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:
Yahoo Sports, Pinstripe Alley, Union-News, Baseball Prospectus, Boston, 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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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, Bless You Boys, Yahoo Sports, Brew Crew Ball, Amazin' Avenue, MLB Daily Dish, Baseball Essential and Al's Ramblings
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, Bless You Boys, Brew Crew Ball and NBCSports.com
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
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 »
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 and ESPN
Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
Bronson Arroyo Interested In Return To Reds — 3:17pm: Reds GM Dick Williams tells Fay that the team would only have interest in Arroyo if he can first demonstrate that he's back to full health after Tommy John surgery (Twitter link). — 2:48pm: Righty Bronson Arroyo was in Cincinnati today …
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish
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
Baseball Prospectus:
Detroit Tigers Top 10 Prospects — The State of the System: It's amazing what trading two national treasures and not strictly drafting from “Hard-Throwing Reliever University” will do for a system. This is still a troubled group—particularly in terms of offensive potential—but this is a system that's on the right track.
Discussion:
River Avenue Blues and Brew Crew 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
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.
RELATED:
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