7:45 PM ET Associated Press LAS VEGAS — Having struck the first big move in the free agent market with a pending $102 million, five-year deal to retain All-Star closer Edwin Díaz, New York Mets general manager Billy Eppler understands it may take time to execute the next steps in his offseason plan. “If anybody

12:30 PM ET The 2022-23 MLB hot stove is heating up. Which teams will go all-in for a 2023 World Series push? Where will top free agents such as Aaron Judge, Trea Turner, Jacob deGrom and Carlos Correa sign? Who will make the trades that has everyone buzzing this offseason? Below is a running list

12:21 PM ET ESPN News Services LAS VEGAS — First baseman Anthony Rizzo became a free agent again when he declined his $16 million option with the New York Yankees for 2023. Pitcher Chris Bassitt declined his $19 million option with the New York Mets and followed rotation mates Jacob deGrom and Taijuan Walker into

1:56 PM ET Associated Press LAS VEGAS — The Houston Astros‘ six-game victory over the Philadelphia Phillies finished as the second least-watched World Series on television. The six games averaged 11,784,000 on Fox, down 1.3% from the 11,940,000 for the Atlanta Braves‘ six-game win over the Astros last year and ahead of only the 9,946,000

10:19 PM ET ESPN News Services The Philadelphia Phillies picked up starting pitcher Aaron Nola‘s $16 million option on Monday night, making his contract worth $59 million over five years. The exercising of Nola’s team-friendly option was among the moves made by the National League champion Phillies on the heels of their World Series defeat

9:52 PM ET ESPN News Services The Los Angeles Angels are not trading two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani this offseason, general manager Perry Minasian told a group of reporters Monday. Ohtani agreed last month to a one-year, $30 million deal with the Angels for the 2023 season, his final year before free agency, but speculation had

2:01 PM ET The Hall of Fame released its eight-player Contemporary Baseball Era ballot Monday, and it includes some familiar — and controversial — names: Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens and Curt Schilling. Other players to be considered for the class of 2023 include Albert Belle, Don Mattingly, Fred McGriff, Dale Murphy and Rafael Palmeiro. Notably

12:26 PM ET Associated Press The St. Louis Cardinals hired former slugger Matt Holliday, who helped the team win the World Series in 2011, as manager Oliver Marmol’s bench coach Sunday. Holliday replaces Skip Schumaker, who was hired last month as the manager of the Miami Marlins. The Cardinals also announced that Dusty Blake, who

10:05 AM ET The Los Angeles Dodgers are the consensus betting favorites to win the 2023 World Series entering an offseason that features several high-profile free agents, including Aaron Judge. Caesars Sportsbook has installed the Dodgers as the favorites at +500, followed by the reigning champion Houston Astros at +550. The Astros finished off the

11:22 AM ET Bookmakers on Saturday forked over what’s believed to be the largest payout in sports betting history — approximately $75 million — to a Texas furniture store owner who earlier this year plunked down $10 million in bets on the Houston Astros to win the World Series. Jim “Mattress Mack” McIngvale jumped for