New York Yankees

The New York Yankees have reportedly been informed that star Japanese pitcher Rōki Sasaki will not be signing with them this offseason, per Jack Curry of YES.

San Francisco Giants general manager Zack Minasian previously told reporters that the San Francisco Giants have also been told that Sasaki will not be signing with them, despite the two sides holding an in-person meeting this winter.

The New York Mets—who were considered "unlikely" to sign Sasaki by early Monday, according to Will Sammon of The Athletic—are out as well:

And finally, the Texas Rangers aren't making the cut:

According to Sammon, Dennis Lin and Andy McCullough of The Athletic, the Yankees, Mets, Giants, Rangers, San Diego Padres, Los Angeles Dodgers, Chicago Cubs and Toronto Blue Jays all held in-person meetings with Sasaki. The Dodgers and Padres are considered the favorites to land him, per that report.

Sasaki is arguably the most intriguing remaining free agent available, even if teams are limited to their international bonus pool money when making offers.

The 23-year-old has the potential to be a top starting pitcher at the MLB level, going 10-5 with a 2.35 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 129 strikeouts in 111 innings (18 games) during the 2024 Nippon Professional Baseball season in Japan. He also went 1-0 with a 3.52 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 11 strikeouts in 7.2 innings during the 2023 World Baseball Classic.

As for the Yankees and Mets, the two teams have been at the center of the baseball world this offseason. The Mets made the biggest splash in the sport, signing Juan Soto away from their crosstown rivals on a massive 15-year, $765 million deal. But they also signed Frankie Montas, Clay Holmes and Griffin Canning to the pitching staff and re-signed Sean Manaea.

The Yankees have pivoted well after the Soto loss, meanwhile, trading for Cody Bellinger, Devin Williams and Fernando Cruz while signing Max Fried and Paul Goldschmidt. Signing Sasaki would have further muted the sting of losing Soto.

"He's obviously a tremendous talent," general manager Brian Cashman told reporters in December regarding the talented Japanese starter. "It'd be nice to have Yankee Stadium be his home, but the decision will be up to him. All we can do is share everything and anything that we can about ourselves and what we provide."

Ultimately, their sales pitch to Sasaki didn't convince him to make the move to the Big Apple, with either the Dodgers or Padres now firmly in the driver's seat to land the young ace.

The New York Yankees are looking for a salary dump ahead of acquiring more infielder depth.

Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon of The Athletic reported that the Yankees are hoping to "clear money to acquire an infielder" but that the new player will not ba "a particularly high-priced one."

This news comes amidst rumors about the availability of pitcher Marcus Stroman on the trade market. He is under contract through 2025 with a vesting option for 2026.

Mark Sanchez of the New York Post reported that one infielder the Yankees have "checked-in on" is former Seattle Mariners infielder Jorge Polanco. He is a free agent and previously played on a five-year, $25.7 million contract.

The Yankees went 94-68 and won the AL Pennant. However, they lost the World Series to the Los Angeles Dodgers and have had a tumultuous offseason. It started when star outfielder Juan Soto signed with the cross-town rival New York Mets on a historic 15-year, $765 million contract.

Since then, the Yankees have signed left-handed starter Max Fried, first baseman and former NL MVP Paul Goldschmidt and also traded for star closer Devin Williams and outfielder Cody Bellinger in seperate deals. The team also re-signed ace Gerrit Cole and has a strong rotation that makes Stroman expendable.

Stroman went 10-9 with a 4.31 ERA in 154.2 innings in 2024. He did not pitch in the postseason but could filter in as a middle-of-rotation starter for another team.

Moving Stroman for an infielder of similar caliber could be intriguing but also dumping his salary to pursue a player like Polanco would help the Yankees prepare to make another run in 2025.

Two New York Yankees fans who grabbed Mookie Betts' wrist while he made a catch at the wall during Game 4 of the World Series have been banned "indefinitely" from MLB stadiums, according to Dan Martin of the New York Post.

MLB wrote in a letter to the fans obtained by the Post that the incident "posed a serious risk to the health and safety of the player and went far over the line of acceptable fan behavior."

"Based on your conduct, Major League Baseball is banning you indefinitely from all MLB stadiums, offices, and other facilities," MLB said.

The league warned the fans they could be arrested for trespassing if found on MLB property, according to Martin.

The fans, identified as Austin Capobianco and John P. Hansen, interfered with Betts as he jumped to make a catch in the bottom of the first inning on Oct. 29 at Yankee Stadium. One fan held Betts' wrist while the other attempted to pry the ball out of his glove.

