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.

Yankees' Cody Bellinger offer revealed as sides try to bridge gap  —  Star free agent Cody Bellinger and the Yankees remain in contract talks, but a disagreement over the length of the deal is still a sticky enough issue that both parties also continue to investigate alternate plans.

Where Mets stand in free agent Kyle Tucker sweepstakes  —  If the New York Mets are in the range of offering $120 million to $140 million over three years to free-agent outfielder Kyle Tucker, as league sources on Tuesday suggested is the case, the question is whether that will be enough.

Phillies Acquire Chase Shugart  —  The Phillies announced that they have acquired right-hander Chase Shugart from the Pirates.  Pittsburgh receives minor league infielder Francisco Loreto in return.  The Bucs had designated Shugart for assignment last week to open a 40-man spot for Ryan O'Hearn.

Stock Watch: Midwinter progress report for all 30 MLB clubs  —  The hot stove season is stuck in the middle.  When we last checked in, the winter meetings in Orlando, Florida, were set to begin, and we figured that a month later the heavy lifting of the 2025-26 offseason would be complete.

Cardinals Trade Nolan Arenado To Diamondbacks  —  After more than a yearlong residency on the rumor mill, Nolan Arenado's time in St. Louis is over.  The Cardinals announced Tuesday that they've traded Arenado and cash to the D-backs in exchange for minor league right-hander Jack Martinez …

As Phillies' Bo Bichette pursuit gains momentum, their openness to longer deals could win out  —  As rival clubs are beginning to view the Philadelphia Phillies as Bo Bichette's most serious suitor, a development even the Phillies would not have envisioned last month, the momentum toward a surprising match is difficult to ignore.

Mike Tomlin can pick his TV landing spot, with Fox the favorite  —  With Mike Tomlin deciding he no longer wants to be an NFL head coach, he can likely pick his TV studio job.  —  Fox, ESPN, NBC, CBS and Amazon Prime Video would all be better with Tomlin to impart his Tomlin-isms via the small screen.

Dave Giusti, saves leader for champ Pirates in '71, dies at 86  —  PITTSBURGH — Dave Giusti, a reliable reliever who spent 15 years in the majors and helped the Pittsburgh Pirates win the 1971 World Series title, has died.  He was 86.  —  The club, citing Giusti's family, said he died on Sunday.

Was Jonathan Kuminga restricted free agency's biggest loser?  Our writers weigh in  —  This offseason, four restricted free agents' negotiations with their teams dragged into September.  Two of the players, Brooklyn Nets guard Cam Thomas ($6 million) and Philadelphia 76ers guard Quentin Grimes …