Mike Fiers, who pitched the most innings this season for the World Series champion Houston Astros but was left off their postseason roster, signs a one-year free agent deal with the Tigers worth $6 million.

ByTom

Mike Fiers, who pitched the most innings this season for the World Series champion Houston Astros but was left off their postseason roster, signs a one-year free agent deal with the Tigers worth $6 million.

In one of the most anticipated signings of this off-season, P/DH Shohei Ohtani agrees to a deal with the Angels. Because he is not yet 25, international bonus rules apply to him, so the deal will be for a paltry $2.32 million and he will be paid the major league minimum salary his first season. The Angels will need to pay his former team, the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, the $20 million posting fee, however. He will go on to win Rookie of the Year honors.

ByTom

In one of the most anticipated signings of this off-season, P/DH Shohei Ohtani agrees to a deal with the Angels. Because he is not yet 25, international bonus rules apply to him, so the deal will be for a paltry $2.32 million and he will be paid the major league minimum salary his first season. The Angels will need to pay his former team, the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, the $20 million posting fee, however. He will go on to win Rookie of the Year honors.

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.

ByTom

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.

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.

ByTom

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.

Amanda Hopkins is hired by the A’s as a full-time major league scout, becoming the first female to hold that position in over seventy years. The 22 year-old former Central Washington University softball captain, whose dad is a scout, joins Edith Houghton and Bessie Largent, who held similar positions with the Phillies and White Sox, respectively, in the 1930s and 1940s.

ByTom

Amanda Hopkins is hired by the A’s as a full-time major league scout, becoming the first female to hold that position in over seventy years. The 22 year-old former Central Washington University softball captain, whose dad is a scout, joins Edith Houghton and Bessie Largent, who held similar positions with the Phillies and White Sox, respectively, in the 1930s and 1940s.

The Winter Meetings are in full swing in Nashville, TN, and a number of deals are announced. The Cubs sign free agent 2B Ben Zobrist to a four-year deal, then trade incumbent Starlin Castro to the Yankees in return for P Adam Warren and a player to be named to clear out a starting spot for him. In another trade, the Diamondbacks acquire Ps Shelby Miller and Gabe Speier from Atlanta, but the price is steep: starting OF Ender Inciarte, SS Dansby Swanson, the top pick in the 2015 amateur draft, and minor league P Aaron Blair. The Cardinals trade OF Jon Jay to San Diego for 2B Jedd Gyorko, the Mariners land P Evan Scribner from Oakland for minor league P Trey Cochran-Gill, while C Tyler Flowers signs with Atlanta for two years and P Mark Lowe joins the Tigers, also on a two-year deal.

ByTom

The Winter Meetings are in full swing in Nashville, TN, and a number of deals are announced. The Cubs sign free agent 2B Ben Zobrist to a four-year deal, then trade incumbent Starlin Castro to the Yankees in return for P Adam Warren and a player to be named to clear out a starting spot for him. In another trade, the Diamondbacks acquire Ps Shelby Miller and Gabe Speier from Atlanta, but the price is steep: starting OF Ender Inciarte, SS Dansby Swanson, the top pick in the 2015 amateur draft, and minor league P Aaron Blair. The Cardinals trade OF Jon Jay to San Diego for 2B Jedd Gyorko, the Mariners land P Evan Scribner from Oakland for minor league P Trey Cochran-Gill, while C Tyler Flowers signs with Atlanta for two years and P Mark Lowe joins the Tigers, also on a two-year deal.

The Veterans Committee fails to elect anyone to the Hall of Fame from the “Golden Era” of 1947-1972, although three candidates come very close: with 12 of 16 votes needed, Tony Oliva and Dick Allen miss election by one vote, and Jim Kaat falls two votes shy.

ByThis Day in Baseball

The Veterans Committee fails to elect anyone to the Hall of Fame from the “Golden Era” of 1947-1972, although three candidates come very close: with 12 of 16 votes needed, Tony Oliva and Dick Allen miss election by one vote, and Jim Kaat falls two votes shy.

The White Sox make a big splash at the winter meetings in San Diego, CA as they sign closer David Robertson from the Yankees for four years and $46 million and are also rumored to have acquired P Jeff Samardzija from Oakland for 3B Marcus Semien, P Chris Bassitt and another prospect. That trade will be finalized on December 9th, with P Michael Ynoa also headed to Chicago, while C Josh Phegley and 1B Rangel Ravelo go to Oakland.

ByTom

The White Sox make a big splash at the winter meetings in San Diego, CA as they sign closer David Robertson from the Yankees for four years and $46 million and are also rumored to have acquired P Jeff Samardzija from Oakland for 3B Marcus Semien, P Chris Bassitt and another prospect. That trade will be finalized on December 9th, with P Michael Ynoa also headed to Chicago, while C Josh Phegley and 1B Rangel Ravelo go to Oakland.