Top News:
Jeff Passan / ESPN:
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.
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Ken Rosenthal / The Athletic:
Four takeaways in wake of Alex Bregman's five-year, $175 million deal with Cubs — Here's four takeaways on free-agent third baseman Alex Bregman's five-year, $175 million free-agent agreement with the Chicago Cubs: — How the Cubs should follow up their big signing
Discussion:
The Boston Globe, CBS Sports, MLB.com, NESN.com, USA Today, Bleacher Report, masslive.com, Chicago Sun Times, Chicago Tribune, Boston.com, sports.yahoo.com, FanGraphs Baseball, Bleed Cubbie Blue, Sportsnet.ca, MLB Trade Rumors, cubsinsider.com, NBC Sports Philadelphia, New York Post and Phillies Nation
David Schoenfield / ESPN:
2025-26 MLB offseason: Under-the-radar free agent fits
2025-26 MLB offseason: Under-the-radar free agent fits
Discussion:
Gaslamp Ball
Buster Olney / ESPN:
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 …
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors, cubsinsider.com, Bleacher Report and MLB.com
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The Athletic:
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.
NBCSports.com:
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 …
Discussion:
New York Post, Bleed Cubbie Blue, MLB.com, Arizona Sports, Boston.com, Awful Announcing, Royals Review, NESN.com and True Blue LA
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Andrew Marchand / The Athletic:
David Cone will not return to ESPN's MLB coverage as NBC takes over ‘Sunday Night Baseball’
Discussion:
Awful Announcing, Pinstripe Alley, New York Post and New Jersey Online
D.J. Short / NBCSports.com:
MLB Returns to NBC and Peacock in 2026: Full schedule announced
MLB Returns to NBC and Peacock in 2026: Full schedule announced
Discussion:
Brew Crew Ball, Bleed Cubbie Blue and Battery Power
Jim Owczarski / Journal Sentinel:
Sources: Bucks have interest in trading for Ja Morant; Zach LaVine … With the NBA trade deadline less than a few weeks away on Feb. 5, will the Milwaukee Bucks make a move? This year the Bucks have some financial flexibility to acquire talent in a trade, and general manager Jon Horst …
Discussion:
The Athletic, sports.yahoo.com, Bleacher Report and Hoops Rumors
Alden Gonzalez / ESPN:
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.
Discussion:
Battery Power, MLB Trade Rumors, Yahoo Sports and The Athletic
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Michael Brauner / Sports Illustrated:
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.
Discussion:
New York Post, baseballmusings.com, MLB.com, The Athletic, Yahoo Sports, MLive.com, Bless You Boys and Sportsnet.ca
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Mike McGrath / Telegraph:
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 …
Discussion:
CaughtOffside and sports.yahoo.com
The Athletic:
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 …
Discussion:
Pro Football Rumors, Bleacher Report, Baltimore Sun, New York Post and Awful Announcing
Pat Ragazzo / Sports Illustrated:
Source: Mets have spoken to Nationals about MacKenzie Gore — The Mets are busy in the starting pitching market. … The New York Mets are heavily in on the starting pitching market. — The Mets recently spoke to the NL East rival Washington Nationals about left-handed starting pitcher MacKenzie Gore, as a source told Mets On SI.
Discussion:
Federal Baseball and Amazin' Avenue
South Bend Tribune:
Notre Dame says accusations against Marcus Freeman ‘unfounded’ — Austin Hough Kyle SmedleySouth Bend Tribune — This story has been updated with a statement from Notre Dame athletics. — Notre Dame Athletics is denying any physical contact occurred between head football coach Marcus Freeman …
Discussion:
New York Post, Chicago Tribune and Bleacher Report
Alex D'Agostino / Sports Illustrated:
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.
Discussion:
KOLD-TV, Arizona Sports, New York Post, AZ Snake Pit, MLB.com, Purple Row, Denver Post, MLB Trade Rumors and Yahoo Sports
The Athletic:
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.
Alden Gonzalez / ESPN:
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 …
Discussion:
Sportico, The Good Phight and Baltimore Sun
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The Athletic:
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 …
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Bob Nightengale / USA Today:
Phillies to meet with Bo Bichette as team explores roster shakeup
Phillies to meet with Bo Bichette as team explores roster shakeup
Discussion:
Toronto Star, Bleacher Report, cubsinsider.com, MLB.com, Phillies Nation, The Good Phight, Yahoo Sports and New York Post
