Top News:
Gordon Edes / ESPN:
Will Red Sox stick to game plan? … BOSTON — Two winters have passed since the Red Sox in one bold stroke shed more than $260 million in salary, unloading what they had come to view as the untenable contracts of Carl Crawford, Adrian Gonzalez and Josh Beckett to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
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Mark Feinsand / NY Daily News:
Yankees have no plans to pursue free agents Pablo Sandoval, Jon Lester or Max Scherzer — Instead, the Yankees are interested in bringing back two of their own, free agents Brandon McCarthy and Chase Headley, neither of whom was eligible to receive a qualifying offer after being traded to the Bronx this past July.
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley and The LoHud Yankees Blog
ESPN.com:
Giants give offer to Pablo Sandoval — The San Francisco Giants extended a $15.3 million qualifying offer to World Series star Pablo Sandoval on Monday. — The 28-year-old third baseman hit .279 with 16 home runs and 73 RBIs last season has hit .294 with 106 homers and 462 RBIs in seven big-league seasons, all with the Giants.
Discussion:
ESPN
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Sandoval likely to hit free agency before Giants push to re-sign him
Discussion:
CBSSports.com, Pinstripe Alley and HardballTalk
Patrick Saunders / Denver Post:
COLORADO ROCKIES / MLB — MICHAEL CUDDYER RECEIVES $15.3M QUALIFYING OFFER FROM COLORADO ROCKIES — The Denver Post — Let the chess game begin. — In a surprising move, the Rockies extended a qualifying offer to veteran outfielder-first baseman Michael Cuddyer on Monday.
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Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Pirates Make Qualifying Offers To Martin, Liriano — The Pirates have extended one-year, $15.3MM qualifying offers to both Russell Martin and Francisco Liriano, the team announced. — Both moves have been expected to varying degrees. Martin was seen as the likelier candidate …
Discussion:
Bucs Dugout and MLB.com
Mark Feinsand / NY Daily News:
David Robertson may decline Yankees' qualifying offer and test free agency
Discussion:
HardballTalk
Associated Press:
Cubs introduce Maddon; deal is for 5 years … CHICAGO — When Joe Maddon and the Tampa Bay Rays visited Wrigley Field in August, the manager raved about National League baseball and praised the iconic neighborhood ballpark. — Couple that with Maddon's impressive resume …
Discussion:
Red Sox Monster and ESPN
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Marc Topkin / Tampa Bay Times:
Joe Maddon's agent: Rays' tampering accusations ‘really sad’
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue
Jeff Blair / Sportsnet.ca:
Jays look set to hit off-season ground running
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish, Bucs Dugout, MLB Trade Rumors and Bluebird Banter
Michael O'Keeffe / NY Daily News:
EXCLUSIVE: Yankees slugger Alex Rodriguez paid cousin Yuri Sucart nearly $1 million to keep quiet about his PED use — Rodriguez, who just finished serving a season-long ban for his role in the Biogenesis scandal, entered into a confidential settlement with Sucart on June 5, 2013 …
Discussion:
HardballTalk, CBSSports.com and Bleacher Report
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.
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Adam McCalvy / MLB.com:
Aramis to address future after season concludes
Discussion:
JSOnline and MLB Trade Rumors
Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
A.J. Burnett Declines Player Option — Phillies starter A.J. Burnett has declined his player option, the Phillies announced. By turning down his $12.75MM option, Burnett will become a free agent. — Burnett's decision was one of the more closely-watched option situations around the game …
Discussion:
Phillies Nation and MLB Daily Dish
Mike Digiovanna / Los Angeles Times:
Angels' Garrett Richards on track in knee surgery recovery — Ten weeks into his recovery from surgery to repair a torn patellar tendon in his left knee, Angels pitcher Garrett Richards remains on track to return to the field during spring training next February or March.
Discussion:
HardballTalk and Halos Heaven
Scott Merkin / MLB.com:
Left-hander Sale among three finalists for Outstanding Pitcher Award — White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu talks about winning the Players Choice Award for 2014 American League Outstanding Rookie — CHICAGO - The players have spoken. They actually have spoken twice …
Discussion:
South Side Sox
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Padres Designate Stults, Roach; Lose Jackson To Dodgers On Waivers — The Padres announced today that they have designated left-hander Eric Stults and right-hander Donn Roach for assignment, adding that catcher Adam Moore has been outrighted off the 40-man roster.
Discussion:
True Blue LA
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, South Side Sox, MLB Trade Rumors and HardballTalk
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