Diamondbacks Acquire Walker, Marte From Mariners For Segura, Haniger, Curtis  —  The Diamondbacks have announced that they've acquired starter Taijuan Walker and shortstop Ketel Marte from the Mariners for middle infielder Jean Segura, outfielder Mitch Haniger and lefty Zac Curtis.

Talks progress for MLB, union with lockout deadline looming  —  Even though a Dec. 1 deadline looms, negotiations toward a new labor deal in Major League Baseball have progressed this week, to the point where sources finally are expressing optimism that an agreement can be reached before owners impose a lockout.

Heyman: Yankees casting wide net on free agent market  —  The Yankees are targeting star free agent closer Aroldis Chapman, but they've checked in on several relievers, the top free-agent starters and a whole host of hitters as they try to improve on their rare off year of 2016.

Braves To Sign Sean Rodriguez  —  12:28pm: Rodriguez's deal is worth $11.5MM total, reports FanRag's Jon Heyman (on Twitter).  Rodriguez will receive a $1.5MM signing bonus and earn $5MM in each of the next two seasons.  —  11:54am: The Braves are in agreement with infielder/outfielder Sean Rodriguez …

Three-time All-Star won 21 games for 1947 Dodgers  —  Baseball has lost one of the game's enduring gentlemen, who lived for more than 60 years with a most conspicuous yet somewhat unwarranted smudge on his pitching reputation.  Ralph Branca, the losing pitcher in one of baseball's most famous games, is dead at age 90.

Santa Clara heads for battle with 49ers over Levi's Stadium  —  The San Francisco 49ers, who can't beat anybody these days, are facing an angry opponent this week: their new hometown.  —  Less than two years after abandoning Candlestick Point for the new $1.2 billion Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara …

LEADOFF: Hart calls SunTrust Park ‘a game changer’ for Braves  —  Good morning.  This is LEADOFF, today's early buzz in Atlanta sports.  —  Braves president of baseball operations John Hart, in an interview on MLB Network this week, suggested SunTrust Park will be a recruiting tool as the team pursues players in the future.

Padres Part Ways With Mike Dee, Randy Smith  —  NOVEMBER 23: The Padres have issued a statement regarding Dee's departure. … OCTOBER 13: Team sources insist that the move on Dee was not related to the health disclosure controversy, Lin reports in a further update on the story.

Brewers Claim Blake Parker, Designate David Goforth  —  The Brewers have announced that they've claimed reliever Blake Parker off waivers from the Angels, who designated him for assignment last weekend.  To clear space on their 40-man roster, they've designated fellow righty David Goforth for assignment.

Nationals Acquire Jimmy Cordero  —  The Nationals have acquired minor league righty Jimmy Cordero from the division-rival Phillies, per a club announcement.  Philadelphia will receive cash or a player to be named in the agreement.  —  Cordero, who recently turned 25, was designated …

Indians Outright Michael Martinez, Sign Daniel Robertson To Minors Deal  —  The Indians have announced that they've outrighted utilityman Michael Martinez.  They've also signed outfielder Daniel Robertson to a minor league deal with a Spring Training invite.