Top News:
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
The Mariners finally are close to the team their GM envisioned — It took nine trades in two months. But the Mariners finally are close to what general manager Jerry Dipoto envisioned when he took over in Sept. 2015. — Dipoto, after inheriting a group of plodding sluggers …
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
RELATED:
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Orioles, Mariners Swap Yovani Gallardo For Seth Smith — SUNDAY: The Orioles' $4MM in savings will be spread over the next three seasons, per Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com (Twitter link). — FRIDAY, 12:30pm: Eduardo A. Encina of the Baltimore Sun tweets that the Orioles will save about $4MM in total on the deal.
MarinersPR / From the Corner of Edgar & Dave:
Mariners Acquire RHP Yovani Gallardo from Baltimore
Discussion:
Camden Chat, U.S.S. Mariner, Lookout Landing and Bleacher Nation
Cincinnati.com:
Phillips blocked trade to Braves: 'He's ticked' — Brandon Phillips blocked a trade to his hometown Atlanta Braves in November, sources confirmed to The Enquirer on Thursday. — The blocked trade was initially reported by Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com. — Phillips, 35, is in the final year …
Discussion:
Call to the Pen, FanRag Sports, Talking Chop and MLB Daily Dish
RELATED:
ESPN:
According to a Reds club source there is still a possibility that Brandon Phillips could be traded …
Discussion:
redsminorleagues.com, Red Reporter and MLB Trade Rumors
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Brandon Phillips blocked a trade from Cincinnati to Atlanta, sources say
Discussion:
Redleg Nation, MLB Daily Dish, FanRag Sports, Twinkie Town, DRaysBay, Talking Chop, Red Reporter and redsminorleagues.com
Mike Florio / ProFootballTalk:
Nick Caserio declined to interview with 49ers — As the 49ers continue to search for a new General Manager, they'll have one less option available to them. — Per multiple sources, Patriots director of player personnel Nick Caserio ultimately declined an opportunity to interview for the job.
Discussion:
NESN.com and Pro Football Rumors
RELATED:
Eric Branch / San Francisco Chronicle:
Source: 49ers are Josh McDaniels' preferred team — Josh McDaniels' preferred team is the 49ers if the Patriots' offensive coordinator decides to leave New England to become a head coach, a source said. — McDaniels, 40, will interview with the 49ers, Rams and Jaguars on Saturday near the Patriots' facility.
Discussion:
Pro Football Rumors and FanSided
ESPN:
Rockies GM Jeff Bridich made it clear to me that he is hoping to extend Carlos Gonzalez and the feeling is apparently mutual. Gonzalez is on his free agent year and although he's lost a step he's still an above average defender and a solid middle of the order presence.
Discussion:
NBCSports.com, Purple Row and MLB Trade Rumors
Mark Polishuk / MLB Trade Rumors:
Dan Duquette On Trumbo, Hammel, Bautista — Orioles executive VP of baseball operations Dan Duquette joined Jim Bowden and Jim Duquette of MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM to discuss his team's offseason plans. Here's a partial audio link to the interview, as well as other details from Jim Duquette's Twitter account (links here).
Discussion:
NBCSports.com, School of Roch and Camden Chat
Marc Stein / ESPN:
What the Hawks seek in a Paul Millsap trade — Seven days. — That's as long as you had to wait in 2017 for an NBA trade to be consummated ... provided Cleveland and Atlanta seal their Kyle Korver deal later Saturday as planned. — NBA Trade Season, in other words …
Discussion:
FanRag Sports, NESN.com and FanSided
Adam Berry / MLB.com:
MLB's tracking technology puts McCutchen, Marte and Polanco's play under microscope — PITTSBURGH — How did Andrew McCutchen stack up among center fielders last year? What makes Starling Marte such an elite defender? How is Gregory Polanco developing in the outfield?
Discussion:
Bucs Dugout
Charlie Wilmoth / MLB Trade Rumors:
Royals Sign Chris Withrow, Al Alburquerque, Brandon League To Minor League Deals — The Royals have signed veteran righties Chris Withrow, Al Alburquerque and Brandon League to minor league deals with Spring Training invites, Jeffrey Flanagan of MLB.com writes (Twitter links).
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish and Royals Review
Mark La Monica / Newsday:
UFC 208 in Brooklyn adds Ronaldo ‘Jacare’ Souza vs. Tim Boetsch … UFC 208 fight card for Brooklyn — Holm trying to be first woman to win gold in two UFC divisions
Discussion:
FanRag Sports and MMA Fighting
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
White Sox Claim Willy Garcia, Designate Jason Coats For Assignment — The White Sox announced on Friday that they've claimed outfielder Willy Garcia off waivers from the Pirates and designated fellow outfielder Jason Coats for assignment to clear a spot on the 40-man roster.
Discussion:
South Side Sox, Bucs Dugout and Pirates Breakdown
Stefan Stevenson / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
Rangers' Elvis Andrus honored after career-year in 2016 — Elvis Andrus, who set career highs with a .302 batting average, 8 homers and 69 RBIs in 2016, was awarded the Richard Durrett Hardest Working Man Award by the Dallas-Fort Worth Chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America.
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Did the Blue Jays misread the market on Edwin Encarnacion? — The one thing that remains puzzling about the Blue Jays' handling of Edwin Encarnacion is the team's quick pivot to Kendrys Morales in free agency. — If Encarnacion's agent, Paul Kinzer, made a questionable decision by failing …
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish, Amazin' Avenue and Athletics Nation
