Phillies are perfectly positioned to take advantage of crowded market for hitters  —  As the markets for hitters continue to stagnate, the Phillies are lying in wait.  —  The Phillies are open-minded to adding another bat through free agency or trade, according to major-league sources.

Breaking News: Arizona Diamondbacks sue Maricopa County over stadium issues  —  The suit itself seeks no damages from the county, but could open the door to the Diamondbacks leaving Chase Field.  —  The Diamondbacks and their issues with the Maricopa County Stadium District have been well-documented the last two years.

Arizona Diamondbacks agree to deal with Rubby De La Rosa … The Diamondbacks have agreed to terms with pitcher Rubby De La Rosa on a minor league contract, a deal that will bring the talented but inconsistent and injury-prone right-hander back to the team only a month after he was cut loose via a nontender.

The Nationals are open to extending Dusty Baker's contract beyond 2017  —  It is difficult, if not impossible, to accurately calculate a manager's effect on a baseball team, but Dusty Baker made a clear positive impact on the Nationals in his first year.  The 67-year-old's affable personality …

Royals Acquire Peter O'Brien From Diamondbacks  —  The Diamondbacks announced on Tuesday that they've traded outfielder Peter O'Brien, who had recently been designated for assignment, to the Royals in exchange for minor league right-hander Sam Lewis.  —  The 26-yer-old O'Brien has drawn …

Top starting pitchers: Clayton Kershaw, then who?  —  One day this past June, Madison Bumgarner lounged in the runway leading to the home dugout in AT&T Park and talked about the San Francisco Giants, but he spun into a thought doughnut in mid-sentence and posed the sort of big-picture question …

2017 Cincinnati Reds Top 10 Prospects  —  Chat it up: Reds Top 10 Prospects Chat with J.J. Cooper  —  Knowledge is Power: Reds Top 10 Insider  —  Want More?  Complete Top 10 Prospects Rankings  —  Go 30 deep: Order the 2017 Prospect Handbook!  —  The Reds' rebuilding effort hit full speed in 2016.

Nat'l baseball manager leaning toward cutting major leaguer after DUI arrest  —  Given his recent off-field trouble, Pittsburgh Pirates third baseman Kang Jung-ho will likely be cut from the South Korean national team ahead of an international tournament this spring, its manager has said.

Boston Red Sox rumors: Does Dave Dombrowski need to add a starting pitcher after trading Clay Buchholz?  —  Dave Dombrowski traded starting pitcher Clay Buchholz to the Philadelphia Phillies on Dec. 20.  Now might the Red Sox president of baseball operations be in the market for another starter?

Three potential trading partners for the Phillies  —  Happy New Year.  —  When we last left the Phillies, they were locking up their one, proven everyday player to a long-term deal and then jumping at the chance to add a proven veteran starter to their rotation at minimal cost.

Open letter to Cubs fans: You're hateable winners now  —  Welcome to the winner's circle.  Speaking for the Yankees and Red Sox fans among us, we're uniquely suited to help you get settled in for a possibly long and definitely tedious run of being loathed by the general sporting public.