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11:50 AM ET, December 5, 2013

Ballbug

 Top News: 
Steve Adams / MLB Rumors:
Royals Acquire Norichika Aoki  —  The Royals have acquired outfielder Norichika Aoki from the Brewers in exchange for left-hander Will Smith, the Brewers have announced via press release.  —  Aoki, 32 next month, enjoyed his second solid season with the Brewers since coming over from Japan.
Discussion: Royals Review
RELATED:
Metsblog:
Brewers trade Norichika Aoki to Royals  —  The Royals have acquired OF Norichika Aoki from the Brewers in exchange for LHP Will Smith, the teams announced Thursday.  —  Aoki, 31, hit .286 with a .356 OBP, 20 stolen bases, 20 doubles, three triples, eight home runs and 37 RBI last year.
T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com:
Texas seeking backup catcher who can step up  —  ARLINGTON — The Rangers have many options to consider, but one issue that must be addressed before the offseason is over is finding a backup catcher to pair with Geovany Soto behind the plate in 2014.  —  There has been a run of catchers lately …
RELATED:
T.R. Sullivan / Postcards From Elysian Fields:
Rangers tried to trade for Arencibia before non-tender  —  The Rangers had serious trade discussions with the Blue Jays about catcher J.P. Arencibia before he was non-tendered on Monday, according to industry sources.  —  A trade was close to being completed but the Rangers were reluctant to add another arbitration-eligible player.
Discussion: HardballTalk and Lone Star Ball
Brian Costa / Wall Street Journal:
With Ticket Revenue Down, Yankees Must Keep Spending  —  A Revealing Look at Their Ticket Revenue Shows the Importance of Making the Playoffs  —  When the Yankees announced their $85 million signing of catcher Brian McCann earlier this week, owner Hal Steinbrenner cited the team's …
Discussion: River Avenue Blues
RELATED:
Ian Browne / MLB.com:
Cherington takes Ellsbury's departure in stride  —  General manager begins weighing potential options for Red Sox in center field  —  BOSTON — Jacoby Ellsbury's imminent signing with the Yankees does not fall under the category of stunning for Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington.
Discussion: ESPN and MLB Rumors
RELATED:
Gordon Edes / ESPN:
Put Granderson on Sox shopping list
Mike Lupica / NY Daily News:
Jacoby Ellsbury contract on par with what Yankees always do - overpay
Anthony McCarron / NY Daily News:
Source: Mariners going after Robinson Cano ‘guns-a-blazing’  —  Cano's agents traveled to Seattle last week to listen to the Mariners pitch.  The Mariners may have even made an offer worth more money than the Yanks' offer to Cano, the source added.  —  The Seattle Mariners are apparently …
Discussion: Red Sox Monster
RELATED:
Kevin Kernan / New York Post:
Robinson Cano had Seattle meeting with Mariners: source
Marc Carig / Newsday:
Sources: Curtis Granderson talks with Mets heat up  —  The Mets have stepped up their pursuit of free agent outfielder Curtis Granderson, sources said on Wednesday morning.  The sides have progressed past exploratory stages of talks and are engaged in negotiations.
Discussion: Metsblog and NY Daily News
RELATED:
John Harper / NY Daily News:
Mariners hitting coach Howard Johnson thinks Ike Davis can still be a hit
Discussion: Metsblog
Japan Times latest:
MLB, NPB reach basic agreement on posting system  —  Nippon Professional Baseball and Major League Baseball have reached a basic agreement on a new posting system, sources said Thursday.  —  It is thought that an agreement has been reached after MLB requested a posting fee cap of $20 million.
Discussion: MLB Rumors, Bleed Cubbie Blue and ESPN
Mark Sheldon / MLB.com:
Reds say Chapman likely to remain closer  —  GM Jocketty: Club has enough rotation depth to keep flamethrower in bullpen  —  CINCINNATI — Fans have grown accustomed to the excitement Reds closer Aroldis Chapman brings when he emerges from the bullpen to lock down a game.
Discussion: HardballTalk and Cincinnati Reds
Fox Sports:
Rosenthal: Making sense of Tuesday's hot day in Hot Stove  —  So much news, so much to digest.  —  The flurry of trade and free-agent activity the past two days raised a number of questions.  Here are some answers, non-Jacoby Ellsbury division.  —  In a span of just more than 24 hours …
RELATED:
Jane Lee / MLB.com:
A's acquire Gentry, Gregerson on another busy day
Discussion: Athletics Nation and ESPN
Jay Weaver / MiamiHerald.com:
Feds charge trio with kidnapping, extorting Cuban ballplayer with Texas Rangers  —  Leonys Martin Tapanes seemed like yet another Cuban baseball player with tremendous promise when he signed a $15.5 million contract with the Texas Rangers in 2011.  —  But there apparently …
Discussion: HardballTalk
Zach Day / Baseball Prospectus:
Measuring Pitching with TrackMan  —  The Secrets of Fastball Spin … Fastball Spin  —  An average MLB fastball makes 2200 revolutions per minute (RPMs) on its way to home plate.  Spin is just one of 27 measurements provided by Trackman's technology.  Trackman's military grade Doppler radar …
Marc Topkin / Tampa Bay Times:
Rays “hopeful” of re-signing Loney  —  The Rays still need a first baseman, and team president Matt Silverman said this morning they are “hopeful” of re-signing free agent James Loney, who is also of considerable interest to the Pirates.  —  “He's someone that we're interested in …
RELATED:
Steve Adams / MLB Rumors:
Pirates, Rays Targeting James Loney
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Nats eyeing Downs to fill lefty-reliever void  —  WASHINGTON — The Nationals are in need of left-handed relievers, and MLB.com has learned that the team has expressed interest in Scott Downs, who played for the Expos from 2000-04.  A baseball source said the Nats have inquired about Downs at least twice.
Discussion: HardballTalk
 
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 More News: 
Andy Martino / NY Daily News:
Sources: Upcoming showcase will present NY Mets, other clubs with another shortstop option
Discussion: HardballTalk
Matt Eddy / Baseball America:
2014 San Diego Padres Top 10 Prospects
Discussion: Gaslamp Ball and Most Recent
Jerry Crasnick / ESPN:
Arizona motivated to make a trade
Discussion: AZ Snake Pit and MLB Rumors
 Earlier Picks: 
Steve Adams / MLB Rumors:
Royals, Rays, Dodgers Interested In Mark Ellis
Discussion: Royals Review
Fox Sports:
Rosenthal: On ‘second’ thought, Reds unlikely to trade Phillips
 

 
From WeSmirch:

Ryan Gajewski / The Hollywood Reporter:
Melissa Barrera on Getting Fired From ‘Scream’ and the Controversy That Followed

New York Times:
How to Be Real With Your Kids  —  Actor Penn Badgley reads the essay “Watching Them Watching Me” …

Daily Star:
Scene where Gogglebox's George Gilbey, 40, tragically died as police cordon area

 
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