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Former President Trump may use the legal system to try to delay the government’s case against him, argue a reasoned defense under law about stockpiling secret U.S. documents at his club or try to influence the judicial system in the court of public opinion, reports The New York Times.

If the past is prologue, Trump will try it all.

▪ Washington Monthly: How delay and recusal might save Trump.

▪ Politico: Here’s how U.S. District Court Judge Aileen Cannon could help Trump’s case.

▪ Bloomberg News: Trump indictment highlights the perils of being his lawyer.

The former president, who flew aboard his private jet to South Florida on Monday, will appear before a magistrate judge in federal court in Miami today to formally face 37 criminal charges brought by the government following a special counsel probe. Trump plans to plead not guilty, he told talk radio host Howie Carr (ABC News).

He’ll fly back to his golf club in Bedminster, N.J., where he plans to deliver a speech tonight. On Wednesday, he’ll mark his 77th birthday as the first former president and current candidate to face separate criminal charges in two courts in little more than two months. 

The Justice Department alleges that Trump violated the Espionage Act and other statutes when he took classified documents with him out of the White House, failed to relinquish all sensitive materials to the National Archives, conspired to interfere with a federal probe and knowingly shared national security secrets with individuals not authorized to see the information.

▪ The Hill’s Niall Stanage previews the day ahead with five things to watch.

▪ The New York Times: What to expect when Trump makes a court appearance today. 

▪ The Washington Post: Trump aide Walt Nauta, alleged by the government to have conspired with Trump to try to defy a federal subpoena, also will be arraigned in Miami today.

Alert to combative rhetoric from some Republicans and vows of pro-Trump demonstrations and protests, police and security personnel will be out in force. The Miami Herald reports the city is prepared for protests and Proud Boys rallies.

Trump vowed Monday to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate President Biden and his family if Trump wins another term as president. He wants to whip up his defenders and encourages supporters to join a planned protest at the Miami courthouse today (The Hill).

“We need strength in our country now,” Trump said Sunday, speaking to longtime friend and adviser Roger Stone in an interview on WABC Radio. “And they have to go out and they have to protest peacefully. They have to go out.”

“Look, our country has to protest. We have plenty to protest. We’ve lost everything,” Trump said.

Expected to accompany the former president today are lawyer Todd Blanche and Boris Epshteyn, who has acted as a legal adviser (Politico). Trump’s search for an experienced Florida trial attorney to represent him is in flux, reports The Washington Post.

In a future trial, South Florida would provide the jury pool, although it’s unclear if the case would draw jurors from Miami-Dade or West Palm Beach counties, reports The New York Times during interviews with residents.

“From my personal perspective, up till now, they don’t have anything on him,” said Modesto Estrada, 71, a retiredMiamibusinessman, of Trump. “And nothing’s going to happen to him. He’s not going to jail. The case is going to fall apart and that’s what I’m hoping.”

Related Articles

▪ The Hill: Dissecting Trump’s defenses: Allies test versions (Justice Department is politically motivated, classified documents weren’t sold, the Mar-a-Lago bathroom was locked, the former president is not a spy).

▪ The Hill: Trump-Gen. Mark Milley feud played role in classified documents case. 

▪ The Hill: Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) steers clear of defending Trump on indictment.

▪ Reuters: President Biden underwent root canal procedures at the White House on Sunday and Monday, which required local anesthetic and rescheduling of his official itinerary.

LEADING THE DAY

➤ CONGRESS

House conservatives said Monday that they’re ready to end their blockade of the House floor — at least temporarily — while they continue discussions with Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) about ways to give the House Freedom Caucus members more power and curb deficit spending in future funding packages. The conservative rebels essentially held the floor hostage since last Tuesday, when 11 hard-liners blocked a procedural measure in protest of McCarthy’s handling of the debt limit negotiations with Biden, which led to the passage of a bipartisan debt limit deal last month. 

While vague in their demands, the detractors were essentially asking for assurances that the Speaker would hold a harder line on spending in the budget fights to come. While the hard-liners said Monday evening that no firm agreement has been reached with the Speaker, they added they’re encouraged by the direction of the talks and will release their stranglehold on the House this week while those discussions continue (The Hill).

“Here’s what everyone understood: The power-sharing agreement that we entered into in January with Speaker McCarthy must be renegotiated,” Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) said after leaving McCarthy’s office. “He understood that, we understood that. And it has to be renegotiated in a way so that what happened on the settlement vote would never happen again, where House conservatives would be left as the less desirable coalition partner than Democrats.”

The end of the blockade comes just in time — the Ways and Means Committee is scheduled to mark up a GOP tax-cut bill today, while the Appropriations Committee is poised to tackle the first of the 12 annual appropriations bills. Next week, the House Armed Services Committee is set to vote on the annual defense authorization bill (as is its Senate counterpart). 

▪ Politico: Capitol Hill reckons with a government funding fight that just got tougher.

▪ Roll Call: Democrats call for investigation into Homeland Security watchdog.

