Left-handed reliever Cam Booser, who enjoyed a strong rookie season as a 32-year-old this year, was acquired by the Chicago White Sox in a trade with the Boston Red Sox on Saturday.

• Boston obtained minor league right-hander Yhoiker Fajardo in the deal.

  Booser went 2-3 with one save and a 3.38 ERA in 43 relief appearances for the Red Sox in 2024. He struck out 43 and walked 16 in 42 2/3 innings.

  Booser arrived in the majors 13 years after making his minor league debut. He was out of the minors from 2018-20 and took work as a carpenter.

  Fajardo, 18, went 1-4 with a 3.91 ERA in 13 starts in rookie-level ball this year. He struck out 64 and walked eight in 50 2/3 innings.

  The White Sox designated outfielder Corey Julks for assignment to clear a spot for Booser on the 40-man roster.

  Julks, 28, hit .214 with a .275 on-base percentage, a .306 slugging percentage, three homers and 14 RBIs in 66 games for Chicago this year. In two major league seasons, including 2023 with the Houston Astros, Julks has a career .234/.289/.335 batting line with nine homers and 47 RBIs in 159 games.

  --Field Level Media

The Arizona Diamondbacks acquired All-Star first baseman Josh Naylor from the Cleveland Guardians on Saturday in exchange for right-handed pitcher Slade Cecconi.

• Cleveland will also receive Arizona's 2025 Competitive Balance Round B draft pick. Shortly after the trade was announced, the Guardians also signed veteran first baseman Carlos Santana to a one-year, $12 million deal, according to multiple reports.

  Naylor made his first All-Star team last season, which he finished with 31 home runs and 108 RBIs, both career-highs, in 152 games. He will fill the void created by the departure of Christian Walker, who reportedly agreed to a three-year, $60 million free-agent deal with the Houston Astros on Friday.

  Naylor, 27, was originally a first-round draft pick by the Miami Marlins in 2015. In 598 games through six seasons, he has belted 84 homers to go with 343 RBIs, a .444 slugging percentage and a .767 OPS.

  Cecconi, 25, posted a 6.66 ERA in 20 appearances, including 13 starts, with Arizona last season. He also posted a 3.06 ERA in 18 games with five starts for Class AAA Reno in 2024.

  The 6-foot-4, 220-pounder was the Diamondbacks' Competitive Balance Round A selection (33rd overall) in 2020 out of the University of Miami. In three minor-league seasons, Cecconi has a 20-19 record with a 4.73 ERA.

  Santana, 38, has played 10 of his 15 major league seasons with Cleveland. He owns a career .242 batting average with 324 home runs in 7,400 at-bats.

  Santana played in 150 games for Minnesota last season, batting .238 with 23 homers and 71 RBIs.

  --Field Level Media

As news of the passing of baseball legend Rickey Henderson spread Saturday, former teammates, players and others affiliated with the game expressed their condolences and shared their memories.

• Henderson, a 10-time All-Star and the all-time stolen base leader, died on Friday at age 65 after a bout with pneumonia, multiple outlets reported.

  "For multiple generations of baseball fans, Rickey Henderson was the gold standard of base stealing and leadoff hitting," MLB commissioner Robert D. Manfred said. "Rickey was one of the most accomplished and beloved Athletics of all-time. He also made an impact with many other Clubs during a quarter-century career like no other. Rickey epitomized speed, power and entertainment in setting the tone at the top of the lineup. When we considered new rules for the game in recent years, we had the era of Rickey Henderson in mind.

  "Rickey earned universal respect, admiration and awe from sports fans. On behalf of Major League Baseball, I send my deepest condolences to Rickey's family, his friends and former teammates, A's fans and baseball fans everywhere."

  Typified by an everlasting love of the game, the "Man of Steal" was inducted in the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2009.

  Fellow Hall of Famer Wade Boggs expressed his condolences, noting that Henderson would be dearly missed.

