Top News:
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:
NBCSports.com, MLB Daily Dish and MLB Trade Rumors
RELATED:
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
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 …
Discussion:
Halos Heaven, Brew Crew Ball, DRaysBay, River Avenue Blues, Bleacher Nation, McCovey Chronicles, Royals Review and Lone Star Ball
RELATED:
Mike Axisa / CBSSports.com:
Here are the 34 players on the 2017 baseball Hall of Fame ballot — Manny Ramirez, Vladimir Guerrero, and Ivan Rodriguez are among the first time eligible players — Monday morning, the Baseball Writers Association of America released the official 2017 Hall of Fame ballot.
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, NESN.com, MLB Trade Rumors, The Big Lead, Call to the Pen and Lone Star Ball
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:
Cards Conclave and MLB Trade Rumors
RELATED:
David Ortiz / The Players' Tribune:
Thanks for the Memories, Boston … It's weird when it ends. It's not how you think it's gonna be. A couple nights ago, my wife and I were sitting at home, having some drinks. The kids were in bed. There was no game tomorrow, no workout. We were just drinking and laughing.
Discussion:
Boston Herald, WEEI, Full Count and Over the Monster
Brad Biggs / Chicago Tribune:
Season could be done for Bears QB Jay Cutler — Photos of Bears quarterback Jay Cutler. — The Chicago Bears will have a major decision to make in regards to Jay Cutler at the end of this year — but now the quarterback's 2016 season could be ended prematurely.
Discussion:
FanRag Sports and ProFootballTalk
Eli Ben-Porat / The Hardball Times:
Scouting the Minors Pitch by Pitch: Swinging Strike % — Everyone has an irrational love for prospects, with the hope that the next great prospect will somehow fulfill some massive potential, never before seen in our lifetimes. Later, when a select few do reach such lofty heights …
Discussion:
DRaysBay
Mary Kay Cabot / Plain Dealer:
Cody Kessler might be shut down awhile with 2nd concussion: 'This is about a young man's future' Hue Jackson says — Cleveland Browns quarterback Cody Kessler lays on the field after getting hit in the head by Pittsburgh Steelers inside linebacker Lawrence Timmons in the second half.
Discussion:
ProFootballTalk and FanRag Sports
Dan Connolly / BaltimoreBaseball.com:
Can Orioles catch lightning in a one-year contract? — The Orioles aren't coming out and saying that they absolutely need to sign a catcher for 2017. — There's still hope that Matt Wieters will return, but I think that has to be considered a longshot given what he'll command financially …
Discussion:
Camden Depot, Camden Chat and MLB Trade Rumors
Mark Polishuk / MLB Trade Rumors:
White Sox Willing To Trade Any Player With Less Than Four Years Of Control — The White Sox are telling teams that they're willing to trade any player on their roster who is under team control for less than four years, ESPN's Buster Olney reports (subscription required).
Discussion:
Steve Melewski, MLB Daily Dish, South Side Sox, NBCSports.com and ESPN
RELATED:
Mark Polishuk / MLB Trade Rumors:
Cafardo's Latest: Quintana, Holland, Napoli, Arroyo
Cafardo's Latest: Quintana, Holland, Napoli, Arroyo
Discussion:
FanRag Sports