Ballbug: Kansas City extends $15.3M offer to Shields (MLB)

Joey Nowak / MLB.com:

Aramis opts for another season with Brewers — 9/17/14: Aramis Ramirez chases a ball off Jon Jay's bat into foul ground and makes the great basket catch — Brewers third baseman Aramis Ramirez on Monday exercised his part of the mutual option in his contract for the 2015 season, solidifying his place with the club for next year.

Adam McCalvy / MLB.com:

Brewers may chart new course with free agency — Brewers owner Mark Attanasio and GM Doug Melvin discuss the team's collapse and what they plan on doing to fix the team — MILWAUKEE — It was perfectly fitting that Giants third baseman Pablo Sandoval squeezed the final out of the World Series before falling to his backside with joy.

Discussion: Bleacher Report

Adam McCalvy / MLB.com:
Aramis to address future after season concludes

Discussion: JSOnline and MLB Trade Rumors

Mark Feinsand / NY Daily News:

David Robertson may decline Yankees' qualifying offer and test free agency — The Yankees will extend a qualifying offer to David Robertson, though it's unlikely the closer will accept it. A league source said no less than six teams are interested in the righthander, who is the premier closer available …

Discussion: HardballTalk

Discussion: Halos Heaven, HardballTalk and MLB Trade Rumors

Mark Bowman / MLB.com:
Atlanta would receive Draft pick if righty rejects, signs elsewhere

Discussion: MLB Trade Rumors, Talking Chop, MLB Daily Dish, Royals Review, Amazin' Avenue and HardballTalk

Jesse Sanchez / Jesse Sanchez at the Park:

Showcase planned for Cuban prospect Yoan Moncada — Scouts believe Yoan Moncada could be the best teenage prospect to come from Cuba in years. — Now, he is one step closer to making his Major League dream a reality. — Moncada, 19, a switch-hitting infielder from the Cuban city of Cienfuegos …

Discussion: Amazin' Avenue, MLB Trade Rumors and HardballTalk

Switch-hitting infielder, 19, to showcase highly touted skills Nov. 12 — Yoan Moncada, a switch-hitting infielder, has established residency in Guatemala and has a showcase tentatively scheduled for Nov. 12. — Scouts believe Yoan Moncada could be the best teenage prospect to come from Cuba in years.

Discussion: South Side Sox and Camden Chat

Marc Topkin / Tampa Bay Times:

Joe Maddon's agent: Rays' tampering accusations ‘really sad’ — On the eve of Joe Maddon's introduction as manager of the Cubs, his agent said accusations by the Rays of tampering in the move are “really sad” and “a little bit insulting.” — Alan Nero, in a Sunday interview on SiriusXM/MLB Network Radio …

Discussion: NESN.com and ESPN

Discussion: MLB Trade Rumors

Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:

Sandoval likely to hit free agency before Giants push to re-sign him — When the Giants won the World Series in 2012, they re-signed left-hander Jeremy Affeldt, second baseman Marco Scutaro and center fielder Angel Pagan only after each became a free agent.

Discussion: HardballTalk and Pinstripe Alley

MLB:

Kansas City extends $15.3M offer to Shields — KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Royals extended a $15.3 million qualifying offer Monday to right-hander James Shields, which assures Kansas City of draft pick compensation if its staff ace signs a major league contract with another team before June 8.

Discussion: MLB Trade Rumors and MLB Daily Dish

Jeff Blair / Sportsnet.ca:

Jays look set to hit off-season ground running — Apparently, Alex Anthopoulos learned something last season. — Instead of waiting patiently for the market to develop and address pressing issues — only to find himself involved in the optically destructive Ervin Santana affair …

Discussion: MLB Daily Dish, MLB Trade Rumors, Bucs Dugout and Bluebird Banter

Tom Haudricourt / JSOnline:

Brewers optimistic Ryan Braun is making progress after thumb procedure — By Tom Haudricourt of the Journal Sentinel — The Milwaukee Brewers won't know for sure until Ryan Braun starts playing on at least a semiregular basis in spring training, but all parties are optimistic about the procedure …

Discussion: Brew Crew Ball

SFGate / Matier And Ross:

M&R: Bumgarner wanted to ride a horse in the World Series parade — When pitching ace Madison Bumgarner arrived at Steuart Street for the start of the World Series parade, the cops assigned to the parade were waiting, and just as pumped as the thousands of other Giant fans who were lining the route.

Discussion: CBSSports.com, USA Today, NESN.com, McCovey Chronicles and HardballTalk

Nick Piecoro / Arizona Republic:

Archie Bradley looks better in Arizona Fall League All-Star Game — For Diamondbacks prospect Archie Bradley, pitching in the Arizona Fall League hasn't been so much about numbers or results, but about rediscovering a feeling he had somehow lost. He thinks he's finally found it.

Discussion: HardballTalk

Discussion: Fish Stripes, The LoHud Yankees Blog, twinsdaily.com, Pinstripe Alley and Baseball America

Chris Mellen / Baseball Prospectus:

2015 Prospects: Philadelphia Phillies Top 10 Prospects by Chris Mellen, BP Prospect Staff and BP Prospect Staff — Philadelphia Phillies Top 10 Prospects — The Top Ten — Position: SS — Bats/Throws: L/R — Drafted/Acquired: 1st round, 2013 draft, Lakewood HS (Lakewood, CA)

Discussion: Philly.com

Mark Polishuk / MLB Trade Rumors:

Cubs Sign Tsuyoshi Wada — The Cubs have signed left-hander Tsuyoshi Wada to a one-year, Major League contract, the team announced. The deal is worth $4MM, and another $2MM available in incentives, MLB.com's Carrie Muskat reports (Twitter link). The new contract overrides a $5MM team option …

Discussion: Bleed Cubbie Blue and MLB Daily Dish