  Statement from the New York Yankees:
  
  Rickey Henderson was an all-time great player who commanded our attention like few players before or since, transcending our traditional understanding of how elite and thrilling a single player could be in in the batter's box and on the... pic.twitter.com/qeduKLmoUO

  — New York Yankees (@Yankees) December 21, 2024

  The Raiders Family mourns the passing of Rickey Henderson. pic.twitter.com/cbrNd1RgBN

  — Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) December 21, 2024

  Absolutely devastated to hear that Rickey Henderson passed away! Prayers to his family. Truly grateful I was able to pick his brain and just soak up a little bit of the knowledge he passed on. Sad day in sports, but legends never die! Rest easy Man of Steal. pic.twitter.com/sq4bA11ex1

  — Cameron Maybin (@CameronMaybin) December 21, 2024

  There has never been a more dynamic baseball player, an almost impossible combination of speed, power, and flair. Rest in peace, Rickey Henderson. You most certainly were the greatest of all time. pic.twitter.com/P2uUIWPgcx

  — Mike Greenberg (@Espngreeny) December 21, 2024

Rickey Henderson, a 10-time All-Star and the all-time stolen base leader, died on Friday after a bout with pneumonia, multiple outlets reported. He was 65.

• Henderson played 25 seasons in the major leagues, stealing at least 100 bases on three occasions, including 130 steals in 1982 to break Lou Brock's modern-day record for a single season. He finished with 1,406 steals to shatter Brock's all-time mark of 938.

  "It is with profound sadness that we share the passing of my husband, Rickey Henderson. A legend on and off the field, Rickey was a devoted son, dad, friend, grandfather, brother, uncle, and a truly humble soul," Pamela Henderson said in a statement. "Rickey lived his life with integrity, and his love for baseball was paramount. Now, Rickey is at peace with the Lord, cherishing the extraordinary moments and achievements he leaves behind."

  Far more than a stolen-base threat, Henderson hit 297 home runs with 1,115 RBIs. His 81 leadoff home runs are a major league record.

  "For multiple generations of baseball fans, Rickey Henderson was the gold standard of base stealing and leadoff hitting," Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement. "Rickey was one of the most accomplished and beloved Athletics of all-time. He also made an impact with many other clubs during a quarter-century career like no other. Rickey epitomized speed, power and entertainment in setting the tone at the top of the lineup. When we considered new rules for the game in recent years, we had the era of Rickey Henderson in mind.

  "Rickey earned universal respect, admiration and awe from sports fans. On behalf of Major League Baseball, I send my deepest condolences to Rickey's family, his friends and former teammates, A's fans and baseball fans everywhere."

  An Oakland, Calif., native, Henderson was drafted in the fourth round in 1976 by his hometown Athletics. He made his major league debut in 1979 and was an All-Star for the first time in 1980.

  Traded to the New York Yankees before the 1995 season, Henderson returned to the A's in 1989 and also spent time with the San Diego Padres, New York Mets, Seattle Mariners, Boston Red Sox, Toronto Blue Jays, Anaheim Angels and Los Angeles Dodgers.

  Henderson was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2009 after winning World Series titles in 1989 (A's) and 1993 (Blue Jays), while earning the American League Championship Series MVP in 1989 and a Gold Glove Award in 1981.

  He would have turned 66 on Christmas Day.

  "Rickey Henderson is one of the greatest baseball players of all time," the A's said in a statement. "His on-field accomplishments speak for themselves, and his records will forever stand atop baseball history. He was undoubtedly the most legendary player in Oakland history and made an indelible mark on generations of A's fans over his 14 seasons wearing the Green and Gold.

  "For those who knew him personally, Rickey was much more than a franchise icon and a Baseball Hall of Famer. He was a friend and mentor to every player, coach, and employee who passed through the Oakland Coliseum or played a game on the field that came to bear his name.

  "We are shocked and heartbroken by his passing. His loss will be felt not only by A's fans but also by baseball fans around the world. The entire A's organization sends its sincere condolences to Rickey's family and loved ones at this time."

  --Field Level Media

Veteran first baseman and former National League MVP Paul Goldschmidt is set to sign a one-year deal worth $12.5 million with the New York Yankees, multiple media outlets reported on Saturday.

