Top News:
Andy Martino / NY Daily News:
Kansas City Royals will need to make tough choices — and tough trades — to stay on top; Could Alex Gordon ever be a Met? — People of Kansas City and America: Did you enjoy that Royals run? Did you feel galvanized by the team's first march through October since 1985?
Discussion:
Metsblog and MLB Trade Rumors
RELATED:
T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com:
GM Daniels emphasizes club will keep ‘resources free’ for starting pitching — 9/25/14: Colby Lewis pitches seven innings of one-run ball, allowing six hits and striking out seven in a tough no-decision — ARLINGTON — The Rangers, having set starting pitching as their top priority for the offseason …
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball, Texas Rangers Blog and ESPN
RELATED:
T.R. Sullivan / Postcards From Elysian Fields:
Rangers make offer to free agent pitcher Colby Lewis
Rangers make offer to free agent pitcher Colby Lewis
Discussion:
CBSSports.com and Lone Star Ball
Josh Norris / Baseball America:
2015 New York Yankees Top 10 Prospects With Scouting Reports [VIDEO] — Want More?: Complete 2015 Top 10 Prospects Rankings — Get it all: Subscribe to Baseball America — Go 30 deep: Order the 2015 Prospect Handbook! — The 2014 season represented the closing of two eras in Yankees history …
Discussion:
The LoHud Yankees Blog
Joe Frisaro / MLB.com:
Marlins expected to exercise option on Mathis — 9/15/14: Jeff Mathis hits a soft single into right, scoring Ed Lucas to give the Marlins a 6-5 lead in the 8th — MIAMI — Before focusing on free-agent signings, the Marlins have decided to retain one of their own.
Discussion:
Fish Stripes
Dan Caesar / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Thieves steal equipment from Post-Dispatch journalists at funeral for Taveras — There are few circumstances in which good journalists want to become a story rather than cover one, but through no fault of their own two Post-Dispatch staffers became the center of attention while reporting on developments this week in a foreign country.
Discussion:
Baseball America and The Big Lead
Ian Browne / MLB.com:
Cherington hopes to meet with Lester — 8/3/14: Red Sox vice president and GM Ben Cherington phones into the broadcast to talk about trading Jon Lester and John Lackey — BOSTON — Starting on Tuesday, the Red Sox can negotiate with free agents on other teams.
Discussion:
HardballTalk
MLB.com:
Mets' d'Arnaud, Padres' Hedges ranked best two up-and-coming young backstops — Jonathan Mayo and Jim Callis of MLBPipeline.com discuss Travis d'Arnaud and Austin Hedges, two of the top catching prospects in the Minors … Only one catcher from the 2013 Top 10 catchers list …
Discussion:
Metsblog
Matt Gelb / Philly.com:
GM Amaro unveils ‘Phillies Way’ handbook — While two teams that did not win 90 regular-season games in 2014 played to the conclusion of the World Series, the Phillies huddled at their facility in Clearwater, Fla. General manager Ruben Amaro Jr. unveiled The Phillies Way …
Discussion:
HardballTalk
Jane Lee / MLB.com:
Emerson new bullpen coach; Jensen to assist Bush, teach catchers — Darren Bush has spent 10 seasons in the A's organization, including two as a Class A hitting coach. (AP) — OAKLAND — The A's have promoted from within to fill out their 2015 coaching staff.
Discussion:
Beaneball
Patrick Saunders / Denver Post:
COLORADO ROCKIES / MLB — ROCKIES GM JEFF BRIDICH: CHANGES TO COACHING STAFF DONE — The Denver Post — The Colorado Rockies introduce Jeff Bridich as the team's new general manager on Oct. 8, 2014 at Coors Field. (John Leyba, The Denver Post) — Change is on hold for the Rockies.
Discussion:
MLB.com, Purple Row and On the Rox
Baseball America:
Prospect Flashback: Kevin Youkilis — With the announcement of his retirement, BA looks back at Kevin Youkilis in his prospect days. John Tomase had the story of Youkilis on March 31, 2003. Youkilis was drafted in the eighth round in 2001 and got to the majors in 2004.
Discussion:
Over the Monster
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Red Sox Sign Koji Uehara To Two-Year Extension — The Red Sox announced that they have signed right-hander Koji Uehara to a two-year extension that runs through the 2016 season. Alex Speier of WEEI.com reports that it is a two-year, $18MM contract (Twitter link). Uehara is represented by Mark Pieper of Relativity Sports.
Discussion:
Over the Monster, MLB Daily Dish, FanGraphs Baseball and NESN.com