance dipped to a .212/.302/.331 slash line across 178 games. He spent most of the 2024 season on optional assignment, appearing in only 37 MLB games and posting a .137/.220/.301 line while striking out in 32.9% of his 82 plate appearances.

Baddoo's strikeout issues extended to Triple-A as well, where he struck out at a 26.5% clip over 377 plate appearances with Toledo. While he maintained a solid 12.7% walk rate, resulting in a respectable .340 on-base percentage, his overall offensive contribution was roughly league average for the International League.

Given these struggles, it was somewhat surprising that the Tigers offered Baddoo an arbitration contract with a projected salary of $1.6 million. As Baddoo looks to regain his form in Triple-A, the Tigers will continue to assess his development and potential contributions to the major league roster.

The Boston Red Sox may have missed out on signing free agents Juan Soto and Max Fried, but they made a significant splash this offseason by acquiring Garrett Crochet from the Chicago White Sox. In exchange, Boston sent a package of four prospects, headlined by catcher Kyle Teel and outfielder Braden Montgomery, their top picks in the last two drafts. This move secures Crochet for the Red Sox through the 2026 season, adding a multi-year contributor to their pitching staff, which already includes Tanner Houck, Kutter Crawford, Brayan Bello, and possibly Lucas Giolito, depending on his 2026 option.

However, the Red Sox are not stopping there. Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow emphasized the team's ongoing pursuit of additional rotation help during an appearance on MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM.

"Teams that win in the postseason, they pitch," said Breslow. "The ability to build out both quality and depth in our rotation is something that’s going to serve us well over the season. I think we saw what happened last year, when later in the season, our bullpen got tired, and we had a couple unfortunate injuries with our rotation. We didn’t quite have the depth built up to step in and replace them. So, that’s a focus of ours. We’ll continue to be aggressive in pursuing starting pitching, but we’ll also start to shift our focus to continuing to address the bullpen."

The addition of Crochet, known for his electric fastball and versatility, provides the Red Sox with a key piece to enhance their pitching depth. With a focus on both quality and depth, Boston aims to avoid the fatigue and injury issues that plagued their pitching staff last season.

The New York Yankees have struck a deal with the Chicago Cubs to acquire former National League MVP Cody Bellinger along with $5 million, according to a source from MLB.com. In return, the Cubs will receive right-handed reliever Cody Poteet.

Bellinger, who made his Major League debut with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2017, quickly rose to stardom. He won the NL Rookie of the Year Award in his debut season with an impressive 39 home runs and a .933 OPS. Two years later, he claimed the NL MVP title after hitting .305/.406/.629 with 47 homers.

Trade Details:
- Yankees receive: OF Cody Bellinger, $5 million
- Cubs receive: RHP Cody Poteet

Poteet, 30, has shown promise with a 2.22 ERA across 24.1 innings with the Yankees in 2024. He also has 58.2 innings of MLB experience from his time with the Miami Marlins in 2021 and 2022.

Bellinger's career took a downturn after his MVP season, but he revived it with the Cubs in 2023. Although he had a step back in 2024, hitting 18 home runs with a .751 OPS over 130 games, the Yankees are hopeful that he can regain his form.