Top News:
Jorge L. Ortiz / USA Today:
Two Cubans playing in Caribbean Series defect — SAN JUAN, P.R. - Two players from the Cuban team competing in the Caribbean Series have defected, according to a tournament official. — The official, who spoke to USA TODAY Sports on condition of anonymity because the Cuban federation …
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors and baseballmusings.com
RELATED:
Jesse Sanchez / MLB.com:
Cuban infielder, 19, was unblocked Tuesday by United States government — Matt Yallof, Ron Darling and Tom Verducci discuss the potential of Yoan Moncada and what impact he could have on an MLB team — Top Cuban infield prospect Yoan Moncada is eager to begin his professional baseball career …
Discussion:
Athletics Nation, It's About The Money and Hot Stove
Jorge L. Ortiz / Associated Press:
Well-reinforced Cuban team loses Caribbean Series opener — SAN JUAN, P.R. - The prestige of Cuban baseball, earned through decades of dominating international amateur tournaments, has received a boost from the stellar major league performances of defectors such as Jose Abreu, Aroldis Chapman, Yasiel Puig and Yoenis Cespedes.
Discussion:
Bleacher Report
Jesse Sanchez / MLB.com:
Cuba's Moncada cleared to sign with any MLB club — MLB.com national reporter Jesse Sanchez talks to MLB Tonight about Cuban prospect Yoan Moncada being cleared to sign with MLB teams — The path was cleared Tuesday for top Cuban prospect Yoan Moncada to negotiate and sign with the Major League club of his choice.
Discussion:
FanGraphs Baseball, Cubs Den, Over the Monster, Bleacher Report and Inside the Dodgers
Ben Badler / Baseball America:
Vladimir Gutierrez, Top Cuban Pitching Prospect, Leaves Team At Caribbean Series — Righthander Vladimir Gutierrez, one of the top young pitching prospects in Cuba, has left the Cuban team at the Caribbean Series in Puerto Rico, along with shortstop Dainer Moreira, Baseball America has learned.
ESPN:
MLB nixes Cuban requirement — NEW YORK — Major League Baseball has eliminated its requirement that Cuban players obtain a license from the U.S. government before they are eligible to sign with big league teams. — The decision could speed the negotiating process for Yoan Moncada …
Discussion:
HardballTalk, MLB and Associated Press
Ben Badler / Baseball America:
MB Changes Cuban Policy, Yoan Moncada Free To Sign
Discussion:
SBNation.com, South Side Sox, Federal Baseball, Viva El Birdos, Bleed Cubbie Blue, River Avenue Blues and Athletics Nation
Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
With MLB Rule Change, Yoan Moncada Cleared To Sign
Discussion:
MLive.com, MLB Daily Dish, SBNation.com, Bucs Dugout and DRaysBay
Patrick Temple-West / Politico:
Obama throws curveball at team owners — President Barack Obama is using his budget to take on some of the most loathed people in sports — team owners threatening to bolt town if taxpayers don't help build a new stadium — and it could put Republicans in a tough spot.
Discussion:
HardballTalk and Hit & Run
Danny Salazar / Plain Dealer:
Cleveland Police investigating Cleveland Indians Danny Salazar on sexual assault complaint — Indians right-hander Danny Salazar is being investigated by Cleveland Police. (Tony Dejak, Associated Press) — Paul Hoynes, Northeast Ohio Media Group By Paul Hoynes, Northeast Ohio Media Group
Discussion:
MLB and Sporting News Feed RSS
Ray Farmer / Plain Dealer:
Cleveland Browns and GM Ray Farmer facing possible suspension, fine, loss of draft pick for ‘Textgate’ — Browns general manager Ray Farmer could possibly be suspended for the first several games of the 2015 season for improper texting during games. (Tony Dejak)
Discussion:
Bleacher Report, ProFootballTalk, SBNation.com and Pro Football Rumors
John Harper / NY Daily News:
Meet the Matz! Mets left-handed pitching prospect Steven Matz could be next in line — Finally pain-free, Matz has been making up for lost time in rather spectacular fashion the last two years, moving up the organizational ladder quickly and becoming the Mets' most talked-about pitching prospect.
Discussion:
Metsblog and HardballTalk
NY Daily News:
EXCLUSIVE: In first interview since SNY exit, Bobby Ojeda takes jab at Mets GM Sandy Alderson — ‘Last I checked, Fred is not the general manager,’ Ojeda said while defending ownership. ‘Last I checked, Jeff is not the general manager. Last I checked, Saul is not the general manager.’
Discussion:
Metsblog
Stan Hochman / Philly.com:
Bunning's not-so-perfect day — JIM BUNNING spent the first weekend in December in San Diego, a member of a 16-man committee voting on Golden Era players to be inducted into Baseball's Hall of Fame. Dick Allen needed 12 votes. He got 11. — “I felt useless,” Bunning seethed the other day, his voice crackling with anger.
Discussion:
HardballTalk
