1. Shohei Ohtani
The elbow injury that will limit him to hitting in ’24 won’t prevent a record deal — although, true or not, some speculate he knows where he wants to go before even hearing every offer. The Dodgers are still seen as the favorite and they’re trying hard, but the Giants, Rangers, Cubs, Red Sox, Padres, Mets, Yankees, Mariners and incumbent Angels are linked to varying degrees, and the Dodgers can’t feel overly confident.

Expert 1: $535M, 11 years. Expert 2: $400M, 10 years (opt-out after 2024). Me: $600M, 10 years.

Me: $600M, 10 years.

I'm feeling like Gray to Atlanta will be announced shortly

1. Shohei Ohtani
The elbow injury that will limit him to hitting in ’24 won’t prevent a record deal — although, true or not, some speculate he knows where he wants to go before even hearing every offer. The Dodgers are still seen as the favorite and they’re trying hard, but the Giants, Rangers, Cubs, Red Sox, Padres, Mets, Yankees, Mariners and incumbent Angels are linked to varying degrees, and the Dodgers can’t feel overly confident.

Expert 1: $535M, 11 years. Expert 2: $400M, 10 years (opt-out after 2024). Me: $600M, 10 years.

@matt_cozzi
I’m hearing the Cubs have talked to the Blue Jays about Bo Bichette, who would play 3B for the Cubs.

This was first hinted at by @KFidds yesterday and @jonmorosi mentioned the Cubs interest in Bichette last year.

Bichette is signed through 2025 and would cost big return.

@BNightengale
The Seattle Mariners acquire catcher Seby Zavala from the Arizona Diamondbacks

@Feinsand
The D-backs are acquiring Eugenio Suarez from the Mariners, per source.

"Hall of Fame pitcher John Smoltz has landed a spot in the Final Stage of PGA TOUR Champions Q-School.

Ask and you shall receive! Dbacks get in on the action.

Yamamoto is a free agent pitcher at 25. What other (good) pitchers have ever been available to sign at 25 or 26 and what did they get ?

The Texas Rangers, Boston Red Sox and New York Mets, who were among the initial group of suitors, have turned their attention to other players, sources said. Among those confirmed by sources to be still in the bidding: the Los Angeles Dodgers, Chicago Cubs, Toronto Blue Jays and Angels.

Rays supposedly shopping Randy Arozarena

As an uninterested party, it would be really cool if Ohtani signed with the Blue Jays.

"The Braves have acquired outfielder Jarred Kelenic from the Mariners, per Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. Per Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times, left-hander Marco Gonzales and first baseman Evan White are also headed to Atlanta in the deal. In return, the Mariners will receive right-handers Jackson Kowar and Cole Phillips."

Kelly’s new pact with the Dodgers will guarantee him $8MM . . . Los Angeles passed on a $9.5MM club option on the ACES client last month, instead buying Kelly out for $1MM and sending him into free agency.

So, the Dodgers risked losing Kelly to another team to save $500,000? Maybe they need every last dollar for their Ohtani pool, but that seems a bit tightfisted.

You can't forget about that 1.5 mil savings on the salary cap, I'm sure that will factor in somewhere . . .

This is such a weird transition - I'm sure there are other players who've done it, but moving up the defensive spectrum (particularly going from outfield to infield) at age 30 can't be a common occurrence. (Which isn't to say it's a bad idea; he seems to be able to field the position just fine.)

More recently, due in part to increasing numbers of strikeouts and use of infield shifts, teams have become increasingly willing to move players to more difficult positions (rightward along the spectrum).[10] Players such as Ryan McMahon, Max Muncy, Travis Shaw, and Mike Moustakas have transitioned, either permanently or temporarily, from third base to second base as part of a trend of physically larger athletes being placed at the latter position.[2]

The Yankees and Red Sox have lined up on a rare major trade

Only thing I can think is that Tanks have an extension. With Boras worked out which gives Preller leverage

San Diego is asking for 2x to 3x more from NYY than hes valued at. Only thing I can think is that Tanks have an extension. With Boras worked out which gives Preller leverage.

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"Talks have reignited and intensified between the Yankees and the Padres." - @JackCurryYES

and should also be able to accommodate the Padres interest in adding a catcher.

SD also has a fellow named Gary Sanchez 113/109, age 30
and Austin Nola 30/96, age 33
and Brett Sullivan 48/48, age 29

the idea that catching chatter would move the needle even one inch in a Soto-to-Yankees package - I find that delightfully amusing.

Curry reported on air that King, Thorpe, Brito, Vasquez and catcher Kyle Higashioka are all likely to be included in the trade . . . . The deal still isn’t quite across the finish line but could be wrapped up this afternoon.