• Goldschmidt, 37, entered free agency coming off a disappointing year that saw him hitting a career-low .245 with 22 homers, his lowest in a non-COVID season since 2014. His 65 RBIs were his fewest -- again, excluding the 2020 shortened season -- since his rookie campaign in 2011.

  However, his 2022 and 2023 seasons were more productive, including a National League MVP award win in 2022 with the St. Louis Cardinals.

  In 1,928 career games with the Arizona Diamondbacks (2011-18) and Cardinals (2019-2024), Goldschmidt has a .289 batting average with 362 home runs and 1,187 RBIs.

  Also on Saturday, the Yankees signed right-hander Jonathan Loaisiga to a one-year extension, with a club option for 2026. Loaisiga, 30, made just three appearances last season before surgery for a torn UCL in his elbow and could be back as early as April.

  In seven seasons with the Yankees, Loaisiga is 19-11 with a 3.44 ERA with seven saves in 163 appearances (11 starts).

  --Field Level Media

The New York Yankees acquired right-handed reliever Fernando Cruz and catcher Alex Jackson on Friday night in exchange for veteran catcher Jose Trevino.

• Cruz, 34, went 3-8 last season with a 4.86 ERA, 35 walks and 109 strikeouts in 66 2/3 innings over 69 games (three starts). His average of 14.72 strikeouts per nine innings was the highest among MLB pitchers with at least 50 innings last season, and his 37.8 percent strikeout rate ranked third.

  A native of Puerto Rico, Cruz was selected by the Kansas City Royals in the sixth round of the 2007 MLB Draft. He has a career record of 4-11 with a 4.52 ERA, 72 walks and 228 strikeouts in 147 1/3 innings over 141 games (seven starts) since making his MLB debut at age 32 in September 2022.

  Jackson, who turns 29 on Wednesday, had signed with the Reds as a minor league free agent on Nov. 5. He batted .122 with three home runs and 12 RBIs in 139 at-bats over 58 games last season with the Tampa Bay Rays.

  The Seattle Mariners selected Jackson in the first round (sixth overall) of the 2014 draft. He has played parts of five seasons for the Atlanta Braves (2019-21), Miami Marlins (2021), Milwaukee Brewers (2022) and Rays (2024). Jackson is a career .132 hitter with six homers and 24 RBIs in 124 games.

  Trevino, 32, batted .215 for the Yankees last season with eight homers and 28 RBIs in 74 regular-season games.

  The Texas Rangers picked Trevino in the sixth round of the 2014 draft. He batted .236 with 32 homers and 141 RBIs in 400 games over seven seasons with the Rangers (2018-21) and Yankees (2022-24), with whom he was an All-Star in 2022.

  --Field Level Media

The Los Angeles Dodgers won the World Series, and now they are paying the bill.

• The champions top the list of a record nine MLB teams that were hit with luxury tax bills, ESPN and USA Today reported Friday.

  Los Angeles was assessed a $103 million penalty for its $353 million payroll, far beyond the $237 million mark that triggers the luxury tax when it is exceeded.

  Rounding out the top five in highest luxury tax bills were four other playoff teams: the New York Mets ($97.1 million), the New York Yankees ($62.5 million), the Philadelphia Phillies ($14.4 million) and the Atlanta Braves ($14 million).

  The 2023 World Series champion Texas Rangers, who missed the postseason in 2024, were sixth with a $10.8 million bill. The Houston Astros, who reached the playoffs this year but saw their run of seven consecutive trips to the American League Championship Series end, were seventh at $6.5 million.

  The last two teams on the luxury-tax list both failed to make the playoffs: the San Francisco Giants ($2.4 million) and the Chicago Cubs ($570,309).

  The total luxury tax due of $311.3 million is another record.

  A tax rate of 50 percent was assessed to the Dodgers, Mets, Yankees and Phillies for topping the prescribed salary figure three years in a row. The rate was 30 percent for Atlanta and Texas for being on the list in back-to-back years. A 20 percent rate applied for the three newcomers: Houston, San Francisco and Chicago.

  Additional taxes were added for teams that exceeded other benchmarks above the $237 million level.

  The luxury-tax proceeds are split between player benefits, player retirement funds and money that gets doled out to clubs as revenue sharing.

