Top News:
Ryan Lawrence / Philly.com:
Source: San Diego has talked about Hamels trade — The Padres have had discussions about trading for San Diego native Cole Hamels with new outfielder Wil Myers as potential bait, according to a baseball source. — The Padres have been baseball's busiest team since the Winter Meetings ended …
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Nick CafardoGLOBE / BostonGlobe.com:
Will MLB, Cuba be able to play ball? — How the new diplomatic relationship between the United States and Cuba will affect baseball, no one really knows. — There's been a lot of speculation. Mostly positive. And that's the way it should be. But what doesn't make sense is that Cuba …
Discussion:
Metsblog, CBSSports.com, HardballTalk and Over the Monster
Charlie Wilmoth / MLB Trade Rumors:
Free Agent Spending By Division — With the Winter Meetings behind us, it's likely most of this offseason has already happened, and it's been a barn burner, with a number of surprising signings and huge trades, and big bursts of activity from the Red Sox, White Sox, Dodgers and Padres in particular.
Discussion:
Metsblog and baseballmusings.com
Jerry Crasnick / ESPN:
Preller making noise in San Diego
Discussion:
Over the Monster and MLB Trade Rumors
Jon Heyman / CBSSports.com:
Big gap still exists in Mets' Tulowitzki talks — and Yankees check in on SS — The Mets maintain interest in Rockies star shortstop Troy Tulowitzki, but it's clear there's a major gap to bridge in negotiations between the teams, with differences in ideas of player compensation and financial considerations, as well.
Discussion:
Metsblog, Pinstripe Alley, Sporting News Feed RSS, ESPN and Hot Stove
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Thomas Harding / MLB.com:
Shortstop aims to be ready for Opening Day after hip surgery — Rockies reporter Thomas Harding discusses Troy Tulowitzki's offseason efforts to rebound from season-ending hip surgery — DENVER — Keeping up with Hot Stove activity is secondary to getting healthy for Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki …
Discussion:
HardballTalk and New Jersey Online
Patrick Saunders / Denver Post:
COLORADO ROCKIES / MLB — TROY TULOWITZKI: “I'M ITCHING TO GET BACK” — The Denver Post — Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki fields the ball against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Coors Field on June 6, 2014, in Denver. (Hyoung Chang, The Denver Post) — Patience is not Troy Tulowitzki's best virtue.
Discussion:
On the Rox and Sporting News Feed RSS
Bill Madden / NY Daily News:
Yankees will pay for education of children of NYPD cop Rafael Ramos who was killed while on duty Saturday — George Steinbrenner's Yankee Silver Shield Foundation has, for 32 years, provided for the education of the children of New York City cops, firefighters and Port Authority employees who were killed in the line.
Discussion:
HardballTalk, On the Rox, MLB Trade Rumors, Sporting News Feed RSS, TPNN, SBNation.com and CBSSports.com
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Jamal Collier / MLB.com:
Late Yankees owner began Silver Shield to assist with education costs
Discussion:
The LoHud Yankees Blog
Mark Feinsand / NY Daily News:
Phil Hughes agrees to three-year, $42 million extension to stay with Twins — The extension supersedes the final two years and $16 million remaining on his current contract, essentially giving the former Yankees pitcher a new five-year, $58 million pact. — Phil Hughes' career was revitalized last season after his move to Minnesota.
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors, HardballTalk, Puckett's Pond, twinsdaily.com, MLB Daily Dish, Twinkie Town and Sporting News Feed RSS
Heath Bell / The Players' Tribune:
Exclusive: Heath Bell to Nationals — Alaska is a long way from the Major Leagues. Alaska is a long way from most things, really. But that's where I was, a 19-year-old kid from Orange County with a dream to play in the pros. I'd be lying to you if I told you my plans were playing out exactly as I'd hoped.
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors, Washington Post, Nats Insider, Nationals Pastime and MLB Daily Dish
Darren Rovell / ESPN:
IRS to auction deferred Mets contract — Darryl Strawberry did the work, but now you can collect his money from the New York Mets. — Next month, the Internal Revenue Service is auctioning off the remaining annuity from the deferred compensation Strawberry agreed to when he signed …
Discussion:
Sporting News Feed RSS, CBSSports.com and New Jersey Online
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Pirates Win Bidding For Jung-ho Kang — 12:16pm: The winning bid on Kang was said to be $5,002,015 over the weekend, according to a report from Yonhap. Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune Review has confirmed with a source that the bid was indeed $5MM (Twitter link).
Discussion:
Bucs Dugout, Metsblog, Nationals Pastime and MLB Daily Dish
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