Top News:
Jon Heyman / FanRag Sports:
Heyman: Blue Jays interested in Dexter Fowler, Jay Bruce — The Toronto Blue Jays, knowing they may end up losing right fielder Jose Bautista this winter, are showing a strong interest in free agent center fielder Dexter Fowler, sources tell FanRag Sports. — Fowler became a free agent …
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Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Cubs prepare for Dexter Fowler's departure, sign center fielder Jon Jay
Cubs prepare for Dexter Fowler's departure, sign center fielder Jon Jay
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue, Halos Heaven, Camden Depot and Bleacher Nation
Jon Heyman / FanRag Sports:
Heyman: Mets could see JD Martinez as Cespedes fall-back
Heyman: Mets could see JD Martinez as Cespedes fall-back
Discussion:
Forbes, Amazin' Avenue, Baseball Prospectus, MLB Daily Dish, Bless You Boys, Lone Star Ball and MLB Trade Rumors
Adam McCalvy / MLB.com:
Veteran slugger spent past three seasons in Korea — MILWAUKEE — In one of the most out-of-the-box signings in recent baseball history, the Brewers on Tuesday finalized a three-year contract with Eric Thames, a 30-year-old going on five years since his last at-bat in the big leagues …
Discussion:
FanRag Sports and Major League Baseball
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Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
Brewers Sign Eric Thames, Designate Chris Carter
Brewers Sign Eric Thames, Designate Chris Carter
Discussion:
Royals Review, Yanks Go Yard, Milwaukee, OutsidePitchMLB, Lone Star Ball, Bluebird Banter, MLB Reports, Al's Ramblings and DRaysBay
Tom Haudricourt / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
Brewers sign Eric Thames to play first base
Brewers sign Eric Thames to play first base
Discussion:
FanGraphs Baseball, FanRag Sports and MLB Daily Dish
Maury Brown / Forbes:
MLB Owners Drop International Draft In Effort To Get New CBA Done — With the clock winding down before the current labor deal in Major League Baseball with the players is set to expire at midnight on Wednesday, the owners appear to have dropped a key aspect in their negotiations in an effort to get a deal done.
Discussion:
SI.com, Twinkie Town, New York Daily News, baseballmusings.com and Phillies Nation
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Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Why trading Andrew McCutchen is a real possibility for the Pirates — The former MVP is a big part of Pittsburgh's past — but perhaps not its future — Of all the big names available in trade, Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen might be the most likely to go.
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors, Dallas Morning News and Bleacher Nation
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Orioles Acquire Logan Verrett — The Orioles announced that they've acquired right-hander Logan Verrett from the Mets in exchange for cash. Verrett's departure from the Mets will clear a spot on New York's 40-man roster that'll go to the newly re-signed Yoenis Cespedes.
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue and MLB Daily Dish
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Rockies, Jordan Lyles Avoid Arbitration — The Rockies announced today that they've avoided arbitration with right-hander Jordan Lyles on a one-year deal. Terms of the contract weren't disclosed. MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz had pegged Lyles for a $3.3MM salary in 2017, however.
Discussion:
Purple Row
Rob Bradford / Full Count:
Source: Red Sox ‘probably’ not going to be finalist for Edwin Encarnacion — It was trending this way for the last month, but now it looks like there will be some certainty very soon. — According to a major league source, the Red Sox are “probably” not going to be a finalist for the services …
Discussion:
NESN.com, Union-News, MLB Trade Rumors, Jays Journal, MLB Daily Dish, FenwayNation and JaysNation
J.J. Cooper / Baseball America:
Rome Was Built In Half A Season - Minor League Team of the Year — When everyone looks back at the 2016 Rome Braves years from now, they may be remembered as one of the better minor league teams of the early 21st century. The rotation featured prospects in all six spots …
Discussion:
Talking Chop
ESPN:
MLB Roundup: Could Billy Hamilton be on the move from Cincy? — The Reds are listening to offers on all of their players, including — sources say — center fielder Billy Hamilton, an elite defender who seemed to turn a corner in his development as a hitter last summer before suffering …
Discussion:
Call to the Pen, Redleg Nation, Athletics Nation, MLB Trade Rumors, Red Reporter, redsminorleagues.com and MLB Daily Dish
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Pirates Designate Jeff Locke For Assignment, Sign Lisalverto Bonilla — 8:26pm: Bonilla received a $575K guarantee on his deal, tweets MLB.com's Adam Berry. Considering the right-hander's lack of big league experience, the minimal guarantee isn't much of a surprise.
Discussion:
Bucs Dugout
Bob Dutton / thenewstribune:
Mariners' search for rotation help could lead them back to their past — SEATTLE — The next step for the Mariners in bolstering their rotation is to find a veteran arm capable of stepping into the middle of the unit, and the search could lead them to return to their past.
Discussion:
Lookout Landing, OutsidePitchMLB and MLB Trade Rumors
ESPN:
Rich Hill has four teams that are all — Read more on ESPN
Discussion:
NESN.com, Yanks Go Yard, MLB Daily Dish, Fish Stripes, MLB Trade Rumors, Camden Chat, Dallas Morning News and Lone Star Ball