  --Field Level Media

The Houston Astros found the slugging first baseman they desired, landing Christian Walker on a three-year contract, multiple outlets reported Friday.

• USA Today reported the contract is worth $60 million.

  The former Arizona Diamondbacks standout not only hit 95 total home runs over the past three seasons, he also won three consecutive National League Gold Glove Awards.

  Walker, 33, had 26 home runs with 84 RBIs and an .803 OPS in 130 games last season. That came one year after he hit 33 home runs with a career-best 103 RBIs and an .830 OPS while helping the Diamondbacks to a World Series berth.

  Walker effectively replaces Jose Abreu, who signed a three-year, $58.5-million contract with the Astros before the 2023 season but was released this past June. Houston still owes Abreu $19.5 million in 2025.

  A fourth-round selection by the Baltimore Orioles in the 2012 draft, Walker has 147 home runs and 443 RBIs with a .793 OPS in 832 games over 10 major league seasons.

  Walker was extended a qualifying offer by the Diamondbacks following the 2024 season, which means the signing will cost the Astros a draft pick that Arizona can use at the end of the first round in 2025.

  --Field Level Media

Left-hander Patrick Sandoval and the Boston Red Sox reached agreement on a two-year, $18.25 million contract, ESPN reported on Friday.

• Sandoval, 28, is coming off Tommy John surgery in June and could return for the second half of the 2025 season or be ready at the onset of the 2026 campaign.

  He was non-tendered by the Los Angeles Angels last month after posting a 2-8 record and 5.08 ERA in 16 starts in 2024.

  Sandoval compiled a 19-45 record with a 4.01 ERA in 107 career games (100 starts) with the Angels from 2019-24. His breakout season came in 2022, when he had a 2.91 ERA and struck out 151 batters in 148 2/3 innings.

  --Field Level Media

The Athletics reached an agreement with free agent third baseman Gio Urshela, multiple outlets reported Friday.

• Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

  Urshela, 33, hit .250 with nine homers and 52 RBIs in 128 games with the Detroit Tigers and Atlanta Braves in 2024.

  He is a career .273 hitter with 73 homers and 332 RBIs in 792 games with seven teams since 2015, including a three-year run with the New York Yankees from 2019-21.

  The Athletics will be playing the next three seasons in Sacramento ahead of their planned move to Las Vegas in 2028.

  --Field Level Media

The Philadelphia Phillies and free agent outfielder Max Kepler have agreed on a one-year, $10 million contract, pending a physical, according to multiple media reports on Thursday night.

• The left-handed hitter, who turns 32 in February, had spent his entire major league career with the Minnesota Twins. Kepler played in only 105 games last season while dealing with knee and hip injuries and batted .253 with 21 doubles, eight homers and 42 RBIs. He became a free agent on Oct. 31.

  Kepler is projected to be a corner outfielder with the Phillies, who did not tender a contract offer to Austin Hays after the season.

  The Twins had signed Kepler, a native of Berlin, Germany, as teenager in 2009. He made his MLB debut at age 22 on Sept. 27, 2015.

  He is a career .237 hitter with 161 home runs and 508 RBIs, a .318 on-base percentage, .429 slugging percentage and .746 OPS in 1,072 games. His best season was in 2019, when he batted .252 with career highs in homers (36) and RBIs (90) and a career-best-tying 32 doubles.

  --Field Level Media

The Chicago Cubs on Thursday invited Sammy Sosa to the team's offseason convention, a sign that the organization has repaired its relationship with the former star slugger.

• Sosa, beloved among Cub fans during his 13 years with Chicago, has remained distant from the team since his final season with the club in 2004.

  Steroid allegations -- a reported positive test in 2003 -- soured Sosa's reputation within the organization, and current owner Tom Ricketts said the Cubs would not welcome back Sosa until he apologized for his alleged wrongdoing.

  Sosa did so on Thursday, to an extent.

  While he never directly mentioned steroids, the seven-time All-Star apologized for his "mistakes" and hopes he, the Cubs and their fans can "come together again and move forward."

  "I left it all on the field for the Cubs and Cubs fans because I wanted to win and make the fans happy," Sosa, 56, wrote in a letter to the organization.

