Top News:
MLB.com:
Cubs Fire Manager Rick Renteria — The Chicago Cubs today announced that the club has fired manager Rick Renteria. Renteria, the 53rd manager in franchise history, led the club for the 2014 season after being named to the position on November 7, 2013. — Cubs President Theo Epstein released the following statement:
Discussion:
Baseball America, Deadspin, HardballTalk, Bleacher Report and Bleed Cubbie Blue
RELATED:
Carrie Muskat / MLB.com:
Club to hold news conference Monday; Renteria dismissed as skipper — Joe Maddon won the AL Manager of the Year Award in 2008 and '11 while with the Rays. — CHICAGO — The Cubs dismissed Rick Renteria on Friday, and they will introduce Joe Maddon on Monday as the 54th manager in franchise history …
Discussion:
Fox Sports, Bleed Cubbie Blue and DRaysBay
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Cubs Fire Rick Renteria
Cubs Fire Rick Renteria
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue and Baseball Prospectus
Associated Press:
Indians exercise $3.5M option on IF Aviles — CLEVELAND — The Indians have exercised their $3.5 million option for next season on versatile infielder Mike Aviles. — In his second season with Cleveland, the 33-year-old Aviles batted .247 with 16 doubles, five homers and 39 RBIs in 113 games.
Discussion:
Let's Go Tribe
RELATED:
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:
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 and Pinstripe Alley
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Sources: Angels likely to shake up infield to address pitching needs — Expect a different look in the Angels' infield next season. — The team is likely to trade either second baseman Howie Kendrick or third baseman David Freese to address other needs, according to major-league sources.
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors and MLB Daily Dish
Jared Diamond / Wall Street Journal:
Mets' Jeff Wilpon Denies Firing Employee for Out-of-Wedlock Pregnancy — Team's Chief Operating Officer Responds to Lawsuit Brought by Former Executive — Mets chief operating officer Jeff Wilpon, who was recently accused of firing a former team executive because he objected to her having …
Discussion:
Metsblog and New Jersey Online
Andrew Simon / MLB.com:
deGrom, Lagares and Duda among those cited on the ballot — Celebrate greatness in baseball with MLB.com's 2014 GIBBY Awards — the ultimate honors of the industry's awards season — A 79-83 season still featured several bright spots for the Mets, whether it was Jacob deGrom's sparkling debut …
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue
Justin Perline / Beyond the Box Score:
Free Agency Contract Calculator — How to predict the contracts free agents will receive this offseason based on previous seasons' data. — Free Agency is almost upon us yet again. The hectic time of the year often features dozens of multi-million dollar contracts being handed out within a span of only a few days.
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue and MLB.com
Jon Heyman / CBSSports.com:
Yankees hire Eric Chavez as a special assignment scout — The Yankees have hired longtime star third baseman Eric Chavez as a special assignment scout. — Chavez, the former A's, Yankees and Diamondbacks player who retired this year, has said all along he wants to remain in the game.
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors, HardballTalk and River Avenue Blues
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 and Texas Rangers Blog
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
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Brewers Exercise Mutual Option On Aramis Ramirez — The Brewers have exercised their half of a $14MM mutual option on third baseman Aramis Ramirez, reports Jon Heyman of CBS Sports (Twitter link). Ramirez and his agents at Kinzer Management will now have three days to decide whether to accept …
Discussion:
Al's Ramblings
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
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Athletics Claim Andrew Brown From Mets — The A's announced that they've claimed outfielder Andrew Brown off waivers from the Mets. Additionally, minor league shortstop Tyler Ladendorf has been added to the club's 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft in December.
Discussion:
Athletics Nation and Amazin' Avenue