▪ The Daily Beast: McCarthy rolls out his Trump defense: “A bathroom door locks.”

➤ POLITICS

As a number of states are seeking further restrictions to abortion access, the next big battle in the reproductive rights fight is set to take place in August in Ohio, where voters will consider a ballot measure that could make it harder for the state to enshrine protections for the medical procedure, writes The Hill’s Caroline Vakil. 

Ohioans are set to vote on a proposed constitutional amendment that, if passed, would require at least 60 percent of voters to pass any amendment to the state’s constitution – up from the current threshold of more than 50 percent. Though the amendment doesn’t explicitly mention abortion, the election, which has sparked bipartisan backlash, comes as Democrats seek to put an abortion measure on the ballot this November that would enshrine abortion protections in the state’s constitution. Should the proposed constitutional amendment pass, it could make it harder for abortion rights advocates to pass their own initiative. 

“It’s such a power grab on so many levels, and I think it really is an attempt to silence the voice of the people,” Ohio state Senate Minority Leader Nickie Antonio (D) told The Hill.

▪ The Hill: Ohio’s top court rules parts of ballot measure at center of abortion fight must be rewritten.

▪ The Washington Post: In post-Roe Virginia, a doctor-state senator stakes out a nuanced abortion stance.

▪ Rolling Stone: Former Vice President Mike Pence may have inadvertently protected abortion rights in Indiana.

2024 headlines: GOP presidential candidate former Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey said he believes the indictment against Trump was “a very tight, very detailed, evidence-laden indictment, and the conduct in there is awful.” During a CNN town hall on Monday, Christie characterized Trump as “angry” and “vengeful” and said he believes prosecutors have more evidence than put forward so far (CNN). … Presidential primary contender Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) counts endorsements from more than 140 politicians in the Palmetto State (The Associated Press). 

IN FOCUS/SHARP TAKES

➤ INTERNATIONAL 

Ukrainian troops are probing Russian defenses as spring gives way to a second summer of fighting, and Kyiv’s forces are launching a counteroffensive against an enemy that has made mistakes and suffered setbacks in the 15-month-old war. But analysts say Moscow also has learned from those blunders and improved its weapons and skills. The changing Russian tactics along with increased troop numbers and improved weaponry could make it challenging for Ukraine to score any kind of quick decisive victory, threatening to turn it into a long battle of attrition (The Associated Press).

Civilians were killed in an overnight attack on a residential building in the city of Kryvyi Rih, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s hometown, according to a regional governor (The Washington Post and Reuters).

▪ The New York Times: Attacks from Ukraine have killed at least a dozen Russian civilians and displaced thousands. But they have not fundamentally changed the calculus for President Vladimir Putin.

▪ The New York Times: South Africa is accused of helping supply Russia with weapons for the Ukraine war, a charge that the country denies.

▪ The Associated Press: Using high-tech laser gear, a U.N.-backed team scans Ukraine historical sites to preserve them amid war.

▪ Al Jazeera: NATO’s largest air force drill prepares for a “crisis situation.”

As Beijing and Washington move gingerly toward restoring high-level exchanges, Xi Jinping is stepping up his effort to gird China for conflict — including “extreme” scenarios. As the U.S. and China set plans for a rescheduled visit by Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Beijing is playing up the possibility of worsening ties between the two countries (The Wall Street Journal).

▪ The Guardian: China concerns prompt U.S. move to rejoin UNESCO.

▪ The New York Times: How Silvio Berlusconi changed Italy, for better or worse.

▪ The Washington Post: Berlusconi’s testosterone-filled politics have been overtaken by women in Italy.

▪ Politico EU: Berlusconi’s nine most controversial moments.

OPINION

■ Another Biden defense, by James Freeman, columnist, The Wall Street Journal. 

■ Rep. Jim Jordan’s tortured defense of Trump points to a coming GOP split, by Greg Sargent, columnist, The Washington Post. 

WHERE AND WHEN

📲 Ask The Hill: Share a news query tied to an expert journalist’s insights: The Hill launched something new and (we hope) engaging via text with Editor-in-Chief Bob Cusack. Learn more and sign up HERE.

The House will meet at 10 a.m. for a vote to override the president’s veto of a joint resolution blocking a policing reform law in the nation’s capital.

The Senate will convene at 10 a.m.

The president will receive the President’s Daily Brief at 10 a.m. Biden will meet (after Monday’s postponement for unscheduled dental work) with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at 1 p.m. at the White House. Biden will speak at 5:15 p.m. at an East Room reception for Chiefs of Mission conferees (principal officers in charge of State Department diplomatic offices and missions from around the world). The president and first lady Jill Biden will host a Juneteenth concert at 7 p.m. on the South Lawn (the federal holiday is Monday, June 19).

Vice President Harris and second gentleman Doug Emhoff will attend the evening’s Juneteenth concert at the White House.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken attends Chiefs of Mission Conference events throughout the day. He will meet with Stoltenberg at 11 a.m. at the State Department, then join the president and the secretary general at the White House in the afternoon. Blinken will participate in the White House reception this evening for the Chiefs of Mission conferees.

