#Jeff Passan

The Detroit Tigers were supposed to be better than this. The team had a promising season last year, winning 77 games against all odds and taking the best teams in baseball to task. However, the team sits in fourth place in a rather weak American League Central division. They're currently fighting to not be 20 games under the.500 mark. A big reason…

The Oakland Athletics have reached an agreement on a one-year deal with right-hander Shintaro Fujinami, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan. Fujinami was submitted to Major League Baseball's "posting system" back in December by the Hanshin Tigers of Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball league. Fujinami, 28, was once considered a rival to Los Angeles…

Carlos Correa is reportedly staying put. ESPN's Jeff Passan reports that the free-agent shortstop, who reportedly signed a massive contract with the Giants and Mets before medical issues hindered it, is actually re-signing with the Twins on a six-year $200 million contract. To commemorate Correa's signing, fans can get his gear at Fanatics. On…

The Boston Red Sox and star third baseman Rafael Devers are finalizing an 11-year, $331 million contract, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan and Joon Lee. Devers and the BoSox agreed to a one-year, $17.5 million deal for the 2023 campaign on Tuesday to avoid arbitration. Per ESPN, Devers' 11-year deal will go into effect this year and run through the…

Business remains brisk in the starting pitching marketplace. While the Cardinals have yet to make a move to improve their rotation quality or depth, other franchises have been busy. The Texas Rangers signed Nathan Eovaldi to a two-year, $34 million contract that could become a three-year, $63 million contract if he hits all of his bonuses and…

ESPN's Jeff Passan reported Tuesday that Pittsburgh and Rich Hill have agreed to a one-year, $8 million contract. BUY MLB TICKETS: STUBHUB, VIVID SEATS, TICKETSMARTER, TICKETMASTE This will be the 12th team Hill will be a part of in his soon-to-be 19-year career. The 42-year-old has some experience in New York. He signed a minor-league deal with…

Carlos Correa signed a 13-year, $350 million deal with the San Francisco Giants last week after the Giants fell short on signing Aaron Judge. Late Tuesday night, Correa's deal with the Giants fell apart due to a medical issue that arose during his physical. The Mets pounced quickly, signing Corra to a 12-year, $315 million contract within hours…

The New York Yankees are welcoming Carlos Rodon to the Bronx. On Thursday, the Yankees reportedly signed the left-handed starter to a six-year, $162 million contract. BUY YANKEES TICKETS: STUBHUB, VIVID SEATS, TICKETSMARTER, TICKETMASTER Here's YES Network and ESPN analyst David Cone on what's so exciting about Rodon for Yankees fans, via YES…

The 2022 MLB season will undoubtedly be the season of Aaron Judge. Not only is the towering Yankees outfielder the frontrunner for AL MVP and leader on the current best team in baseball, but he's also already the focal point of the offseason rumor mill. Just as the season was beginning in April, Aaron Judge turned down a seven-year deal worth…

The Los Angeles Dodgers are hoping J.D. Martinez can add some pop to their lineup in 2023. Per ESPN's Jeff Passan, Martinez has agreed to a one-year, $10 million deal with the reigning National League West champs. Despite being connected to many of the top free agents this offseason, the Dodgers have been fairly quiet when it comes to actually…

Free-agent shortstop Dansby Swanson and the Chicago Cubs have agreed to a seven-year, $177 million deal, major-league and team sources confirmed to The Athletic. ESPN's Jeff Passan was first to report the Cubs and Swanson were finalizing a deal. Here's what you need to know: Swanson hit.277 with 25 home runs and a career-high 96 RBIs in 162…

Trevor May is heading over to the Oakland A's. The right-handed pitcher signed a one-year, $7 million contract, ESPN's Jeff Passan reports: May, 33, will get a $1 million signing bonus and can make another $500000 in performance bonuses. BUY MLB TICKETS: STUBHUB, VIVID SEATS, TICKETSMARTER, TICKETMASTER May had just 26 relief appearances with…

After Aaron Judge spurned his hometown San Francisco Giants in MLB free agency, the team shifted its focus on 28-year-old shortstop Carlos Correa the former Houston Astros shortstop involved in the cheating and sign-stealing scandal that rocked the baseball world following the 2017 World Series. ESPN's Jeff Passan broke the news yesterday that the…

The San Francisco Giants have made a move that could have an encouraging ripple effect for the New York Yankees. The Giants signed right-hander Ross Stripling to a two-year deal. This could mean they are out on Yankees target Carlos Rodon. BUY YANKEES TICKETS: STUBHUB, VIVID SEATS, TICKETSMARTER, TICKETMASTER ESPN's Jeff Passan Right-hander Ross…

When I read today's ZiPS projections for the Blue Jays, I was struck by one clear weakness: starting pitching depth. The team boasts an impressive lineup across the board, with Lourdes Gurriel Jr. the closest thing to a weak spot. Toronto also has two borderline aces in Alek Manoah and Kevin Gausman. That sounds great, but the fourth and fifth…

