Top News:
Ben Badler / Baseball America:
MB Changes Cuban Policy, Yoan Moncada Free To Sign — Major League Baseball has changed course and is now allowing teams to sign Cuban players under the “general license” from the Office of Foreign Assets Control, paving the way for Cuban infielder Yoan Moncada and others to be able to sign.
Discussion:
Athletics Nation, Bleed Cubbie Blue and SBNation.com
RELATED:
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, Inside the Dodgers and Bleacher Report
Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
With MLB Rule Change, Yoan Moncada Cleared To Sign — Much-hyped Cuban second baseman Yoan Moncada is free to sign after MLB modified its standards for incoming players from his home nation, Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports reports on Twitter. — With a so-called “specific license” …
Discussion:
MLive.com, River Avenue Blues, Bucs Dugout and MLB Daily Dish
Ben Badler / Baseball America:
Yulieski, Lourdes Gourriel To Play In Japan
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
Lynn Henning / The Detroit News:
Phenom Yoan Moncada not likely in Tigers' plans
Discussion:
Bleacher Report, DRaysBay, Lone Star Ball, Hot Stove and Bless You Boys
Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia:
Phillies have begun looking at Cody Asche in the outfield — Phillies position players aren't required to report to spring training for three more weeks, but Cody Asche is already working out in Clearwater. — And he's getting some reps and instruction in left field.
Discussion:
MLB.com, Baseball Prospectus, The Good Phight and HardballTalk
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Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia:
‘Things are still alive’ on Jonathan Papelbon trade front — Talks between the Phillies and Milwaukee Brewers involving closer Jonathan Papelbon have been portrayed as everything from “serious” to “dead” over the last week or so. — The fact of the matter, according to sources …
Discussion:
Hot Stove, HardballTalk, MLB Trade Rumors and Phillies Nation
Brittany Ghiroli / MLB.com:
Club looks to target starting pitcher, OBP specialist in Hot Stove season — MLB.com's Jim Duquette starts off the Hot Stove season with a preview of the 2014-2015 MLB free-agent class — BALTIMORE — With the World Series in the books, the Hot Stove season officially begins, with several key Orioles becoming free agents.
Discussion:
Camden Depot
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Anthony Castrovince / MLB.com:
If Shields' price has dropped, Yankees should open wallet — James Shields has thrown over 200 innings in eight straight seasons and made up for a dip in strikeouts by improving his control last year — The cumbersome contracts that helped pave the way to the Yankees' most recent (though …
Discussion:
Sporting News Feed RSS, Brew Crew Ball, MLB Trade Rumors, Pinstripe Alley and SBNation.com
Mark Sheldon / MLB.com:
Reds leadoff hitter improving strength, conditioning with Triple-A manager DeShields — NL Rookie of the Year finalist Billy Hamilton, who finished second in the voting, discusses his rookie season with MLB Network — CINCINNATI — Following his rookie year in the Majors last season …
Discussion:
Red Reporter and FanGraphs Baseball
Anthony Fenech / Detroit Free Press:
‘Sad day’: 1984 Tiger Dave Bergman dies at 61 — Bergman played first base, outfield for Tigers from 1984-92, won World Series in '84 — Dave Bergman was asked Friday whether he still had some fight left. — “I do,” he said, according to a family friend.
Discussion:
Bless You Boys and HardballTalk
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Five To Six Teams Still Trying To Deal For Hamels — 2:58pm: Philadelphia continues to ask for top catching prospect Blake Swihart from Boston, tweets Nightengale, with the Red Sox refusing to part with him in a deal for Hamels. — 2:08pm: Though Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr …
Discussion:
Over the Monster, MLB Daily Dish and Phillies Nation
Matthew Cerrone / Metsblog:
Travis d'Arnaud and Bob Geren make a trade... for uniform numbers — Travis d'Arnaud will wear No. 7 this year, while bench coach Bob Geren will wear No. 15 (Rubin, Feb. 3). — The No. 7 is associated with d'Arnaud's uniform, instead of No. 15, when viewing custom jersey options at MLB's team store (MLB.com, Feb. 3).
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue