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen will testify before the House Financial Services Committee at 10 a.m.

First lady Jill Biden will be in San Francisco to headline a political fundraiser for the Biden Victory Fund at 5:15 p.m., followed by another one at 6:45 p.m. She will speak at 8 p.m. PT at the Giffords Law Center’s 30th anniversary celebration in San Francisco. The Associated Press reports on the first lady’s three-day campaign swing, which began in New York. 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Rochelle Walensky, who plans to leave the agency this month, will testify at 10:30 a.m. about COVID-19 policies to the House Oversight Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic. 

Economic indicators: The Federal Reserve begins a two-day meeting before announcing monetary policy direction on Wednesday. The Fed faces a complicated situation (The Wall Street Journal). Separately, the Bureau of Labor Statistics at 8:30 a.m. will release the Consumer Price Index for May and a report on real earnings in May, both closely examined by the central bank. 

The White House daily press briefing is scheduled at 1:30 p.m.

ELSEWHERE

➤ TRENDS

🔥 In the past 20 years, California’s northern forests have experienced a stark increase in lands burned by fire — and now scientists have a better idea why. The culprit is a familiar one, reports The Hill’s Saul Elbein: human-caused climate change, driven primarily by the burning of fossil fuels, according to findings published Monday in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

But other aspects are new, and the paper presents a portrait of fires in an alternate California, in which human-caused climate change hadn’t happened. It offers a sobering warning for any ecosystem — notably Canada and the Western U.S.  — in which temperature, not the availability of trees, is the primary factor limiting the size of fires.

▪ Axios: Canadian officials warn historic wildfires could “last all summer.”

▪ The Washington Post: California’s 2020 smoke storm was horrific. What did the state learn?

🌎 Melissa Hoffer is the first state climate chief in the nation, appointed by Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey (D). If things go as Hoffer hopes, she will be the first in a long line of similar officials across other states, Hoffer told The Hill’s Zack Budryk. 

“Whether you are a state or local or federal government, or whether you run an institution or a business, you need to begin to have a formalized structure in place to consider climate change,” Hoffer said. “So our hope is that this will be a replicable model that could be used by other states, that it could also be adapted to other local governments.” 

The Boston Globe: “A defining issue of our time”: Massachusetts’s first climate chief is bringing an all-of-government approach to climate change.

🏥 A range of factors conspire to determine who dies from cancer, including genetics and where people live. U.S. cancer death rates have decreased over the past 25 years, according to the American Cancer Society, but the sharpest decrease in cancer deaths has occurred among Black people, Native Americans and Alaskan natives, according to a February 2022 report from Kaiser Family Foundation, The Hill’s Alejandra O’Conell-Domenech reports. This is in part due to improvements in cancer screening, treatments, early diagnosis and changes in behavior like reduced cigarette smoking, according to Latoya Hill, a senior policy analyst at KFF’s Racial and Health Policy Program.    

But even though white Americans have higher rates of new cancer diagnoses, some people of color, especially Black people, are still more likely to die from the disease, National Cancer Institute data shows. 

NBC News: Experimental brain cancer vaccine may slow growth of glioblastoma tumors.

👷 Manufacturing construction is surging across the country as legislative efforts to reinvigorate the U.S. industrial base are bearing fruit. As The Hill’s Tobias Burns reports, experts say these changes — led in part by administration’s policies — represent a watershed moment for U.S. heavy industry and a shift toward more environmentally friendly methods of production amid an ongoing climate emergency. 

“We waited for so long to have these kinds of initiatives,” Miki Banu, a professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Michigan, told The Hill. “This is probably the first time in my life when I’ve seen so many resources become available, which are able to let us put our ideas into practice.”

🗞️ Washington Post publisher and chief executive Fred Ryan, 68, announced Monday he will step down in August to lead a new Center on Public Civility at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation. Owner Jeff Bezos appointed Patty Stonesifer, the founding chief executive of the Gates Foundation and more recently the director of the Amazon board, to be interim Post CEO. Bezos provided the initial funding for planning and design of the Public Civility center. Ryan helped found Politico and early in his career was a Reagan aide both in the White House and when the former president returned to private life (The Washington Post).

THE CLOSER

And finally …  🌌 Many of us saw Matt Damon’s character survive (barely) on potatoes grown in an indoor, controlled-climate shelter on Mars. Hollywood’s adventure depicted in “The Martian” actually tracked science. “Let there be dark” is the catchy headline for new details about ongoing research to grow plants without sunlight to feed astronauts bound for the red planet (Science). It’s a journey that can take manned spacecraft nine months to years, although NASA’s Rover needed seven months to get to Mars.  House lawmakers push for troop pay boost Youth climate trial starts in Montana

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MLB free agency tracker: Keep up with the offseason moves

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February 2, 2025

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MLB free agency tracker: Keep up with the offseason moves

Jan 29, 2025, 05:00 PM ET

Just like that, the 2024-25 MLB hot stove has kicked off! We had a trade just one day after the Los Angeles Dodgers hoisted the World Series championship trophy.

