Astros to start AJ Blubaugh against White Sox

There’s been some Internet chatter about the Braves potentially moving on from Acuña, but it doesn’t seem like there’s anything to it. “There have been zero conversations,” Anthopoulos said. “Like zero. None. No phone calls incoming, outgoing, zero. He’s a huge part of the club.” The Braves will pay Acuña $17 million next year and hold another $17 million option on his services in 2028.

No date yet, but the Dodgers clearly won’t be sitting out Skubal’s free agency, even though they’re already looking at a luxury tax payroll of over $380 million next year.

No doubt this is all because of Navarreto’s 5-for-5 game with a homer and two triples in the Puerto Rican Winter League on Sunday. Navarreto, 31, hit .135/.193/.250 in 61 plate appearances for the Marlins last season. He’ll probably enter the spring third or fourth on the Phillies’ catcher depth chart. They’d like to upgrade from Rafael Marchán as J.T. Realmuto’s backup.

Brad Ausmus, Morgan Ensberg, Albert Pujols and Luis Urueta are known to have interviewed for the job, with Ausmus and Pujols looking like the favorites right now.

Rodríguez returned this fall to give up three runs over two innings in three appearances in the Arizona Fall League. He was shut down early, but it wasn’t because of any setback, and he’s expected to be ready to go in the spring. Still, the Giants could look outside of the organization for a closer. They obviously need to add relief help anyway, though a strong return from Rodríguez would be huge.

Murphy is the first manager to win the award three consecutive seasons. He received 20 of the 30 possible first-place votes, with Walt Weiss (7), Craig Stammen (2) and Don Mattingly (1) getting the others. The 67-year-old culminates a dream campaign where he led the Brewers to the best record in the National League and a dominant performance in the postseason that ended with the Brew Crew winning their first World Series championship. He’ll have a chance to make it four in a row in 2027 if the BBWAA isn’t tired of voting for him.

Twins general manager Jeremy Zoll told reporters that the procedure will be a “clean up.” It’s not yet known if Larnach will need to miss time because of the operation.

Zero surprise here. Venable received 15 first-place votes while Kevin Cash received 12 and Chad Tracy the other three. Venable helped the White Sox to an improbable playoff run after winning just 60 games in 2025 and took the club to within a game of the ALCS. If you weren’t expected to be good and outperform expectations, there’s a pretty good chance you’re going to win Manager of the Year.

Atkins had a chance to see Berrios during his rehab in the Dominican Republic. The 32-year-old is recovering from Tommy John surgery that he underwent in May, so even with the positive development, it’s unlikely he returns until the end of 2027 at the very earliest.

DePodesta said that “door is open” for a reunion with Freeland. He posted a 6.65 ERA in 2026 and has statistically been among the worst pitchers in baseball over the past four seasons. The Rockies will need innings, so a reunion does make some sense. It obviously doesn’t matter where Freeland pitches from a fantasy perspective, there’s no reason to have any interest.