Top News:
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
All-Star closer Wade Davis important piece for Cubs' World Series defense — Photos of new Cubs closer Wade Davis. — Chicago Tribune — The Cubs' acquisition of closer Wade Davis likely will be their biggest move of the offseason. — But they believe their work is far from complete …
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue and Phillies Nation
RELATED:
Carrie Muskat / MLB.com:
Cubs acquire closer Davis from Royals for Soler — NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. — The Cubs' goal this offseason was to restock the bullpen and on Wednesday, they acquired a new closer in Wade Davis by trading Jorge Soler to the Royals. — “This was a big move for us this offseason …
Discussion:
Plain Dealer and Baseball Prospectus
Jon Tayler / SI.com:
Yankees splurge for Aroldis Chapman in deal that carries real risk — The Yankees handed out a record contract for a reliever in order to bring Aroldis Chapman back to New York, a move that brings some pause given the expected state of the team over the next couple years. — an hour ago
Discussion:
SBNation.com, FanGraphs Baseball and CBS New York
Mark Feinsand / New York Daily News:
Aroldis Chapman signs five-year, $86 million contract with Yankees
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Royals, Cubs Swap Wade Davis For Jorge Soler
Discussion:
Bless You Boys, Full Count, Last Word on Baseball, Bleacher Nation and Royals Review
Kyle Glaser / Baseball America:
Gadea Made Rays Move In Unusual Way - Rule 5 Draft Notebook — NATIONAL HARBOR, Md.—The Rays had been one of the most quiet teams on the Rule 5 Draft front this decade, choosing not to pick a player in the major league portion of the draft every year since 2010. — The availability of Kevin Gadea made them buck that trend.
Discussion:
Minor League Ball and DRaysBay
RELATED:
J.J. Cooper / Baseball America:
Padres Dominate Rule 5 Draft — NATIONAL HARBOR, Md.—No one has ever dominated a Rule 5 draft like A.J. Preller and the San Diego Padres just did. But then, maybe no one has ever tried. — The Rule 5 draft is an opportunity for teams to take a chance on a high-risk developmental prospect …
Discussion:
Minor League Ball, DRaysBay, Fish Stripes, Lookout Landing and The Crawfish Boxes
Charlie Wilmoth / MLB Trade Rumors:
Padres To Acquire Rule 5 Picks Miguel Diaz, Luis Torrens — The Padres will acquire the top two Rule 5 Draft picks, righty Miguel Diaz (in a trade with the Twins) and catcher Luis Torrens (in a trade with the Reds), MLB.com's Jonathan Mayo writes (Twitter links).
Discussion:
Minor League Ball, Halos Heaven, Brew Crew Ball, Pinstripe Alley, OutsidePitchMLB, Twinkie Town and Red Reporter
Charlie Wilmoth / MLB Trade Rumors:
Red Sox Designate Williams Jerez For Assignment — The Red Sox have announced that they've designated lefty Williams Jerez for assignment. The move clears roster space for first baseman Mitch Moreland, whose one-year deal is now official. — The Red Sox drafted Jerez in the second round in 2011.
Discussion:
Yahoo Sports
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
What are the Rockies planning to do with Ian Desmond? — Plus, thoughts on the White Sox-Nationals blockbuster and more in Ken's latest notes. — NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. — Ian Desmond demonstrated last season that he is a great athlete and willing pupil, excelling in the outfield …
Discussion:
Purple Row
RELATED:
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Rockies To Sign Ian Desmond
Discussion:
Purple Row, Beyond the Box Score, Denver Post, Last Word on Baseball, Camden Chat and Lone Star Ball
ESPN:
Sources: Yankees, Marlins, Dodgers remain in pursuit of Aroldis Chapman, Kenley Jansen — NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. — The New York Yankees, Miami Marlins and Los Angeles Dodgers all remain in the mix for the two most coveted free-agent closers in baseball, Aroldis Chapman and Kenley Jansen, sources say.
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley, baseballmusings.com and Bleacher Nation
Tampa Bay Times:
Healthy, Wilson Ramos could be a star and a leader for Rays — NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. — In agreeing to a two-year contract with impressive though injured Wilson Ramos, the Rays made a somewhat surprising, definitely risky and potentially rewarding move. — With his surgically repaired right …
Discussion:
DRaysBay and FanGraphs Baseball
Albert Breer / SI.com:
Rams Junior High: Inside a Dysfunctional Front Office — Plus more on Matt Stafford, Gronk and who to watch in Week 14 — What should the Jags do with Bortles? — The MMQB's Jenny Vrentas answers questions on Jeff Fisher, Earl Thomas retiring and the status of Blake Bortles in Jacksonville.
Discussion:
Pro Football Rumors and ProFootballTalk
Isaac Chipps / ESPN:
Pablo Sandoval, who once popped his belt, looks to be in great shape — Pablo Sandoval who? — Boston Red Sox fans didn't see much of Sandoval in 2016; in early May, the third baseman was ruled out for the rest of the season to rehab a surgically repaired torn labrum in his left shoulder …
Discussion:
Last Word on Baseball, CNN, Boston and Over the Monster