All eyes this winter were on the top free agent, young slugger Juan Soto, who left the New York Yankees for a record contract with the New York Mets. But he’s not the only one who will make a splash in the market.

Which teams will go all-in to contend for a 2025 World Series title? Where will other top free agents such as Pete Alonso and Alex Bregman land? And who will make the trades and deals that have everyone buzzing?

Below is a running list of notable transactions and updates from throughout the MLB offseason.

Free agency, trade grades | Top 50 free agents | Fantasy spin

Notable MLB offseason transactions

Jan. 30

Blue Jays land Scherzer on one-year deal

Right-hander Max Scherzer and the Toronto Blue Jays are in agreement on a one-year, $15.5 million contract, sources told ESPN on Thursday. Story » | Grade »

Jan. 29

Reds trade for late-inning arm

The Cincinnati Reds are finalizing a trade to acquire left-handed reliever Taylor Rogers from the San Francisco Giants, sources tell ESPN. Story »

Rays land infielder Kim

Infielder Ha-Seong Kim and the Tampa Bay Rays are in agreement on a two-year, $29 million contract that includes an opt-out after the first season, sources tell ESPN. Story » | Grade »

Tigers further fortify bullpen with Kahnle

Right-handed reliever Tommy Kahnle and the Detroit Tigers are in agreement on a one-year, $7.75 million contract, pending physical, sources told ESPN. Story »

Mets add hard-throwing Stanek to pen

Right-hander Ryne Stanek and the New York Mets are in agreement on a one-year deal, a source told ESPN. Story »

Jan. 28

Dodgers sign All-Star reliever Yates

Right-handed reliever Kirby Yates and the Los Angeles Dodgers are in agreement on a one-year, $13 million contract, sources tell ESPN. Can get up to $14M with 55 games pitched. Story » | Grade »

Jan. 26

Cubs trade for veteran reliever Pressly

The Chicago Cubs are finalizing a trade to acquire closer Ryan Pressly from the Houston Astros, pending medical review, sources told ESPN’s Jeff Passan. Story » | Grade »

Jan. 23

Braves land All-Star outfielder in Profar

Outfielder Jurickson Profar and the Atlanta Braves are finalizing a three-year, $42 million contract, sources tell ESPN.

Jan. 20

Blue Jays add Santander to outfield

The Toronto Blue Jays and outfielder Anthony Santander are in agreement on a five-year contract worth $92.5 million, giving the team one of the best hitters available this offseason after failed attempts to land a marquee free agent in recent years. Story » | Grade »

Jan. 19

Dodgers nab Scott for bullpen

The Los Angeles Dodgers have added left-hander Tanner Scott, arguably the best relief pitcher on the free agent market, agreeing to terms on a four-year, $72 million contract, sources told ESPN on Sunday. Story » | Grade »

Jan. 17

Japanese ace Sasaki picks Dodgers

Roki Sasaki, the prized Japanese pitching prospect who has had scouts drooling over his potential since high school, has chosen the Los Angeles Dodgers as his major league team, he announced on Instagram on Friday. Story » | Grade »

Jan. 16

Winker returns to Mets on one-year deal

Outfielder Jesse Winker and the New York Mets have agreed on a one-year deal, a source confirmed to ESPN amid multiple reports Thursday. Story »

Jan. 10

Blue Jays sign top reliever Hoffman

The Toronto Blue Jays announced they have signed right-handed reliever Jeff Hoffman to a three-year, $33 million deal. Story » | Grade »

Jan. 7

Giants add Verlander on one-year deal

Right-hander Justin Verlander and the San Francisco Giants are in agreement on a one-year, $15 million contract, sources told ESPN on Tuesday, continuing the future Hall of Famer’s career at age 42 in one of the pitcher-friendliest stadiums in baseball. Story » | Grade »

Jan. 6

Reds acquire Lux in trade with Dodgers

The Cincinnati Reds acquired infielder Gavin Lux from the Los Angeles Dodgers for a draft pick and an outfield prospect, the teams announced Monday, adding another prime-age hitter to a team that hopes to ascend in the National League Central this season. Story » | Grades »

Royals bring back pitcher Lorenzen

Right-hander Michael Lorenzen and the Kansas City Royals agreed on a one-year, $7 million contract, sources told ESPN. Story » | Grade »

Jan. 3

Dodgers land star KBO infielder

The Los Angeles Dodgers are in agreement with Korean infielder Hyeseong Kim on a 3-year, $12.5 million contract, sources confirmed to ESPN on Friday. Story » | Grade »

Dec. 30

Nats sign Bell to one-year deal

The Washington Nationals have agreed to terms with first baseman Josh Bell on a one-year contract worth $6 million, according to multiple reports. Story »

