Baseball notebook: Japan beats MLB All-Stars in opener  —  Yuki Yanagita hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the ninth inning Friday to lift Japan to a 7-6 win over the MLB All-Stars in the opening game of a six-game exhibition series in Japan.  —  Juan Soto, Carlos Santana and Amed Rosario …

Will the Yankees Pursue Bryce Harper?  — Sources inside the Yankees organization insist Bryce Harper is not in their plans.  Agent Scott Boras thinks he is.  So what's the answer?  —  Recently, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman indicated that he would like the team to stay under …

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 …

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 …

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.

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 …

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.

Dodgers Release Chase Utley To Facilitate Retirement  —  The Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday announced Chase Utley was granted an unconditional release in order to facilitate his official retirement.  Utley announced his plans to step away from the game in July.

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 …

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.