9:00 AM ET The first domino in a long and complicated offseason fell for the Red Sox on Monday, as slugger J.D. Martinez decided not to test free agency, meaning Boston’s biggest run producer in recent years will be back for at least one more season — presuming he isn’t traded first. Questions about the
MLB
8:44 PM ET Associated Press NEW YORK — Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout, Houston third baseman Alex Bregman and Oakland shortstop Marcus Semien are finalists for the AL MVP award. Trout is seeking his third MVP after winning in 2014 and ’16. He finished second in 2012, ’13, ’15 and ’18. Washington third baseman
5:37 PM ET The New York Yankees have decided not to extend the $17.8 million qualifying offer to shortstop Didi Gregorius, making him a free agent. The Yankees will now not get draft pick compensation if he signs elsewhere. New York could still try to re-sign him. Gregorius, 29, was arguably one of the Yankees
5:17 PM ET Associated Press ATLANTA — The Braves have re-signed outfielder Nick Markakis and catcher Tyler Flowers to $4 million, one-year contracts for 2020 after declining their team options. The team also declined a club option for longtime starting pitcher Julio Teheran, likely signaling the end of his tenure with the Braves, and made
5:13 PM ET ESPN News Services J.D. Martinez did not opt out of his contract with the Boston Red Sox. By remaining with the Red Sox, Martinez can earn $62.5 million over the next three years: $23.75 million for 2020 and $19,375,000 for both 2021 and 2022. He also has the option to opt out
4:08 PM ET New York Yankees greats Thurman Munson, Don Mattingly and Tommy John are among a 10-man ballot of candidates who will be eligible for selection to the Baseball Hall of Fame this year though the Modern Baseball Era committee. Munson is on the committee’s ballot for the first time, as are Dwight Evans
3:26 PM ET Associated Press WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump honored the World Series champion Nationals at the White House on Monday, though more than half a dozen players skipped the ceremony on the South Lawn. Reliever Sean Doolittle, who along with his wife has worked with Syrian refugees and military veterans and supports gay
2:45 PM ET The Milwaukee Brewers freed up salary space on Monday by trading right-hander Chase Anderson to the Toronto Blue Jays and declining the 2020 option on first baseman Eric Thames. In exchange for Anderson, who is scheduled to be paid a base salary of $8.5 million in 2020, the Brewers received minor league
5:00 PM ET Jeff PassanESPN Close ESPN MLB insiderAuthor of “The Arm: Inside the Billion-Dollar Mystery of the Most Valuable Commodity in Sports” On the day after the World Series, an agent for a prominent free agent this winter expressed shock at how busy his day had been. In the past two seasons, free agency
10:07 PM ET MLB’s reward season kicked off Sunday night with the announcement of the Gold Glove awards. (Finalists for the other major awards will be announced Monday, with Rookies of the Year winners named Nov. 11, followed by Managers of the Year Nov. 12, Cy Young winners Nov. 13 and MVPs Nov. 14.) Here