Dec. 29

Cubs and Marlins swap infielders

The Chicago Cubs acquired utility man Vidal Bruján on Sunday, sending first baseman Matt Mervis to the Miami Marlins in a swap of former top-100 prospects. Story »

Dec. 28

Burnes joins D-backs on $210 million deal

Right-hander Corbin Burnes and the Arizona Diamondbacks are in agreement on a six-year, $210 million contract, sources confirmed to ESPN. Story » | Grade »

Dec. 27

Dodgers bring back All-Star outfielder Hernandez

Outfielder Teoscar Hernández and the Los Angeles Dodgers are in agreement on a three-year, $66 million contract, sources told ESPN. Story » | Grade »

Tigers add Torres to infield on one-year deal

Infielder Gleyber Torres and the Detroit Tigers are in agreement on a one-year, $15 million contract, sources tell ESPN. Story » | Grade »

Dec. 23

McCutchen returns to the Pirates

Veteran slugger Andrew McCutchen is returning to the Pittsburgh Pirates, the team announced on social media. Story »

Buehler, Red Sox agree to 1-year deal

Right-hander Walker Buehler and the Boston Red Sox are in agreement on a one-year, $21.05 million contract, sources told ESPN, sending the pitcher who secured the final out of the World Series this year to a team loading up on starting pitching as it pivots toward contention. Story » | Grade »

Rangers add veteran bat Pederson

Outfielder Joc Pederson and the Texas Rangers are in agreement on a contract pending a physical, sources tell ESPN. Story » | Grade »

Manaea returns to Mets on three-year deal

Left-hander Sean Manaea and the New York Mets are in agreement on a three-year, $75 million contract, sources told ESPN. Story » | Grade »

Dec. 22

Phillies bolster rotation with trade for Luzardo

The Philadelphia Phillies have acquired left-handed starter Jesus Luzardo from the Miami Marlins for two prospects, sources familiar with the deal told ESPN. Story » | Grades »

Nationals land 1B Lowe in trade with Rangers

The Washington Nationals on Sunday acquired first baseman Nathaniel Lowe from the Texas Rangers in exchange for lefty reliever Robert Garcia. Story » | Grades »

Dec. 21

Guardians trade Naylor to D-backs, sign Santana

The Cleveland Guardians traded first baseman Josh Naylor to the Arizona Diamondbacks on Saturday and quickly replaced him, with sources telling ESPN that they agreed to a one-year, $12 million contract with free agent Carlos Santana, bringing him back for his third stint with the team. Story » | Grades »

Goldschmidt, Yankees agree on 1-year deal

First baseman Paul Goldschmidt and the New York Yankees are in agreement on a one-year, $12.5 million contract, sources told ESPN, pairing the former National League MVP and seven-time All-Star with the American League champion in the midst of a significant overhaul. Story » | Grade »

Dec. 20

Astros bring Walker to Houston

The Houston Astros and free-agent first baseman Christian Walker have agreed to a three-year, $60 million contract, sources confirmed to ESPN amid multiple reports. Story » | Grade »

Yanks ship Trevino to Reds for Cruz, Jackson

The New York Yankees traded catcher Jose Trevino to the Cincinnati Reds for right-hander Fernando Cruz and catcher Alex Jackson, the teams announced Friday. Story »

Red Sox add rotation arm

Left-hander Patrick Sandoval and the Boston Red Sox are in agreement on a two-year, $18.25 million contract, sources tell ESPN. Story »

A’s land veteran infielder

Gio Urshela is in agreement with the Athletics on a major league contract, sources confirm to ESPN. Story »

Dec. 19

Phillies bolster outfield with Kepler

Outfielder Max Kepler and the Philadelphia Phillies are in agreement on a one-year, $10 million contract, pending a physical, sources tell ESPN. Story »

Dec. 17

Yankees land Bellinger in trade with Cubs

OF/1B Cody Bellinger has been traded from the Chicago Cubs to the New York Yankees for right-handed reliever Cody Poteet, sources tell ESPN. (New York will also receive cash considerations.) Story » | Grades »

Dec. 16

O’s, Sugano agree on 1-year, $13M deal

Right-hander Tomoyuki Sugano and the Baltimore Orioles have agreed to a contract, the team announced Monday night, uniting one of the most successful Japanese pitchers of his generation with a team in need of rotation help. The deal is for one year and $13 million, sources told ESPN. Story »

Dec. 14

A’s acquire lefty Springs from Rays

The Athletics are acquiring left-hander Jeffrey Springs in a six-player trade with the Tampa Bay Rays, the team announced Saturday, continuing their push toward contention with a significant increase in their payroll as they head into their first season in Sacramento. Story » | Grades »

Dec. 13

Cubs land three-time All-Star Tucker in deal with Astros

The Chicago Cubs are acquiring Houston Astros outfielder Kyle Tucker in exchange for third baseman Isaac Paredes, pitcher Hayden Wesneski and prospect Cam Smith, sources told ESPN’s Jeff Passan. Story » | Grades »