Hansen and Capobianco were ejected from Game 4 and banned from Game 5. The Yankees and MLB "jointly" banned the pair from Yankee Stadium before MLB decided to prohibit them from attending any league event, per Martin.

Capobianco told ESPN's Jesse Rogers after the game that the incident had been part of his and Hansen's plan to "D up" if a foul ball came to them at the wall.

Capobianco later acknowledged in an interview with Barstool Sports (h/t the Post's Ryan Glasspiegel) that they "crossed the line" by grabbing Betts' wrist.

The Yankees said in a statement following the incident that the fans' actions had been "egregious and unacceptable."

"The safety and security of players, fans and Stadium staff is the foundational element of every event held at Yankee Stadium, and it cannot be compromised," the Yankees said.

The Yankees then announced the pair's Game 5 tickets had been given to a pediatric cancer patient and their family.

Betts, who shrugged off the incident immediately after the game, expressed frustration with the fans months after the Dodgers bounced back from the Game 4 loss to win the World Series.

"I get them trying to get the ball. Cool. But, like, you tried to grab my s--t," Betts said about the moment in a December appearance on Peacock's 2024 Back That Year Up With Kevin Hart and Kenan Thompson.

Betts continued: "I was in the moment. So I thought about throwing a ball at them. And then I realized, 'Mook, you ain't gonna do s--t. Go back to right field.'"

Initial reports from ESPN described Capobianco and Hansen both as season ticket holders. Martin reported the pair was sitting in seats owned by another season ticket holder, who was not in attendance at Game 4 and supported MLB's ban.

The ticket holder, who has held the tickets since 1990, will be allowed to keep the seats, according to Martin.

The New York Yankees and San Diego Padres reportedly aren't expected to discuss a trade involving second baseman Luis Arráez.

According to SNY's Andy Martino, the Yankees "briefly" checked in with the Padres "last November" but the two sides haven't discussed a deal since. The New York Mets haven't entered negotiations with San Diego either but could still be on the lookout for a veteran infielder, per Martino.

Arráez and the Padres settled at $14 million to avoid arbitration on Thursday, via Robert Murray of FanSided.

The Mets could still be in play for the three-time All-Star, though. Martino noted on Thursday that Arráez may be viewed as a "stopgap first baseman" by the team if the front office can't re-sign Pete Alonso in free agency.

ESPN's Jeff Passan previously reported that the Yankees showed interest in Arráez as well as Gavin Lux, and their desire to add the Padres' infielder may have increased after Lux was dealt from the Los Angeles Dodgers to the Cincinnati Reds on Monday.

New York is still on the lookout for Gleyber Torres' replacement at second base, as Torres signed a one-year contract with the Detroit Tigers on Dec. 27.

Arráez has won three consecutive batting titles, maintaining a career average of .323 and owning a .328/.371/.426 slash line since the start of the 2022 season.

Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported that he's "not seen as a fit" with the Yankees, though.

Concerns may stem from his shaky defense as well as a lack of power at the plate, hitting just 22 home runs in 1,892 plate appearances over the past three years.

The Yankees will continue their search for a new starting second baseman for the 2025 season, but a potential Arráez acquisition doesn't seem to be on the horizon.

The New York Yankees have added notable players such as Max Fried, Cody Bellinger, Devin Williams and Paul Goldschmidt this offseason, but teams are reportedly interested in whether they would be willing to give up one of their players in a trade.

Brendan Kuty of The Athletic reported Thursday that multiple teams "have checked in on" whether the Yankees would trade Oswaldo Cabrera this offseason.

"The 25-year-old is cheap, still a season away from salary arbitration eligibility, also plays the corner outfield spots, and won't be a free agent until after the 2028 season," Kuty wrote of the versatile player who is set to make $800,000 during the upcoming campaign.

Cabrera appeared in 108 games for the Yankees last season and slashed .247/.296/.365 with eight home runs, 36 RBI and four stolen bases.

He also played innings at first base, second base, third base, shortstop, left field and right field, underscoring his ability to fit into almost any lineup in the league with a formidable glove. Cabrera played the most innings at third base (566.1) and posted impressive plus-seven defensive runs saved above average at the hot corner, per FanGraphs.

While the offensive numbers don't jump off the page, his defense and potential stand out.

It wasn't long ago that MLB.com ranked him as the 14th-best prospect in the Yankees' system in 2022, and other teams are surely hoping he can fully tap into that potential with a change of scenery and perhaps more consistent playing time if New York trades him.

