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.

GMs communicate daily via text message and emails, but there’s still some value to good old-fashioned face-to-face time, which they’ll have at the upcoming General Managers Meetings.

The final pitch of Rockies left-hander Tyler Matzek’s strong rookie season was telling. On Sept. 22, the Padres loaded the bases with one out in the sixth inning, and Matzek was trying to ignore a worsening blister on his left index finger.

The annual General Managers Meetings, which began as a quiet executive retreat but have since developed into a full-blown baseball bazaar, are set to begin in Phoenix. The general managers will have their group dinner Monday night with the first official agenda items to be considered Tuesday.

The market for Ichiro Suzuki is still developing at this point, as he comes off a season in which he posted a .284/.324/.340 slash line over 143 games with the Yankees. He also swiped 15 bases, which was a career-low over his 14 Major League seasons.

Teams have to look for value wherever they can find it, and sometimes it’s worth pouncing on a comeback candidate. Here are 10 guys who could be good short-term value pickups as they try to re-establish their value.

After flying through the night, crossing the blackened northern waters of the Pacific Ocean, 29 mostly exhausted Major Leaguers touched down in Osaka just before midnight Sunday.

Something told Chris Young not to move the furniture out of his New York City apartment last summer, even as his time with the Mets was coming to a close. Discovering a landing spot across town with the Yankees proved that had been a wise decision.

Among the 10 players nominated for MLB.com’s GIBBY Award for Rookie of the Year, there is no shortage of worthy candidates — though there are a few clear favorites who made an immediate impact on their team last season.

The “it” factor is one of the most fascinating factors when clubs pursue free agents. They want talent, and at the end of the day, it’s still all about production. But the other stuff is important too. Does a guy fit into the group? Does he lead, either by example or by words? Does he have a positive impact?

The 11th installment of the Japan All-Star Series and the first since 2006 begins this week. Stars such as Yasiel Puig, Robinson Cano and Evan Longoria will travel across the island nation, playing a five-game series plus two exhibitions against their host’s national team, Samurai Japan.

The business of looking for a new Rays manager continued Saturday. Rays bench coach Dave Martinez highlighted Saturday’s interviews, which included Manny Acta.

Working with the Boys & Girls Clubs of America is a natural fit for Adam Jones. As a child in San Diego, he grew up going to the center there. It was different than the one in Baltimore — bigger, he says — but the concept has always been the same.

The nine nominees for MLB.com’s Greatness in Baseball Yearly (GIBBY) Award for Closer of the Year are a wide-ranging group of newcomers, veterans and perennial All-Stars, but they all have one thing in common: a skill for shutting the door and sealing wins for their club.

Royals left fielder Alex Gordon and Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina were named winners of the 2014 Platinum Glove Award as the top fielders in their respective leagues during the annual Rawlings Gold Glove Award ceremony on Friday night at The Plaza Hotel in Manhattan.

Pirates farmhand Elias Diaz scored the game’s lone run in the eighth inning and guided the Scottsdale Scorpions’ staff to a shutout Friday night in Arizona Fall League action. Fellow Pittsburgh prospect Joely Rodriguez made the start, tossing four innings and lowering his fall ERA to 0.95.

Though Evan Longoria’s fiancee is due to give birth to the couple’s second child on Nov. 18 — two days before the All-Star Series in Japan is set to conclude — the Rays third baseman couldn’t pass up on this opportunity.