Yankees get All-Star closer Williams from Milwaukee

The New York Yankees are acquiring closer Devin Williams from the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for left-hander Nestor Cortes, infield prospect Caleb Durbin and cash considerations, sources told ESPN’s Jeff Passan. Story » | Grades »

Dec. 11

Loáisiga returns to Yankees

Right-handed pitcher Jonathan Loáisiga and the Yankees have agreed on a one-year contract with a team option for 2026, a source tells ESPN. Story »

Red Sox trading for Crochet

The Boston Red Sox are acquiring left-hander Garrett Crochet in a trade with the Chicago White Sox for four highly-regarded prospects, sources tell ESPN’s Jeff Passan. Story »

Dec. 10

Marlins, Rangers agree to trade for Jake Burger

The Texas Rangers have agreed to a trade for power-hitting corner infielder Jake Burger, sources told ESPN on Tuesday. In exchange, the Miami Marlins will receive two shortstop prospects, Echedry Vargas and Max Acosta, and a young left-handed starting pitcher in Brayan Mendoza. Story » | Grades »

Eovaldi returning to the Rangers

Right-hander Nathan Eovaldi and the Texas Rangers are in agreement on a three-year, $75 million contract, sources tell ESPN. Story » | Grade »

Guardians and Blue Jays complete trade

The Toronto Blue Jays are finalizing a trade to acquire three-time Gold Glove-winning second baseman Andres Gimenez from the Cleveland Guardians, sources tell ESPN. Story » | Grades »

Yankees land Fried on $218 million contract

Left-hander Max Fried and the New York Yankees are in agreement on a eight-year, $218 million contract, pending physical, sources tell ESPN. It is the largest guarantee in baseball history for a left-handed pitcher. Story » | Grade »

Blue Jays sign pitcher Garcia

The Toronto Blue Jays and right-hander Yimi Garcia are in agreement on a two-year, $15 million contract, a source told ESPN on Tuesday. Story »

Dec. 9

Phillies add Romano to bullpen

Closer Jordan Romano and the Philadelphia Phillies are in agreement on a free agent contract, pending physical, sources tell ESPN. Romano was nontendered by Toronto earlier this offseason. Story » | Grade »

Dec. 8

Mets sign Soto for MLB record $765 million

Superstar outfielder Juan Soto and the New York Mets are in agreement on a 15-year, $765 million contract, sources tell ESPN. It is the largest deal in professional sports history. Story » | Grade »

Conforto joins Dodgers on $17 million deal

Outfielder Michael Conforto joined the Dodgers on a one-year deal. Story » | Grade »

Dec. 7

Giants, Adames agree on 7 years, $182M

Shortstop Willy Adames and the San Francisco Giants are in agreement on a seven-year, $182 million contract, the largest outlay in franchise history, sources told ESPN on Saturday. Story » | Grade »

O’s land O’Neill

Outfielder Tyler O’Neill and the Baltimore Orioles are in agreement on a three-year, $49.5 million contract, a source told ESPN, filling a void created by the free agency of slugging outfielder Anthony Santander. Story » | Grade »

Dec. 6

Mets sign Holmes … as a starter

Right-hander Clay Holmes and the New York Mets are in agreement on a three-year, $38 million contract with an opt-out after the second year, sources confirmed to ESPN’s Jeff Passan on Friday night. Story » | Grade »

Rays add catcher Jansen

Catcher Danny Jansen and the Tampa Bay Rays are in agreement on a one-year, $8.5 million contract that includes a mutual option for a second season, sources tell ESPN.

Dec. 5

A’s sign Severino to franchise-record contract

Right-hander Luis Severino and the Athletics are in agreement on a three-year, $67 million free agent contract that is the largest guarantee in the franchise’s history, sources told ESPN. Story » | Grade »

Dec. 3

Red Sox add Chapman to bullpen

Left-handed reliever Aroldis Chapman and the Boston Red Sox are in agreement on a one-year, $10.75 million contract, pending physical, sources tell ESPN. Story » | Grade »

Dec. 2

Cubs sign pitcher Boyd to two-year deal

The Chicago Cubs have added Matthew Boyd to their rotation in their first big offseason move, agreeing to a $29 million, two-year contract with the veteran left-hander, sources confirmed to ESPN. Story » | Grade »

Mets add to rotation with Montas signing

Right-hander Frankie Montas and the New York Mets are in agreement on a two-year, $34 million contract, sources told ESPN. Story » | Grade »

Nov. 26

Dodgers make splash with Snell signing

Left-hander Blake Snell and the Los Angeles Dodgers are in agreement on a five-year, $182 million contract, pending physical, sources tell ESPN. Story » | Grade »

Nov. 25

Angels add to rotation in yet another move

Left-handed starter Yusei Kikuchi is in agreement with the Los Angeles Angels on a three-year, $63 million contract, sources confirmed to ESPN on Monday. Story » | Grade »

Nov. 22

Royals trade for position players

The Kansas City Royals traded right-handed pitcher Brady Singer to the Cincinnati Reds for infielder Jonathan India and outfielder Joey Wiemer, the teams announced on Friday. Story » | Grades »

Nov. 20

Cubs add reliever in deal with Guardians

The Chicago Cubs are acquiring right-handed reliever Eli Morgan in a trade with the Cleveland Guardians, sources tell ESPN.

