Top News:
Bob Nightengale / USA Today:
Cubs close to completing trade with Royals: Jorge Soler for closer Wade Davis — NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. - The Chicago Cubs are on the verge of getting a closer to help defend their recent World Series title, targeting All-Star right-hander Wade Davis from the Kansas City Royals to supplant Aroldis Chapman in the ninth inning.
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue, Baseball Prospectus, Bless You Boys and FanRag Sports
RELATED:
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Royals, Cubs Swap Wade Davis For Jorge Soler — The Royals have traded closer Wade Davis to the Cubs in exchange for young outfielder Jorge Soler, tweets Jeffrey Flanagan of MLB.com. Reports of these talks first surfaced last night, with Yahoo's Jeff Passan, ESPN's Jayson Stark …
Discussion:
Full Count, Bleacher Nation, Royals Review and Bleed Cubbie Blue
Scott Boeck / USA Today:
Cubs' final reward for World Series win: $369,000 postseason share
Discussion:
Crain's Cleveland Business
Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:
Royals' price for closer Wade Davis too steep for Mets as search for bullpen help continues
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
The Nationals' ultra-quiet offseason is far from over — Washington missed on Mark Melancon and Chris Sale, but there's still time for a splash. — NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. — The — Nationals wanted free-agent closer Mark Melancon, and he signed with the Giants.
Discussion:
Yahoo Sports, Minor League Ball, MLB Trade Rumors, FanGraphs Baseball and Federal Baseball
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Colleen Kane / Chicago Tribune:
White Sox embark on ‘bittersweet’ journey with Chris Sale trade — Photos of five-time All-Star Chris Sale. — Chicago Tribune — Rick Hahn took the main media stage at baseball's winter meetings Tuesday and called the strategy that brought about the biggest trade of his career as White Sox general manager “bittersweet.”
Discussion:
Union-News, Let's Go Tribe, CBS Chicago and Halos Heaven
Mark Polishuk / MLB Trade Rumors:
White Sox Talking Jose Quintana Trades With Astros, Nationals, Other Teams — A day after trading Chris Sale to the Red Sox, the White Sox are now “in serious talks” with multiple teams about their other star left-hander Jose Quintana, USA Today's Bob Nightengale reports (Twitter link).
Discussion:
Washington Post, OutsidePitchMLB, Federal Baseball, MLB Daily Dish and Talking Chop
Charlie Wilmoth / MLB Trade Rumors:
Red Sox To Sign Mitch Moreland
Discussion:
NBCSports.com, Let's Go Tribe and Lone Star Ball
John Le / WLOS-TV:
Bad Santa? Boy claims he was body shamed by St. Nick — FOREST CITY, N.C. (WLOS) - It's practically straight out of a “Bad Santa” movie. — A North Carolina mother wants the local Santa Claus fired after saying things that put her 9-year-old son in tears.
Discussion:
WSPA-TV, more at WeSmirch »
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Rockies To Sign Ian Desmond — 11:38am: Desmond will earn $8MM in 2017, $22MM in 2018, $15MM apiece in 2019 and 2020, and then $8MM in 2021, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports (Twitter links). The 2022 option is valued at $15MM and comes with a $2MM buyout.
Discussion:
Purple Row, Beyond the Box Score, Off The Bench, OutsidePitchMLB, Camden Chat and Lone Star Ball
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Marlins To Sign Jeff Locke — 10:05am: Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald tweets that it's a one-year deal, and FanRag's Jon Heyman tweets that Locke will be guaranteed about $3MM on the deal. — 9:52am: The Marlins have agreed to terms with free agent left-hander Jeff Locke …
Discussion:
FanRag Sports, Fish Stripes, Bucs Dugout and MLB Daily Dish
Jesse Yomtov / USA Today:
Mets manager Terry Collins wants Tim Tebow playing in spring training games — NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. — Tim Tebow's baseball career is apparently far from over. — Tebow's 19-game stint in the Arizona Fall League resulted in mixed reviews from major league scouts and officials …
Discussion:
ProFootballTalk and NESN.com
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Blue Jays, Brett Oberholtzer Agree To Minors Deal — The Blue Jays have agreed to a deal with southpaw Brett Oberholtzer, tweets FanRag's Jon Heyman. Sportsnet's Shi Davidi tweets that it's a minor league contract. — The 27-year-old Oberholtzer struggled mightily in 2016, though …
Discussion:
Jays Journal, Jays From The Couch and Bluebird Banter
Tim Dierkes / MLB Trade Rumors:
Free Agent Prediction Contest Leaderboard — Out of thousands of entrants in our free agent prediction contest, three people have ten correct out of the 17 players who have signed. Check out our new free agent prediction contest leaderboard to see where you rank!
ESPN:
In baseball, player loyalty doesn't pay — In the final inning of the 2016 baseball season, Matt Holliday replaced Brandon Moss on the Cardinals' lineup card and jogged out to left field alone. His teammates stayed in the dugout, clapping for him and leaving the whole wide field to collect …
