MLB free agency is upon us, with the league’s winter meetings kicking things off in earnest on Monday in Dallas. The name on everyone’s lips is Juan Soto, but he’s not the only free agent who has a big decision to make this winter.
Here’s a quick look at where things stand so far this offseason:
Yankees GM Cashman doesn’t regret trade with Padres for Soto
New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said Monday at baseball’s winter meetings that he doesn’t regret trading for Juan Soto from the San Diego Padres last offseason.
The Yankees lost a free-agent bidding war to the crosstown Mets for Soto’s services on Sunday, leaving the Yankees to go to Plan B for their offseason. Last December, the Yankees traded a package of veterans and prospects for a year of Soto’s services.
“Listen, the Mets got a great player, so congratulations to them,” Cashman said Monday, per MLB.com. “Our work continues as we focus on our team and how to reconfigure. Our efforts on a year-in, year-out basis don’t change. We’re always trying to be the best team we possibly can be so we can get into the playoffs and take a shot at the World Series, so we’ll just obviously get back at it.”
As for the trade for Soto? Cashman says the Yankees are sorry only that they couldn’t cash the deal in via a World Series championship. The Yankees lost in the World Series to the Dodgers in five games.
“We went in with eyes wide open,” Cashman said. “We recognized he was a significant talent and he was going to upgrade us, and he did. It’s not a deal we regret.
“He impacted us in a heavy way. I’m just sorry we fell short in the World Series, but he — with others — had a great part in getting us where we did, becoming American League champs in 2024.”
Who other than Soto has signed so far?
Since the end of the World Series, the pitching market has been active, headlined by the Dodgers and Blake Snell agreeing to a five-year, $182 million deal.
But the Yankees made a splash of their own on Tuesday, agreeing to terms with Max Fried on an eight-year, $219 million deal, per ESPN’s Jeff Passan.
Elsewhere around the league, the Mets and Frankie Montas are also in agreement on a two-year, $34 million deal, while the A’s signed Luis Severino to a three-year, $67 million deal — the largest guaranteed contract in franchise history.
Waiting on Roki Sasaki
Japanese right-hander Roki Sasaki was posted Monday morning as the league’s winter meetings got underway, according to MLB Network’s Jon Morosi. Sasaki’s posting now opens a 45-day window, which begins Tuesday and runs through 5 p.m. ET on Jan. 23. Every MLB team is now allowed to attempt to sway the 23-year-old talent to sign when the international amateur signing period opens Jan. 15.
Because Sasaki is younger than 23, he is not eligible for the kind of deal his countryman, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, signed last year. Instead, he is limited to the international bonus pools, which are typically used to sign Latin American amateurs.
Waiting until 2025 will carry significant financial benefits for both Sasaki and his current team, the Chiba Lotte Marines of NPB. The international bonus pools reset when the new signing period starts in 2025, with every team having between $5 million and $8 million. Sasaki will get more money by waiting, and that matters to the Marines because the posting fee they receive will be 20% of his signing bonus.
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Follow along with Yahoo Sports as we track all the rumors, signings and more during MLB free agency:
Live19 updates
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Juan Soto joining Mets on $765M deal
It’s Juan Soto to the New York Mets via the richest known deal in the history of sports.
The New York Yankees slugger received the most anticipated payday of the offseason on Sunday, agreeing to a 15-year, $765 million deal with the Mets, according to multiple reports.
For full details on the record-shattering contract, read here.
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All-Star starting pitcher Max Fried reportedly agrees to $218M deal with Yankees
Max Fried will be wearing pinstripes next season. (Matthew Grimes Jr./Atlanta Braves/Getty Images) Two-time All-Star pitcher Max Fried is joining the New York Yankees on an eight-year $218 million deal, ESPN’s Jeff Passan reports.
Per the report, it’s largest guaranteed contract for a left-handed pitcher in MLB history. Fried joins the Yankees two days after they reportedly lost a bidding war to the New York Mets for slugger Juan Soto, free agency’s top prize.
The lefty starter declined a one-year, $21.05 million qualifying offer from the Braves in mid-November, opting to instead enter free agency. Fried had signed a one-year, $15 million deal with Atlanta heading into the 2024 season.