  "... There were times I did whatever I could to recover from injuries in an effort to keep my strength up to perform over 162 games. I never broke any laws, but in hindsight, I made mistakes and I apologize."

  Ricketts responded minutes later, inviting Sosa to the team's annual convention, which will be held Jan. 17-19 in Chicago.

  "We appreciate Sammy releasing his statement and for reaching out. No one played harder or wanted to win more. Nobody's perfect but we never doubted his passion for the game and the Cubs," Ricketts said in a statement.

  "It is an understatement to say that Sammy is a fan favorite. We plan on inviting him to the 2025 Cubs Convention and, while it is short notice, we hope that he can attend. We are all ready to move forward together."

  Sosa has not said whether or not he'll attend the convention, but his letter suggests a reunion is imminent.

  "We can't change the past, but the future is bright," Sosa wrote. "In my heart, I have always been a Cub and I can't wait to see Cubs fans again."

  Along with his seven All-Star seasons, Sosa won six National League Silver Slugger awards with Chicago and captured the 1998 NL MVP after battling St. Louis's Mark McGwire in a record-breaking home run chase that summer.

  Sosa's 545 home runs with the Cubs remain a franchise record. He played two more seasons after leaving Chicago before retiring in 2007 with 609 career homers, currently the ninth-most in major league history.

  --Field Level Media

The Washington Nationals agreed to a one-year contract with former All-Star right-hander Michael Soroka on Thursday.

• Financial terms were not disclosed by the team, but multiple reports said the deal was worth $9 million.

  Soroka, 27, will join his third team after missing the 2021 and 2022 seasons due to multiple Achilles injuries.

  After a promising 2019 season that saw him selected to the All-Star Game, Soroka tore his Achilles tendon on Aug. 3, 2020, and did not appear in the majors again until May 29, 2023, following multiple setbacks.

  After spending most of his career with the Atlanta Braves, Soroka joined the Chicago White Sox in 2024. He went 0-10 with a 4.74 ERA over 25 appearances (nine starts) while playing for the club that went on to break MLB's single-season loss record (121).

  Soroka's career major league marks include a 17-18 record with a 3.67 ERA, 284 strikeouts and 111 walks in 69 games (52 starts). In his dominant 2019 season, he finished 13-4 with a career-low 2.68 ERA, with 142 strikeouts and 41 walks in 174 2/3 innings.

  --Field Level Media

The New York Mets and right-hander Griffin Canning agreed to a one-year, $4.25 million deal, multiple outlets reported.

• The contract with the 28-year-old free agent is pending the results of a physical, per the reports Wednesday night.

  Canning finished 6-13 with a 5.19 ERA in 32 games (31 starts) with the Los Angeles Angels last season.

  He posted career highs in games, starts and innings (171 2/3) and allowed an American League-high 99 earned runs.

  Canning compiled a 25-34 record and a 4.78 ERA in 99 career games (94 starts) for the Angels (2019-21, 2023-24). He won a Gold Glove award in 2020 and missed the entire 2022 season with a lower-back fracture.

  --Field Level Media

A week after the St. Louis Cardinals announced their intention to trade Nolan Arenado, the All-Star third baseman invoked his no-trade clause to veto a potential deal with the Houston Astros, multiple media outlets reported Wednesday.

• Arenado is owed a guaranteed $74 million over the upcoming three seasons, and the Cardinals were willing to give the Astros $15 million-$20 million of that amount, according to MLB.com. That report indicated the two sides were still in talks, though the chances of a deal being completed were viewed as minimal.

  Houston could have a hole to fill at third base as All-Star Alex Bregman is a free agent. The Astros lost another key player last week when they dealt right fielder Kyle Tucker to the Chicago Cubs in exchange for infielder Isaac Paredes, right-hander Hayden Wesneski and minor league third baseman Cam Smith.

  Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak said on Dec. 9 that trading Arenado "would be a big help. It's financial, but it also creates a runway for someone else. ...

  "These decisions are not something we ever take lightly. (Arenado) is not demanding a trade. He's not telling me I have to do it, but I think in the best interest of both sides, I'd like to try to find him someplace to land."

