Dodgers acknowledge meeting with Ohtani. Yankees covet Yamamoto

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Dave Roberts started to dodge the big question about Shohei Ohtani, rocking back and forth in his seat and staying silent for three seconds before his big admission: “Yeah, we met with him,” the Los Angeles Dodgers manager said Tuesday at the winter meetings, making Roberts’ club the first to publicly admit a sit-down with the unique two-way player likely to break baseball’s salary record. Officials on other teams danced meticulously around the question as if choregraphed by Bob Fosse.

Toronto general manager Ross Atkins, who sparked speculation of a possible meeting by holding his Monday media availability on Zoom rather than at the winter meetings hotel, had this to say: “Some meetings that occur, that don’t occur, I’m not going to get into the specifics of. ” New Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell batted away Ohtani queries as if in a cross-examination. After saying he had not met with Ohtani, Counsell was asked whether anyone in the Cubs front office had.

Counsell replied: “I have not. ” Japanese pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto, another prized free agent, could be sought by the New York Yankees and Mets, who set payroll records this year in their third season under owner Steve Cohen. The Mets’ projected final 2023 payroll is about $346 million and their luxury tax roughly $102 million.

“I don’t know if anybody can compete with Steve Cohen,” Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said. “He’s obviously a titan of industry. He’s had a lot of success and built an empire which has allowed him to do things like the Mets.

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We can just concentrate on what we’re going to concentrate on. Obviously, it’s a player of interest and we’ll compete for him and see where that takes us, and it will be enough or won’t be enough. ” Cashman also has talked about trying to acquire slugger Juan Soto from San Diego.

The outfielder is eligible for free agency after next season, and Padres president of baseball operations A. J. Preller has discussed swaps.

“He’s a transformational bat. He’s one of the best hitters in the game. So he’s impact, period,” Cashman said.

”I know A. J. probably is being open-minded to do a lot of different things.

” New Padres manager Mike Shildt plans to meet with Soto in Miami on Dec. 17. Only one relatively small signing was announced during the day.

Tampa Bay agreed to a $1. 1 million, one-year contract with reliever Chris Devenski, a deal that includes a club option for 2025. Erick Fedde, a 30-year-old right-hander who spent this year with the KC Dinos in South Korea, agreed to a $15 million, two-year contract with the Chicago White Sox, a person familiar with the deal said.

The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the agreement was subject to a successful physical. Also, Cleveland won the MLB draft lottery and will have the top pick for the first time when selections are made on July 14. Tribute to the Negro Leagues All-Star game CC Sabathia is getting ready to take the mound again next spring, five years after his retirement, to pitch in a tribute to the Negro Leagues All-Star Game at the Hall of Fame’s Doubleday Field in Cooperstown, New York.

“My career ended with me ripping my shoulder up and not being able to throw a baseball anymore, but I’m rehabbing myself to be able to come back and pitch an inning in this game,” the 43-year-old left-hander said Tuesday during a news conference at the winter meetings. Ken Griffey Jr. and Ozzie Smith have agreed to manage or coach at the May 25 Hall of Fame East-West Classic.

It will be played in conjunction with the opening of the Hall’s “Souls of the Game: Voices of Black Baseball” exhibit. The Negro Leagues East-West All-Star Game began at Chicago’s Comiskey Park in September 1933, two months after MLB’s first All-Star Game at the same ballpark, and was played annually through 1962. Jerry and Scott Hairston, whose grandfather Sam played for the Cincinnati and Indianapolis Clowns in the Negro American League, are among the players who said they will participate.

Others include Ryan Howard, Prince Fielder, David Price, B. J. and Justin Upton, Curtis Granderson, Dontrelle Willis, Adam Jones, Dexter Fowler, LaTroy Hawkins and Edwin Jackson.

Los Angeles will not trade three-time AL MVP Mike Trout. General manager Perry Minasian confirmed that Tuesday at MLB’s winter meetings. Trout is under contract through 2030, and he makes $35.

45 million annually with a full no-trade clause. Houston general manager Dana Brown said the team isn’t exploring trades for Alex Bregman, even though the All-Star third baseman’s contract is set to expire after the 2024 season. The two-time All-Star hit .

262 with 25 homers, 28 doubles and 98 RBIs last season. Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers signed a bill that spends half-a-billion in taxpayer dollars to help Milwaukee cover stadium repairs over the next three decades.

The governor signed the bill Tuesday at American Family Field. The late Gerry Fraley was honored with the BBWAA Career Excellence Award. Known for his quick humor and combustible temper, Fraley died in May 2019 at age 64 after a two-year battle with cancer.

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