One year ago, Jason Heyward and the Los Angeles Dodgers entered a Minor League deal with an invitation to Spring Training. For Heyward, it was an opportunity to prove that he could still play at a high level. For the Dodgers, it was a no-brainer low-risk, high-reward move. The contract turned out to be immensely lucrative for both parties. Heyward experienced a resurgent season at the plate and quickly became one of the leaders inside the clubhouse. In the end, it was a perfect match. So perfect, that Heyward and the Dodgers will run it back in 2024, as the two sides agreed to keep the veteran outfielder in Los Angeles on a one-year, $9 million deal, sources told MLB.com. The deal is pending a physical and the club has not confirmed the agreement. After an underwhelming end to his time with the Chicago Cubs, Heyward was not sure if he would get another shot in the Majors. Once he signed with the Dodgers, Heyward travelled to Los Angeles and worked out at Dodger Stadium alongside Freddie Freeman in hopes of reviving his career in ‘23.  With some significant swing changes, Heyward was able to awaken his career, hitting 15 home runs and posting a .813 OPS, his best in a full 162-game season since ‘12 with the Braves. Besides his production on the field, Heyward also helped fill the void in the clubhouse. Entering into the season the Dodgers were looking for veteran leadership with Justin Turner who is no longer with the team. The responsibility fell to Heyward to become a solid voice for young players, particularly outfielder James Outman. Heyward was going to have the choice to play for some teams this winter, but the familiarity with the hitting coaches and Freeman played a significant role in his choice to go back to Los Angeles. For the Dodgers, bringing him back fills one of the voids in the outfield. Los Angeles entered the offseason needing to address the corner outfields. With Heyward, they can strengthen the right field. Mookie Betts, who has been outspoken about his preference of playing more infield moving forward, will now get the chance to play more second base, just like he did in ‘23. Related MLB News: Yankees ready to strike at Winter Meetings.

Thirty-seven days have elapsed with minimum comment from Yankees management after Everson Pereira struck out swinging for the final out of the club’s 2023 season, his walk back toward the dugout putting into motion a crucial offseason. In that period, managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner ordered an intensive three-day session at the Yankees’ player development complex in Tampa, Fla., assigning general manager Brian Cashman and his baseball operations staff to identify the issues that caused only 82 wins and New York’s lowest winning percentage since 1992. With the Winter Meetings set to happen in Nashville in a week, Steinbrenner and Cashman say that the New York Yankees are ready to strike during the tournament. “We’re going to be active, as we always are, in the free-agent market/trade market,” Steinbrenner said recently. “As always, [when] money comes off the payroll, my family does everything we can to put it back in. That’s not going to be any different this year.” The Yankees in 2023 fell short in several areas, but not in spending, their $278 million payroll was ranked second in the Majors. They had only $173.5 million committed for 2024 (much of it on players like Aaron Judge, Gerrit Cole, Giancarlo Stanton and Carlos Rodón), which means there should be enough dollars to go around this winter. “I do believe that a team shouldn’t need a $300 million payroll. Nobody has yet; the Rangers didn’t, the Astros didn’t last year,” Steinbrenner said. “What you need is a good mix of veteran players and, equally important, a good mix of young players.” In an offseason where Shohei Ohtani’s next club makes for a blockbuster storyline, the Yankees seemed to have their sights set somewhere else. Cashman went overseas in September to scout Yoshinobu Yamamoto, an exceptional right-hander who has been called Japan’s answer to Pedro Martinez. The Yank’s opinion could not have been dimmed by their in-person experience, as Yamamoto pitched a no-hitter for his Orix Buffaloes. Insiders believe that he will score a commitment surpassing $200 million. “I’ve heard,” manager Aaron Boone said, “he’s really good.” Yamamoto would be a prize for New York, but the Yankees are in dire need of offence, coming off a year where they finished 25th in the Majors with 673 runs scored. Cashman has outlined that he is in the market for two outfielders to play alongside Judge, preferably southpaw hitters. Cody Bellinger is a top free-agent choice, fresh off a resurgent campaign where the slashed .307/.356/.525  with 26 home runs and 97 RBIs for the Cubs. He has the Yankee pedigree, as his father Clay played three seasons for the Bombers from 1999-2001. Bellinger could also play some first base, with Anthony Rizzo to become a free agent after 2024. A few decision-makers have worries about Bellinger’s analytics, especially a 31.4 hard-hit percentage in 2023 that ranked in MLB’s 10th percentile, per Statcast. With rumours that the San Diego Padres might move Juan Soto, New York has been in touch, measuring the chances of acquiring Soto. His arrival will immediately change any lasting sourness faced by the team, coming off a year where he slashed .275/.410/.519 with 35 home runs and 109 RBIs. But can the Yankees convince Soto to stay with them? Soto can become a free after 2024, and with agent Scott Boras ready to bring him to the open market, Soto’s asking price figures to be astronomical after turning down a 15-year, $440 million extension from the Washington Nationals in July 2022. Other bats that might be joining the team include third baseman Jeimer Candelario, outfielder Jung-Hoo Lee and veteran outfielder Kevin Kiermaier. Some in-house candidates will make the list, like catching prospect Austin Wells. “You’re going to see, we’re going to get a bit younger,” Steinbrenner said. “You’re going to see one or more of the guys you saw in September on the Opening Day roster. That’s the hope. I don’t know how many of them, but we are going to get younger. They’re going to get their chances, just as [Anthony] Volpe got his chance too and did very well.” On the pitching end, the Yankees have been known to discuss possible reunions with left-hander Jordan Montgomery, and right-hander Frankie Montas. Trades are also underway; Cashman recently noted that “a lot of teams’’ are showing interest in New York’s catching depth, with six backstops presently on the 40-man roster. Cashman stated that he would speedily bring any lucrative proposals to Steinbrenner’s desk. “If there’s some opportunities worth pushing through on, they’re always there to allow that to happen,” Cashman said. “It’s really all about a team situation and how the collective all works together. So we’ll see how this winter plays out, but we’re going to have conversations with the big ones and the small ones.”

Marc-Andre Fleury wore a custom mask during the Minnesota Wild’s Native American Heritage night last Friday after the NHL told him it was not allowed.  Fleury appeared on the ice for the team’s match against the Colorado Avalanche wearing the custom crafted designed mask. Agent Allan Walsh confirmed early in the day the league informed his client that he could not wear the mask, even for warmups. The NHL prohibits its players from wearing specialty jerseys, masks, stickers, decals or tape for theme nights.  Previously, they had banned players from using rainbow-coloured tape on Pride nights before that decision was changed, after they recieved backlash from around the hockey community. Teams are not allowed to dress up their players in themed jerseys for warmups this season after  a handful of players chose last season to opt out of Pride Night warmups that involved specialty jerseys. With the Minnesota celebrating Native American Hertiage night Friday against the Avalanche, Fleury wanted to honour his wife, Veronique who is of the Abenaki and Mi’kmaq descent, with the mask. Walsh said Fleury agreed to pay whatever fine he’d recieve and the NHL threatened to levy the organizatioin with an “additional significant fine.’’ It was not clear how much either of those fines would be. The Wild did not comment, while messages sent to the NHL regarding the situation were not immediately returned.  Fleury, 38, is a three-time Stanley Cup champion and won the Vezina Trophy in 2021 as the league’s top goaltender.