Top News:
Associated Press:
Braves loading up wild-card roster with pitchers — ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Braves had 16 position players on their roster for Friday's wild-card game against St. Louis and kept three starting pitchers active. — Manager Fredi Gonzalez said he wanted to have Tim Hudson and Mike Minor available …
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball
RELATED:
Brittany Ghiroli / MLB.com:
O's will send Johnson or Saunders to face Rangers — ST. PETERSBURG — Hours after their 4-1 loss to the Rays on Wednesday, the Orioles had not named a starter for Friday's American League Wild Card matchup against the Rangers, with Steve Johnson and Joe Saunders the two options for the organization's first playoff game in 15 years.
Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
N.L.D.S.: Reds' Baker to Try to Close Out Former Team — Only 20 managers in baseball history have guided their teams to at least 1,500 victories. Among that group, all but two have won the World Series: Gene Mauch and Dusty Baker, who takes his Cincinnati Reds into a division series against his old team, the San Francisco Giants.
Discussion:
McCovey Chronicles and Red Reporter
RELATED:
Associated Press:
Bochy unsure of Giants' NLDS Game 3 starter — SAN FRANCISCO — San Francisco manager Bruce Bochy plans to start a pair of 16-game winners in the first two games of the National League division series, but says he's not certain what he'll do beyond that. — Matt Cain will pitch Game 1 …
Discussion:
Red Reporter, Hardball Times and Yahoo! Sports
Rhett Bollinger / MLB.com:
Twins shake up coaching staff for next season — Steve Liddle had been with the Twins since 1987, the last two seasons as their third-base coach. (Getty) — MINNEAPOLIS — The Twins shook up their coaching staff on Thursday, as they did not offer 2013 contacts to bullpen coach Rick Stelmaszek …
Discussion:
HardballTalk and AaronGleeman.com
RELATED:
Associated Press:
Twins fire five coaches, head trainer in shakeup — MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Twins have fired five coaches and their head athletic trainer in the wake of a second straight last-place finish in the AL Central. — The Twins announced the moves on Thursday.
Discussion:
Associated Press
La Velle E. Neal III / Twins Insider:
Twins coaching shakeup: Stelmaszek, Liddle, White, McWane out. Vavra, Ullger reassigned.
Twins coaching shakeup: Stelmaszek, Liddle, White, McWane out. Vavra, Ullger reassigned.
Discussion:
HardballTalk and Twinkie Town
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Angels Extend Chris Iannetta — The Angels have agreed to sign catcher Chris Iannetta to a three-year extension, Mike DiGiovanna of the LA Times reports (Twitter links). The contract is worth $15.5MM, Alden Gonzalez of MLB.com reports (on Twitter). The deal keeps Iannetta off …
Discussion:
HardballTalk, Yahoo! Sports, Halos Heaven, Baseball Nation and MLB Daily Dish
David Pinto / baseballmusings.com:
Uggla Play — Dan Uggla may have made the worst play I have seen. He bobbles a grounder from David Freese, but keeps the ball in front of him. He has time to throw out the runner, but throws the ball to the batting circle, the batter winding up on second.
Discussion:
Talking Chop
Zach Links / MLB Rumors:
Red Sox Receive De La Rosa, Sands From Dodgers — The Red Sox announced that they have received right-hander Rubby De La Rosa and outfielder Jerry Sands to complete their blockbuster deal with the Dodgers from earlier this summer. In a related move, the club has designated catcher Guillermo Quiroz for assignment.
Discussion:
Over the Monster and Boston Globe
RELATED:
Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
Extra Bases — It's official: Red Sox fire Bobby Valentine
Extra Bases — It's official: Red Sox fire Bobby Valentine
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports, Boston Globe, Bluebird Banter, Bleed Cubbie Blue, Over the Monster and MLB Daily Dish
Boston Herald:
Bitter end for Bobby V, Sox
Bitter end for Bobby V, Sox
Discussion:
Over the Monster, Surviving Grady, ESPN.com and ESPN
MLB:
Francona excited about chance to lead Indians — CLEVELAND — A year away from managing has been enough for Terry Francona, who craves a chance to get back on the field and back inside a major league clubhouse. — The Cleveland Indians just might put him there.
Discussion:
Boston Globe, Associated Press and Boston Herald
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Sox's Peavy hires Berry as agent — Jake Peavy has enlisted the help of an agent who has negotiated some of the biggest contracts with the Chicago White Sox as well as some of the most lucrative deals in major league baseball recently. — Jeff Berry of CAA will represent Peavy …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Joe Capozzi / Palm Beach Post:
Sources: Ozzie Guillen's job in jeopardy as some with Miami Marlins condemn his managerial style — Manager Ozzie Guillen and some members of his coaching staff might have worked their last game for the Miami Marlins. — Owner Jeffrey Loria is getting pressure from his top baseball executives …
Discussion:
Fish Stripes, South Side Sox and MLB Rumors
Corey Brock / MLB.com:
Starting pitching help will be priority in offseason — MILWAUKEE — At the top of the Padres wish list this winter will be starting pitching, as the team could look to add as many as two starters — either through trades or free agency — to bolster a rotation that was ravaged by injuries and ineffectiveness this season.
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish and MLB Rumors