Chicago White Sox

Chicago White Sox

The next couple days will see at least two big-ticket free agents come off the board. Japanese stars Tatsuya Imai and Kazuma Okamoto are nearing the end of their respective 45-day posting windows. Imai has until Friday at 4:00 pm Central to sign; Okamoto's contract must be finalized by the same time on Sunday. Reporting out of Japan over the weekend revealed that Okamoto was traveling to the U.S. for a final round of in-person meetings.

Varland and Ohtani crossed paths in 2024, when the Japanese star joined the Dodgers via free agency, signing a 10-year, $700 million deal. Ohtani is one of the most valuable athletes in the world, a true superstar across Asia. At the same time, his stateside popularity continues to grow as he makes unprecedented history on the baseball field. He grosses millions in endorsements, giving him plenty of money to spare and help out a teammate going through a tough time.

The Rangers bounced Harris on and off the active roster for the first few months of this past season. They designated him for assignment at the trade deadline and successfully ran him through waivers. He came back up in September while Adolis García was on the injured list but was outrighted again at the beginning of the offseason. Harris elected free agency the second time around.

The Braves likely remain involved in many of the conversations focusing on adding a starting pitcher. And with the added bonus of not having traded away any prospects to feel their offseason needs, they could always pivot to the trade market as well. The good thing is that many avenues remain available for the Braves to strengthen their already strong rotation, even if it could into the new year when the move finally occurs.

Every Saturday, the de Young offers free general admission to the permanent galleries to Bay Area residents. Please note that admission to any special exhibits is not included nor discounted and will require the full admission price. Saturdays feature engaging art experiences for the entire family, including art-making, gallery guides, and tours with discussion and sketching in the permanent galleries.

The Rays traded outfielder Tristan Peters to the White Sox for cash or a player to be named later, according to announcements from both clubs. Tampa Bay had designated Peters for assignment on Tuesday when they finalized their two-year deal with Steven Matz. Chicago had a couple openings on the 40-man roster and didn't need to make another move. More to come.

Screenshot CBS News foreign correspondent Chris Livesay gifted Pope Leo XIV a prized baseball bat once owned by a Chicago White Sox legend. On Thursday, Livesay was aboard the papal plane for a trip to Turkey. In a video posted online, Livesay explained his plan to give the Pope a special bat that had been in his family's possession for years. The bat, he revealed, once belonged to star second baseman Nellie Fox.

The White Sox announced that left-hander Martín Pérez has declined his end of a $10MM mutual option for 2026. He will take a $1.5MM buyout and return to free agency. The Sox also announced that they triggered their club option on outfielder Luis Robert Jr., a decision that was previously reported. Pérez, 35 in April, is coming off a mostly lost season.