Top News:
Mike Puma / New York Post:
Yoenis Cespedes will get extra year he craves — but from Mets? — More On: — The Mets remain optimistic a deal can be struck that will return Yoenis Cespedes to their lineup in 2017, but market forces are threatening to thwart that reunion. — Within the industry …
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors, Federal Baseball, BBTF's Baseball Primer … and Baseball Think Factory
RELATED:
Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:
Mets only willing to give Yoenis Cespedes four-year deal in $100-110 million range, source says — The Mets are making another calculated — and potentially risky — bet with Yoenis Cespedes. — The team is gambling that it can leverage Cespedes' expressed desire to return to the Mets …
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue
Jon Heyman / FanRag Sports:
Heyman: Blue Jays bid $80 million for Encarnacion, remain interested — The Jays offered their own star free agent slugger Edwin Encarnacion about $80 million over four years, according to sources, and they remain interested in retaining Encarnacion even after signing free agent hitter Kendrys Morales.
Discussion:
Bluebird Banter, NBCSports.com and MLB Daily Dish
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Blue Jays Offered Roughly $80MM To Edwin Encarnacion — The Blue Jays made a four-year contract offer to Edwin Encarnacion that was worth “about” $80MM before agreeing to a three-year, $33MM deal with Kendrys Morales, reports Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports. Sportsnet's Shi Davidi first noted …
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish and Full Count
Ray Negron / NY Sports Day:
Aroldis Chapman- Will He or Won't He? — I got to spend some time with Aroldis Chapman on the phone this weekend. He just got back from the Latin Grammy's this weekend in California and said, he had a blast. He says he is living the American Dream. He became an American citizen this year …
Discussion:
ESPN, Yanks Go Yard, River Avenue Blues, New York Post and MLB Trade Rumors
RELATED:
Mark Feinsand / New York Daily News:
Hal Steinbrenner hints that Yankees will pursue Aroldis Chapman in free agency
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley, Wrigleyville and Fox Sports
Jeff Fletcher / BBWAA.com:
2017 Hall of Fame ballot — Former MVPs Rodriguez, Guerrero among 19 newcomers — Bagwell, Raines, Hoffman, Schilling Lead Returnees; Results Announced Jan. 18, 2017 — Two former American League Most Valuable Player Award winners as well as two World Series MVPs are among 19 new candidates …
RELATED:
Mike Axisa / CBSSports.com:
Here are the 34 players on the 2017 baseball Hall of Fame ballot
Discussion:
AZ Snake Pit
J.J. Cooper / Baseball America:
2016 Rule 5 Draft Preview — Projecting who will get picked in the Rule 5 draft is never easy. No two teams' Rule 5 preference lists are alike because of teams' differing needs, willingness to accept risk and the status of their big league roster. But talent is talent …
Discussion:
Union-News, redsminorleagues.com, Redleg Nation, SoxProspects Wiki and FenwayNation
Associated Press:
Mozeliak: ‘There was a lot of demand’ for Cecil … Newly signed left-handed relief pitcher Brett Cecil is introduced by Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak during a press conference at Busch Stadium on Monday, Nov. 21, 2016. Photo by Cristina M. Fletes, cfletes@post-dispatch.com
Discussion:
Fish Stripes, Viva El Birdos, Cards Conclave, MLB Trade Rumors and FanGraphs Baseball
Jeff Passan / Yahoo Sports:
Sources: Rangers prospects questioned for allegedly sexually hazing underage teammate — Eight Texas Rangers prospects were questioned by police in the Dominican Republic after a video showed a group of players sexually assaulting an underage teammate in a hazing incident that targeted players …
Discussion:
NBCSports.com, MLB Trade Rumors, Call to the Pen, The Big Lead, NESN.com and Lone Star Ball
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Rangers Claim David Rollins — The Rangers announced on Tuesday that they've claimed lefty reliever David Rollins off waivers from the Cubs. Chicago had claimed Rollins off waivers from the Mariners last week and unsuccessfully attempted to sneak him through waivers. — [Related: Updated Texas Rangers Depth Chart]
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball and Bleed Cubbie Blue
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Rockies Interested In Extension For Carlos Gonzalez — There's just one guaranteed year on Carlos Gonzalez's seven-year, $80MM contract, but the Rockies are interested in working out a longer-term pact to keep him in Denver, the outfielder himself tells Venezuelan journalist Wilmer Reina (Twitter link).
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish and Purple Row
ESPN:
Is Cespedes headed west? Potential landing spots for the slugging outfielder — Yoenis Cespedes, by near unanimous consensus, is the best free agent available this offseason. That probably wouldn't be the case most seasons, but he's coming off back-to-back 30-homer seasons …
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue
