Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. spoke to reporters in Phoenix about the future of the organization, which plans to take a step back at least next season to rebuild a roster that finished 2014 last in the National League East for the first time since 2000.

Arizona has spoken to Tampa Bay about right-hander Jeremy Hellickson, and GM Dave Stewart said that several D-backs players have been named in discussions with teams.

Can the Yankees contend in 2015? In the end, that’s the only question that matters. “I do believe that we have a chance,” said general manager Brian Cashman. All things considered, he’s optimistic.

The Mets signed free-agent outfielder Michael Cuddyer to a two-year contract on Monday. Cuddyer, 35, is a two-time All-Star and the 2013 National League batting champion.

There were 12 players headed toward free agency who were given qualifying offers to stay with their old clubs. On Monday, as the deadline passed, all 12 declined the offers. That means there is the possibility of a dozen additional Draft picks come June.

Once again, every player offered a one-year qualifying offer rejected the deal in advance of Monday’s 5 p.m. ET deadline.

Jay Alou, agent for Cuban free-agent outfielder Yasmany Tomas, figures to be popular as the annual General Managers Meetings begin gearing up. Tomas has power, a scarce commodity these days.

The clock is ticking for the 12 Major League free agents who received a qualifying offer last week, as today’s 5 p.m. ET deadline for them to make a decision draws closer.

The Giants very much want to re-sign Pablo Sandoval. The problem is that there will be other suitors for Sandoval’s services. Given the robust nature of baseball’s current economy, those other suitors will have considerable money to spend.

Six skippers — three candidates in each league — for the two 2014 Manager of the Year Awards all made contributions to postseason teams, and each did it his way. When the winner for each league is announced Tuesday, the one sure thing is that the winners will have made their marks, not only on their own teams but on the season as a whole.

Here are the 10 nominees for MLB.com’s Greatness in Baseball Yearly (GIBBY) Award for Manager of the Year, who earned their way onto this ballot with stellar performances of leadership that won’t be soon forgotten.

After months of planning, days of workouts, a dozen hours in the air and not nearly enough sleep, the show will begin Tuesday night in Nishinomiya, Japan. The MLB All-Stars will take on a combined team of Yomiuri Giants and Hanshin Tigers in an exhibition that manager John Farrell plans to treat somewhat like an All-Star Game.

As MLB’s starter in Tuesday’s exhibition against a combined team of Yomiuri Giants and Hanshin Tigers, Capuano will battle what he anticipates to be “a raucous soccer-type crowd,” as well as simple fatigue.

One of two teams with a quartet of representatives on MLB’s 29-man roster, the Astros in Japan need not look far to see familiar faces.

Manager John Farrell’s Japan All-Star Series rotation features a New Englander who has played for six different big league clubs, a Midwesterner who is brand new to international competition, and an American of Japanese descent. It also features Hisashi Iwakuma, the main attraction for many local fans in the Kansai region. Iwakuma will make his only All-Star Series appearance Friday at the Tokyo Dome, in Game 2 of the five-game set.

In an interview with MLB.com on Sunday, Astros president of business operations Reid Ryan said the scheduled launch of Root Sports Houston later this week — a regional sports network co-owned by AT&T and DirecTV that will replace CSN Houston — will put the Astros on even ground with other teams.

It’s debatable whether the reigning World Series champions would be better off retaining third baseman Pablo Sandoval or allowing him to walk. Any team signing him must be prepared to make at least a six-year commitment worth probably in excess of $100 million. Here’s a look at both sides of the issue from the Giants’ perspective.