2025 MLB Farm System Rankings For All 30 Teams  —  Image credit: Kristian Campbell (left) and Roman Anthony (Photo by Tayla Bolduc/Worcester Red Sox)  —  The American League East still has the best farm system in baseball, but the crown has shifted to Boston entering the 2025 season following Baltimore's …

Yankees Claim Braden Shewmake  —  The Yankees announced Wednesday that they've claimed infielder Braden Shewmake off waivers from the Royals.  He'll bring their 40-man roster to capacity, meaning New York will now need to make a roster move once lefty Tim Hill's deal is finalized.

Sources: Pete Alonso returning to Mets on 2-year, $54M deal  —  Slugger Pete Alonso and the New York Mets are in agreement on a two-year, $54 million contract, sources told ESPN on Wednesday, ending a lengthy free agency with a return engagement to the only team for which he has played.

Alex Cohen will be full-time backup to Cubs TV voice Jon Sciambi on Marquee Sports Network  —  Alex Cohen will be the backup play-by-play voice for Cubs broadcasts on Marquee Sports Network starting this season, the Sun-Times has learned.  —  Cohen, formerly the lead radio and TV voice …

Journeyman outfielder Tommy Pham signs 1-year deal with Pittsburgh Pirates: Sources  —  Free-agent outfielder Tommy Pham has agreed to a one-year, $4 million contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates, league sources said.  The contract is a major-league deal, with an additional $250,000 in incentives.

MLB fires umpire Pat Hoberg for sharing betting accounts with pro poker player who bet on baseball  —  Major League Baseball has fired umpire Pat Hoberg after he shared sports betting accounts with a professional poker player who bet on baseball.  —  In a news release, the league said it found …

How banned Yankees fan Austin Capobianco's life has changed since his infamous World Series moment  —  Austin Capobianco has grown accustomed to the blowback.  It's been more than three months since the 38-year-old Connecticut man grabbed and pried open the glove of Los Angeles Dodgers right …

NBA Intel: Lonzo Ball, Nikola Vucevic, Brandon Ingram Trade Talks; Lakers, Warriors, Knicks, more  —  Following blockbuster trades involving Luka Doncic, Anthony Davis, and De'Aaron Fox, teams are moving urgently, only two days before the NBA trade deadline.

Nationals Star Second Baseman Reportedly Wants Long-Term Contract From Team  —  The Washington Nationals star second baseman reportedly is looking for a contract extension from the team.  —  If everything works out for the Washington Nationals, they're going to have one of the best groups of young talent in Major League Baseball.

Alex Bregman watch: Detroit Tigers still in mix despite signing Jack Flaherty  —  The window is open for the Detroit Tigers to make a run for the World Series while reigning Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal remains under contract for the next two seasons, but free-agent third baseman Alex Bregman could be the final piece of the puzzle.

Sam Kennedy: Red Sox have taken ‘aggressive approach,’ still have ‘ability to add’ to roster  —  BOSTON — In November, Red Sox president/CEO Sam Kennedy said there was an “extreme urgency” within the organization to have an aggressive offseason and get back to competing for an American League East title in 2025.

Former Baltimore Orioles infielder Rich Dauer dies at 72  —  Rich Dauer, an infielder who played a decade in the major leagues and won a World Series as a player with Baltimore and as a coach with Houston, has died.  He was 72.  —  The Orioles announced Dauer's death Monday.