The New York Yankees have been one of the most active teams this winter, and it sounds like they're not done making moves.

Per Bob Nightengale of USA Today, the Yankees are "actively trying to deal starter Marcus Stroman and clear his $18 million salary."

Stroman signed a two-year, $37 million contract with the Yankees last offseason that included a conditional player option for the 2026 season. The Long Island native was back in his home state after spending three years with the New York Mets from 2019 to 2021.

In his first year in Pinstripes, Stroman appeared in 30 games with 29 starts and went 9-10 with a 4.31 ERA, a 1.47 WHIP and 113 strikeouts in 154.2 innings pitched. It was his highest ERA since 2018 when he posted a career-worst 5.54 ERA as a member of the Toronto Blue Jays.

Stroman's struggles toward the end of the 2024 regular season caused him to be left off the Yankees' 26-man roster for the ALDS. While he was added back to the roster for the ALCS, he didn't make a postseason appearance before New York went on to lose to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series in five games.

After losing star free-agent outfielder Juan Soto to the Mets, the Yankees pivoted by trading for closer Devin Williams and outfielder Cody Bellinger and signing starting pitcher Max Fried and first baseman Paul Goldschmidt. Nightengale noted that the Yankees "now are seeking a left-handed reliever and an infielder" and "have had talks with" free-agent lefty relief pitcher Andrew Chafin and infielder Brendan Rodgers.

Trading away Stroman could be the next step for the Yankees as they continue to reshape their roster in hopes of making another World Series run in 2025.

Missing out on Gavin Lux doesn't necessarily mean the New York Yankees will pursue Luis Arráez as their next starting second baseman.

The Yankees currently don't see the San Diego Padres infielder "as a fit," according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post.

MLB Network's Jon Morosi provided more background on where things stand between the Yankees and Padres:

The Yankees previously reached out to both the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Padres about potential trades for Lux and Arráez, respectively, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan.

The Dodgers instead traded Lux to the Cincinnati Reds, Passan reported on Monday.

The Yankees are seeking a replacement for Gleyber Torres, who left the club after three seasons as the team's primary second baseman in order to sign with the Detroit Tigers in free agency.

That made the Yankees a potential fit for Arráez, who could be on the trade block this winter. The San Diego Union-Tribune's Kevin Acee reported in December that the Padres had discussed trading him in order to free up payroll.

The 27-year-old is expected to earn around $13.7 million in his final season of arbitration before hitting free agency in 2026, per Spotrac.

After leading the NL with both a .314 batting average average and a career-high 200 hits during a 2024 campaign split between the Miami Marlins and Padres, Arráez could add offense to the Yankees' batting lineup following the departure of Juan Soto.

Arráez is also a left-handed hitter, making him a theoretical match for Yankee Stadium. He hit 28 home runs last year, but he would have recorded 38 in the Bronx, according to Baseball Savant.

The issue with Arráez's fit might stem instead from his work on defense. He recorded a .969 fielding percentage in 2024 while leading MLB in errors for a second straight season.

As Joel Sherman of the New York Post reported in November, Dodgers coaches and scouts told players ahead of the World Series the Yankees valued "talent over fundamentals" on the field.

If Yankees general manager Brian Cashman wanted to address that criticism this offseason, he could decide to prioritize finding reliable defense over offensive standouts.

Having already added Max Fried, Cody Bellinger and Paul Goldschmidt to their roster, the next move for the New York Yankees going into the 2025 season will likely be finding a starting second baseman.

Per ESPN's Jeff Passan, the Yankees have had discussions with the San Diego Padres about Luis Arráez and made an inquiry to the Los Angeles Dodgers about Gavin Lux to fill that second base void.

Gleyber Torres, who had been the primary second baseman in New York for the past seven seasons, left to sign a one-year, $15 million deal with the Detroit Tigers in free agency.

Arráez has popped up in trade rumors throughout the offseason. Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune reported on Dec. 12 that the Padres were discussing deals involving the three-time All-Star, as well as other unnamed players, to create some payroll flexibility that would allow them to patch up weak spots on the roster.

The 2025 season is the last of Arráez's current contract, and he will earn $13.7 million. He has won three straight batting titles and hit .314/.346/.392 in 150 games between the Padres and Miami Marlins last year.

Lux could be the odd man out in the Dodgers' infield mix after the team agreed to a deal with Hyeseong Kim on Friday. ESPN's Jesse Rogers reported Kim's deal is for $12.5 million over three years.

