Dodgers Offered Nationals This Star In Pursuit Of Bryce Harper Trade  —  The Los Angeles Dodgers were willing to go to great lengths to acquire Bryce Harper a few months ago.  —  The Dodgers included Yasiel Puig in trade offers they made to the Washington Nationals in July and August …

J.P. Ricciardi leaving Mets after eight seasons  —  NEW YORK — J.P. Ricciardi is leaving the New York Mets after eight seasons.  —  The Mets announced his decision Friday, a day after the end of the annual GM meetings and 11 days after hiring Brodie Van Wagenen to succeed Sandy Alderson as general manager.

Cubs open to trading 3B Kris Bryant  —  Kris Bryant won the Rookie of the Year award in 2015, an MVP award the next season, and he will forever be remembered in Chicago for making the last play to clinch Game 7 of the Cubs' 2016 championship, grinning as he released the throw to first.

Great-grandpa wins Massachusetts lottery by playing numbers of Boston Red Sox stars  —  A Boston Red Sox fan won the lottery this week by playing the jersey numbers of some of the team's best players.  —  Jim Aylward Jr. of Templeton, Massachusetts won a $100,000 prize in the state's …

Marlins catcher J.T. Realmuto not distracted by trade rumors  —  TOKYO — Miami Marlins catcher J.T. Realmuto isn't letting trade rumors become a distraction either at home or in Japan, where he is currently part of an MLB All-Star tour.  —  Marlins president of baseball operations Michael Hill …

NL West offseason preview: Will Paul Goldschmidt, Nolan Arenado be dealt?  —  With free agency underway, the offseason is going to pick up steam.  What are the big questions facing all 30 teams?  Next up is the NL West, in which the Dodgers are trying to figure out how to take that last step to a World Series title.

Prospect Genesis Cabrera, a lefty, gets a winter look as power reliever  —  CARLSBAD, Calif.  • On the verge of being added to the 40-man roster so they don't lose him in the Rule 5 draft, prospect Genesis Cabrera is also getting familiar with a role in winter ball that the Cardinals …

Joe Mauer will officially retire from baseball  —  The Twins first baseman played 15 seasons in Minnesota, but concussion issues cut short his career.  —  TEXT SIZE  —  Joe Mauer lined a vintage Joe Mauer hit, slicing a double to left field in his final at-bat, then saluting the roaring crowd …

Looking for pitchers or an outfielder, Cincinnati Reds could be players in trade market  —  CARLSBAD, California - The Cincinnati Reds are expected to spend money in free agency as they look to improve their pitching, but they won't have an unlimited budget to sign all their top targets.

Blue Jays have made Hernandez's defence an off-season priority  —  LOS ANGELES — A lot of Blue Jays fans have been getting grouchy about Teoscar Hernandez, namely about his defence, which at times is an adventure.  —  But Jays GM Ross Atkins said this week at the MLB GM meetings …

Carlos Zambrano, 37, is pitching in the Venezuelan winter league.  Next stop, MLB?  —  Big Z is pitching again for Navegantes del Magallanes in the Venezuelan winter league.  (Photo courtesy of Carlos Zambrano)  —  Chicago Tribune  —  Don't look now, but Carlos Zambrano is pitching again at the age of 37.

Yankees reach out to Mariners to check on the availability of lefty James Paxton  —  The Yankees quest to add starting pitching has reached Seattle, where GM Brian Cashman has inquired of the Mariners about the availability of 30-year-old left-hander James Paxton.

Last Slide  —  Mets young star Ahmed Rosario is putting his skills on display in Japan.  —  In Friday's game of the Japan All-Star Series, Rosario crushed a home run against Samurai Japan and was 3-for-4 in the game - falling a triple short of hitting for the cycle.  Samurai won the game on a walk-off home run, 7-6.

Nobody Wants Baseball's 30-Something Free Agents Anymore  —  This MLB offseason, star players searching for contracts like Bryce Harper and Manny Machado are going to be fine.  But the majority of free agents in baseball this winter?  They might be in store for another long wait …