Nov. 19

Mets get outfield help in deal with Rays

The New York Mets have acquired outfielder Jose Siri from the Tampa Bay Rays for reliever Eric Orze. Story »

Nov. 18

Martinez accepts qualifying offer to stay with Reds

Right-hander Nick Martinez accepted the Cincinnati Reds‘ $21.05 million qualifying offer, multiple outlets reported Monday. Story »

Nov. 14

Angels sign infielder Newman to one-year deal

The Los Angeles Angels and infielder Kevin Newman agreed to a one-year $2.5 million contract with a club option for 2026, the team announced . Story »

Red Sox add reliever Wilson

Left-hander Justin Wilson and the Boston Red Sox have agreed to a $2.25 million, one-year contract, according to multiple reports. Story »

Nov. 12

Angels sign d’Arnaud to two-year deal

Catcher Travis d’Arnaud and the Los Angeles Angels are in agreement on a two-year, $12 million contract. Story » | Grade »

Nov. 6

Hedges returns to Guardians on one-year deal

Catcher Austin Hedges and the Cleveland Guardians are in agreement on a one-year contract, sources tell ESPN. Story »

Angels add veteran arm to rotation

Kyle Hendricks is in agreement with the Los Angeles Angels on a one-year, $2.5 million deal, sources tell ESPN. Story » | Grade »

Nov. 3

Royals re-sign Wacha to 3-year deal

Right-hander Michael Wacha and the Kansas City Royals are in agreement on a three-year, $51 million contract, sources tell ESPN. The deal includes a club option and can max out at four years, $72 million. Story » | Grade »

Oct. 31

Braves make first splash of offseason

The Atlanta Braves are trading outfielder Jorge Soler to the Los Angeles Angels and will receive right-hander Griffin Canning, sources tell ESPN. Story » | Grade »

Key MLB offseason dates

Dec. 9-12: Winter meetings in Dallas, Texas

Dec. 11: Rule 5 draft

Jan. 9: Deadline for teams and arbitration-eligible players to submit salary figures

End of January: Arbitration hearings begin

Feb. 22: Spring training games begin

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How Donald Trump’s tariffs could impact consumers

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3 hours ago

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February 2, 2025

By

How Donald Trump's tariffs could impact consumers

Donald Trump has long threatened increasing tariffs on goods from Mexico, Canada, and China.

The second-time president argues higher levies will help reduce illegal migration and the smuggling of fentanyl to the US.

On Saturday, the president confirmed that he would subject Mexican and Canadian goods to the full 25% tariff – and Chinese imports to 10%.

Although the Trump administration says the changes will boost domestic production, there will likely be wide-ranging negative consequences for the US consumer.

Economists argue supply chains will be disrupted and businesses will suffer increased costs – leading to an overall rise in prices.

Analysis:
Why has Trump targeted Mexico and Canada?

Both Mexico and Canada rely heavily on their imports and exports, which make up around 70% of their Gross Domestic Products (GDPs), putting them at even greater risk from the new tariffs.

China only relies on trade for 37% of its economy, having made a concerted effort to ramp up domestic production, making it relatively less vulnerable.

Here we look at where US consumers will feel the biggest impact.

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Tariffs to focus on Mexico and Canada

Avocados – and other fruit and veg

The US imports between half and 60% of its fresh produce from Mexico – and 80% of its avocados, according to figures from the US Department of Agriculture.

Canada also supplies a lot of the US’s fruit and vegetables, which are mainly grown in greenhouses on the other side of the US border.

This means that increased tariffs will quickly be passed on to consumers in the form of higher prices.

The US still grows a considerable amount of its own produce, however, so the changes could boost domestic production.

But economists warn that overreliance on domestic goods will see those suppliers increase their prices too.

Petrol and oil prices

Oil and gas prices are likely to be impacted – as Canada provides around 60% of US crude oil imports and Mexico roughly 10%.

According to the US Energy Information Administration, the US received around 4.6 million barrels of oil a day from Canada last year – and 563,000 from Mexico.

Most US oil refineries are designed specifically to process Canadian products, which would make changing supply sources complex and costly.

There has been some speculation that Mr Trump may exempt oil from the new changes – but if he doesn’t, the US could see an increase in fuel prices of up to 50 cents (40p) a gallon, economists have predicted.

Cars and vehicle parts

The US car industry is a delicate mix of foreign and domestic manufacturers.

The supply chain is so complex, car parts and half-finished vehicles can sometimes cross the US-Mexico border several times before they are ready for the showroom.

If this continues, the parts would be taxed every time they move countries, which would lead to an even bigger increase in prices.

