7:00 AM ET As we navigate the holiday season, baseball fans can do so with a rare gift already in place. After a frenetic offseason, the heavy lifting of the hot stove campaign is arguably already complete. That’s almost unheard of for a sport that in recent years has seen offseasons move at a glacial

4:44 PM ET Associated Press HAVANA — The United States will permit Major League Baseball players from Cuba to represent their home country in the World Baseball Classic next year. The decision announced Saturday in a news release by the Baseball Federation of Cuba (FCB) could be a big step in once again turning Cuba’s

4:59 PM ET Associated Press TORONTO — Despite the initial shock, Daulton Varsho views his trade to the Toronto Blue Jays as potentially being one of the best things that could happen to him. The former Arizona Diamondbacks slugger was sent to Toronto for veteran outfielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and catching prospect Gabriel Moreno on

2:21 PM ET The New York Mets and free agent shortstop Carlos Correa are “working through” a medical issue after his physical with the team apparently showed the same right leg concerns which nixed a deal with the San Francisco Giants earlier in the week, according to a source familiar with the situation. Correa, 28,

Dec 22, 2022 Jeff PassanESPN Close ESPN MLB insiderAuthor of “The Arm: Inside the Billion-Dollar Mystery of the Most Valuable Commodity in Sports” THE ITINERARY WAS set. On Sunday night, Carlos Correa, his wife, son, parents, siblings and in-laws would descend on San Francisco and check in to their rooms on the 12th floor of

Dec 22, 2022 The shocking signing of Carlos Correa makes two truths about these new-look Mets perfectly clear: Steve Cohen is a dream come true for fans in Queens. And Steve Cohen is the nightmare other baseball owners have feared. With the addition of Correa on a 12-year, $315 million deal, Cohen has bought a

7:30 PM ET Tristan H. Cockcroft Daulton Varsho, one of the more fantasy-relevant catchers of the past two seasons, is on the move. With his trade to the Toronto Blue Jays, there’s a greater chance his days behind the plate will soon come to an end. Thankfully, he’ll carry his eligibility forward to 2023 thanks

7:08 PM ET ESPN News Services Free agent reliever Craig Kimbrel and the Philadelphia Phillies are in agreement on a one-year, $10 million contract, sources confirmed to ESPN’s Jeff Passan. The 14-year veteran and eight-time All-Star had an up-and-down first year with the Los Angeles Dodgers last season. Kimbrel posted a 3.75 ERA and a

9:21 AM ET ESPN News Services The San Francisco Giants made a pair of additions Friday, signing outfielder Michael Conforto to a two-year, $36 million contract and left-handed reliever Taylor Rogers to a three-year, $33 million deal, sources confirmed to ESPN. Conforto’s contract includes an opt-out after the 2023 season, sources told ESPN’s Buster Olney.

7:00 AM ET Alden Gonzalez Close ESPN Staff Writer ESPN baseball reporter. Covered the L.A. Rams for ESPN from 2016 to 2018 and the L.A. Angels for MLB.com from 2012 to 2016. Jesse Rogers Close ESPN Staff Writer Jesse joined ESPN Chicago in September 2009 and covers MLB for ESPN.com. Christmas is still ahead of