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TIME TO START LOOKING AT BEN ZOBRIST TRADE POSSIBILITIES — BECAUSE IT'S COMING — JP Morosi — Surprisingly, relatively little has been written or said about the possibility of a Ben Zobrist trade. — That should change soon. — There's a decent chance Zobrist will be traded between …
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New Jersey Online, HardballTalk, Amazin' Avenue, Lone Star Ball, Redleg Nation and Hot Stove
Eduardo A. Encina / Baltimore Sun:
Orioles still interested in Padres' Seth Smith and Will Venable, sources say — The hot stove likely will be set on simmer and put on the back burner after today for the holidays. The industry usually goes quiet in the week between Christmas and New Year's Day.
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Camden Chat, School of Roch, HardballTalk, Gaslamp Ball, MLB Trade Rumors, Hot Stove and MLB Daily Dish
Matt Eddy / Baseball America:
Minor League Transactions: Dec. 13-23 — Please see Trade Central for more on the prospects involved in December trades, and please see my Twitter timeline for more on some of the players referenced in this installment. We're finishing production on the 2015 Prospect Handbook …
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MLB Trade Rumors and HardballTalk
Chris Haft / MLB.com:
Veteran right-hander finalizes $24 million contract; ‘re-energized’ for another title run — MLB.com's Hot Stove looks at the Giants bringing back pitcher Jake Peavy on two-year deal — SAN FRANCISCO — Jake Peavy remembered the generosity that the Giants expressed toward him and his family when they acquired him.
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MLB Trade Rumors
Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
Orioles To Sign Delmon Young — The Orioles have agreed to a one-year, $2.25MM deal with free agent outfielder Delmon Young, Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com reports (links to Twitter). Young can earn up to $750K more through incentives. The deal is dependent upon a physical, which will not take place until the new year.
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Camden Chat and HardballTalk
Kristie Ackert / NY Daily News:
Mets captain David Wright reaches out to sons of slain NYPD officer Rafael Ramos — Wright, the son of a police officer, had a 15-minute phone conversation with Justin and Jaden Ramos on Christmas Eve and invited the two Mets fans to attend spring training with the team next year.
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New Jersey Online and SBNation.com
Matthew Cerrone / Metsblog:
Blue Jays are looking to trade for a closer — The Blue Jays are now prioritizing the ninth inning and are looking to trade for a closer (Heyman, Dec. 24). — Phillies closer Jonathan Papelbon, Nationals RHP Tyler Clippard and Royals relievers Greg Holland and Wade Davis have all appeared …
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Bluebird Banter and MLB Trade Rumors
Chris Mosch / Baseball Prospectus:
Rumor Roundup: Marlins Not Really Interested In Having Exactly Three Outfielders On Their Roster by Chris Mosch — Marlins Not Really Interested In Having Exactly Three Outfielders On Their Roster — When it comes to formidable young outfield cores, there aren't too many that can top the one assembled in Miami.
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Fish Stripes, U-T San Diego stories and Hot Stove
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Braves Sign Jason Grilli — The Braves have struck a move to bolster their bullpen, adding right-hander Jason Grilli on a two-year deal with a third-year club option, the team announced Tuesday night. Grilli, a client of player-turned-agent Gary Sheffield, will reportedly earn $8MM over the life of the contract.
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FanGraphs Baseball, Talking Chop, MLB Daily Dish, Amazin' Avenue, HardballTalk and Hot Stove
Phil Rogers / MLB.com:
Korean infielder has talent, power to help Pittsburgh make another playoff push — MLB.com analyst Jim Duquette discusses why the Pirates are interested in Korean shortstop Jung-ho Kang and whether the team can make a deal — When you've signed strong-armed neophytes from India and taught …
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Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Pirates Win Bidding For Jung-ho Kang
Pirates Win Bidding For Jung-ho Kang
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Bucs Dugout, Talking Chop, Where Have You Gone …, MLB Daily Dish, Nationals Pastime and Hot Stove
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Blue Jays Claim Scott Barnes, Preston Guilmet — The Blue Jays announced that they have claimed left-hander Scott Barnes off waivers from the Rangers and right-hander Preston Guilmet from the Pirates. SB Nation's Chris Cotillo first tweeted that Guilmet had been claimed by Toronto earlier this afternoon.
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Bucs Dugout
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Twins Sign Tim Stauffer — The Twins announced that they have signed right-hander Tim Stauffer to a one-year, $2.2MM contract. To make room on the 40-man roster, Eric Fryer has been outrighted to Triple-A. Additionally, Minnesota announced that Chris Parmelee, who had been designated …
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Gaslamp Ball and Twinkie Town
Ronald Blum / Globe and Mail:
Major League Baseball average salary rises above $3.8-million — Major League Baseball's average salary shot up to more than $3.8-million (U.S.) this year following the steepest rise since 2001, putting big-leaguers on track to top the $4-million barrier for the first time in 2015.
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HardballTalk