Top News:
fda.gov:
The J.M. Smucker Company Announces a Limited Voluntary Recall on Certain Lots of Canned Cat Food Due to Low Levels of Thiamine (Vitamin B1) … For Immediate Release — Orrville, OH - The J.M. Smucker Company today announced a limited voluntary recall on certain lots of 9LivesTM, EverPetTM …
Rebekah L. Sanders / Arizona Republic:
Arizona Diamondbacks sue Maricopa County to explore leaving Chase Field … The Superior Court lawsuit is the latest twist in a long-running conflict over which party is responsible for as much as $187 million in repairs and upgrades to Chase Field. — The Arizona Diamondbacks sued Maricopa County …
Discussion:
AZ Snake Pit, NBCSports.com, Bleed Cubbie Blue, Ballpark Digest, Talking Chop and FanRag Sports
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Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
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.
Mike Mazzeo / New York Daily News:
Three years later, Yankees letting Robinson Cano walk looks like mistake — Ex-Yankee Robinson Cano returned to dominance in 2016, belting a career-high 39 home runs, triple-slashing .298/.350/.533 and ranking sixth in all of baseball with an ESPN Wins Above Replacement of 7.3.
James Wagner / New York Times:
New Stat for a Slugger: Back Page Appearances — Late in October, while the postseason was underway, two top Mets officials traveled to Manhattan to meet with Yoenis Cespedes's agents: Brodie Van Wagenen and Kyle Thousand. — Cespedes was about to become a free agent and the Mets wanted …
Discussion:
Bless You Boys and Amazin' Avenue
John Harper / New York Daily News:
Travis d'Arnaud needs bounce-back season to show Mets are right to pass on Matt Wieters — Matt Wieters is still on the market as a free agent, and the price for signing him may be falling, but Mets people continue to say they're not interested. — “We're not spending our money on a catcher,” was the way one person put it this week.
Discussion:
Mets Merized Online and Amazin' Avenue
J.J. Cooper / Baseball America:
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.
Discussion:
Baseball Prospectus, Red Reporter and redsminorleagues.com
The Players' Tribune:
A Letter to the Gator Nation — Three years ago, when my dreams finally came true and I arrived on campus at the University of Florida, something pretty strange happened. — The morning after my mom and stepfather moved me into my dorm room, said their goodbyes and flew home, I got sick.
Discussion:
FanRag Sports, Florida Gators, ProFootballTalk and SEC Country
Rob Bradford / Full Count:
Story of how Joe Kelly invented dominating new pitch 10 minutes before playoffs — Getting classified as the best player for the losing team on the wrong end of a three-game sweep in a best-of-seven American League Division Series probably carries the same satisfaction as a participation trophy.
Discussion:
NESN.com, FenwayNation and Over the Monster
Jon Heyman / FanRag Sports:
Athletics have reached out to Mark Trumbo — The Oakland Athletics, who tried hard for free agent slugger Edwin Encarnacion, have reached out to American League home run champion Mark Trumbo, sources tell FanRag Sports. — It isn't known how much interest the A's have in Trumbo …
Discussion:
FanGraphs Baseball, Athletics Nation, Larry Brown Sports, Camden Chat, MLB Daily Dish and MLB Trade Rumors
ESPN:
Rockies SP Chad Bettis feels ‘great’ after cancer surgery — Colorado Rockies pitcher Chad Bettis said Wednesday he is cancer-free after having surgery in November for testicular cancer. — “I feel great,” Bettis told SiriusXM MLB Network Radio. “I got an early Christmas present the other day.
Christian Red / New York Daily News:
Alex Rodriguez will embrace ‘special advisor’ role with Yankees, not attempt return to baseball in 2017 — It appears there will be no A-Rod baseball comeback in 2017. — Former Yankee Alex Rodriguez, who was unconditionally released by the Bombers last August, is not going to try to play …
Discussion:
Yanks Go Yard