OHTANI, JUDGE, YANKEES-RED SOX, DODGERS-YANKEES, CUBS-CARDINALS, AND ADDITIONAL PREMIUM MATCHUPS HEADLINE 2026 SUNDAY NIGHT BASEBALL SCHEDULE AS MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL RETURNS TO NBC AND PEACOCK  —  Opening Day Doubleheader (Thurs., March 26):  —  · 2025 NL Cy Young Award Winner Paul Skenes …

Sources: 9 MLB teams end deals with Main Street Sports Group  —  In response to more financial instability from their regional sports network operator, and in hopes of providing themselves with some much-needed flexibility, nine Major League Baseball teams have terminated their contracts …

Sources: Yankees' negotiations with Cody Bellinger at an impasse  —  Contract negotiations between the New York Yankees and Cody Bellinger are at an impasse, league sources tell ESPN.  —  The Yankees were hoping to re-sign the veteran outfielder, who played well for them last season …

Tigers Ace Tarik Skubal Posts Short One Word Note After Arbitration Disrespect  —  The Detroit Tigers have angered their ace. … The Detroit Tigers entered the offseason with a major elephant in the room with regards to their superstar ace pitcher coming off his second straight American League Cy Young.

What the Brewers are looking for in a Freddy Peralta trade, plus more MLB offseason notes  —  If the Milwaukee Brewers are going to trade All-Star right-hander Freddy Peralta, they ideally will want the return to include a young, major-league ready replacement.

OF Max Kepler banned 80 games for violating MLB's drug program  —  Free agent outfielder Max Kepler was suspended 80 games Friday for violating Major League Baseball's drug program.  —  MLB announced Kepler tested positive for epitrenbolone, a performance-enhancing substance.

Phillies will meet with Bo Bichette as they weigh other roster changes: Sources  —  As the Phillies reach a possible inflection point in their offseason, they have scheduled a meeting with free-agent infielder Bo Bichette and done extensive work on the various roster ripple effects of signing him …

Aston Villa eye Tammy Abraham to help keep Premier League title challenge alive  —  Exclusive: Unai Emery wants to recruit specialist striker in January transfer window to provide support and competition for Ollie Watkins  —  Aston Villa are eyeing a move for Tammy Abraham as they look …

Inside the 36 hours that decided John Harbaugh's fate with the Ravens  —  The previous three-plus hours, and probably the past four months, looked like they had worn on John Harbaugh.  The Baltimore Ravens' normally ebullient 63-year-old coach was unusually subdued as he answered questions …

Diamondbacks will not trade All-Star second baseman Ketel Marte: Source  —  The Arizona Diamondbacks ended weeks of speculation about the status of All-Star second baseman Ketel Marte on Friday, determining they will not trade him, a person with the team told The Athletic.

Sources: Alex Bregman agrees to 5-year, $175M deal with Cubs  —  Third baseman Alex Bregman and the Chicago Cubs have agreed to a five-year, $175 million contract, sources told ESPN, landing the three-time All-Star with the Cubs one year after their failed pursuit of him in free agency.

GM Mike Hazen Explains Why D-backs Traded Jake McCarthy  —  Why did the Diamondbacks make this move? … On Saturday, the Arizona Diamondbacks announced a trade, sending outfielder Jake McCarthy to the Colorado Rockies in exchange for right-handed starting pitcher Josh Grosz, Colorado's No. 20 prospect.

2025-26 MLB offseason: Under-the-radar free agent fits  —  The MLB offseason reached its inevitable Christmas pause — and has yet to pick back up again, with the only recent major signings the three Japanese players who each signed just before their 45-day negotiating windows closed.

Giannis says he will never ask for trade from Bucks: 'That's not in my nature'  —  SAN FRANCISCO — If anyone wondered whether Giannis Antetokounmpo was feeling bogged down by all the trade rumors that constantly surround him these days, the answer was there for all to see outside …

Sources: Rockies add Michael Lorenzen to rotation on $8M deal  —  Right-hander Michael Lorenzen and the Colorado Rockies are in agreement on a one-year, $8 million contract with a club option, sources told ESPN on Wednesday, marking the first free agent signing under new president of baseball operations Paul DePodesta.