Check out Mini-Ballbug for simple mobiles or Ballbug Mobile for modern smartphones.
1:40 PM ET, December 17, 2014

Ballbug

 Top News: 
Kevin Kernan / New York Post:
Terry Collins reveals Mets lineup plan and ‘the bat we need’  —  Mets manager Terry Collins told The Post he is “so excited” about the upcoming season as he outlined his starting lineup, can't wait to watch Matt Harvey pitch and expects David Wright to have a bounce-back season.
RELATED:
Matt Eddy / Baseball America:
2015 New York Mets Top 10 Prospects  —  Want More?  Complete 2015 Top 10 Prospects Rankings  —  Get it all: Subscribe to Baseball America  —  Go 30 deep: Order the 2015 Prospect Handbook!  —  For the first time in a four-year tenure, general manager Sandy Alderson …
Discussion: Metsblog
Adam McCalvy / MLB.com:
Brewers sign Petersen to Minors deal with invite  —  9/27/11: Bryan Petersen wins it for the Marlins with a solo homer in the ninth inning, his second of the season  —  MILWAUKEE — The Brewers restocked their Triple-A outfield on Tuesday with Minor League deals for Triple-A veterans Bryan Petersen …
RELATED:
Mark Bowman / MLB.com:
Braves announce Minor League coaching staffs  —  Brian Snitker, manager of Triple-A Gwinnett, has been part of the Braves' organization since 1977.  —  ATLANTA — The Braves' Minor League system will have a familiar feel in 2015, as five of the organization's six affiliates will be led by managers who were in the system last year.
Discussion: Talking Chop
Dave Cameron / Fox Sports:
ARE WIL MYERS' FLAWS FIXABLE?  —  Two years ago, the Tampa Bay Rays traded James Shields and Wade Davis to the Kansas City Royals for a package of talent centered around outfield prospect Wil Myers.  The deal was divisive to say the least, primarily due to Myers' inclusion; teams generally just didn't trade prospects of his stature.
RELATED:
Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
Red Sox Acquire Anthony Varvaro  —  The Red Sox have reached a deal to acquire right-handed reliever Anthony Varvaro from the Braves, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports first reported on Twitter.  Righty Aaron Kurcz and cash make up the return for the Braves, according to the official announcement.
Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
Mariners Acquire Justin Ruggiano  —  The Mariners have reached a deal to acquire outfielder Justin Ruggiano from the Cubs, Jon Morosi of FOX Sports reports on Twitter.  Righty Matt Brazis is going to Chicago in return, the clubs announced.  Tim Brown of Yahoo Sports first reported the possible match on Ruggiano.
Discussion: Bleed Cubbie Blue
Dan ShaughnessyGLOBE / BostonGlobe.com:
Pedro Martinez and Curt Schilling on Dan Shaughnessy's Hall of Fame ballot  —  More than a quarter of a century after getting my first ballot, the Hall of Fame selection progress just keeps getting more challenging.  —  Wednesday my ballot will be mailed with boxes checked next to the names …
Joe Frisaro / The Fish Pond:
Jones garnering interest on trade market  —  MIAMI — The Marlins have yet to officially announce the free agent signing of Michael Morse, but already the club has received calls from teams interested in Garrett Jones.  —  Morse's arrival gives the Marlins some flexibility regarding Jones, who suddenly becomes available.
RELATED:
Associated Press:
AP Source: Morse Agrees to $16M, 2-Year Deal With Marlins
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
To trade Hamilton or not to trade him?  That is the question for Halos  —  FOX Sports  —  The Angels still view Josh Hamilton as a potential asset despite him not producing as expected when they signed him.  —  A scout with whom I speak regularly predicted Tuesday that Josh Hamilton …
Discussion: CBSSports.com
Sam Amick / USA Today:
Kevin Durant on Kobe Bryant: 'I'd want to play with a guy like that'  —  SACRAMENTO — Given the sorry state of the Los Angeles Lakers these days, it doesn't take much to get the storied team's fan base excited about the possibilities for a better tomorrow.  —  In that regard, Kevin Durant may have just made their day.
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Rangers Designate Scott Barnes, Ben Rowen For Assignment  —  The Rangers have designated left-hander Scott Barnes and right-hander Ben Rowen for assignment in order to clear room on the 40-man roster for Kyuji Fujikawa and Colby Lewis, tweets team executive VP of communications John Blake.
Discussion: Lone Star Ball and Al's Ramblings
Associated Press:
Yankees GM Cashman: A-Rod now a full-time DH  —  NEW YORK — Yankees general manager Brian Cashman says Alex Rodriguez's days as an everyday fielder are over and he hopes Rodriguez will be New York's full-time designated hitter.  —  Chase Headley will be the Yankees' starting third baseman …
RELATED:
NY Daily News:
Yankees and Alex Rodriguez set for more drama after Chase Headley signing
Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
Indians Sign Gavin Floyd  —  The Indians have signed righty Gavin Floyd to a one-year deal, the team announced.  Floyd gets a $4MM guarantee with $6MM of bonuses achievable based upon starts made and innings pitched, Chris Cotillo of SB Nation tweets.  —  Floyd threw last year for the Braves …
RELATED:
Mike Petriello / MLB:
The secretly great Indians rotation
Discussion: Pinstripe Alley and ESPN
CSN Chicago:
Cubs went all-out for Lester: ‘I was ready to soak myself in deer urine’  —  Your browser does not support iframes.  —  How bad did Theo Epstein want to sign Jon Lester?  —  “I was ready to soak myself in deer urine, if necessary,” Epstein said.  —  The Cubs president of baseball operations …
RELATED:
Scooby Axson / SI.com:
SI Cover: The Jon Lester factor
Discussion: Over the Monster and NESN.com
Associated Press:
White Sox Have High Hopes After Big Offseason  —  CHICAGO — General manager Rick Hahn contacted a representative for Melky Cabrera right after the World Series, and agent Peter Greenberg said the free-agent outfielder appreciated the interest from the Chicago White Sox and wanted to know more about the team's offseason plans.
Discussion: South Side Sox and MLB Daily Dish
RELATED:
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Hahn credits Sox sales increase for budget-busting signing
Discussion: HardballTalk
 
 Archived Page Info: 
This is a snapshot of Ballbug at 1:40 PM ET, December 17, 2014.

View the current page or another snapshot:


 
 See Also: 
Ballbug: site main
Ballbug River: reverse chronological Ballbug
Ballbug Mobile: for phones
Ballbug Leaderboard: Ballbug's top sources
 
 Subscribe: 
Ballbug RSS feed
 
 
 More News: 
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Orioles To Sign Wesley Wright
Discussion: Camden Chat, HardballTalk and Hot Stove
Ken Gurnick / MLB.com:
McCarthy's addition ends Wilson's Dodgers tenure
 Earlier Picks: 
Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
Rockies Sign Daniel Descalso
Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
Yankees To Re-Sign Chris Capuano
 

 
From WeSmirch:

Eileen Reslen / Page Six:
Christine Quinn alleges ‘abusive’ husband Christian Richard threw dog poop at her, peed on her floor in violent outburst

Tom Bryant / The Mirror:
Paul O'Grady's beloved dog nuzzled star's shoulder as devoted husband battled to save him

TMZ.com:
LEO DICAPRIO NOT ENGAGED TO GIRLFRIEND ... Despite Ring Speculation

 
Sister Sites:

Techmeme
 Top news and commentary for technology's leaders, from all around the web
Mediagazer
 Top news and commentary for media professionals from all around the web
memeorandum
 What US political commentators are discussing online right now
WeSmirch
 The top celebrity news from all around the web on a single page