ESPN senior MLB insider Jeff Passan gives his odds of Juan Soto getting traded and what would prevent it from happening. The MLB trade deadline is this upcoming Tuesday, Aug. 2, and the main focus will be whether the Washington Nationals will actually move on from star outfielder Juan Soto. That all came to be after a 15-year, $440 million contract…

Free-agent catcher Willson Contreras is signing a five-year deal with the Cardinals, a league source confirmed to The Athletic on Wednesday. The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal first reported news of the Cardinals closing in on an agreement with Contreras and ESPN's Jeff Passan first reported terms of the $87.5 million deal, which is pending a physical.…

The New York Yankees' season ended in a four-game sweep at the hands of the Houston Astros in the American League Championship Series. Few teams have as many questions to answer in the offseason as the Yankees, and it begins with Aaron Judge. Judge was the story of baseball in 2022. He broke Roger Maris' Yankees and AL single-season home run record…

Baseball fans will witness the first MLB Draft lottery in history on December 6. The order of the top 18 picks will be determined at the Winter Meetings in San Diego on Tuesday, with the Washington Nationals, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Oakland Athletics sitting atop the board with the highest percentage to land the top pick of the…

The New York Mets entered the postseason on a whimper, ended the playoffs with a thud, but got the Winter Meetings started with a boom. ESPN's National MLB insider Jeff Passan reports that after losing two-time National League Cy Young winner Jacob deGrom to a massive new contract with the Texas Rangers, the Mets are bringing in this year's AL Cy…

Although the Los Angeles Dodgers expressed their interest in re-signing Trea Turner, the odds of that becoming a reality in free agency never appeared favorable. Even with Turner voicing his appreciation for playing in Los Angeles, the overwhelming belief held that he preferred to return to the East Coast. That made the Philadelphia Phillies an…

Though we're still waiting on the biggest, Aaron Judge-sized domino to fall, there have already been quite a few lucrative deals handed out in this year's MLB free-agency cycle. Eleven players have agreed to contracts worth at least $10 million per year, and there could be as many as 40 more at that price point when all is said and done. Not all of…

When it comes to giving the people what they crave, few in the sports industry deliver to the level of ESPN's Jeff Passan. From early beat-reporting days at Fresno State to writing for The Kansas City Star and Yahoo to now covering all things Major League Baseball, Passan has worked his way into national status and become one of the most valuable…

Once the 2022 World Series got over, the MLB off-season has become a hot topic in the town. And thanks to Aaron Judge and the free agency chaos that the slugger has successfully fashioned after a sensational 2022 season, the entertainment has gone nowhere from the MLB world. Analogous to that, while the Yankees have offered a massive contract to…

Let's get the specifics out of the way first, so we can all gasp and react together. Jacob deGrom is now a Texas Ranger, after he signed a five-year, $185 million deal with a conditional option for a sixth year, as Jeff Passan first reported: Alright, now that we've got that written down: gasp! I have to say, I didn't see this coming. Earlier this…

One final homestand, six final games. The Toronto Blue Jays are playing meaningful September baseball, and they have an opportunity to earn more. On Tuesday morning the Blue Jays sit at 87-69, in fourth place in the American League East and a game behind the Boston Red Sox for the AL's final playoff spot. The AL Wildcard standings sit as…

The New York Yankees reportedly offered Aaron Judge a contract that would make him the highest-paid position player in MLB history based on average annual value. ESPN's Jeff Passan reported Wednesday morning that the Yankees laid an offer "in the neighborhood" of eight years and $300 million. But the Giants, the other top suitor heavily pursuing…

Aaron Judge could break another record before the 2023 MLB season even begins. ESPN's Jeff Passan reported Wednesday morning that the New York Yankees have an offer on the table to Judge "in the neighborhood" of a contract for eight years and $300 million, which would make him the highest-paid position player in MLB history based on average annual…

The Los Angeles Dodgers have reloaded yet again this offseason, adding Freddie Freeman to the fray after losing centerpieces Corey Seager and Max Scherzer. With a lineup as deep as any this game has ever seen, a top-three that can rival anyone's rotation, and conservatively seven different solid starters and top prospects in the mix to eat innings,…

MLB free agency officially started the day after the World Series was over, but now it's really started. Teams can start negotiating with external free agents, players have received qualifying offers, and options have been exercised or declined. A crucial offseason is ahead for both the Mets and Yankees, and now we get to see what they'll actually…

As the latest edition of MLB free agency approaches the three-week mark, we haven't seen a lot of activity involving the market's top free agents. Much of this may have to do with the free agency of New York Yankees star and reigning home-run king Aaron Judge. The 30-year-old slugger is coveted by several teams and is expected to earn a hefty…

