Top News:
Jeff Passan / ESPN:
Guardians' Emmanuel Clase, Luis Ortiz indicted for pitch rigging — Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz were charged with fraud, conspiracy and bribery stemming from an alleged scheme to rig individual pitches that led to bettors winning hundreds of thousands of dollars …
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Adam Morris / Lone Star Ball:
Clase, Ortiz indicted, per report — Cleveland pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz have reportedly been indicted on gambling-related charges — Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz have been indicted on charges related to gambling shenanigans, according to Jeff Passan, with Ortiz having been arrested this morning.
Discussion:
Yahoo Sports
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.
Discussion:
Yahoo Sports
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.
Discussion:
AZ Snake Pit, The Good Phight, TheSportingTribune.com, Athletics Nation, New York Daily News, OnPattison and Boston Herald
Aaliyan Mohammed / Newsweek:
Phillies' Bryce Harper Allegedly Threatened to ‘End Up In a Ditch’ by MLB Deputy: Agent — The Philadelphia Phillies had a strong regular season, but ultimately fell short of the World Series again. The Los Angeles Dodgers' superteam ended up defeating the Phillies in the postseason on their way to another World Series win.
Discussion:
Forbes, Bleed Cubbie Blue, baseballmusings.com, Lookout Landing and The Good Phight
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.
Discussion:
MLB.com
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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.
Discussion:
Athletics Nation, Gaslamp Ball, Pinstripe Alley, McCovey Chronicles, Bless You Boys and Covering the Corner
Kiley McDaniel / ESPN:
Rankings, contract projections for top 50 2025-26 MLB free agents
Discussion:
Marquee Sports Network, Into The Fountains and NESN.com
USA Today:
MLB free agent predictions: Where will these top players sign for 2026? — Jesse Yomtov Gabe Lacques Bob NightengaleUSA TODAY — As Major League Baseball's hot stove gets fired up for the winter of 2025-26, rumors are swirling about where the game's best free agents will be signing in the months to come
Discussion:
NESN.com
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.
Discussion:
Denver Post, FanGraphs Baseball, KUSA-TV, Purple Row, Yahoo Sports, MLB.com, Plain Dealer, baseballmusings.com, New York Post and Arizona Sports
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Associated Press:
San Diego Padres hire former reliever Craig Stammen as manager — The San Diego Padres have hired former reliever Craig Stammen to be their manager. Stammen got a three-year contract to begin his first managerial job at any level of the sport. — The longtime right-handed reliever retired …
Discussion:
MLB.com, McCovey Chronicles, ESPN, The Athletic, San Diego Union-Tribune, Gaslamp Ball, USA Today, Federal Baseball, UPI, Yahoo Sports, Arizona Sports and MLB Trade Rumors
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Kevin Acee / San Diego Union-Tribune:
Padres hire Craig Stammen as manager
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors, MLB.com, Gaslamp Ball, New York Post and Yahoo Sports
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 …
Discussion:
Kings of Kauffman, MLB Trade Rumors 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 …
Discussion:
CBS Sports and MLB.com
