Top News:
Philly.com:
Dick Allen makes it onto Hall of Fame ballot — Dick Allen could finally be headed to Cooperstown. — The BBWAA's Historical Overview Committee selected 10 Golden Era finalists for entry, with “Golden Era” referring to those who made significant impact during their careers in Major League Baseball between 1947 and 1972.
Discussion:
The Good Phight
RELATED:
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
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
ESPN:
MLB Future Power Rankings — A detailed breakdown of the future of every major league franchise — The FPR “forecast” how well each team is set up for sustained success over the next five years. — Free agency is right around the corner, and we at ESPN Insider decided we'd steal a page …
Discussion:
Metsblog
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
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, Amazin' Avenue and MLB Trade Rumors
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
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, Bleacher Report and The Big Lead
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
Jeff Sullivan / FanGraphs Baseball:
Alex Gordon Barely Had a Chance — Imagine if, for some reason, you completely missed Game 7. Not only did you miss it — you didn't hear anything about it, from friends or from family or from the Internet. You get home, and this is the first thing you see: — What on earth has to be going through your mind?
Discussion:
NESN.com, Yahoo! Finance, Royals Review, Associated Press and New York Times
RELATED:
Nate Silver / FiveThirtyEight:
Send Alex Gordon!
Send Alex Gordon!
Discussion:
McCovey Chronicles, MLB.com, NBC SportsWorld, ESPN, baseballmusings.com, USA Today and Al's Ramblings
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