Participating in the Japan All-Star Series has given Jeremy Guthrie the chance to connect with a side of his family he had never met.

From jet lag following a trip halfway around the world to a brutal off-field schedule during their Japan All-Star Series trek, the MLB squad could use plenty of excuses to explain Samurai Japan’s combined no-hitter on Saturday, but instead they simply tipped their caps to 23-year-old Takahiro Norimoto and Co.

MLB’s All-Stars have dropped the first three games of the Japan All-Star Series primarily due to an offense that has produced a collective .103 average and just four extra-base hits. They’ll need more production to win Game 4 on Sunday.

While the Marlins are trying to serenade Giancarlo Stanton to the sweet tune of a contract that might reach as high as $325 million, MLB.com’s Anthony Castrovince takes a look at some other players who might be extension-worthy this winter. Obviously not a $325 million extension, but an extension all the same.

The team of MLB All-Stars was no-hit by four Samurai Japan pitchers for its third straight loss in the Japan All-Star Series, a 4-0 defeat on Saturday at the Tokyo Dome. Though the five-game showcase has been decided, the big leaguers will try to finish strong, with two games and an exhibition remaining on the trip.

After the Great East Japan Earthquake and ensuing tsunami hit Japan’s Tohoku region in March 2011, the Major League Baseball Players Trust earmarked $1 million in aid. But as Players Trust director Melissa Persaud noted Saturday afternoon at the Tokyo Dome, simply giving once and moving on is never enough

You’ll always remember where you first saw them. The Arizona Fall League has served as an incubation field for some of the best young players in the Major Leagues, and the next generation of prospects will have a chance to introduce themselves to a national audience in today’s title game.

In the first trade for new general manager Dave Stewart, the D-backs bolstered their starting rotation on Friday night, acquiring right-hander Jeremy Hellickson from the Rays in exchange for prospects Justin Williams and Andrew Velazquez.

Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo was in Denver on Friday to accept the 23rd Annual Branch Rickey Award for humanitarian service. At 25, he is the youngest recipient.

Amid all the impressive context surrounding Mike Trout’s AL MVP Award — youngest unanimous MVP in history, fifth-youngest MVP ever — came a pessimistic stat that doesn’t sit well with the Angels’ center fielder: Most strikeouts ever by an MVP.

Cardinals pitching prospect Tyrell Jenkins is closing his 2014 season on the rise and looking to use his Arizona Fall League success as a springboard to the breakout season that injuries have thwarted in years past.

David Montgomery took a medical leave of absence as Phillies president following jawbone cancer surgery in May. Nearly six months after the procedure, the beloved executive said his “prognosis is excellent” and that he’s excited for his 45th season with the club.

Negotiations remain ongoing between the Marlins and star right fielder Giancarlo Stanton, but a deal was not imminent as of Friday evening, MLB.com has learned. Both sides are working toward what they hope is an agreement on what would be the richest contract in professional sports history.

Most teams are just shifting into gear for the Hot Stove activity ahead. But not the Brewers. They’re just about ready to head to Arizona. “We can play tomorrow,” Brewers GM Doug Melvin said. “We’ve got a team that can play tomorrow. We’ve got [our lineup]. We’ve got six starting pitchers. We have some depth. We could play tomorrow if the season was starting.”

Most players in contract years don’t want to think about free agency during the season. Victor Martinez made sure the Tigers knew what he was thinking about it on a late summer day in a private conversation at Comerica Park, months before they finalized his four-year, $68 million contract extension this week.

Every Major League season has its share of incredible plays made by star players in key situations. Yet it’s the individual, unforgettable moments that truly make the game special. The 2014 season was no different, leading to nine candidates for MLB.com’s Greatness in Baseball Yearly (GIBBY) Award for Moment of the Year. This past season was filled with individual milestones and achievements, capped off by a made-for-Hollywood moment right out of the Bronx in late September. Let’s take a closer look at the nine candidates for this GIBBY Award, each of which contributed to yet another memorable Major League season.

There are instances when Historic Dodgertown is again vibrant and filled with fans, especially during this week while adult fantasy campers were in attendance, but it is difficult to keep it that way year round.