To mitigate this, General Motors has said it will try to rush through Mexican and Canadian exports – while brainstorming on how to relocate manufacturing to the US.

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Trump 100: Why is he blaming diversity push for the Washington DC plane crash?

Electronic goods

When Donald Trump imposed a 50% tariff on imported washing machines during his first term in 2018, prices suffered for years afterwards.

China produces a lot of the world’s consumer electronics – and smartphones and computers specifically – so the 10% tariff could have a similar effect on those devices.

The Biden administration tried to legislate to promote domestic production of semiconductors (microchips needed for all smart devices) – but for now, the US is still heavily reliant on China for its personal electronics.

This will mean an increase in prices for consumers unless tech companies can relocate their operations away from Beijing.

Boost for the steel industry

The sector that could feel the most benefit from the Trump tariffs is the steel and aluminium industry.

It has long been lobbying the government to put tariffs on foreign suppliers – claiming they are dominating the market and leaving US factories without enough business and at risk of closure.

Steel imports increasing in price would promote domestic production – and possibly save some of the plants.

But when Mr Trump increased steel tariffs during his first term, prices also increased – which business leaders said forced them to pass on costs and left them struggling to complete construction projects on budget.

Overall inflation

An increase in the prices of all these goods would inevitably lead to widespread overall inflation.

According to analysis by Capital Economics, the Canadian and Mexican tariffs would put inflation above 3% – which is much higher than the Federal Reserve’s target of 2% – and the Chinese levies would see it rise even further.

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Sports

‘That is Oakland’: Thousands celebrate Henderson

Published

3 hours ago

on

February 2, 2025

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'That is Oakland': Thousands celebrate Henderson

  • Associated Press

Feb 1, 2025, 09:40 PM ET

OAKLAND, Calif. — When Ken Griffey Jr.’s own baseball-star father struggled to get through to the talented teen, Rickey Henderson somehow could.

The younger Griffey, who considers himself fortunate to this day to have roamed the New York Yankees clubhouse and hit on their field alongside so many all-time greats, made sure to listen and learn.

“I was 15 years old when I met Rickey, and he accepted me in the locker room along with Dave (Winfield) and a couple other guys,” Griffey Jr. said. “When they talk about it takes a village to raise a kid, I’m thankful for Rickey and Dave and everybody else who raised me.”

Henderson died Dec. 20 at age 65 shortly before his Christmas birthday. He was celebrated by former teammates, executives, friends and fans Saturday at the arena next door to the Oakland Coliseum where he played for so many years and, later, had a field named for him.

From Dusty Baker, Tony La Russa and Joe Torre to ex-teammates Jose Canseco, Carney Lansford, Dennis Eckersley, Dave Stewart and Winfield, Hall of Famers Reggie Jackson and Frank Thomas and home run king Barry Bonds, nearly 3,000 people made their way through steady Bay Area rain to honor the one-of-a-kind Hall of Famer.

MC Hammer and wife Stephanie performed the Oakland rapper’s tune “Goin’ up Yonder.”

Another Oakland star, Basketball Hall of Famer Gary Payton, credited Henderson for inspiring his success, albeit in another sport.

“It came from him. It came from me looking at him,” Payton said. “That man right here, that is Oakland: Rickey Henderson.”

Former Athletics general manager Sandy Alderson recalled how most conversations with Henderson began with the brazen base-stealer “telling me bluntly, ‘Rickey needs a new contract.'”

“I’m only one executive who could tell you Rickey could be a pain in the neck,” Alderson said.

But he also watched Henderson as a fan, admiring someone because “he was unique in his talents, his charismatic flair and his special hometown history.”

“On Dec. 20, 2024, you all and we all lost a little bit of our childhood,” Alderson said.

When Stewart won MVP honors after the earthquake-interrupted 1989 World Series in which the A’s swept the San Francisco Giants, Henderson had a little fun with his close pal.

Henderson had hit .474 with a home run, two triples, a double, three RBI and three stolen bases over those four games.

“We were talking and whispering in each other’s ears, you saw we were always pretty much close to each other when we were in uniform,” Stewart said. “And Rickey, when I was announced as the MVP, and I think he was shocked as he probably should have been because he did hit almost .500, but he briefly whispered in my ear, he said, ‘You know, if you was not there in the community helping all those people you wouldn’t have gotten that award.'”

For Griffey, Henderson’s care and attention to detail meant the world as the slugger began on his path and dreamed big in what would ultimately be his own Hall of Fame career.

One spring training day in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, when the veterans were doing their late work, Griffey was shagging balls for the big leaguers. Henderson always said hi on day one, and paid attention to Griffey’s progress.

“We’d go on the back field and Rickey would hit balls to me, and I’m wondering, ‘Why is he only hitting them to me?'” Griffey said. “Found out that he said, he told my dad later on, ‘He’s got a special talent. I just want to see how far he can go.’ I am 15 years old. … Rickey was like a brother, an older brother, an uncle, and sometimes I think that he was thinking that he was my damn dad, too.”

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