  Arenado, 33, is an eight-time All-Star and a 10-time Gold Glove winner. He landed in the top eight in NL Most Valuable Player voting six times.

  He owns a career .285 batting average with .342 on-base percentage, a .515 slugging percentage, 341 homers and 1,132 RBIs in 1,680 games.

  --Field Level Media

Max Fried signed a $218 million contract with the Yankees to be part of the winning tradition in a moment he never expected.

• Fried, who spent eight seasons with the Atlanta Braves and was 73-36 with a 3.07 ERA, jumped to New York to co-anchor a pitching staff with right-hander Gerrit Cole and attempt to defend the American League pennant.

  "He's definitely going to add to what is already a strength or perceived strength. You can never have enough pitching," Yankees president Brian Cashman said. "Strike-thrower, five-pitch mix, obviously handles lefties, handles righties and continued to evolve if you've followed his career since he's been a pro. ... It's been an art form for him."

  Fried suspected others would be more willing to pay top dollar to acquire him in free agency. But Cashman said after a Zoom meeting with Fried it became clear to the Yankees' brass that dollars weren't going to detract from their view Fried was a "safe bet."

  Not long after that meeting, it was evident the genuine mutual interest ran deep.

  "When the Yankees say they're interested in you, you perk up and you listen," Fried said Wednesday, his first day in pinstripes at Yankee Stadium.

  The 30-year-old lefty received a $20 million signing bonus as part of a deal that will pay him an average of $27.5 million per season until 2032. He said leaving Atlanta was emotional. The Braves boldly acquired Fried, the seventh pick in the 2012 draft by the Padres, four months after he underwent Tommy John surgery in 2014 in the swap that sent Justin Upton to San Diego. He wouldn't debut until 2017.

  Fried was Atlanta's Opening Day starter three consecutive years until Spencer Strider started the opener in 2024. Fried finished the season 11-10 in 29 starts, striking out 166.

  But the pull of the fourth-largest contract ever and the biggest deal ever signed by a left-handed starter in MLB history, coupled with a tradition of winning, helped Fried decide to relocate.

  "A lot of people have worn these pinstripes, even if there is a certain feel, and I'm excited about being able to put the pinstripes on in Yankee Stadium for the Yankees," Fried said.

  "When it came down to it, it just felt right."

  --Field Level Media

The Chicago White Sox are in agreement on a one-year deal worth $1.05 million with free agent right-hander Bryse Wilson.

• Wilson, 26, went 5-4 with a 4.04 ERA in 34 games (nine starts) with the Milwaukee Brewers this past season.

  Wilson is 20-21 with a 4.61 ERA in 143 career games (52 starts) and four saves with the Atlanta Braves (2018-21), Pittsburgh Pirates (2021-22) and Brewers.

  --Field Level Media

The Los Angeles Angels acquired catcher Chuckie Robinson from the Chicago White Sox in exchange for cash considerations on Wednesday.

• To make room for Robinson on their 40-man roster, the Angels designated right-hander Davis Daniel for assignment.

  Robinson, who turned 30 on Saturday, batted just .129 in 26 games for the White Sox last season but threw out 21.4 percent of attempted base stealers, which ranked third among American League catchers, per the Angels.

  Daniel, 27, went 1-4 with a 6.23 ERA in six starts with the Angels last season.

  --Field Level Media

The home of the Chicago White Sox officially was rebranded as Rate Field on Wednesday.

• Known as Guaranteed Rate Field since 2016, the South Side ballpark opened in 1991 as Comiskey Park II and was called U.S. Cellular Field from 2003-16.

  "We recently changed our company name from Guaranteed Rate to Rate to make it easier for customers to contact us to help them with their home-buying needs," Rate CEO Victor Ciardelli said. "We are now changing the name of this iconic ballpark to Rate Field. Jerry Reinsdorf and his team have been nothing but amazing to us in this process.

  "We couldn't be happier with our partnership with the Chicago White Sox in this transformation. We are thrilled to showcase our new name on this legendary ballpark for the best fans in baseball in the greatest city in the world."

