AP Sports - Major League Baseball

Two-way star Shohei Ohtani was among seven players given $20,325,000 qualifying offers by their former teams as the free agent market opened for 168 players

The Atlanta Braves have exercised a $20 million option for pitcher Charlie Morton, bolstering a shaky rotation for the NL East champions

Domingo Germán became a free agent when he refused an outright assignment to the minor leagues from the New York Yankees, five months after he pitched Major League Baseball’s 24th perfect game and three months after he entered alcohol abuse treatment

The New York Mets are hiring Yankees bench coach Carlos Mendoza as their manager, according to a person familiar with the decision

The Chicago Cubs have hired manager Craig Counsell away from Milwaukee in a surprising move, replacing David Ross after the team slipped out of a playoff spot in the last part of the season

The Chicago Cubs have hired manager Craig Counsell away from Milwaukee, landing the former big leaguer with a record-breaking contract and firing David Ross in a tandem of surprising moves

The Cleveland Guardians have hired Stephen Vogt, a journeyman catcher with no managerial experience, as their new manager to replace Terry Francona

The Miami Marlins have hired Tampa Bay general manager Peter Bendix to head their baseball operations department

Toronto third baseman Matt Chapman and outfielder Kevin Kiermaier won their fourth Gold Gloves, while New York Yankees rookie shortstop Anthony Volpe and Colorado rookie center fielder Brenton Doyle were among 13 first-time winners

Left-hander Brad Hand’s $7 million mutual option was declined by the Atlanta Braves, allowing the reliever to become a free agent