Top News:
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Red Sox To Sign Rusney Castillo — 11:50am: Castillo will take his physical tomorrow, tweets Bob Nightengale of USA Today. He will earn $72MM from 2015-20, Nightengale adds. Presumably, Castillo is receiving $500K (or perhaps the pro-rated version of that sum) for the 2014 campaign.
Discussion:
MLB.com, Metsblog, FanGraphs Baseball and GammonsDaily.com
RELATED:
Ben Badler / Baseball America:
Rusney Castillo Agrees To Sign With Red Sox — Cuban outfielder Rusney Castillo agreed to sign with the Red Sox last night. According to a source, the deal is for six years, $72.5 million, making it the highest first-year contract ever for a Cuban player.
Discussion:
CBSSports.com
Gordon Edes / ESPN:
Red Sox, Tigers in lead for Castillo — The Boston Red Sox and Detroit Tigers appear to be the front-runners for the services of Cuban outfielder Rusney Castillo, two league sources said Thursday, with a decision expected no later than the weekend. — The Red Sox would like to add Castillo …
Discussion:
Bless You Boys, Over the Monster, MLB Daily Dish and HardballTalk
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Sources: Three teams in mix to sign Cuban free agent Rusney Castillo
Sources: Three teams in mix to sign Cuban free agent Rusney Castillo
Discussion:
Full Count, Bless You Boys, Over the Monster and McCovey Chronicles
Sid Hartman / Minneapolis Star Tribune:
Ryan, Gardenhire expected to return to Twins — The Twins GM said those decisions will be made at the end of the year but implied they'll remain. — Terry Ryan indicated strongly Thursday that if he is the Twins' general manager when the 2015 season begins, Ron Gardenhire will be back for a 13th season as manager.
Discussion:
HardballTalk and CBSSports.com
Peter Mucha / Philly.com:
ESPN's Jayson Stark: Phillies shake-up coming, Ruben Amaro not safe — Don't be so sure Ruben Amaro is coming back, even though Phillies president David Montgomery told fans this week that the general manager “is not on the hot seat.” — That's the word from ESPN baseball writer Jayson Stark …
Discussion:
97.5 The Fanatic, Viva El Birdos and Phillies Nation
RELATED:
Todd Zolecki / MLB.com:
Phillies have decisions to make heading into '15
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Thursday's Game 2 recap: Giants 5, Cubs 3 — The summary — Travis Wood couldn't hold a 3-1 lead as the Giants took the lead for good on a home run by Buster Posey in the fifth. Justin Ruggiano and Welington Castillo hit consecutive home runs in the first off Madison Bumgarner, who struck out 12 in seven innings.
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue
Gordon Wittenmyer / Chicago Sun Times:
Cubs cut grounds crew's hours to avoid paying health benefits — sources — Thanks a lot, Obama. — Add the Affordable Care Act - or, specifically, the big-business Cubs' response to it - to the causes behind Tuesday night's tarp fiasco and rare successful protest by the San Francisco Giants.
Discussion:
HardballTalk and Bleed Cubbie Blue
RELATED:
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Cubs defend Wrigley Field's grounds crew
Cubs defend Wrigley Field's grounds crew
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue and HardballTalk
Kristie Ackert / NY Daily News:
Zack Wheeler hopes to continue to grow with Mets — Wheeler sees his growth this season as part of the Mets' overall plan. With the Mets' relying on young arms such as Matt Harvey, Noah Syndergaard, Jacob deGrom and himself, Wheeler can almost see what he and the team have been working toward.
Discussion:
Metsblog
Brittany Ghiroli / MLB.com:
Surging Orioles set for challenges of stretch run — Rotation's continued success, Machado's return keys for Baltimore in pennant race — CHICAGO — The Orioles, winners in nine of their past 10 series, have their largest lead — nine games — in the American League East since 1997 …
Discussion:
Camden Chat
Canadian Press:
Without Davis, Philadelphia falls to Chicago at LLWS — SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. — Chicago manager Darold Butler has a message for the Windy City. — “Keep cheering,” Butler said Thursday night after the biggest victory of his baseball career. “We hear you. It's working. Make it louder.”
Discussion:
The Good Phight
Mark Sheldon / MLB.com:
Chapman's return a bright spot for Reds — CINCINNATI — The only bit of good news to come from the Reds' 8-0 loss to the Braves on Thursday was the healthy return of closer Aroldis Chapman, who threw a perfect eighth inning. The lefty struck out his first two batters and got a fly ball to center field.
Discussion:
HardballTalk
Associated Press:
Braves Beat Reds 8-0 for 6th Win in Last 7 — CINCINNATI — Justin Upton extended his hitting streak to 12 games with a bases-loaded single during Atlanta's decisive third inning, and the Braves extended their offensive resurgence with an 8-0 victory over the fading Cincinnati Reds on Thursday night.
Discussion:
Talking Chop and Canadian Press