12:36 AM ET Jeff PassanESPN Japanese left-hander Yusei Kikuchi agreed to a deal with the Seattle Mariners late Monday night, delivering a New Year’s surprise for a team that has traded a number of foundational pieces already this winter, league sources familiar with the deal told ESPN. The 27-year-old Kikuchi was among the best free-agent
MLB
7:43 AM ET As the calendar turns to 2019, rumors of a Corey Kluber trade continue. A series of money-saving moves saw Yan Gomes, Yonder Alonso, Yandy Diaz, and Edwin Encarnacion traded from a division winner with Carlos Santana and Jake Bauers the principal returns. Cleveland looks to have a sizable advantage in its division
8:34 AM ET Jeff PassanESPN Close ESPN MLB insiderAuthor of “The Arm: Inside the Billion-Dollar Mystery of the Most Valuable Commodity in Sports” In November 2017, when baseball free agency ground to an unexpected halt, teams claimed that there was no nefariousness to the industry’s sudden sheepishness in signing players. They were simply waiting for
5:38 PM ET The Toronto Blue Jays acquired left-hander Clayton Richard and cash considerations from the San Diego Padres on Sunday, it was announced. Toronto will send minor-league outfielder Connor Panas to San Diego. Richard, 35, was designated for assignment last week by the Padres. He was 7-11 with a 5.33 ERA in 27 starts
11:46 PM ET Associated Press SEATTLE — The Seattle Mariners say they fired high-performance director Lorena Martin this season in part because she created a hostile work environment and ignored recommended treatments for injured players issued by team doctors. The Mariners’ claims were revealed in a filing in King County Superior Court in response to
9:13 PM ET ESPN News Services Catcher Jonathan Lucroy has agreed to a one-year, $3.35 million deal with the Los Angeles Angels, according to multiple reports. News of the agreement was first reported by Yahoo Sports. L.A. will be hard-pressed to overtake the Astros and A’s in the AL West. But the Halos have this
7:23 AM ET This winter’s free agent market is moving into its annual holiday freeze, slowing already brutal conditions for a players’ union still festering over the struggles for free agents last winter. Consider what we’ve seen so far this offseason: • The other day, Nelson Cruz — who has at least 37 homers in
9:23 AM ET Today is the last day that voters can turn in their ballots to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York, to determine which players — if any — among the 35 eligible to be elected by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America will gain the highest honor the game can
2:36 PM ET Associated Press TORONTO — Free-agent pitcher Matt Shoemaker has agreed to a one-year, $3.5 million contract with the Toronto Blue Jays, the team announced Friday. Shoemaker went 2-2 with a 4.94 ERA in seven starts with the Los Angeles Angels last season. The right-hander has been hampered by right forearm injuries over
9:09 AM ET Given a choice, should you correct somebody who mistakes you for somebody else, or go with their wrong impression? We’ve probably all been there at one time or another. But when Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Trevor Williams was confused for Bryce Harper, the All-Star slugger who’s this winter’s most in-demand free agent while