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 and BBTF's Baseball Primer …
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
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
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Sources: Baseball's 21-year run of labor peace could be in jeopardy — Owners will consider voting to lock out players if they cannot reach a new CBA by Dec. 1. — MLB commissioner Rob Manfred (Elsa/Getty Images) — Baseball's streak of 21 consecutive years of labor peace is in jeopardy.
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com, MLB Trade Rumors, Talking Chop and Bleacher Nation
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, New York Post, River Avenue Blues, Yanks Go Yard and MLB Trade Rumors
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Mark Feinsand / New York Daily News:
Hal Steinbrenner hints that Yankees will pursue Aroldis Chapman in free agency
Hal Steinbrenner hints that Yankees will pursue Aroldis Chapman in free agency
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley and Wrigleyville
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 Bluebird Banter
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Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Blue Jays Offered Roughly $80MM To Edwin Encarnacion
Blue Jays Offered Roughly $80MM To Edwin Encarnacion
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish and Full Count
Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
Twins To Sign Jason Castro — The Twins have reached agreement on a contract with free agent catcher Jason Castro, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports (Twitter links). Castro will receive a three-year deal with over $24MM guaranteed, per the report. The exact guarantee is $24.5MM, Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports tweets.
Discussion:
Baseball Prospectus, MLB Daily Dish, Twinkie Town, DRaysBay and Bleacher Nation
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
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
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, NESN.com, The Big Lead and Lone Star Ball
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, Viva El Birdos, Fish Stripes and MLB Trade Rumors
Bob Raissman / New York Daily News:
Gary Cohen staying with SNY, reaches agreement to continue doing Mets play-by-play — Gary Cohen wasn't on the free agent market for long. — The veteran Mets play-by-play voice has reached an agreement with SportsNet New York brass on a new multi-year contract, according to MLB sources.
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue
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
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