Sources: Free-agent lefty Yusei Kikuchi agrees with Mariners  —  Japanese left-hander Yusei Kikuchi agreed to a deal with the Seattle Mariners late Monday night, delivering a New Year's surprise for a team that has traded a number of foundational pieces already this winter, league sources familiar with the deal told ESPN.

Blue Jays acquire lefty Clayton Richard from Padres  —  TThe Toronto Blue Jays acquired left-handed pitcher Clayton Richard and cash considerations from the San Diego Padres on Sunday in exchange for Canadian outfielder Connor Panas.  —  The 35-year-old Richard went 7-11 …

Manny Machado's most recent Instagram follow will be of interest to Yankees fans  —  Manny Machado sure knows how to get a rise out of Yankee fans.  —  The top free agent prize has already dangled hints about wanting to don pinstripes, and he has potentially just done so again.

Pirates Sign Left-Handed Pitcher Tyler Lyons  —  The Pittsburgh Pirates have signed 30-year-old left-handed pitcher Tyler Lyons to a minor league deal.  Lyons spent part of 2018 with the St Louis Cardinals, posting an 8.64 ERA in 16.2 innings over 27 appearances.

Braves popular in Baseball America's ‘best tools’ poll  —  The Braves fared well in Baseball America's annual “best tools” poll, which consists of votes from managers, scouts and executives to rank players based on specific abilities following the 2018 season.

My Hall of Fame ballot had room for four additions.  Who were they?  Who got my vote again?  —  This voter's Hall of Fame ballot includes six holdovers from 2017 and four who received a vote for the first time.  —  JEFF WILSON  —  Ballots for the 2019 class of the National Baseball Hall …

The Best Players And Biggest Upsets Of 2018 In (Almost) Any Sport  —  As 2018 draws to its conclusion, we wanted to look back at the year in sports — the best (and worst) teams, the results that surprised us most and the athletes who inspired us.  On Friday, we covered the best and worst teams of 2018 …

Players may need drastic steps to stir stagnant market  —  This winter's free agent market is moving into its annual holiday freeze, slowing already brutal conditions for a players' union still festering over the struggles for free agents last winter.  —  Consider what we've seen so far this offseason:

Dodgers 2018 Player Review: Walker Buehler  —  Going into the 2018 season, Walker Buehler was the top prospect in the Los Angeles Dodgers organization, although he had yet to have success at the Major League level.  —  Due to an innings restriction in his second full season coming off Tommy John surgery …

Browns Rumors: Mike McCarthy Contacted by Cleveland About HC Vacancy  —  The Cleveland Browns “have made a preliminary inquiry with” former Green Bay Packers head coach Mike McCarthy, the Toronto Sun's John Kryk reported Sunday.  —  Gregg Williams replaced Hue Jackson on an interim basis after the Browns fired Jackson in October.