Top News:
MLB.com:
White Sox invite 24 players to spring training — CHICAGO - The Chicago White Sox have agreed to terms on minor-league contracts with the following free agents: right-handed pitchers Jairo Asencio, Scott Carroll, Jesse Crain, Logan Kensing, Arcenio Leon, J.D. Martin and Brad Penny …
Discussion:
South Side Sox
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Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
White Sox Sign Jesse Crain, Scott Carroll To Minor League Deals — The White Sox announced that they have signed right-handers Jesse Crain and Scott Carroll to minor league deals with invites to big league Spring Training. — The 33-year-old Crain was in the midst of an incredible season …
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Nats sign veteran reliever Meek — 6/29/14: Evan Meek strikes out Logan Forsythe to end a bases-loaded jam and keep the game tied in the 5th inning — WASHINGTON — The Nationals have signed right-hander Evan Meek to a Minor League contract with an invitation to big league Spring Training.
Discussion:
Nats Insider
Miles Wray / FanGraphs Baseball:
Why Jung-Ho Kang Doesn't Need to be a Brilliant Fielder — It's very rare for a Major League club to sign a presumed every-day starter to a contract that will total either 4 years/$17M (a sum that includes a 2019 buy-out plus posting fee) or 5 years/$21.5M (a sum that includes a 2019 team option plus posting fee).
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors, baseballmusings.com, Fox Sports, Brew Crew Ball and Where Have You Gone …
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Anthony Fenech / Detroit Free Press:
Price comfortable with Tigers, ‘all ears’ for extension — David Price is comfortable now. — And he was comfortable this afternoon, sitting on a cushioned chair behind a table bearing his name tag during the Detroit Tigers' winter caravan kickoff at Comerica Park.
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
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Anthony Fenech / Detroit Free Press:
Scherzer gone, so Tigers hope to keep Price ‘a long time’
Scherzer gone, so Tigers hope to keep Price ‘a long time’
Discussion:
CBSSports.com
James Shields / Associated Press:
Fenway flawed: Explaining why Red Sox aren't involved in James Shields bidding — Photo by: — When the offseason began, the widespread presumption throughout baseball was that the Red Sox would pursue a reunion with Jon Lester, but only to a point. And if the market for the ace lefty went beyond …
Discussion:
Hot Stove and baseballmusings.com
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Jim Duquette / MLB.com:
Ranking the top five likeliest suitors for Shields — Now that Max Scherzer has signed, Jim Duquette discusses the current starting pitching market, including free agent James Shields — And then there was one: The top free-agent pitcher left standing is James Shields.
Ryan Lawrence / Philly.com:
Phillies dysphunction — LAKEWOOD, N.J. - Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg spent about 10 minutes trying to explain himself, but before he'd go too far and say something he might regret, he inserted awkward laugher into the conversation. — Even when the questions changed …
Discussion:
HardballTalk
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Todd Zolecki / MLB.com:
Sandberg to focus on improving communication — Ben Revere, Ken Giles and Ryne Sandberg join the Phillies Caravan on its second stop for the Winter Banquet in Reading, Pennsylvania — LAKEWOOD, N.J. — The expectations for the Phillies have flipped completely in one year.
Discussion:
CBSSports.com
NY Daily News:
Yankees radio voice John Sterling loses home in New Jersey fire, feels outpouring of love from friends — For reality told Sterling that there is stark uncertainty. No one plans for moments like these. Tuesday night he had a roof over his head. A day later he wasn't so sure.
Discussion:
USA Today and HardballTalk
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Jayson Stark / MLB:
Scherzer pact: Gets $35M per last 3 seasons — Max Scherzer will be paid a salary of $35 million per year in each of the final three seasons of his contract with the Washington Nationals — except all $35 million will be deferred without interest, according to a source familiar with the contract.
Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia:
Phillies have strong interest in Chad Billingsley — The Phillies are showing serious interest in free-agent right-hander Chad Billingsley, a major-league source tells CSNPhilly.com. — Billingsley, 30, is a former first-round pick of the Dodgers and was a mainstay in that team's starting rotation …
Discussion:
The Good Phight and HardballTalk
Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
Pitcher's seven-year contract includes opt-out clause that can be exercised after 2017 — MLB.com's Pete McCarthy and Jim Duquette break down Masahiro Tanaka's decision to head to the Bronx and what he will bring to the Yankees — NEW YORK — When the Yankees were invited to exchange pleasantries …
Discussion:
It's About The Money
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Brewers Exploring Pitching Upgrades — 1:45pm: GM Doug Melvin tells Jim Bowden on MLB Network Radio that his club hasn't made a play for Shields and has not made a phone call to his camp. The team's priority, according to Melvin, is upgrading the bullpen, where they'd like to add one or two pieces.
Discussion:
Metsblog