MLB Rumors: Tony La Russa's White Sox return nixed

Tony La Russa stepped down as Chicago White Sox manager at the end of last season due to health issues. He battled heart problems and cancer, but now the 78-year-old MLB legend is cancer-free. That's great news. He is also rumored to be returning in a consultant role for the White Sox front office, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today.

But, not so fast. Another report, this one from Ryan McGuffey of NBC Sports Chicago, states that La Russa's return is not happening. This is a strange bit of combative reporting, so time will tell who has the right read on the situation.

Nightengale's report states that La Russa met with White Sox coach Pedro Grifol and owner Jerry Reinsdorf on Wednesday in the aftermath of Chicago's front office overhaul. Maybe the transaction ended there, and La Russa's "consultant" role lasted for a single meeting. We can only wait for further clarity in the days to come.

Of course, there were mixed feelings in the White Sox fanbase when the La Russa news was first reported. On one hand, he's an extremely accomplished coach with a career record of 2,884 wins and 2,499 losses. He has been around the MLB as a player and a manager since the 1960s. It's not unreasonable to think he may have a kernel of wisdom or two to share with the front office. On the other hand, La Russa's latest White Sox stint ended on a sour note, with the coach very critical of his own performance during a disappointing 81-81 season.

MLB Rumors: Mookie Betts says Red Sox never offered $300 million

Mookie Betts and the Los Angeles Dodgers will visit the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park tomorrow, Aug. 25, in what will be the former MVP's first game back in his old ballpark. The Red Sox traded Betts to Los Angeles prior to the 2020 season, where he would eventually sign a 12-year, $365 million contract.

At the time, Betts wanted to stay in Boston, but the two sides couldn't agree to terms on an extension. The Dodgers spent a pretty penny to land Betts on the West Coast, and much was made about Boston's refusal to pay Betts -- or, conversely, his refusal to accept an offer from the Red Sox.

Recent reports have claimed Betts was offered a 10-year, $300 million contract from Boston, which he declined. In a recent interview with Pete Abraham of the Boston Globe, Betts refuted the report outright. "That never happened," he said. "I know that's out there and people say what they've got to say. But no, they didn't do that. They didn't."

Betts went on to explain his thought process and why his departure was a 'business' decision: "There's a business component to the game. We were looking for houses in Boston. We thought it was going to work out. I thought both sides were playing the slow game and it would eventually work out. We were negotiating, that's what I thought."

Obviously, the Red Sox and Betts could not come to terms. It's one of the biggest what-ifs in recent MLB history. Betts won an MVP and four Gold Glove awards with Boston. He's one of the top outfielders in the sport and his absence in Beantown has been sorely felt.

He should get a warm reception Friday night, no matter how bitter and unwelcome the breakup was.

MLB Rumors: Shohei Ohtani's free agent value plummets

Shohei Ohtani has been diagnosed with a torn UCL after he was pulled from the second inning of the Angels' recent loss due to "arm fatigue." The injury will prevent him from pitching for the rest of the season and could even require Tommy John surgery, a procedure Ohtani already underwent in 2018.

A second Tommy John surgery is no joke, and there are now serious concerns about Ohtani's future on the mound. The 29-year-old is considered the best player in baseball due to his unique ability to hit and pitch, but with free agency on the horizon, Ohtani's value is plummeting.

In a recent appearance on ESPN, Buster Olney offered a somber appraisal of Ohtani's free agent market given the newfound uncertainty about his viability on the mound.

Olney believes contract offers starting in the $500 million range are off the table, with agents telling him any deal will have to be structured, essentially, in two tiers. One tier pays him as a hitter -- probably well north of $300 million, in the Aaron Judge range. The other tier pays him as a pitcher, but is based heavily on incentives. That way teams aren't on the hook for an exorbitant amount of cash if Ohtani can't deliver on the mound.

This is all very unfortunate for a player who has broadened the scope of baseball's appeal around the globe and truly invigorated the sport with his unique two-way impact. On top of his dominance at the plate (.304/.405/.664 with 44 home runs and 91 RBIs), Ohtani has been very effective on the mound despite a slew of injury bugs (10-5 with 3.14 ERA and 1.061 WHIP). He's a genuinely great pitcher when he's healthy.

Teams will still line up around the block to sign Ohtani this winter, but there's emerging doubt about the value of potential contract offers. Olney even believes recent events will push Ohtani back to the Angels when all is said and done.