The Latest Breaking News from Xander Bogaerts

Are the Red Sox still in the business of accomplishing Plan A or are they simply a second-tier franchise that now collects the scraps when the top teams are through?

PHILADELPHIA — The news that the Phillies are planning to be without Bryce Harper until after the All-Star Break brings some clarity and some confusion to their offseason.

Here are the free-agent signings and trades that Boston should make to return to contention next season.

ATLANTA — One year after Freddie Freeman up and left the Braves, Dansby Swanson can up and leave. (Let’s get this out of the way: Swanson, like Freeman, is represented by Excel Sports Management.) This isn’t to say Swanson will, but he might. As a public service, we offer talking…

The Orioles’ 40-man roster got deeper Tuesday evening when Baltimore added a handful of its top prospects to protect them from being selected in next month’s Rule 5 draft.

It’s hard to imagine a sweeter vindication for Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski than the one he could orchestrate for himself this offseason.

The Cubs are expected to increase their player payroll for next year.

The offseason is officially here, and this year’s free-agency class features a record-setting slugger alongside star shortstops. See how they stack up.

PHILADELPHIA — Does it mean what it looks like it means?

The shortstop opted out of his contract and will hit free agency.

HOUSTON — Once it was over, Kyle Schwarber did what he almost always does after a game, win or lose. He sat down at his locker, cracked a beer, and decompressed with half a dozen teammates.