Chicago Cubs made a surprising move by hiring Craig Counsell from the Milwaukee Brewers, leading to the dismissal of their current manager, David Ross.
Ross was part of the Cubs' 2016 World Series-winning team and faced an uncertain future after being let go.
Speculation arose about Ross potentially becoming the bench coach for the New York Yankees, who were in need of one.
However, it remained unclear if Ross was interested in taking on the role of a bench coach for the Yankees.
Ross also wasn't ruled out of the running for a managerial position, with the San Diego Padres considering him for the role.
Ross had a mixed record as the Cubs' manager, narrowly missing the playoffs in the last season.
MLB free agency spotlighted Shohei Ohtani, a star pitcher and hitter, often compared to Babe Ruth, who was looking for a new team.
Several teams, including the Blue Jays, Dodgers, Mets, Giants, and Phillies, were interested in signing Ohtani.
There was also a possibility of Ohtani joining the Yankees, which could impact Giancarlo Stanton's role on the team.
The San Diego Padres were faced with an important decision regarding outfielder Juan Soto's future, whether to sign him to a significant contract or consider trading him as his free agency approached.