MLB

The Texas Rangers have added more depth to their outfield mix for 2016 after agreeing to terms on a contract with free agent Justin Ruggiano. 

The Cleveland Indians announced Thursday that third baseman Chris Johnson was designated for assignment in order to make room on the 40-man roster for Rajai Davis.

The Los Angeles Dodgers' agreement with free-agent starting pitcher Hisashi Iwakuma has reportedly been called off after there were issues with his physical.

Seeking infield depth for next season, the Pittsburgh Pirates re-signed versatile utility man Sean Rodriguez to a one-year contract. 

The Pirates announced Rodriguez's signing on their official Twitter account Thursday. 

Rodriguez spent last season with the Pirates, appearing in 139 games and hitting .246/.281/.362 with four home runs. 

Let's pretend for a moment that each MLB team's offseason was evaluated in a way similar to that of a college football or basketball program. Free-agent signings and trade additions would be assigned a rating from 1-5 on the "star" scale, and the complete class of new additions would be graded from there.

It was Tuesday, Sept. 1, when they all filed into the Fenway Park baseball conference room: pro scouts, amateur scouts, administrators—all for one of those change-of-command meetings that can lead to sleepless nights and bottles of Tums.

Dave Dombrowski, hired a mere two weeks earlier as Boston's incoming president of baseball operations, walked in to conduct the meeting and, as he did, carried with him a couple of the thickest notebook binders that maybe had ever been seen in Fenway.

Don Mattingly led three straight Los Angeles Dodgers teams to 90-win seasons and postseason appearances. He's the only manager in Dodger history—Brooklyn or Los Angeles—with three straight first-place finishes.

The stockpile is in place. 

The brain trust is comfortable and mapping out how to do its next big thing.

All that is left is for the Los Angeles Dodgers to actually strike the stunning deal.

Last fall, an All-Star third baseman was traded and proceeded to have an MVP season for his new team.

Now, the Chicago White Sox are hoping history repeats itself.

It’s midway through December, and this has already been one of the most active Major League Baseball offseasons in recent memory. Plenty of teams have been dealing aggressively, making smart acquisitions or signing key free agents to counter the moves made by their divisional rivals.