No decision by free agent Ohtani as teams' brass depart Nashville
Shohei Ohtani, Juan Soto and Yoshinobu Yamamoto were still up for grabs as team officials started to head home Wednesday evening following a baseball winter meetings of much talk and little action.
Ohtani, the unique twoway star, is expected to get a record contract of $500 million-plus. His agent, Nez Balelo, didn't travel to the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center, preferring to stay away.
While Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts acknowledged meeting with Ohtani at Dodger Stadium before heading to Nashville, other teams were mum. Some fans tried to use flight-tracking programs to determine Ohtani's whereabouts, and Toronto general manager Ross Atkins sparked speculation of a gettogether at the team's spring training facility in Dunedin, Florida, when he switched a media availability on Monday to Zoom.
The Yankees, after missing the playoffs for the first time since 2016, were working on finalizing an agreement to acquire Soto from San Diego. The three-time All-Star can become a free agent after next year's World Series.
Both the Yankees and Mets are among the teams seeking Yamamoto, a 25-year-old right-hander who was 16-6 with a 1.21 ERA this season for the Orix Buffaloes of Japan's Pacific League. The Yankees plan to meet with the pitcher on Monday in California.
KIMBREL JOINS ORIOLES >> The Baltimore Orioles added reliever Craig Kimbrel to their bullpen on a one-year deal for $13 million.
The deal also includes performance bonuses for the right-hander, who turns 36 in May. The Orioles will become the eighth team for Kimbrel, who spent this season with Philadelphia and earned his ninth AllStar nod. He has compiled 417 saves over 14 seasons.
Kimbrel helps replace Felix Bautista, who is recovering from Tommy John surgery, though Yennier Cano is another option as their closer.
Kimbrel, who won the 2018 World Series with Boston, pitched in 71 games for the Phillies this season. It marked the second time in his career he appeared in at least 70 games and the first since 79 in 2011.
He was 8-6 this season with a 3.26 ERA and 23 saves helping Philadelphia to the NL Championship Series. He struck out 94 over 69 innings pitched, his most since striking out 100 in 2021 in stints with the
Chicago Cubs and White Sox that season.
RANGERS ADD YATES >> The Texas Rangers signed veteran reliever Kirby Yates to a $4.5 million, one-year contract to bolster the bullpen of the World Series champs.
Yates, 36, was 7-2 with five saves and a 3.28 ERA last season in helping the Atlanta Braves to a major league-best 104 wins.
Yates had an MLB-high 41 saves with San Diego in 2019, earning his only AllStar selection while setting a Padres record with a 1.19 ERA, among pitchers to throw a minimum of 60 innings.
MOLINA GETS FRONT OFFICE GIG >> Yadier Molina will remain with the St. Louis Cardinals as a special assistant to John Mozeliak, their president of baseball operations, after the longtime catcher wrapped up his 19-year big league career in 2022.