Rangers' new staff may be piling up first-year coaches, but don't underestimate their ability to make a positive impact  —  They are treating this almost as if they are starting from scratch.  —  And maybe they are.  —  The Rangers have fallen on hard times, some of it self-inflicted …

NY Mets were open to Noah Syndergaard trade during summer; talks could heat up in winter  —  NEW YORK — If the Mets are going to trade Noah Syndergaard, Jeff Wilpon is expecting an offer that general manager Brodie Van Wagenen can't refuse.  —  “It all depends what Brodie thinks he can get back.

Phillies will spend big bucks in free agency, ‘maybe even be a little bit stupid about it’  —  ATLANTA — If anyone had any doubt about Philadelphia Phillies owner John Middleton's intentions this winter, he made it abundantly clear before leaving the Major League Baseball owners' meetings.

Astros acquire Aledmys Díaz from Blue Jays  —  Aledmys Díaz from the Blue Jays in exchange for minor league right-hander Trent Thornton, the teams announced Saturday.  —  Díaz, 28, was originally acquired by the Blue Jays last winter in a swap for minor leaguer J.B. Woodman.

Internal email from Mariners CEO says team did its own review of ex-employee's allegations and found no wrongdoing  —  In an email sent to Seattle Mariners employees Friday afternoon, team CEO and chairman John Stanton said the club did a “thorough internal review” of the allegations of racism …

With best years behind them, Giants face tough task of starting over  —  There is perhaps one positive way to look at the San Francisco Giants ' 2018 season.  In 2017, the team lost 98 games and finished 40 games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League West …

Yankees moving toward Sonny Gray trade  —  Significant interest in the beleaguered righty  —  The Yankees have multiple offers on the table for RHP Sonny Gray and are in the process of weighing them, according to major league sources.  —  GM Brian Cashman has been open about Gray's need …

Yelich near-unanimous pick as National League MVP; Carpenter finishes 9th  —  • Mookie Betts is ready to become an ambassador for baseball, now that he's won a batting title, World Series and Most Valuable Player award with Boston.  “I enjoy being kind of a face around the game.

Digging into Harper's defensive slide; Keuchel is more reliable than dominant; Syndergaard to Padres?  —  Not surprisingly, agent Scott Boras has an explanation for the sharp decline in Bryce Harper's defensive metrics during the 2018 season.  —  The explanation derives from another …

Angels To Sign Peter Bourjos  —  The Angels have struck a deal to bring outfielder Peter Bourjos back to the organization, MLBTR's Steve Adams reports on Twitter.  It'll be a minor-league pact for the 31-year-old.  —  Bourjos has seen action in each of the past nine MLB campaigns, the first four of those coming in Los Angeles.