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11:20 AM ET, December 5, 2016

Ballbug

 Top News: 
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
What's happened to the market for Edwin Encarnacion?  —  The slugger might not get the deal he's looking for  —  NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. - The case of free-agent first baseman Edwin Encarnacion is getting curiouser and curiouser.  —  His suitors keep disappearing.
Discussion: ESPN and Lone Star Ball
RELATED:
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Why MLB teams are more motivated than ever to lock up their young talent  —  Plus why Houston chose Beltran, a new direction for the A's & more Winter Meetings notes.  —  Getty Images  —  One likely consequence of the new collective-bargaining agreement is that clubs will be more motivated …
Jon Heyman / FanRag Sports:
Heyman: Pedro Alvarez emerging on Red Sox radar  —  Pedro Alvarez, who spent his 2016 season with the Baltimore Orioles, has emerged as another name on Boston Red Sox radar, along with Mike Napoli and Matt Holliday.  All would be considered to play first base or designated hitter …
Ian Powers / New York Daily News:
Carlos Beltran not returning to Yankees, veteran slugger agrees to 1-year deal with Houston Astros
Discussion: Pinstripe Alley
ESPN:
Source: Matt Holliday agrees to 1-year, $13M deal with Yankees  —  Former St. Louis Cardinals slugger Matt Holliday and the New York Yankees have agreed to a one-year deal worth $13 million, a source told ESPN's Jim Bowden, confirming multiple reports.  —  The Cardinals informed Holliday …
Discussion: Viva El Birdos and Yahoo Sports
RELATED:
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
As Holliday and ex-teammates move on, Cardinals still need a move  —  Cards Matt Holliday waves to the crowd in left field when he makes a final guest appearance in the ninth inning of the game between the Cards and the Pirates on Sunday, Oct. 2, 2016, at Busch Stadium.  Holliday is not returning to the team next year.
Discussion: MLB Daily Dish
Jim Salisbury / CSN Philly:
Sources: Phillies close to signing reliever Joaquin Benoit  —  WASHINGTON - It looks as if the Phillies will have some action at the winter meetings.  —  The team is close to signing veteran reliever Joaquin Benoit, sources tell CSNPhilly.com.  The winter meetings officially begin on Monday.
RELATED:
Matt Gelb / Philly.com:
Phillies near agreement with veteran reliever Joaquin Benoit, source says  —  OXON HILL, Md. — The rebuilding Phillies are expected to bolster their bullpen by signing veteran reliever Joaquin Benoit, with a formal agreement sometime this week, a source said late Sunday night.
Discussion: MLB Trade Rumors
ESPN:
MLB announces uniform deal with Under Armour, Fanatics starting in 2020  —  Under Armour and Fanatics will take over for Majestic and Nike as the official uniform partners for Major League Baseball, the league confirmed Monday.  —  The deal is scheduled to begin in 2020 and run for 10 years …
Discussion: DRaysBay
Vince Lara-Cinisomo / Baseball America:
Bud Selig, John Schuerholz Elected To Hall Of Fame  —  Bud Selig, credited for shepherding baseball into a new modern era as commissioner from 1992-2015, and John Schuerholz—who helped build the Royals and Braves into world champions-were elected to the Hall of Fame Sunday by the Today's Era Committee.
Pedro GomezMLB / ESPN:
Players' meal money takes big hit in new CBA  —  One aspect of baseball's new collective bargaining agreement that has not been publicized is that the players' meal money on the road is dropping from $105 to $30 per day, according to two major league sources.
Discussion: Al's Ramblings
Jeff Wilson / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
Rangers' place winter meetings focus on rotation upgrade  —  If the talk from Texas Rangers Inc. heading toward the winter meetings sounds familiar — with their focus is on a starting pitcher — well, it should.  —  Only five months ago, in the weeks leading to the Aug. 1 trade deadline …
RELATED:
Jeff Wilson / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
Rangers focused on rotation help, center fielder at winter meetings
Kyle Meinke / MLive.com:
Surprise!  Matthew Stafford was sick when he lit up the Saints  —  Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford played well against New Orleans despite being sick.  —  NEW ORLEANS — Matthew Stafford hit on one pass, then another, and another.  TJ Jones dropped the next one …
Discussion: ProFootballTalk and CBS Detroit
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
The Royals are in a bind and will have to do something about it soon  —  With free agency looming for many high-priced players, Kansas City has to act soon.  —  NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. — The logical move for the  —  Royals would be to trade two of their potential free agents, center fielder Lorenzo Cain and closer Wade Davis.
Associated Press:
Tyson Ross, Ben Revere among 35 new free agents  —  NEW YORK (AP) — Tyson Ross, an All-Star pitcher for San Diego two years ago, was among 35 players who became free agents when their teams declined to offer them 2017 contracts on Friday.  —  Washington outfielder Ben Revere …
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 More News: 
Erik Boland / Newsday:
As usual, Yankees' priority is to improve their pitching staff
Globe and Mail:
Kelly: Blue Jays pushing their luck by not opening their wallets
Discussion: Let's Go Tribe and Bluebird Banter
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
MLBPA boss Tony Clark breaks down the CBA
Discussion: baseballmusings.com
 Earlier Picks: 
Brett McMurphyCollege / ESPN:
Lane Kiffin, Les Miles, Art Briles getting Houston interviews
Tampa Bay Times:
Rays expected to pursue catcher Welington Castillo
Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
Albert Pujols Undergoes Foot Surgery
Discussion: Halos Heaven
 

 
From WeSmirch:

Julia Moore / People:
Joe Alwyn Has ‘Moved on’ from Ex Taylor Swift: 'He's Dating and Happy' (Exclusive Source)

Keith Caulfield / Billboard:
Taylor Swift Makes Historic Debut at No. 1 on Billboard 200 With ‘The Tortured Poets Department’

Caroline Blair / Page Six:
Britney Spears seen for the first time after settling conservatorship case with father Jamie

 
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