Top News:
David Ortiz / The Players' Tribune:
40 — I want to share this with you today on my 40th birthday, because I want the focus this season to be on the team and bringing a championship back to the city of Boston. Thanks to everyone for the support, and see you in Spring Training.
Discussion:
Associated Press, USA Today, WPRI-TV, CBS Boston and Full Count
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Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
David Ortiz To Retire After 2016 Season — TODAY: Ortiz announced via Twitter that he'll call it quits after the coming year. “Life is based on different chapters,” said Ortiz, “and I think I am ready to experience the next one in my life.” — YESTERDAY: Red Sox slugger David Ortiz plans …
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley, Yahoo Sports, Union-News, FanGraphs Baseball, Baseball Prospectus, Over the Monster and MLB Daily Dish
Vince Lara-Cinisomo / Baseball America:
Maddon, Banister Named Managers Of The Year By BBWAA — First-year manager Jeff Banister is the BBWAA AL Manager of the Year, the first rookie manager to win the AL award. — The other four first-year winners were in the National League: Hal Lanier with the Astros in 1986 …
Discussion:
Yahoo Sports, Bleed Cubbie Blue and Lone Star Ball
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Associated Press:
Cubs' Maddon, Texas' Banister Selected Managers of the Year — NEW YORK — Joe Maddon won his third Manager of the Year award Tuesday and Jeff Banister his first after each guided his team on a surprising run to the playoffs. — In his initial season with the Cubs, Maddon took …
Discussion:
The Crawfish Boxes
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Athletics To Sign Rich Hill — The Athletics have agreed to terms with free agent left-hander Rich Hill, reports Robert Murray of Baseball Essential. The deal is pending a physical. Yahoo's Jeff Passan tweets that it's a one-year deal with a $6MM guarantee.
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish, NBCSports.com, Athletics Nation and Baseball Essential
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Rob Bradford / Full Count:
Source: Rich Hill will likely make decision this week; Red Sox not in mix
Source: Rich Hill will likely make decision this week; Red Sox not in mix
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish, WEEI, Athletics Nation, CBSSports.com, Over the Monster, NBCSports.com, Bless You Boys and Brew Crew Ball
Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
Tigers Acquire Francisco Rodriguez — The Tigers have officially acquired reliever Francisco Rodriguez from the Brewers. Infielder Javier Betancourt will head to Milwaukee in the swap. Detroit will also send a player to be named in the deal. Detroit's announcement mentions that it …
Discussion:
NBCSports.com, Yahoo Sports, Bless You Boys, Al's Ramblings, Brew Crew Ball, Amazin' Avenue, MLB Daily Dish and Baseball Essential
Bob Nightengale / USA Today:
Braves remain steadfast as critics grow: ‘We are not tanking’ — DALLAS - Atlanta Braves general manager John Coppolella is on the other end of the telephone, seething, offended by all of the accusations. — “I know it's hard for our fans, but I'm not running for office.
Discussion:
NBCSports.com, Talking Chop, MLB Trade Rumors and MLB Daily Dish
Marc Carig / Newsday:
Mets express interest in Ben Zobrist and Gerardo Parra, sources say … VOTE — Swing or take: Mets and potential free agents — VOTE — Mets 2016 keep 'em or dump 'em? — INTERACTIVE — Will these MLB free agency predictions happen?
Discussion:
CBSSports.com, MLB Daily Dish, MLB Trade Rumors and Metsblog
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Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:
Free agent Ben Zobrist likely too costly for Mets
Free agent Ben Zobrist likely too costly for Mets
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue, Metsblog, ESPN and New York Post
Katie Muse / WAGA-TV:
Focused Ga. Mom Completes College Exam While in Labor — MACON, Ga. - A Macon woman was determined to take a college psychology test, despite the fact that she was in labor. On Thursday, November 12, 21-year-old Tommitrise Collins was preparing to deliver her baby at Coliseum Medical Center …
Discussion:
WQAD-TV, more at WeSmirch »
Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
Darren O'Day Seeks Four-Year Deal — Free agent reliever Darren O'Day is asking teams for four years with a guarantee in the range of $28MM to $36MM, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reports on Twitter. That's hardly a surprising request, as the veteran righty probably represents the best free agent pen piece on the open market.
Discussion:
Metsblog, Amazin' Avenue and Bless You Boys
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Angels Sign Cliff Pennington To Two-Year Deal — The Angels announced today that they've signed infielder Cliff Pennington to a two-year contract. Pennington, a client of Sosnick, Cobbe and Karon, will receive $1.5MM in 2016 and $2.25MM in 2017 for a $3.75MM guarantee, ESPN's Jerry Crasnick reports (via Twitter).
Discussion:
NBCSports.com, MLB Daily Dish, CBSSports.com and Al's Ramblings
Matt Eisenberg / Metsblog:
Syndergaard finishes fourth in NL Rookie of the Year voting — Mets pitcher Noah Syndergaard finished fourth in the National League Rookie of the Year voting, the league announced Monday. — Syndergaard made his debut in May and finished the regular season with 9-7 with a 3.24 ERA and 166 strikeouts in 150 innings.
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Associated Press:
Cubs' Bryant, Astros' Correa Voted Top MLB Rookies
Cubs' Bryant, Astros' Correa Voted Top MLB Rookies
Discussion:
Let's Go Tribe and Athletics Nation
Gordon Wittenmyer / Chicago:
Cubs' Kris Bryant named NL Rookie of the Year
Cubs' Kris Bryant named NL Rookie of the Year
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue and Lone Star Ball
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Giants Sign Brandon Crawford To Six-Year Extension — 6:11pm: Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News reports the breakdown of Crawford's contract (via Twitter). He'll receive a $1.2MM signing bonus $5.8MM in 2016 and $8MM in 2017 before earning $15MM per season from 2018 through 2021 — his would-be free-agent years.
Discussion:
McCovey Chronicles, FanGraphs Baseball and MLB Daily Dish