Top News:
ESPN:
Ernie Banks dies at age 83 — “Mr. Cub” Ernie Banks has died at 83, just days before his 84th birthday. — Banks' wife, Liz, confirmed the news to the Chicago Tribune. — A 19-year-old Banks debuted for the Kansas City Monarchs of the Negro leagues in 1950.
Discussion:
OutsidePitchMLB LLC
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Mike Ramsey / CBS Chicago:
Ernie Banks, ‘Mr. Cub,’ Has Died — (CBS) - Ernie Banks, the legendary Chicago baseball player known as “Mr. Cub,” died Friday night, a family attorney said. — He was 83. — The announcement came Friday evening from Chicago lawyer Mark Bogen, who said he was authorized by Banks' widow to confirm the news to the media.
Discussion:
CBSSports.com
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Brewers In Serious Talks To Acquire Papelbon — 8:52am: Papelbon would want his $13MM option for the 2016 season to be guaranteed in order to waive his no-trade clause, Salisbury reports. That presents an expensive obstacle in trade talks, but Salisbury hears that the Phillies are committed …
Discussion:
Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia, CBSSports.com, HardballTalk and Bucs Dugout
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Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Brewers Exploring Pitching Upgrades
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish and Metsblog
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:
Federal Baseball and Nats Insider
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Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
White Sox Sign Jesse Crain, Scott Carroll To Minor League Deals
Discussion:
South Side Sox and MLB Daily Dish
NY Daily News:
Mets' Michael Cuddyer looks to ease David Wright's burden, both on and off the field — Wright's longtime buddy has rolled into town as the team's lone major acquisition, and is poised to play a vital role. Having an old friend around, and one who happens to be a people person, will be a relief.
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Marlins To Sign Ichiro Suzuki — 12:53pm: Ichiro's base salary will be exactly $2MM, tweets Jon Heyman of CBS Sports. — 12:03pm: The two sides are still hammering out the specifics of the performance bonuses that will be built into the contract before the deal becomes official, tweets ESPN's Jerry Crasnick.
Discussion:
Bronx Baseball Daily, OutsidePitchMLB LLC, MLB Daily Dish, Amazin' Avenue and Hot Stove
Aaron Wilson / Baltimore Sun:
Ravens plan to release Terrence Cody, who is under investigation for animal cruelty — The Ravens intend to terminate veteran nose tackle Terrence Cody's contract after the Super Bowl, the team announced Friday morning. — Cody is under investigation for animal cruelty …
Discussion:
Deadspin, ProFootballTalk, Bleacher Report, CBS DC, SBNation.com and CBS Baltimore
Jim Callis / MLB.com:
Red Sox's Swihart sits atop list, followed by Rangers' Alfaro and Cubs' Schwarber — MLBPipeline.com's 2015 Top 100 Prospects list will be unveiled on Friday, Jan. 30, on MLB.com, with the Top 50 revealed during a one-hour show on MLB Network at 9 p.m. ET. Leading up to that …
Discussion:
Boston Globe
Stefan / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
Foul Territory Blog — Texas Rangers pitcher Martin Perez, who missed most of the 2014 season after surgery on his left throwing elbow last May, says he is on pace to return in July. — The left-hander played catch from 105 feet on Thursday after joining Jurickson Profar and Rougned Odor …
Discussion:
ESPN
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’
Discussion:
USA Today and CBSSports.com
Mark Bowman / MLB.com:
Additional options include Almonte, Cunningham, Terdoslavich and Constanza — 7/18/14: Jonny Gomes launches a pinch-hit home run to center field, scoring Stephen Drew to give the Red Sox a 5-4 lead — ATLANTA — Now that the Braves have restructured their organization through a flurry …
Discussion:
Talking Chop, MLB Daily Dish and Hot Stove
Bill Shaikin / Los Angeles Times:
Dodgers said to be in talks to sell minority share to South Korean group — The Dodgers are in negotiations to sell a minority ownership share to a group of South Korean investors, a person with direct knowledge of the discussions said Thursday. — There is “zero” chance the Dodgers' owners …
Discussion:
The Beast 980
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.
Discussion:
HardballTalk, Faith and Fear in Flushing, baseballmusings.com, MLB.com and Hot Stove
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.
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James Shields / Associated Press:
Fenway flawed: Explaining why Red Sox aren't involved in James Shields bidding
Discussion:
Bleacher Report, Hot Stove and baseballmusings.com
