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 …

Wichita baseball legend Daryl Spencer dies  —  Wichitan Daryl Spencer, a former major-league ballplayer who was also a mainstay of the National Baseball Congress World Series, died Monday, according to his daughter.  He was 88.  —  Spencer reached the major leagues at age 24 …

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 …

2016's Best Pitches by Results  —  While the 2016 campaign is over and the flurry of moves after the season has come to a halt for the moment, a whole year's worth of data remains to be examined.  Today's post is an easy one and a fun one.  Let's find the best pitches that were thrown regularly last year.

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 …

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?

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.

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.