Read the full story here.
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Yimi García returning to the Blue Jays
Yimi García spent last season with both the Blue Jays and the Seattle Mariners. Now, he’s got a deal to head back to Toronto.
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2B Thairo Estrada heading to the Rockies
The 28-year-old Estrada hit .217 and drove in 47 runs in 96 games and posted a .590 OPS last season with the San Francisco Giants.
The 1-year deal is reportedly worth $3.25 million with a mutual option for 2026 ($750,000 buyout).
A wrist injury affected Estrada’s 2024 season, and in August he was removed from the Giants’ 40-man roster and sent to Triple-A Sacramento.
Thairo Estrada has agreed to a one-year Major League deal with the Rockies, per source.
— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) December 10, 2024
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Where the pitching market stands
Multiple MLB team execs tell me prices for FA pitchers are high, and relatively few clubs are willing to pay them.
This creates incentives for *contenders* to listen to trade offers on their starting pitchers.
Framber Valdez is one. Dylan Cease is another.@MLBNetwork
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) December 10, 2024
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Shohei Ohtani ‘unlikely’ to be ready to pitch for Dodgers in Japan to open next season
Although it would be an incredible moment, Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani is “unlikely” to pitch for the team in its games in Japan to start next season.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Monday that Ohtani, who is still recovering from elbow surgery he underwent at the end of his time with the Los Angeles Angels, almost certainly won’t be ready to pitch in L.A.’s two games against the Chicago Cubs in Tokyo in March, according to The Athletic’s Fabian Ardaya. Ohtani is also recovering from shoulder surgery he underwent after the World Series to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder.
Ohtani is expected to be available as a hitter to start the season. Roberts said the team will be “nimble” with Ohtani’s workload and will come up with a plan to ramp him up so he can start pitching again.
Read the full story here.
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Yankees GM Brian Cashman doesn’t ‘regret’ trading for Juan Soto
New York Yankees general manager Brian Cahsman said Monday at baseball’s winter meetings that he doesn’t regret trading for Juan Soto from the San Diego Padres last offseason.
The Yankees lost a free-agent bidding war to the crosstown Mets for Soto’s services on Sunday, leaving the Yankees to go to Plan B for their offseason. Last December, the Yankees traded a package of veterans and prized prospects for a year of Soto’s services.
“Listen, the Mets got a great player, so congratulations to them,” Cashman said Monday, per MLB.com. “Our work continues as we focus on our team and how to reconfigure. Our efforts on a year-in, year-out basis don’t change. We’re always trying to be the best team we possibly can be so we can get into the playoffs and take a shot at the World Series, so we’ll just obviously get back at it.”
As for the trade for Soto? Cashman says the Yankees are sorry only that they couldn’t cash the deal in via a World Series championship. The Yankees lost in the World Series to the Dodgers in five games.
“We went in with eyes wide open,” Cashman said. “We recognized he was a significant talent and he was going to upgrade us, and he did. It’s not a deal we regret.
“He impacted us in a heavy way. I’m just sorry we fell short in the World Series, but he — with others — had a great part in getting us where we did, becoming American League champs in 2024.”
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Juan Soto’s former manager invoked a different Judge while discussing his reported deal
Padres manager Mike Shildt was thrilled for Juan Soto getting his massive deal reminding everyone that Judge Judy was earning $47 million a year: ‘And I don’t think she really threw a really good curveball or a slider.’’
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) December 9, 2024
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SP Alex Cobb, Tigers agree to 1-year deal
The 37-year-old Cobb made only five appearances between the regular season and postseason with the Guardians last season.
He pitched 16 1/3 innings over three regular-season starts, recording a 1.04 WHIP and 2.76 ERA. Cobb did not start his season until August after undergoing left hip surgery and dealing with an injured right shoulder.
Free-agent right-hander Alex Cobb in agreement with Tigers on one-year contract, sources tell @TheAthletic. Deal is pending a physical.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 9, 2024
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Juan Soto’s old manager speaks on his reported megadeal with Mets
Nationals manager Dave Martinez on how happy he is for Soto: “I love Juan. I can sit here and say that I’m the only manager who won the World Series with him. How about that?”
