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.

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 …

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.

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 …

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 …

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 …

Giants owner evaluates Buster Posey, hiring Tony Vitello and Bruce Bochy's return to S.F.  —  Greg Johnson's annual Q & A with the Chronicle took place in the postseason for the first time, better to discuss the big news — Tony Vitello's hiring — but it comes with some new info, too.

Source: Red Sox in agreement with Cooper Criswell on major-league contract  —  The offseason is officially here for the Red Sox.  —  Right-hander Cooper Criswell and the Boston Red Sox are in agreement on a fully guaranteed major-league contract for $800,000, a source familiar with the deal said.