Top News:
Jerry Crasnick / ESPN:
Jays have interest in Mike Rizzo — The Toronto Blue Jays have expressed interest in Mike Rizzo, the Washington Nationals president of baseball operations and general manager, as a candidate to replace Paul Beeston as team president and CEO, two industry sources told ESPN.com.
Discussion:
ESPN, Bluebird Banter, Washington Post, Federal Baseball, Nats Insider, Nationals Pastime, HardballTalk and MLB Trade Rumors
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Sox's stealth pursuit of Melky Cabrera pays off — The White Sox's stealth pursuit of Melky Cabrera paid off late Saturday when the Blue Jays outfielder agreed to a three-year deal. — MLB.com confirmed the 30-year-old Cabrera agreed to a deal worth an estimated $42-$43.5 million, pending a physical.
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Dave Cameron / Fox Sports:
PARITY IN THE AL: A RACE TO THE MIDDLE — The White Sox are going for it. With the additions of Jeff Samardzija and David Robertson — in addition to prior signings Adam LaRoche and Zach Duke — the Pale Hose have signaled to the rest of the American League Central that they're not content to rebuild anymore.
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish, South Side Sox, Lone Star Ball, Beyond the Box Score and baseballmusings.com
Nick Piecoro / Arizona Republic:
D-Backs GM Stewart: Adding power arms key to Miley trade — The Diamondbacks feel they didn't just add two more arms to their organization when they acquired right-handers Rubby De La Rosa and Allen Webster from the Boston Red Sox as part of the Wade Miley trade on Friday.
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
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Joe McDonald / ESPN:
Red Sox say Masterson will start — BOSTON — Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington made it perfectly clear Friday that pitcher Justin Masterson will be in the rotation for the 2015 season. — During a conference call to reintroduce Masterson, Cherington called the 29-year-old right-hander an …
Discussion:
AZ Snake Pit, Beyond the Box Score, Over the Monster and ESPN.com
Paul White / USA Today:
As options dwindle, MLB teams may get desperate
As options dwindle, MLB teams may get desperate
Discussion:
Over the Monster
Chelsea Janes / Washington Post:
With no progress made on an extension, Ian Desmond says he's focused on 2015 — When it was time for Ian Desmond to take his turn with the media at NatsFest Saturday afternoon, a little future shortstop in a red Desmond jersey waddled confidently alongside him.
Discussion:
HardballTalk, CBSSports.com, Federal Baseball and MLB Trade Rumors
Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
Phillies Notes: Wood, Utley, Gonzalez — While we wait to learn about the finalization of the deal sending Jimmy Rollins to the Dodgers, let's check in on the latest out of Philadelphia: — The Phillies have asked the Cubs about lefty Travis Wood, Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times reports …
Discussion:
Philly.com, HardballTalk and The Good Phight
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Matt Swartz / The Hardball Times:
Extending Ryan Howard Is Not What Killed the Phillies — It's not your fault, Ryan. Really. (via Matthew Straubmuller) — The Phillies won five straight division titles from 2007 through 2011 but have been in freefall ever since. After winning 102 games in 2011, they have won only 81 …
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
Jeff / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
Lefty Ross Detwiler lands spot in Rangers' rotation — Ross Detwiler has always believed that he is a starting pitcher, not the reliever he was last season with the Washington Nationals, and he will be in the Texas Rangers' rotation in 2015. — General manager Jon Daniels said as much Friday morning …
Discussion:
MLB.com, Lone Star Ball and Texas Rangers Blog
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Evan Grant / Texas Rangers Blog:
Source: Texas Rangers acquire pitcher Ross Detwiler from Washington
Source: Texas Rangers acquire pitcher Ross Detwiler from Washington
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish and Lone Star Ball
Rob Biertempfel / Greensburg Tribune-Review:
Pirates notebook: New catcher Cervelli eager to bond with staff — Francisco Cervelli was not surprised when the New York Yankees traded him to the Pirates last month. — Cervelli, 28, made his big league debut with the Yankees in 2008. Although he often was hailed as their catcher of the future …
Discussion:
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, MLB Trade Rumors and Bucs Dugout
Roch Kubatko / School of Roch:
Orioles' outfield search continues, Phillies offered Byrd and Howard — As Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette rushed to the airport in San Diego following the Rule 5 draft - we were on the same flight and he willingly chose a middle seat next to other team officials …
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors, HardballTalk and CBSSports.com
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Frandsen aiming for everyday second-base job — 9/28/14: Kevin Frandsen snags a line drive off the bat of Reed Johnson in the top of the 5th inning — WASHINGTON — The Nationals are looking for a starting second baseman, and infielder Kevin Frandsen said Saturday he would like to be considered for the job.
Discussion:
HardballTalk
Jonathan Mayo / MLB.com:
First three picks are positional players, then pitchers go off the board — 2014 MLB.com Top Prospects: Delino DeShields has a compact swing and shows the ability to make adjustments at the plate — SAN DIEGO — The buzz heading into Thursday's Rule 5 Draft was that this year's pool …
Discussion:
McCovey Chronicles, Baseball Prospectus and Bucs Dugout
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Bob Dutton / Mariners Insider:
Winter Meetings: Mariners head home still looking to upgrade club
Winter Meetings: Mariners head home still looking to upgrade club
Discussion:
Federal Baseball, HardballTalk, Washington Post and MLB Trade Rumors