— Deesha (@DeeshaThosar) December 9, 2024
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RP Jordan Romano signs 1-year deal with Phillies
The 31-year-old Romano made only 15 appearances last season with the Blue Jays. His season was cut short in July after he underwent surgery to repair an impingement in his right elbow. Two months later, he was shut down for the year.
Over six years in Toronto, Romano recorded 105 saves in 229 2/3 innings pitched. He struck out 285 batters in 231 winnings with a 1.14 WHIP and a posted a .205 opponent batting average.
After allowing Jeff Hoffman and Carlos Estevez to walk in free agency, the Phillies begin reshaping their bullpen with the addition of Romano.
The Phillies are close to a one-year deal with Jordan Romano, sources tell me and @feinsand. The deal is still pending physical.
— Todd Zolecki (@ToddZolecki) December 9, 2024
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Will Garrett Crochet be traded this week?
The Brewers are among the teams still engaged with the White Sox on Garrett Crochet, sources say. @MLBNetwork
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) December 9, 2024
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Are the Mets just getting started?
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Roki Sasaki posted, opening 45-day negotiating window
Japanese right-hander Roki Sasaki has been posted now that the MLB winter meetings are underway, according to MLB Network’s Jon Morosi.
Sasaki’s posting opens a 45-day window, which begins Tuesday and runs through 5 p.m. ET Jan. 23. Every MLB team is now allowed to attempt to sway the 23-year-old talent to sign when the international amateur signing period opens Jan. 15.
With Sasaki’s posting period opening today, all signs point to him signing with an @MLB team between Jan. 15 and Jan. 23.
The new @MLB international signing period (for all players) begins Jan. 15, and Sasaki’s posting window closes Jan. 23. @MLBNetwork https://t.co/gVcZmnCgdX
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) December 9, 2024
Because Sasaki is younger than 23, he is not eligible for the kind of deal his countryman, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, signed last year. Instead, he is limited to the international bonus pools, which are typically used to sign Latin American amateurs.
Read the full story here.
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For the Yankees, losing Juan Soto to the Mets is about more than baseball
For 327 halcyon days, Juan Soto was a New York Yankee.
It was a glorious, swashbuckling tenure. One filled with swaggering acts of baseballing dominance — no-doubt homers and defiant bases on balls and gestures of love to hordes of adoring bleacher creatures. A perfect match, they said. Soto, a monumental player born to play for baseball’s most monumental outfit. In ALCS Game 5, with an at-bat for the ages and a swing for the books, Soto sent the Yankees to the World Series. It all felt like just the beginning.
Late Sunday night, that joyride came to a sudden, thudding and definitive end.
Mets owner Steve Cohen extended an eye-popping, paradigm-shifting, 15-year, $765 million contract to make that possible. It is not just the largest deal in MLB history; it’s the largest deal in sports history. Cohen, one of the planet’s 100 richest souls, was willing to reach heretofore unthinkable heights to bring Soto to Queens. He outbid the Yanks, plain and simple.
Read the full story here.
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It’s been a journey to the Mets for Juan Soto
Juan Soto posted this picture of himself at Citi Field to Instagram years back as a member of the Nationals.
Now, Soto is reportedly heading to Queens ➡️ pic.twitter.com/vbXsLtQkr7
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) December 9, 2024
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The Mets meant business
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Michael Conforto to Dodgers
Earlier Sunday, the Dodgers struck a deal with Michael Conforto, poaching him from the NL West rival Giants. Conforto is joining the World Series champion Dodgers on a one-year, $17 million contract, according to multiple reports.
Conforto’s is one of a number of deals already by the Dodgers, who kicked off the offseason in November by signing two-time Cy Young winner Blake Snell, also from the Giants.
For full details, read here.
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Blake Treinen remains with Dodgers
With the dust not yet settled on the news of the Juan Soto contract, news broke that reliever Blake Treinen has agreed to a contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The 36-year-old righty will return to Los Angeles for his fifth season with the franchise, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan.
Right-handed reliever Blake Treinen and the Los Angeles Dodgers are in agreement on a contract, sources tell ESPN.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 9, 2024