  Rate's current 13-year naming rights agreement with the Chicago stadium runs through 2029.

  --Field Level Media

Matt Thaiss is on the move to the other side of Chicago.

• The White Sox purchased the contract of the 29-year-old catcher on Tuesday, a month after the Cubs acquired him from the Los Angeles Angels in a cash deal.

  Thaiss spent parts of the past six seasons with the Angels, compiling a .208 batting average, a .313 on-base percentage, a .342 slugging percentage, 22 homers and 79 RBIs in 245 games.

  This year, he hit .204/.323/.299 with two home runs and 16 RBIs in 57 games.

  Thaiss joins the White Sox days after they acquired top catching prospect Kyle Teel as part of the deal that sent left-hander Garrett Crochet to the Boston Red Sox.

  Korey Lee was the White Sox's primary catcher this year, and he batted .210/.244/.347 with 12 homers and 37 RBIs in 125 games.

  --Field Level Media

A new stadium for the Tampa Bay Rays moved a step closer to reality on Tuesday when the Pinellas County Commission approved paying $1.3 billion toward the construction of a venue in St. Petersburg, Fla.

• The St. Petersburg City Council approved its share of the stadium funding on Dec. 5.

  Still, the plan is far from a certainty as Rays ownership has expressed skepticism about proceeding due to delays with the approvals causing the overall cost to rise. The team would be responsible for the balance of the bill not covered by public financing.

  MLB commissioner Rob Manfred lobbied the Pinellas County Commission to approve the deal, and his efforts succeeded.

  Commissioner Chris Latvala said in a statement, "While I do not trust the owner of the Rays, I trust Manfred. He is the reason I am voting yes. MLB is aware of several instances where the Rays organization has intentionally tried to sabotage the very deal they agreed to.

  "As a result of this vote, it is my hope that the Rays will finally have an owner that our other wonderful local franchises have. Rays fans deserve our own Vinik, Steinbrenner, Glazer or Middleton, who care more about the fans and community as they do their own bottom line."

  The Rays' long-term stadium situation was already in flux before Hurricane Milton destroyed the roof of the team's current venue, Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, on Oct. 9.

  It will take more than a year and in excess of $55 million to repair the building, according to the city. The Rays announced in mid-September that they would play the 2025 season at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, a 11,026-seat venue.

  The Rays were hoping to be in a new facility in 2028 or 2029.

  --Field Level Media

The Chicago Cubs traded former National League MVP Cody Bellinger to the New York Yankees on Monday for right-handed pitcher Cody Poteet.

• The Yankees will take on the bulk of Bellinger's $27.5 million salary, but Chicago kicked in $5 million to New York in the deal, according to reports.

  Bellinger has two years remaining on his current contract, counting a player option for the 2026 season.

  Bellinger, 29, brings a lefty bat to the Yankees' lineup in the wake of Juan Soto's free agency departure to the New York Mets. He also could fill a need in either the outfield or first base.

  Clay Bellinger, Cody's father, played parts of three seasons (1999-2001) for New York. According to the Yankees, they will become the fourth father-son duo to don the pinstripes.

  The trade is the Yankees' latest splash this offseason, following the signing of left-handed starting pitcher Max Fried to a $218 million contract and the acquisition of All-Star closer Devin Williams from the Milwaukee Brewers.

  Bellinger spent two seasons with the Cubs after playing for the Los Angeles Dodgers from 2017-22. In that time, he won the 2017 NL Rookie of the Year award, the 2018 NLCS MVP and the 2019 league MVP -- a season in which he batted .305 with career highs of 47 home runs, 34 doubles, 95 walks and 115 RBIs.

  Injuries set him back in the ensuing years, and Los Angeles moved on from him after 2022. Bellinger restarted his career at Wrigley Field, batting a career-high .307 with 26 homers and 97 RBIs for the Cubs in 2023 and earning MVP votes and a Silver Slugger award.

  In 2024, he batted .266 with 18 homers and 78 RBIs in 130 games. Across 1,005 career games, Bellinger is a .259 hitter with a .334 on-base percentage, a .484 slugging percentage, 196 home runs, 186 doubles and 597 RBIs.

