Top News:
Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
Colby Rasmus To Accept Astros' Qualifying Offer — Outfielder Colby Rasmus will become the first player ever to accept a qualifying offer, as Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports tweets that he'll take the one-year, $15.8MM deal extended to him by the Astros. — Rasmus, 29, slashed a productive .238/.314/.475 …
Discussion:
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Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
Marco Estrada Nearing Two-Year Deal With Blue Jays — The Blue Jays are nearing a two-year deal with righty Marco Estrada, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post (via Twitter). He would be expected to receive a guarantee of between $24MM and $29MM in the contract, if it is in fact agreed to.
Discussion:
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Rob Bradford / WEEI:
GM MEETINGS NOTEBOOK: WILL INDIANS SOLVE RED SOX PITCHING CONUNDRUM? — BOCA RATON, Fla. — It's about that time to start figuring this thing out. — While it still might be a bit before we get to uncover which pitcher becomes that top of the rotation piece Dave Dombrowski has prioritized bringing …
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Peter Abraham / BostonGlobe.com:
Red Sox have ‘great interest’ in Reds closer Aroldis Chapman — BOCA RATON, Fla. — Dave Dombrowski walked out of the general manager meetings on Thursday morning not having made any trades or signed any free agents. But that may not be the case for much longer.
Discussion:
Boston Globe, providencejournal.com, NESN.com, FanGraphs Baseball and Over the Monster
Jon Heyman / CBSSports.com:
Inside Baseball: The needs of 14 big spenders; more from GM meetings
Inside Baseball: The needs of 14 big spenders; more from GM meetings
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Purple Row, South Side Sox, Chicago, Federal Baseball, River Avenue Blues, Metsblog, Bucs Dugout and The Good Phight
Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
Angels Acquire Andrelton Simmons — The Angels have officially agreed to acquire shortstop Andrelton Simmons from the Braves, along with catcher Jose Briceno. Lefty Sean Newcomb and righty Chris Ellis are going to Atlanta in return, along with long-time Halos shortstop Erick Aybar.
Discussion:
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Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Braves Listening On Andrelton Simmons — 4:31pm: The Rockies are not engaged in trade talks regarding Simmons, Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post reports on Twitter. — 8:58am: The Mets checked in on Simmons this morning and were met with the asking price of Jacob deGrom or Matt Harvey …
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Braves Re-Sign A.J. Pierzynski
Braves Re-Sign A.J. Pierzynski
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish, Yahoo Sports and NBCSports.com
Monte Gaddis / Plain Dealer:
Still waiting for a tryout, Monte Gaddis meets with Cleveland Browns GM Ray Farmer, supplies team with game tape — Monte Gaddis stands outside of the Browns' facility, hoping for a tryout. (Courtesy of Gaddis' Instagram account, @MonteGaddis) — Zack Meisel, cleveland.com By Zack Meisel, cleveland.com
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TMZ.com:
'There's Nothing You Can Do?' — Ohio State QB J.T. Barrett tried to go the Reese Witherspoon route during his drunk driving arrest — asking the officer for special treatment because, “I'm the quarterback of Ohio State!” — TMZ Sports obtained the dash cam footage from the October 31 incident …
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Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Mariners Acquire Joaquin Benoit — The Mariners announced that they've acquired right-hander Joaquin Benoit from the Padres in exchange for minor league right-hander Enyel De Los Santos and infielder Nelson Ward. — The 38-year-old Benoit, presumably, will serve as a ninth-inning option for rookie manager Scott Servais in Seattle.
Nick Groke / Denver Post:
Arenado hit an NL-high 42 home runs, with Gonzalez right behind with a career-high 40 — The Denver Post — Colorado Rockies outfielder Carlos Gonzalez, left, talks with third baseman Nolan Arenado in the dugout at Coors Field on September 27, 2015 in Denver, Colorado. It was the last game of the season.
Discussion:
Let's Go Tribe and On the Rox
Adrian Wojnarowski / Yahoo Sports:
Five days in free agency: Inside the courtship of LaMarcus Aldridge — LaMarcus Aldridge walked out of the lobby doors of the Montage Beverly Hills in early July and found a familiar face in a most familiar repose: Gregg Popovich busting chops. In the hotel's valet lane …
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Hoops Rumors, NBA.com, Raptors HQ and Silver Screen and Roll
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Nationals Notes: Strasburg, Zobrist, Ramos, Desmond — Nationals right-hander Stephen Strasburg had a non-cancerous growth surgically removed from his back shortly after the season ended, agent Scott Boras told reporters, including James Wagner of the Washington Post, at today's GM Meetings.
Discussion:
Metsblog, Washington Post and MLB Daily Dish
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James Wagner / Washington Post:
Stephen Strasburg has growth removed from his back
Stephen Strasburg has growth removed from his back
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CSN Bay Area:
Willis shoots down report: 'Haven't thought twice about' returning — Editor's note: The above video is from March 17, 2015. — Former 49ers linebacker Patrick Willis is remaining a former 49ers linebacker, after all. — Willis responded Thursday morning to a report from Jason Cole of Bleacher Report …
Discussion:
Pro Football Rumors and ProFootballTalk