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.

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 …

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 …

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

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 …

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]

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).

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 …

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 …

“Am I Done?” … HAPPENING NOW … WEIGHING IN /  —  @CHELSEAFC … JORDAN HOUGHTON /  —  @HOUGHTON_J