DALLAS (AP) — Juan Soto’s record $765 million, 15-year contract with the New York Mets, the largest and longest deal in baseball history, has reverberated across the winter meetings.

It stung the Yankees, who offered $760 million over 16 years to the All-Star outfielder.

Soto’s deal sparked even greater expectations in a free agent market.

That market still includes pitchers Corbin Burnes and Max Fried, first basemen Pete Alonso and Christian Walker, third baseman Alex Bregman and outfielder Anthony Santander.

Many small-market teams have long sought a salary cap but the consensus since the 1994-95 strike has been not to propose a hard limit.

BELICHICK STAYS QUIET ON UNC

By The Associated Press

Former New England Patriots coach and six-time Super Bowl champion Bill Belichick says he had “a couple of good conversations” with North Carolina Chancellor Lee Roberts amid his discussions about the Tar Heels’ head-coaching job.

Belichick appeared on ESPN’s “The Pat McAfee Show” on Monday.

He said he had spent the 11 months since his departure from the Patriots taking a “longer look” at the college level.

He said he had learned a lot and had “a couple of good conversations” with Roberts.

UNC fired the program’s all-time winningest coach in Mack Brown last month.

OHTANI, DODGERS TO OPEN IN JAPAN

DALLAS (AP) — Shohei Ohtani is expected to be ready to hit when the reigning World Series champions open their season in Japan against the Chicago Cubs in March but is doubtful to pitch.

Manager Dave Roberts said Monday that it’s very unlikely that the two-way star will be on the mound pitching for the Dodgers in his home country.

Ohtani had surgery last month on his left, non-throwing shoulder after getting hurt on a stolen base attempt during the World Series.

He didn’t pitch at all during the first season of his $700 million, 10-year deal with the Dodgers while recovering from the elbow surgery in September 2023.

WOMEN’S AP TOP 25 POLL

By The Associated Press

Tennessee is back in the AP Top 25 at No. 19, ending the school’s longest drought in the 48-year history of the women’s basketball poll.

The Lady Vols (7-0) had not been ranked since Nov. 27, 2023, a span of 22 polls.

Since the rankings began in 1976, Tennessee has been in the Top 25 in 779 of 870 total weeks.

UCLA, UConn and South Carolina remain the top three teams and Oklahoma has cracked the top 10.

Georgia Tech and N.C. State entered the rankings while Illinois, Louisville and Alabama fell out.