Top News:
Fred Mitchell / Chicago Tribune:
Discussion:
MLB.com, ESPN, Associated Press, Bleacher Report, baseballmusings.com and New Jersey Online
RELATED:
Mike Ramsey / CBS Chicago:
Ernie Banks, Beloved ‘Mr. Cub,’ Dead at 83 — (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 …
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue, Gaslamp Ball, Beyond the Box Score, Let's Go Tribe and MLB Trade Rumors
Marty Noble / MLB.com:
Beloved Mr. Cub, Hall of Famer Banks dies at 83 — MLB Network looks back on the Hall of Fame career of Ernie Banks, who passed away at the age 83 — The preeminent advocate of two-for-the-price-of-one baseball, the former shortstop who hit hundreds of home runs at a time when shortstops …
Discussion:
Dodger Insider and MLB.com Blogs Central
MLB.com:
Cubs Hall of Famer Ernie Banks passes away at the age of 83 — CHICAGO - The Chicago Cubs tonight are saddened to announce that Hall of Famer Ernie Banks, the greatest Cub in franchise history, has passed away at the age of 83. — “Words cannot express how important Ernie Banks will always …
Discussion:
SI.com, ESPN and HardballTalk
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.
Marc Carig / Newsday:
David Wright takes optimistic view of Mets' situation … Baseball — Ranking MLB's free agent position players … Mets — Mets in 2015: Keep 'em or dump 'em?
Discussion:
New Jersey Online and Metsblog
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Bob Dutton / Mariners Insider:
Mariners notebook: Zduriencik says ‘no favorite right now’ in spring shortstop battle between Miller and Taylor — SEATTLE — Anticipation is already building within the Mariners' organization regarding the looming spring battle between Brad Miller and Chris Taylor to determine a starting shortstop.
Discussion:
HardballTalk and MLB Trade Rumors
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Rob Neyer / Fox Sports:
THAT TIME BUD SELIG YELLED AT ME — I don't tell war stories too often. Largely because I haven't been anywhere near a real war, and also because even my figurative wars have been both rare and tame, even by the standards of a professional sports scribe. But on the occasion of Bud Selig ascending …
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com and AZ Snake Pit
Teri Thompson / NY Daily News:
Yankees reject Alex Rodriguez's mea culpa meeting request after Biogenesis scandal — The disgraced superstar offered to meet face-to-face with team executives to apologize for his role in the Biogenesis scandal and clear the air before players report to Tampa next month, the Daily News has learned …
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
Matt Eddy / Baseball America:
Minor League Transactions: Jan. 16-22 — The Diamondbacks sign another talented Cuban import, while the Giants, Nationals and White Sox bring back John Bowker, Kila Ka'aihue and Jairo Asencio from the Far East. — Official minor league transactions, conveyed to Baseball America by Major League Baseball, for the period Jan. 16-22.
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors and McCovey Chronicles
Jonathan Mayo / MLB.com:
Bucs' Bell leads list, followed by A's Olson, Yanks' Bird — 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, MLBPipeline.com takes a look at baseball's Top 10 prospects at each position.
Discussion:
Cubs 101
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
JAMES SHIELDS TO THE MARLINS: STILL HIGHLY UNLIKELY — In writing about the James Shields market on Thursday, I said that the Marlins' front office was trying to persuade owner Jeffrey Loria to sign the free-agent right-hander, according to major-league sources. — Well, Shields to the Marlins is still highly unlikely.
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors and HardballTalk