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:
Charlie Wilmoth / MLB Trade Rumors:
Cubs To Sign Koji Uehara — Righty reliever Koji Uehara has agreed to a one-year deal with the Cubs. Evan Drellich of the Boston Herald first tweeted the connection; Jon Heyman of Fan Rag tweeted that a deal was done. A report from Nikkan Sports in Japan indicates that Uehara and the Cubs …
Discussion:
Full Count, MLB Daily Dish and Chicago Sun Times
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
Discussion:
FanGraphs Baseball, SBNation.com and River Avenue Blues
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, Last Word on Baseball, Full Count, Bleacher Nation and Royals Review
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cardinal expose lefty relievers, highly regarded infielder in Rule 5 draft — Photo by Chris Lee, clee@post-dispatch.com — NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. • Rising talent from the Cardinals' Latin America scouting and injuries to players like reliever Zach Duke have left the team unable …
Discussion:
Athletics Nation and Viva El Birdos
RELATED:
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
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:
Lookout Landing, DRaysBay, The Crawfish Boxes, Fish Stripes and Minor League Ball
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
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:
ProFootballTalk and Pro Football Rumors
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
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:
Call to the Pen, CNN, Boston and Over the Monster
Mike Florio / ProFootballTalk:
Raiders likely will focus on Derek Carr before Khalil Mack — The Raiders emerged from the 2014 draft with great selections in round one and round two. By rule, both players (Khalil Mack and Derek Carr) are eligible for new contracts after the 2016 regular season ends.
Discussion:
Pro Football Rumors and NESN.com
