Jesse joined ESPN Chicago in September 2009 and covers MLB for ESPN.com. Welcome to the end of baseball … for a while, at least. At 11:59 p.m. ET, the collective bargaining agreement between Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association is set to expire. If there isn’t a new one in place […]

With a lockout by Major League Baseball owners looming Wednesday night, the Rockies took care of some business Tuesday, signing right-handed relievers Daniel Bard and Tyler Kinley to one-year deals to avoid arbitration. Bard’s deal is worth $4.4 million, while Kinley will get $1.025 million, a source confirmed. Bard, 36, whose comeback to the major […]

The Mets made one of the biggest signings of the offseason to date on Monday, when they signed three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer to a three-year deal. Not long after New York’s big signing, the Mariners made a major splash of their own, signing reigning AL Cy Young winner Robbie Ray to a […]

The Rangers are going all out on the free agency market this offseason. Texas has agreed to a deal with former Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager, one of the most prominent free agents available. The Rangers will now feature a middle-infield duo of Seager and Marcus Semien after they signed the latter to a seven-year, $175 […]

Shortstop Corey Seager and the Texas Rangers are in agreement on a 10-year, $325 million deal, sources familiar with the situation told ESPN’s Jeff Passan. The deal comes a day after the Rangers agreed to a seven-year, $175 million contract with second baseman Marcus Semien, sources told Passan. Seager, 27, batted .295/.364/.501 with 100 home […]

Reigning AL Cy Young winner Robbie Ray and the Seattle Mariners are finalizing a five-year, $115 million contract with an opt-out after the third season, sources familiar with the deal told ESPN’s Jeff Passan. Ray joins a Mariners team that surprised many last season by finishing second in the American League West with a 90-72 […]

Max Scherzer believes in the Mets, it seems.  He believes in the Mets’ money, no doubt about that. Owner Steve Cohen, on the heels of losing out on pitcher Steven Matz — who signed a four-year, $44 million deal with the Cardinals last week, prompting the much-discussed angry tweet from Cohen — has lured the […]

Star right-hander Max Scherzer and the New York Mets are finalizing a deal expected to be in the three-year, $130 million deal range, sources familiar with the situation told ESPN’s Jeff Passan. There are still details to be worked out and the numbers could change, the sources said. The Mets have gone on a spending […]

The Braves have been crowned World Series champions for the 2021 season. Now, the focus quickly turns to who will be the next champion. And it starts with the free-agency market. This is a strong free-agent class, particularly with its middle infielders who include stars such as Carlos Correa, Corey Seager, Marcus Semien, Javier Baez and […]

Covers MLB for ESPN.com Former deputy editor of Page 2 Been with ESPN.com since 1995 For his first 24 games of 2021, Byron Buxton was the best baseball player on the planet. He hit for average. He hit home runs. He hit doubles. He stole some bases. He played center field like Hermes, only in […]