In the annual Rule 5 draft, the Padres end up with the top three picks. Picking third, they make pre-arranged deals with the Twins and Reds, who hold the first two draft slots and select P Miguel Diaz and C Luis Torrens, respectively. Both teams send their selections San Diego’s way and with their own pick, the Pads then select IF Allen Cordoba, completing the unprecedented trifecta.

The news out of the winter meetings in National Harbor, MD is that the Yankees have brought back closer Aroldis Chapman on a five-year, $86 million contract. The Yankees sent Chapman to the Cubs at last year’s trading deadline in return for a boatload of prospects; the fireballer then helped the Cubs clinch their first World Series title in over a century before returning to the Bronx Bombers as a free agent.