  Poteet, 30, joined the Yankees ahead of the 2024 season and made five appearances, including four starts, in his only season there. It was his most successful stint in the major leagues by far, as he went 3-0 with a 2.22 ERA. He previously made 19 appearances (nine starts) for the Miami Marlins (2021-22).

  --Field Level Media

Left-hander Max Fried signed an eight-year, $218 million contract with the New York Yankees on Tuesday.

• It's the largest guarantee in MLB history for a left-handed pitcher, edging David Price's seven-year, $217 million contract with the Boston Red Sox in 2016.

  New York officially will introduce Fried on Wednesday at noon ET in the press conference room at Yankee Stadium.

  "He's one of the game's really, really good pitchers and has a really good track record now of success," New York manager Aaron Boone said last week of Fried. "He's a special talent."

  A two-time All-Star, Fried joins right-handed ace Gerrit Cole to form a one-two punch at the front of the Yankees' rotation. Cole, 34, signed the largest contract ever for a pitcher with the Yankees in 2020 as a free agent and opted to return to finish out the nine-year, $324 million deal at the end of the World Series.

  Fried, 30, spent his first eight MLB seasons with the Atlanta Braves and went 11-10 with a 3.25 ERA across 29 starts last season. He had 166 strikeouts and a career-high 57 walks over 174 1/3 innings. He also pitched a major league-high two complete games (one shutout).

  Fried was an All-Star in 2022 and 2024, and he received votes for the National League Cy Young Award in 2020 (placing fifth) and 2022 (second).

  In 168 career games (151 starts), Fried has gone 73-36 with a 3.07 ERA and 863 strikeouts against 246 walks in 884 1/3 innings. He has tossed six complete games, including four shutouts.

  Cole's historic deal was exceeded last winter when the Dodgers won the bidding for Japanese right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who signed a $325 million contract.

  --Field Level Media

The Baltimore Orioles signed Japanese right-handed pitcher Tomoyuki Sugano to a one-year contract on Monday.

• Financial terms were not disclosed, but multiple reports said the contract was worth $13 million.

  Sugano, 35, has played for the Yomiuri Giants of Nippon Professional Baseball's Central League for the entirety of his 12-year career. He went 15-3 with a 1.67 ERA in 24 starts this past season, with three complete games and one shutout, on his way to winning Central League MVP honors.

  His NPB career numbers include a 136-74 record and a 2.43 ERA, with 1,585 strikeouts to just 347 walks over 1,857 innings.

  The Orioles are expected to add Sugano to their starting rotation, which was decimated by injuries in 2024. Tyler Wells and Kyle Bradish underwent elbow surgery, while it's unknown if ace Corbin Burnes will return to Baltimore or find a new team in free agency.

  --Field Level Media

The baseball that Freddie Freeman hit for a historic World Series walk-off grand slam sold for $1.56 million at auction this weekend.

• SCP Auctions did not reveal the buyer of the ball, which Freeman hit with two outs in the 10th inning to give the host Los Angeles Dodgers a 6-3 victory over the New York Yankees in Game 1. Freeman went on to homer in the first four games and earn World Series Most Valuable Player honors for the champion Dodgers, who took the series in five games.

  The auction opened on Dec. 4 and closed Saturday night, and drew 22 bids on the item, according to SCP Auctions.

  "We are so honored to have handled one of the most important artifacts in World Series history, dating back to 1903," SCP Auctions president David Kohler said in a statement.

  The sale price is among the highest for an auctioned baseball, with Freeman's teammate Shohei Ohtani's ball hit for his 50th homer selling for $4.392 million in October.

  Freeman hit the only walk-off grand slam in World Series history. The ball landed over Dodger Stadium's right-field wall and at the feet of Zachary Ruderman, 10, who kicked it over to his father, Nico.

  Zachary, who lives in Los Angeles, thought he was leaving school earlier that day to get his braces removed, but his parents surprised him with tickets to Game 1.

  "Our family hopes the baseball will be displayed in Dodger Stadium so all Dodgers and baseball fans can view a very special piece of history for the city of Los Angeles," the family said in a statement.

  --Field Level Media