Top News:
Justin Sablich / New York Times:
Highlights and Analysis: 2013 N.L. Wildcard — Pirates 6, Reds 2 — Anyone who has even casually followed the Pittsburgh Pirates this season is probably familiar with one particular number: 21. That's how many years it had been since the Pirates have made the postseason, let alone had a winning season.
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Fox Sports:
Reds may be one-and-done in playoffs — On Sept. 8, after winning three of four from the Cardinals and sweeping the Dodgers, the Reds looked like they might be poised for a World Series run. — As they enter Tuesday night's wild-card game in Pittsburgh, losers of five straight games, they look ready for a quick elimination.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
Red Sox will face Rays or Indians — The Tampa Bay Rays are on their way to Cleveland for the wild card playoff game after beating the Texas Rangers, 5-2. David Price went the distance, throwing 118 pitches. — The Rays will face the Indians in Cleveland on Wednesday at 8:07 p.m …
Discussion:
Twinkie Town, Bless You Boys, Let's Go Tribe and Surviving Grady
RELATED:
Associated Press:
Rays to Playoffs Again After 5-2 Win Over Rangers — ARLINGTON, Texas — David Price, Evan Longoria and the Tampa Bay Rays are going to playoffs again, getting there with a victory in their final regular-season game for the second time in three years. — They needed an extra game this time.
Discussion:
ESPN, Canadian Press, Amazin' Avenue and DRaysBay
David Pinto / baseballmusings.com:
Game of the Day — Left-handers David Price and Martin Perez …
Game of the Day — Left-handers David Price and Martin Perez …
Discussion:
DRaysBay and Brew Crew Ball
Steve Adams / MLB Rumors:
Mariners Will Make Qualifying Offer To Morales — The Mariners will “definitely” make a qualifying offer to impending free agent Kendrys Morales, general manager Jack Zduriencik said on 710 ESPN Radio in Seattle (h/t: MLB.com's Greg Johns on Twitter). — A qualifying offer …
Discussion:
HardballTalk, MLB Daily Dish, U.S.S. Mariner and Lookout Landing
Tim Dierkes / MLB Rumors:
Josh Johnson Has Elbow Surgery; Expected To Be Ready For Spring Training — Righty Josh Johnson underwent minor elbow surgery this morning to remove bone spurs, agent Matt Sosnick tells MLBTR. Dr. James Andrews performed the procedure, telling Johnson he feels the discomfort caused …
Discussion:
HardballTalk, Batter's Box Interactive … and Bluebird Banter
Adam McCalvy / MLB.com:
Melvin talks Crew's bright spots, offseason plans — GM confident club can win with current roster, intends to add to first-base depth — MILWAUKEE — Two days after the end of a season that saw the Brewers win 12 of their final 18 games but finish 14 games under .500 …
Discussion:
Al's Ramblings
Steve Adams / MLB Rumors:
Minor Moves: Velez, Gomez, Diaz, Leon — Here are today's minor moves from around the league... - The Brewers have re-signed infielders Eugenio Velez and Hector Gomez and catcher Robinzon Diaz to minor league deals with invitations to Spring Training, according to MLB.com's Adam McCalvy.
Marc Topkin / Tampa Bay Times:
Rays praise Delmon Young's impact — CLEVELAND — Evan Longoria proved again in Monday's tiebreaker win that — even in a season marred by inconsistency — he is still the biggest force in the Rays lineup. And Wil Myers has been putting an impressive finish on his first big-league season.
Discussion:
Baseball Prospectus and HardballTalk
Mike Mazzeo / ESPN:
Supporters greet A-Rod; hearing enters Day 2 — A-Rod arrives at the MLB office at 245 Park Avenue for the second day of his grievance hearing. — NEW YORK — New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez was greeted Tuesday morning by approximately 50 supporters outside Major League …
Discussion:
HardballTalk and Associated Press
Todd Zolecki / The Zo Zone:
Amaro Feels the Heat, Talks Future — Ruben Amaro Jr. settled into one of the blue seats a few rows from the field Saturday afternoon at Turner Field. He munched on sunflower seeds as Scott Proefrock, one of his assistant general managers, sat in the row behind him.
Discussion:
The Good Phight, MLB Rumors and Phillies Nation
RELATED:
Ryan Lawrence / Philly.com:
Phillies Notebook: Phillies' Ruiz hopes to return next season
Phillies Notebook: Phillies' Ruiz hopes to return next season
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
ESPN:
Cubs dismiss manager Sveum after 2 years — CHICAGO — The Chicago Cubs have fired manager Dale Sveum after finishing last in the NL Central for the first time in seven years. — The Cubs closed the campaign dropping 41 of their final 59 games, including six of their final seven.
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
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Phil Rogers / Chicago Tribune:
Your Morning Phil: Sveum, Girardi and a farewell
Your Morning Phil: Sveum, Girardi and a farewell
Discussion:
CSN Chicago, MLB Daily Dish, Bleed Cubbie Blue and MLB Rumors
Matthew Cerrone / Metsblog:
Mets will scout Jose Abreu, workouts on Tues. & Wed. — The Mets have three scouts in Santo Domingo to watch Cuban 1B Jose Abreu, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post. — 9:40 am: Abreu will hold an open showcase in the Dominican Republic today and tomorrow, Ben Badler reports for Baseball America..
Discussion:
Boston Globe, MLB Rumors, Over the Monster and MLB Daily Dish
RELATED:
Ben Badler / Baseball America:
Five Teams That Could Sign Jose Abreu
Five Teams That Could Sign Jose Abreu
Discussion:
Federal Baseball, HardballTalk, Amazin' Avenue, Lone Star Ball and Bucs Dugout
Patrick Saunders / Denver Post:
ROCKIES TOP 3 ITEMS ON OFFSEASON TO-DO LIST AND POSITION BREAKDOWN — LOS ANGELES — The numbers are sobering for even the most die-hard of fans. — For the 14th time in 21 seasons, the Rockies finished with a losing record. For the first time in franchise history …
Discussion:
MLB.com and MLB Rumors