Top News:
Jeff Passan / ESPN:
Sources: Japanese home run king Munetaka Murakami posts — Japanese star third baseman Munetaka Murakami is entering the posting system Friday, officially starting the process of one of the most anticipated free agencies of the winter, sources told ESPN. — Murakami, 25, owns …
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Associated Press:
Power-hitting infielder Munetaka Murakami enters MLB posting system, can be signed until Dec. 22 — NEW YORK — Power-hitting Japanese corner infielder Munetaka Murakami is entering Major League Baseball's posting system and will be available to teams to sign as a free agent from Saturday through Dec. 22.
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Mark Feinsand / MLB.com:
Japanese slugger Murakami set to be posted — The countdown for Munetaka Murakami's move to the Majors is officially underway. — All 30 Major League clubs will be informed on Friday that Murakami has been posted by the Tokyo Yakult Swallows, with his official negotiating window set to open on Saturday morning at 8 a.m. ET.
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The Good Phight, MLB Trade Rumors, OnPattison, Athletics Nation, Boston Herald and New York Daily News
MLB Trade Rumors:
2025-26 Top 50 MLB Free Agents With Predictions — MLB Trade Rumors is proud to present our 20th — yes, 20th — annual Top 50 Free Agents list! These are the top 50 MLB free agents by our estimation of their earning power. To view the full 2025-26 free agent list, click here.
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Sports Illustrated:
MLB Free Agent Rankings and Signing Predictions — Baseball's offseason has officially begun. Where will Kyle Tucker, Bo Bichette and other premier free agents end up? — As the baseball world comes down from the high of what was an all-time great World Series, the MLB calendar waits for no one.
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TWSN Sports and MLB.com
Kiley McDaniel / ESPN:
Rankings, contract projections for top 50 2025-26 MLB free agents — The MLB offseason is officially here! As free agency kicks off at 5 p.m. ET on Thursday, it's time to rank the 2025-26 free agent class and predict how much money each player will get. — Let's start with a quick rundown …
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Marquee Sports Network, Into The Fountains and NESN.com
Robert Murray / FanSided:
Source: Red Sox in agreement with Cooper Criswell on major-league contract
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Boston Herald, masslive.com, MLB Trade Rumors and NESN.com
The Athletic:
Rockies to hire Browns' Paul DePodesta as head of baseball operations: Sources — In a stunning career shift, Paul DePodesta soon will leave the Cleveland Browns to become the Colorado Rockies' head of baseball operations, according to sources briefed on the move.
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Denver Post, Defector, MLB Trade Rumors, Purple Row, Pro Football Rumors, CBS Sports, USA Today, Plain Dealer, MLB.com and Lone Star Ball
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Jeff Passan / ESPN:
Sources: Rockies to hire DePodesta to run baseball operations — The Colorado Rockies are finalizing a deal to hire Paul DePodesta to run their baseball operations department, sources told ESPN, turning to the longtime executive to overhaul a stagnant organization coming off a 119-loss season.
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FanGraphs Baseball, Denver Post, MLB.com, KUSA-TV, Purple Row, Amazin' Avenue, Yahoo Sports, Plain Dealer, baseballmusings.com, New York Post and Arizona Sports
Kevin Acee / San Diego Union-Tribune:
Padres hire Craig Stammen as manager — The Padres have hired a new manager. — The choice is outside the box but from inside the organization. He is relatively unknown by many who follow the game but highly respected by many in the game. — Craig Stammen, who spent six years …
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MLB.com, Gaslamp Ball, The Athletic, New York Post, MLB Trade Rumors, Yahoo Sports and baseballmusings.com
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New York Post:
Don Mattingly leaving Blue Jays after World Series heartbreak - with two managing jobs open — Don Mattingly has decided to step away from his Blue Jays bench coach job, but not with the intention of retiring from baseball, The Post has learned. — Mattingly had been with the Blue Jays …
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New Jersey Online, MLB.com, Sports Illustrated, Forbes, The Athletic, MLB Trade Rumors, OnPattison, Bluebird Banter and Sportsnet.ca
Jackson Roberts / Sports Illustrated:
Royals Waive 5-Year Veteran Lefty After Dismal Season — Second time was not the charm... Relief pitching is incredibly volatile in Major League Baseball. — The Kansas City Royals signed left-hander Sam Long to a minor-league contract last year, and he turned in the best season …
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Kings of Kauffman and Royals Review
Rob Longley / Toronto Sun:
Blue Jays will be ‘in the market’ as star shortstop Bo Bichette hits free agency — ‘We will be in on his market,’ GM Ross Atkins said when asked about Bichette, who became a free agent at 5 p.m. on Thursday — If there is one thing that Ross Atkins has been consistent …
