Dodgers News: Freddie Freeman wildfire relief, Nolan Arenado, rivals out on Roki Sasaki

As of the morning of Jan. 13, 92,000 residents of Los Angeles County are under evacuation orders as the Palisades and Eaton fires continue to rage across southern California.

Containment numbers as of Monday do point to improvement, but incoming high winds threaten to accelerate spreading. Over 15,000 firefighters, police officers, and emergency personnel are currently deployed to the affected areas.

The damage caused by the fires has been catastrophic, but it's corresponded with an outpouring of support. Two Dodgers have made monetary contributions to wildfire relief; Freddie and Chelsea Freeman made $100,000 donations each to the Los Angeles Fire Department, Pasadena Fire Department, and the Salvation Army, and Chris and Mary Taylor are matching donations to the LAFD up to $5,000 through the CT3 Foundation.

The Dodgers released a statement on Friday, reading: "The players, front office and staff of the Dodgers are absolutely heartbroken over the devastation of the fires in and around Los Angeles. We are working closely with community partners and impacted areas and look forward to announcing more about our immediate efforts and our ongoing work in the coming days. We are grateful to all first responders who have been on the front lines of this tragedy, and we grieve with the thousands of families who have lost their homes and possessions, including those within the Dodgers organization."

Fanatics, the Dodgers, and other LA-based franchises have also announced a collaboration in fundraising efforts for the American Red Cross and the LAFD.

Freddie Freeman, Chris Taylor wildfire relief; Nolan Arenado rumors squashed; ESPN Sunday Night Baseball dates announced

Any lingering hopes that Nolan Arenado might end up in Dodger blue next season have officially been squashed. The rumors went back and forth through December, and although a lot of the hype was created by Arenado himself, insight from Cardinals insiders and beat writers suggested that the interest wasn't one-sided.

However, Katie Woo of The Athletic refuted all of those rumors plainly when, in an update on a potential Arenado trade (which seems like more of a distant possibility every day).

"The Los Angeles Dodgers were long believed to be a top choice for the Southern California native, but they were not engaged in Arenado talks this winter."

But Roki Sasaki is still a very real consideration for the Dodgers. On Jan. 13, he began the process of eliminating teams ahead of the Jan. 15 opening of the 2025 international signing team. The Giants and Yankees were both told that Sasaki would not be signing with them in quick succession, and industry insiders also followed up to say that the Mets were also believed to be out on the chase.

Of the teams that have met with Sasaki in person, that leaves the Dodgers, Padres, Rangers, Cubs, and Blue Jays still under consideration. Sasaki is not expected to sign immediately as the window opens, but it's clear that a decision is right around the corner.