Check out Mini-Ballbug for simple mobiles or Ballbug Mobile for modern smartphones.
12:00 PM ET, January 4, 2026

Ballbug

 Top News: 
Will Sammon / The Athletic:
Kona Takahashi will return to Japan instead of signing with MLB team: Source  —  Right-handed pitcher Kona Takahashi, whose posting window closes on Sunday, is going back to Nippon Professional Baseball, a league source told The Athletic.  —  Takahashi is set to return to the Seibu Lions …
RELATED:
ESPN:
Sources: Japanese ace Tatsuya Imai, Astros agree to 3-year deal  —  Star Japanese right-hander Tatsuya Imai and the Houston Astros are in agreement on a free agent contract, sources told ESPN's Jeff Passan on Thursday.  —  Sources confirmed to ESPN that Imai is getting a three-year contract …
Andrew Mearns / Pinstripe Alley:
Yankees sign veteran infielder Paul DeJong to minor-league deal  —  The New York Yankees' quiet offseason has continued into the new year as we sit about a month and a half from pitchers and catchers reporting to their spring training complex in Tampa.  On Sunday morning though …
Curt Hogg / JSOnline:
Brewers provide update on status of Jackson Chourio, other players in Venezuela  —  Outfielder Jackson Chourio is among the members of the Milwaukee Brewers currently in his native country of Venezuela, in the wake of the United States' capture of Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro in an overnight strike.
Discussion: New York Post
Dianna Russini / The Athletic:
What I'm hearing about the NFL coaching carousel and the changes coming in Vegas  —  The Athletic has live coverage of Panthers vs. Buccaneers and Seahawks vs. 49ers from NFL Week 18 action.  —  Sprinting the 25 feet from my front door to the car to escape the freezing air Saturday morning …
Jon Heyman / New York Post:
Yankees show interest in rival Bo Bichette in intriguing MLB free agency twist  —  Yankees show interest in rival in intriguing MLB free agency twist  —  Jets have one more chance to change their cruel Aaron Glenn irony  —  What's behind Rangers star's jarring Team USA snub for Winter Olympics
Mark Feinsand / MLB.com:
Where things stand with top 6 free agents  —  Tatsuya Imai became the first free agent to secure a deal in 2026, but there are some high-profile names still out there to be had.  —  With Spring Training only six weeks away, here's the latest on six available players who will have a huge impact on the 2026 season.
 
 Archived Page Info: 
This is a snapshot of Ballbug at 12:00 PM ET, January 4, 2026.

View the current page or another snapshot:


 
 See Also: 
Ballbug: site main
Ballbug River: reverse chronological Ballbug
Ballbug Mobile: for phones
Ballbug Leaderboard: Ballbug's top sources
 
 Subscribe: 
Ballbug RSS feed
 
 
 

 
From WeSmirch:

Bentley Maddox / E! Online:
Jean Smart Addresses Critics With Cheeky Best Actress Speech at 2026 Critics Choice Awards

Tess Hill / HELLO!:
Timothée Chalamet and Kylie Jenner are cozier than ever in photos from the 2026 Critics Choice Awards

Seth Abramovitch / The Hollywood Reporter:
Mickey Rourke Approves GoFundMe to Prevent Eviction (Exclusive)

 
Sister Sites:

Techmeme
 Top news and commentary for technology's leaders, from all around the web
Mediagazer
 Top news and commentary for media professionals from all around the web
memeorandum
 What US political commentators are discussing online right now
WeSmirch
 The top celebrity news from all around the web on a single page