While the electricity of the market that is Boston has been tough to stomach for some other high-profile acquisitions through the years, the allure of being in such an environment seemed to be a driving force in Pablo Sandoval giving up the comforts of San Francisco.

Right-hander Daisuke Matsuzaka has decided to return to his home country, according to a report in The Japan Times on Monday, with the defending Japan Series champion Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks expressing a strong interest in signing him.

It’s been a busy offseason for Jose Altuve, who spent a couple of weeks on a tour with fellow big leaguers for the Japan All-Star Series, emerging off the bench as one of the Major League Baseball All-Star squad’s best hitters.

All 30 Major League clubs have finalized their Spring Training schedules, and it’s a mere 95 days until the first exhibition pitch of 2015 will be thrown.

The Indians appear at least slightly open to the possibility of tinkering with their status at third base, especially if it can improve their defensive outlook, and free agent Chase Headley may be their top contender.

New Cardinals right fielder Jason Heyward didn’t make the request, but manager Mike Matheny didn’t feel he needed to wait for one. What better way to welcome Heyward into the organization, Matheny thought, than to initiate a potential jersey swap himself.

Pablo Sandoval benefits from the Pablo Sandoval contract. Hanley Ramirez benefits from the Hanley Ramirez contract. But Chase Headley benefits from both contracts, because now he basically represents the extent of free agency’s remaining everyday options at third base.

The Red Sox are doing what smart organizations do. They adapted and adjusted. In the end, it’s about winning in 2015. That’s the overriding statement they just made with the signings of Pablo Sandoval and Hanley Ramirez, as well as the continued pursuit of Jon Lester.

It’s hard to believe the Nationals have played 10 seasons. From Livan Hernandez to Ryan Zimmerman, the club has given its fans a lot to cheer about. Here are the Nationals’ players of the decade by position, according to MLB.com.

The Red Sox have made a pair of impact free-agent deals that should bolster their offense in 2015 and beyond. Both Hanley Ramirez and Pablo Sandoval have agreed to join the Red Sox.

Rangers catcher Robinson Chirinos was busy unloading blankets, hats and scarves when he arrived for the annual early Thanksgiving dinner on Monday night at the Arlington Life Shelter.

The D-backs will take on the Arizona State University baseball team March 3 at 3:10 p.m. MT at Salt River Fields to begin what will be an annual Collegiate Baseball Series.

The void left in Oakland’s front office by newly named Dodgers general manager Farhan Zaidi has been filled by a familiar face, with the A’s welcoming back Dan Kantrovitz as assistant general manager.

In a procedural move on Monday, the Rays placed catcher Jose Molina and infielder Cole Figueroa on release waivers. Technically, both players must clear those waivers on Wednesday in order for their releases to become official.

After seven years in San Francisco, Pablo Sandoval is bolting the World Series champion Giants for Beantown.

If the White Sox agreed to terms with every player they were rumored to have interest in during this present offseason, then their overall budget would fly well past the expected $90 million or so target for this upcoming campaign.

The Red Sox have pulled out of the gate as the early offseason noisemakers, nearing completion on deals that appear set to deliver Hanley Ramirez and Pablo Sandoval to Fenway Park. Must the Yankees respond with a splashy move of their own?