I'll say this every time I write about predictions, it's simply something fun to talk about and maybe on occasion these projections give fans a bit of an indicator on what teams might do in free agency. And we can always connect some of the predictions to reports and rumors that are already out there. So, it's no surprise that in MLBTR annual…

Aaron Judge's 62nd home run ball can be yours, if the price is right. ESPN's Jeff Passan reports the ball hit by the New York Yankees slugger to set a new single-season American League record is heading to auction. According to Passan, the attorney for the Texas man who caught the ball told ESPN he already rejected a $3 million offer. Cory Youmans,…

Major League Baseball's hot stove is beginning to heat up, with several players declining their qualifying offers on Tuesday. Among those players was shortstop Trea Turner, who spent last season with the Los Angeles dodgers. Turner, Carlos Correa, Dansby Swanson and Xander Bogaerts highlight one of the best shortstop classes in recent memory at the…

Leading up to the MLB offseason, nobody has given the Minnesota Twins a real chance at landing Carlos Correa to the long-term contract he seeks this free agency. Sure, they got him on a one-year flyer for 2022 and he and his wife seem to have enjoyed their time in the Twin Cities. But when all the chips are pushed in, there's no way the Pohlads…

Anne Rogers details some adjustments Kris Bubic has made throughout the season: Still, Bubic was pleased with his second consecutive quality start, despite both of them turning into losses for the 25-year-old. The small sample size of success has been a result of better command, and there's been at least one reason for that. After Bubic's start at…

What should the Toronto Blue Jays do with Teoscar Hernández this off-season? The 30-year-old outfielder has been a vital part of the roster since 2020, winning two consecutive Silver Sluggers and hoping for a third in'22. The organization is likely nearing a crossroads with the right-handed slugger, though, and deciding how to move forward could…

Baseball in New York is done for the year. Fans and analysts alike are reflecting on the seasons the Mets and Yankees have had now that both contenders have fallen short of a World Series berth. Want to bet on the World Series? The Bronx Bombers made it all the way to the American League Championship Series but unraveled and quickly lost to…

Convincing Rafael Devers to sign a contract extension is one of the top priorities for the Boston Red Sox. While previous efforts to lock up their star third baseman have proven futile, there's reason to believe that the team is making a serious push to hammer out a deal that keeps him from testing free agency after the 2023 season. On Monday…

The rivalry between the Yankees and Red Sox runs deep-even among former players. As Fox Sports continues its annual coverage of the MLB playoffs, analysts Alex Rodriguez and David Ortiz often get opportunities to revisit the old days of competing on the field. With Ortiz's Red Sox not in the postseason this year, that leaves Rodriguez with plenty…

One of the recurring themes on the Cuppa Cubbie Blue podcast this season has been the emergence of super-teams in MLB. There are a handful of teams that spend money, extend talented players and seem to have no end of talent in their farm systems. The rest of the league just has to scrap and hope they catch those super teams on a bad day to have a…

Even if you don't follow baseball, you know the name Aaron Judge. ESPN broadcasts have cut into other sports to show his at-bats as he chases the American League record for home runs in a single season. Some pundits even suggest this is the true home run record since everything over 61 single-season home runs occurred during the steroids…

TWO WEEKS AFTER New Year's, there was a bidding war over a baseball card at collectibles marketplace Goldin. Bidding opened at $30000 and rose to $101000 by the next day, accruing 14 bids by midnight. A high-end collector, who goes by Shyne150, had unloaded $474000 on a 2020 Bowman Chrome Prospect Autographs Superfractor, a literal one-of-a-kind…

The New York Yankees and New York Mets will have to pay up in a major way this winter to keep homegrown superstars Aaron Judge and Jacob deGrom. One MLB insider recently gave some insight on what the final bill might be for the impending free agents. The Yankees and Mets have been two of the best teams in baseball in 2022. While both have struggled…

The New York Mets' coveted closer could make history this upcoming off season. BUY METS TICKETS: STUBHUB, VIVID SEATS, TICKETSMARTER, TICKETMASTER Edwin Diaz has been a force for the Mets this year, but he is only under team control until 2023. Owner Steve Cohen will need to decide how much money is worth shelling out for the righty. According to…

MLB Trade Rumours | Anthony Franco: At long last, Oswald Peraza has finally been called up. With rosters expanding on September 1, Peraza's call-up is certainly a huge splash for a team in desperate need of a vibe shift. The 22-year-old shortstop is the Yankees' No. 3 ranked prospect (No. 53 in all of baseball per MLB Pipeline) and has been the…

The New York Mets are currently enjoying a dream season by their closer, Edwin Diaz. In 52.1 innings, he has an incredible 1.38 ERA and 100 strikeouts. Yes: he has more punchouts than several starters who have surpassed the 100-inning threshold. His fastball-slider combo is death to right-handed hitters, and his overall stuff, command, control, and…