The St. Louis Cardinals are exploring a possible contract extension with closer Jordan Hicks, according to a report.

An impending free agent, Hicks has been one of the top bullpen trade candidates this summer.

Hicks, 27, has a 3.67 ERA across 41 2/3 innings in 40 appearances this season. He's one of only two relievers with a strikeout rate north of 30% and a ground-ball rate exceeding 55%.

Shohei Ohtani stepped outside the Angels' clubhouse and stood against a concrete wall to face a horde of English- and Japanese-speaking media members Friday night, with an ice pack wrapped around his elbow and his interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, standing by his side. It resembled the aftermath of every one of his home starts over these past three years. Ohtani claimed to barely notice, with the trade deadline looming, free agency following, rumors about a potential trade more fervent than ever.

"That did not cross my mind at all," Ohtani, speaking through Mizuhara, said when asked if he thought about the possibility of this being his final home start in an Angels uniform. "Obviously I'm part of the Angels at this moment. I feel like we're in a decent spot to make a playoff run, so I just try not to really think about that."

Eduardo Rodriguez's trade value is difficult to assess because of an opt-out clause he can activate following the World Series.

The left-hander is in the second season of a five-year, $77 million contract. If he continues to pitch well, Rodriguez will likely exercise the opt-out and sign a larger contract on the open market.

Rodriguez, 30, thus would become strictly a rental for an interested club.

If he is traded and doesn't exercise his opt-out, it may be because the market for his services decreased due to struggles on the mound.

New York Mets general manager Billy Eppler traveled to Japan earlier this year to watch Orix Buffaloes right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto, according to a report.

The Buffaloes are expected to post the ace for Major League clubs this offseason.

Yamamoto, 25 next month, has been arguably the best pitcher in Japan the last few seasons, and this year he owns a 1.61 ERA with 110 strikeouts in 100 1/3 innings.

The St. Louis Cardinals have signed right-hander Ryan Tepera.

Tepera is likely to take the roster spot of Genesis Cabrera, who was designated for assignment.

The 35-year-old began the season with the Los Angeles Angels, posting a 7.27 ERA in just 8 2/3 innings.

Shohei Ohtani fielded questions about his future during this week's All-Star festivities.

Ohtani will be a free agent after this season and has reiterated his desire to play for a winner, saying "it sucks to lose." 

The Los Angeles Angels have failed to post a winning season since 2015 or make the playoffs since 2014 despite having Mike Trout and later Ohtani on the roster.

A huge portion of the sellout crowd at T-Mobile Park for Tuesday's All-Star Game began chanting when Shohei Ohtani stepped to the plate.

"Come to Se-at-tle!" the crowd roared nearly a dozen times as Ohtani struck out on six pitches against Zac Gallen of the Arizona Diamondbacks.

They also chanted during Ohtani’s second plate appearance in the fourth, when he walked.

"I've never experienced anything like that, but I definitely heard it,” Ohtani said through his interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara. "I was just trying to focus on my at-bat and the game. ... Every time I come here the fans are passionate, they're really into the game. So it's very impressive."

Ohtani will become perhaps the most coveted free agent in baseball history after the season.

The Los Angeles Dodgers are looking to add to the roster ahead of the trade deadline.

The Dodgers enter Thursday 1.5 games behind the Arizona Diamondbacks in the National League West. They hold the second of three Wild Card berths.

Dave Roberts suggested that adding a right-handed bat would help the club.

"I think a right-handed bat makes sense," the manager said.

The San Diego Padres have lost seven of their last eight games after entering the season with World Series aspirations.

Sitting in fourth place in the National League West, the Padres are closer to the Colorado Rockies in last place than a Wild Card berth.

Despite the disappointment, club chairman Peter Seidler says they won't change their focus.

"We have half the season to play.  I mean, much, much stranger things have happened. ... So there's a lot of catching up for us to do. I'm on the train that says we're gonna catch up," Seidler said. 

Just because the Padres' plan for 2023 "hasn't worked yet ... it doesn't make me lose sleep at night or lack confidence in what we're doing."

"I know we're going to be good. We're gonna have every chance to be in the mix for the World Series every single year. And so that gives me some kind of serious long-term comfort. We're not going to reverse course. We're always gonna adjust ... All my focus now is on this year, because I'm as solid as I can be on the year after and two years after and three and the next decade."