NEWS
Alex Rodriguez will join ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball booth this season. The crew will consist of him, Matt Vasgersian and Jessica Mendoza.
The BBWAA elected four new Hall of Famers. Chipper Jones (97.2), Vlad Guerrero (92.9), Jim Thome (89.8) and Trevor Hoffman (79.9). The next closest were Edgar Martinez (70.4), Mike Mussina (63.5), Roger Clemens (57.3), Barry Bonds (56.4), Curt Schilling (51.2), Omar Vizquel (37.0), Larry Walker (34.1), Fred McGriff (23.2), Manny Ramirez (22.0), Jeff Kent (14.5) and Gary Sheffield (11.1).
The Orioles confirmed that Manny Machado would be moving from 3B to SS this season.
TRANSACTIONS
The Giants have signed OF Austin Jackson to a 2 year/$6 million contract plus incentives.
The Padres signed Allen Craig to a minor league deal with a Spring Training invite. Craig was an All-Star with the Cardinals in 2013.
The Tigers signed SS Alexi Amarista to a minor league deal with a Spring Training invite.
The Mets have re-signed INF Jose Reyes to a 1 year/$2 million contract.
The Brewers have acquired OF Christian Yelich from the Marlins. The Marlins will receive 4 prospects: OF Lewis Brinson (Brewers #1 prospect), OF Monte Harrison (Brewers #6 prospect), 2B/SS Isan Diaz (Brewers #14 prospect) and RHP Jordan Yamamoto.
The Brewers have signed OF Lorenzo Cain to a 5 year/$80 million contract with no-trade protection.
The Giants signed RHP Chris Heston to a minor league deal with a Spring Training invite. Heston threw a No-Hitter with the Giants in 2015.
The Royals have re-signed SS Alcides Escobar to a 1 year/$2.5 million contract.
The Phillies signed RHP Francisco Rodriguez to a minor league deal with a Spring Training invite. K-Rod is a 6-time All-Star, last with the Brewers in 2015.
The D-Backs have signed RHP Neftali Feliz to a minor league with a Spring Training invite. Feliz was an All-Star and Rookie of the Year with the Rangers in 2010.
RUMORS
RHP Yu Darvish has reportedly received a couple 5-year offers.
The Blue Jays have shown interest in RHP Chris Tillman.
RHP Chris Archer expects to stay with the Rays for now.
The team most heavily engaged in trade discussions for Marlins C J.T. Realmuto is the Nationals.
The Brewers are now shopping OF Domingo Santana and OF Brett Phillips for a starting pitcher.
The Brewers have shown some interest in Indians RHP Danny Salazar.
The Dodgers could bring back UT Chase Utley.
The Mets are “weighing” four players as potential solutions at 2B and 3B. Free agents, Eduardo Nunez, Todd Frazier, Neil Walker and Josh Harrison via trade.
The Brewers and D-Backs had “extensive talks” about LHP Patrick Corbin at some point this offseason.