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Fred Mitchell / Chicago Tribune:
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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 …
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SI.com, ESPN and HardballTalk
Marty Noble / MLB.com:
Beloved Mr. Cub, Hall of Famer Banks dies at 83
Beloved Mr. Cub, Hall of Famer Banks dies at 83
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Dodger Insider and MLB.com Blogs Central
Mike Ramsey / CBS Chicago:
Ernie Banks, Beloved ‘Mr. Cub,’ Dead at 83
Ernie Banks, Beloved ‘Mr. Cub,’ Dead at 83
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Let's Go Tribe, Bleed Cubbie Blue, Beyond the Box Score, Gaslamp Ball and MLB Trade Rumors
Marc Carig / Newsday:
Wilmer Flores is working hard to prove he can play shortstop … Mets — Mets in 2015: Keep 'em or dump 'em? … Baseball — Ranking MLB's free agent position players
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Metsblog
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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?
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New Jersey Online and Metsblog
Ken Davidoff / New York Post:
A-Rod, sans lawyers, secretly meets with incoming commish — In the latest stop of his rehabilitation tour, Alex Rodriguez entered the belly of the beast and met with an old nemesis, The Post has learned. — Earlier this past week, the Yankees' disgraced, returning slugger convened …
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Sporting News Feed RSS, CBSSports.com and HardballTalk
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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 …
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baseballmusings.com
JSOnline:
All quiet on Jonathan Papelbon trade front — Last year at “Brewers On Deck,” team principal owner Mark Attanasio stepped to a microphone and drew raucous applause from fans by announcing Milwaukee’s stunning four-year, $50 million free-agent deal with starting pitcher Matt Garza.
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CBSSports.com, HardballTalk, MLB Daily Dish, Al's Ramblings and MLB Trade Rumors
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Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Brewers In Serious Talks To Acquire Papelbon
Brewers In Serious Talks To Acquire Papelbon
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Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia, CBSSports.com, HardballTalk and Bucs Dugout
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.
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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
Bob Elliott / Toronto Sun:
The inside story on how Rogers tried to replace Blue Jays president Paul Beeston — We're not sure if this is the way Harvard Business School teaches Forbes 500 companies on how to make upper management changes. — Or the Stanford Graduate School of Business and the London Business School, for that matter.
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New York Post, Baltimore Sun, National Post, Camden Chat, MLB Trade Rumors and Baseball Think Factory
Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
M.L.B. Defends Fred Wilpon and His Financial Role — It sounds like a punch line: Fred Wilpon, the majority owner of the Mets, is the new chairman of Major League Baseball's finance committee. — Wilpon was a victim of Bernard L. Madoff's Ponzi scheme and has slashed the payroll of a team that has struggled significantly with debt.
Discussion:
Metsblog
Rhett Bollinger / MLB.com:
With neck issue resolved, left-hander ready to compete for rotation spot — 8/11/14: Tommy Milone strikes out five batters over six solid innings, holding the Astros to two runs in his Twins debut — MINNEAPOLIS — After the 2014 season came to an end, Tommy Milone figured the inflammation …
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HardballTalk
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:
McCovey Chronicles and MLB Trade Rumors