Top News:
Associated Press:
New MLB hazing rules ban dressing as women, offensive costumes — NEW YORK — That baseball hazing ritual of dressing rookies as Wonder Woman, Hooters Girls and Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders is now banned. — Major League Baseball created an Anti-Hazing and Anti-Bullying Policy that covers the practice.
Discussion:
Fox Sports, CBS New York, USA Today and baseballmusings.com
ESPN:
Chad Bettis says he expects to make full recovery from testicular cancer — Colorado Rockies pitcher Chad Bettis has been diagnosed with testicular cancer and underwent surgery to have one of his testicles removed in late November, he said in a statement to ESPN on Monday night.
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors, Purple Row and Yahoo Sports
Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
Brewers Acquire Jett Bandy — 3:38pm: The Brewers have announced the trade. — 3:07pm: Righty Drew Gagnon is the other piece of the deal, Hudson Belinsky of Baseball America tweets. The 26-year-old spent most of 2016 at the Triple-A level with Milwaukee, converting mostly relief work …
Discussion:
Halos Heaven, Baseball America, Brew Crew Ball, FanRag Sports and Al's Ramblings
Rustin Dodd / Kansas City Star:
Royals believe Jorge Soler will bring a ‘presence’ to their lineup — The Royals introduced their new right fielder on Tuesday, and for close to two minutes, the visual optics of the event were more or less customary. — Jorge Soler, the 24-year-old outfielder by way of the Chicago Cubs …
Discussion:
Royals Review
Anthony Fenech / Detroit Free Press:
Tigers closer Francisco Rodriguez not on trade block — for now — It seems he'll be a Tiger to start 2017, but if Detroit falls out of postseason race, he'd made for an attractive option — Francisco Rodriguez isn't on the trade block this winter. — But if the Detroit Tigers are trailing …
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Dodgers To Re-Sign Kenley Jansen — TODAY: The deferrals in the Nats offer only involved part of the fifth-year salary, Rosenthal tweets. It's still not clear whether Washington was willing to include a similar opt-out provision. — YESTERDAY, 6:35pm: While the deal doesn't include no-trade protection …
Discussion:
Washington Post, SI.com, Dodgers Digest, Fish Stripes, South Side Sox and Yahoo Sports
Not Specified / Fox Sports:
Angels acquire infielder Espinosa in trade with Nationals — WASHINGTON (AP) The Los Angeles Angels acquired Danny Espinosa from the Washington Nationals on Saturday night, picking up their new starting second baseman in a trade for two minor league pitchers.
Discussion:
Yahoo Sports, Halos Heaven, MLB Daily Dish, Baseball Prospectus and baseballmusings.com
RELATED:
Jorge Castillo / Washington Post:
Angry Danny Espinosa skips Nationals Winterfest after club trades for Adam Eaton
Angry Danny Espinosa skips Nationals Winterfest after club trades for Adam Eaton
Connor Byrne / MLB Trade Rumors:
Danny Espinosa Unhappy With Nationals
Danny Espinosa Unhappy With Nationals
Discussion:
Off The Bench, Federal Baseball, Washington Post, Halos Heaven, Yahoo Sports and Lone Star Ball
Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
Brewers To Sign Ivan De Jesus — The Brewers have agreed to a minor-league deal with infielder Ivan De Jesus Jr., according to Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel (via Twitter). The 29-year-old, a right-handed hitter, could conceivably battle for a utility role in cam.
Discussion:
Al's Ramblings
Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
Nationals Sign Jacob Turner, Three Others To Minors Deals — The Nationals have announced four minor-league signings, most prominently including righty Jacob Turner. Also joining the organization on minors deals with spring invites are lefty Tim Collins, infielder Emmanuel Burriss, and righty Mike Broadway.
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish
Rob Neyer / Fox Sports:
So about the Cardinals' free draft pick ... Wednesday, the Cardinals lucked into a “competitive balance” draft pick, and a pretty good one. The last-place Cubs weren't even in the lottery, and someone was smart enough to ask Theo Epstein about that ... A curated snippet of his measured response:
Discussion:
Viva El Birdos
Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Braves prospect on a tear Down Under — Baseball in Australia suits Braves outfield prospect Ronald Acuna just fine. — Acuna, who played last summer at Single-A Rome, is spending his offseason playing for the Melbourne Aces of the Australian Baseball League and is hitting .351 in 15 games.
Discussion:
Talking Chop
Peter Gammons / GammonsDaily.com:
Primary storylines from the Winter Meetings — The immediate reaction to the Collective Bargaining Agreement came as clubs were swarming to Harbor Landing, Md. was that the minimal rise in the luxury tax threshold was essentially a soft salary cap, one that would force mega-market teams like the Dodgers …
Discussion:
Union-News, Over the Monster and Baseball Prospectus
Tampa Bay Times:
What to expect next as Rays still look to deal — The Rays came away from the winter meetings with a new star catcher*, a long shot bullpen candidate and an impressive spin rate for the pitches exchanged in extensive and excessive talks on what they might do next. — Here are our four takeaways on their week:
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors, Lookout Landing, NBCSports.com, Talking Chop and Amazin' Avenue
Erik Boland / Newsday:
Yankees won't lose sight of the plan: Cost-controlled youth — For the first time in quite a few offseasons, the Yankees and Red Sox were overwhelmingly responsible for the biggest headlines during the annual winter meetings. — The difference? — The Red Sox clearly are going all-in for 2017 …
Discussion:
Over the Monster, New York Daily News and Pinstripe Alley