Kim does have positional versatility, having won the KBO Golden Glove Award as a shortstop in 2021 and as a second baseman in each of the past three seasons.

Lux has two years of team control remaining before he can become a free agent following the 2026 season. He is projected to earn $2.8 million this season. The 27-year-old is coming off a down year in 2024 with a .251/.320/.383 slash line in 139 games.

Yankees second basemen hit a collective .257/.330/.377 with 16 homers and 67 RBI last season.

Paul Goldschmidt believes the Bronx can bring out the best of his abilities.

The newly-signed New York Yankees first baseman spoke about his new opportunity and said that he believes he "can still play at a high level" after some struggles in 2024.

"I want to play at a high level. … The feeling was like, 'Man, I'm better than this,'" Goldschmidt said, per Brendan Kuty of The Athletic. "That was my feeling last year, but you've got to go out and prove it. If you don't perform, you're not going to be playing, and I think that's the truth in this game and in life and that's something we've all dealt with really our whole lives."

Goldschmidt spent the 2024 season with the St. Louis Cardinals and hit .245/.302/.414 with 22 home runs and 65 RBIs. While this was solid production, it wasn't up to the 37-year-old's previous standard, which includes seven All-Star selections and an MVP award.

He signed a one-year. $12.5 million deal with the Yankees this offseason and will venture to the American League for the first time in his 14-season career.

Goldschmidt joins a Yankee team that had struggles at the first base position when Anthony Rizzo missed time in 2024. He will provide a solid presence at the position and look to help a Yankees team get back to the World Series in 2025.

Second baseman Gleyber Torres divulged Saturday that the New York Yankees did not offer him a contract in free agency before he decided to sign with the Detroit Tigers this week.

According to MLB.com's Bryan Hoch, Torres said:

"After the World Series, I got a lot of phone calls from other teams and just focused to get an opportunity in another place. I feel like I have to play where somebody wants to give the best for me, and I just want to be available to do the best for the team.

"I've got great friends there, great communication with the entire organization. I feel proud of myself for being with the Yankees for seven years, but now I'm with Detroit and just really happy they gave me the opportunity to play next year. I think they have other priorities and I'm not on the list. I'm good."

After being a key contributor with the Yankees for seven seasons from 2018 to 2024, Torres agreed to a one-year, $15 million deal with the Tigers on Friday, per ESPN's Jesse Rogers.

New York acquired Torres from the Chicago Cubs in 2016 as part of a deal that sent closer Aroldis Chapman to the Windy City.

Torres established himself as one of the top prospects in baseball and was one of the best offensive middle infielders in the game during his first two seasons with the Yanks in 2018 and 2019.

The Venezuela-born righty was named an All-Star and finished third in American League Rookie of the Year voting in 2018 when he slashed .271/.340/.480 with 24 home runs and 77 RBI.

Torres followed that up with the best season of his career in 2019 when he hit .278/.337/.535 with a career-high 38 homers, 90 RBI and 96 runs scored.

While Torres has not come close to replicating those numbers since then, he has remained a strong source of power at the second base position, hitting 24 home runs in 2022 and 25 long balls in 2023.

Last season, Torres had a slash line of .257/.330/.378 with 15 homers, 63 RBI and 80 runs, but he was especially good after being moved into the leadoff spot, as he hit .292 after the All-Star break.

Torres also performed well during the Yankees' run to the World Series last season, slashing .241/.348/.397 with two home runs and eight RBI in 14 playoff games.

The Bronx Bombers lost superstar outfielder Juan Soto to the New York Mets in free agency this offseason, but they have been busy ever since, signing starting pitcher Max Fried and first baseman Paul Goldschmidt, and acquiring closer Devin Williams and outfielder Cody Bellinger in trades.

Torres' departure leaves the Yankees with an obvious hole at either second base or third base depending on where manager Aaron Boone plans to deploy Jazz Chisholm in 2025.

Alex Bregman, Ha-Seong Kim, Jorge Polanco, Whit Merrifield, Brendan Rodgers and Yoán Moncada are among the top free agents still available at those positions, plus third baseman Nolan Arenado could potentially be had in a trade with the St. Louis Cardinals.

As for Torres, he joins a Tigers team that surprised many by going 86-76, making the playoffs for the first time since 2014 and reaching the American League Division Series.

Detroit lacks a superstar hitter, but Torres' arrival gives the Tigers a solid core along with outfielder Riley Greene and infielder Colt Keith, plus reigning American League Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal.