ESPN and MLB decide to part ways, for now. The Robo Umps have a successful debut. Looking ahead to next year’s free agent class. And more news from around MLB.
Good morning.
- Evan Drellich and Andrew Marchand report that MLB and ESPN have “mutually agreed” to terminate their agreement to broadcast MLB games after this year. (The Athletic sub. req. but a non-paywalled summary here.) Basically, ESPN thinks they’re paying too much money for what they get and MLB thinks ESPN doesn’t promote MLB at all anymore.
- Brandon Kleen argues that the collapse of the agreement is really about local TV rights. The two sides could still come to a new agreement, however.
- As long as we’re on the subject of TV, the Mariners announced their new broadcast team after longtime play-by-play man Dave Sims left for the Yankees radio job.
- The NHL’s “4 Nations Face-off” that replaced their All-Star Week was a tremendous success. A roundtable discussion about whether MLB should do something similar with moving the WBC to July.
- Jayson Stark has everything you need to know about Robot umpires in Spring Training. (The Athletic sub. req.) A really good article with a lot different people commenting on the new system. Also, we now know that the player who Freddie Freeman said in the article he wouldn’t name who wouldn’t be allowed to challenge was Max Muncy.
- Bob Nightengale reports that after one game, there are no complaints about the ABS system.
- The Yankees and manager Aaron Boone have agreed to a two-year extension that will keep him in pinstripes through the 2027 season.
- Jake Mintz has more thoughts on Boone’s extension and the pressure that comes with managing the Yankees.
- With the whole controversy about the Red Sox Rafael Devers insisting that he’s the team’s third baseman, new signee Alex Bregman said he’d change positions to “wherever.”
- Players on other teams say that they have no problems with all the spending the Dodgers are doing.
- Reliever Lucas Sims agreed to a one-year, $3 million deal with the Nationals.
- The Astros signed Brendan Rodgers to a minor league deal amid talk that second baseman Jose Altuve could be moving to left field.
- Will Leitch has the best off-season acquisition for each division.
- ESPN’s Buster Olney is ranking the top ten players at each position. Here are his top second baseman (ESPN+ sub. req.) and his top third basemen (ESPN+ sub. req.).
- R.J. Anderson has the top free agents available for next winter. If Kyle Tucker would sign the deal outlined in this article, the Cubs should offer it to him tomorrow.
- Mike Axisa has ten more players who could be free agents next winter if they opt out of their deals.
- Of course, the biggest name on the market next winter is Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Matt Snyder ranks all 30 teams by how likely they are to sign Guerrero Jr.
- MLB dot com writers discuss their thoughts on the market for Vladito.
- Michael Baumann thinks it will be a turning point (and not in a good way) for the Blue Jays organization if they lose Guerrero Jr. He also looks at Vlad’s general market next winter.
- Sacramento and right fielder Lawrence Butler are having extension talks (The Athletic sub. req.) after his breakout sophomore season. (Non-paywalled summary here.)
- A roundtable discussion of the big questions and a preview of Spring Training. (ESPN+ sub. req.)
- MLB Pipeline has one prospect for each team to watch in Spring Training.
- Davy Andrews examines all the new pitches that pitchers say they’ve developed over the winter.
- Yusei Kikuchi said he’s “happy and honored” to get the Angels Opening Day start.
- The Athletics are bringing back their gold uniforms this year.
- Will Venable has been a hot managerial candidate for a couple of years now. Venable explains why he decided to take the White Sox job (The Athletic sub. req.) despite . . . (waves around Rate Field) . . . everything. Cody Stavenhagen reports.
- Cardinals Willson Contreras is moving to first base this season and said he thinks he’ll hit more home runs with his new, bulked up physique. That’s the 2025 version of Contreras saying he’s in “the best shape of his life.”
- Speaking of “the best shape of his life,” the gang at The Athletic compile and rank the top 12 baseball clichés of Spring Training. (The Athletic sub. req.)
- And finally, most players get something for giving up their number to a newly-signed superstar. But new Met Juan Soto surprise gifted Brett Baty with a brand-new luxury SUV for giving up his number 22 to Soto.