Top News:
Connor Byrne / MLB Trade Rumors:
Andy Marte Dies In Car Crash — Former major league corner infielder Andy Marte died Sunday morning in a car crash in his native Dominican Republic, according to various reports. He was 33 years old. … A great person on and off the field," Marte's agency, J.M.G. baseball, stated (via Twitter).
Discussion:
AZ Snake Pit and Let's Go Tribe
Andrew Baggarly / Mercury News:
Former Giants ace Tim Lincecum not ready to call it quits — Tim Lincecum couldn't reestablish himself as a productive major league pitcher with the Los Angeles Angels last season, but the two-time Cy Young Award winner and Giants legend hasn't given up on recapturing his previous form.
Discussion:
NBCSports.com and MLB Trade Rumors
Stefan Stevenson / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
Rangers fans get up close to players, manager at Fest — ARLINGTON — Once their careers are over, Adrian Beltre and Elvis Andrus could work as a comedy team. The good-natured, playful banter and genuine love between the pair was on display Saturday morning during the annual Rangers Fan Fest at Globe Life Park.
Discussion:
Dallas Morning News
John Harper / New York Daily News:
How to handle Jay Bruce now: As market for Mets slugger doesn't emerge, ex-GMs weigh in — At this point it doesn't really matter whether the Mets mis-read the market for sluggers or they were simply caught in a perfect storm of circumstances. What matters is they can't find a trade for Jay Bruce that they consider acceptable.
Discussion:
Baseball Think Factory
Chris Bahr / Fox Sports:
Watch Dee Gordon speed around the Marlins Park infield - in a racecar — Dee Gordon is used to racing around Marlins Park - he led the majors with 58 stolen bases in 2015 and swiped 30 more last season. — But the Marlins second baseman took it to an entirely new level on Saturday …
Chris Cotillo / MLB Daily Dish:
Braves agree to deal with Kurt Suzuki — Suzuki joins Tyler Flowers and Anthony Recker as catchers on the Braves' roster. — The Braves have agreed to terms with free-agent catcher Kurt Suzuki, a major-league source tells SB Nation. Terms of the deal are unknown.
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
Mike Mazzeo / New York Daily News:
Yankees need Aaron Judge to adjust his swing, cut down on his strikeouts — The potential is there. The power is, too. — Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge showed as much when he got called up to the big leagues last season, homering in his first at-bat.
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley
NPR.org:
President Trump's Inaugural Address, Annotated — Donald Trump is now the 45th president of the United States. NPR reporters and editors across the newsroom have annotated his inaugural address.
Roch Kubatko / School of Roch:
The Trumbo agreement, the ripple effect and what's next — The Orioles' mock lineup for 2017 contains fewer holes as the days tick down before spring training. — Seth Smith can be penciled into right field, at least in a platoon role, and Mark Trumbo can be tabbed as the primary designated hitter …
Discussion:
Baltimore Sun, MLB Trade Rumors, BaltimoreBaseball.com and baseballmusings.com
RELATED:
Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
Orioles Re-Sign Mark Trumbo
Orioles Re-Sign Mark Trumbo
Discussion:
Baltimore Sun, Beyond the Box Score, NBCSports.com, Camden Chat, Yahoo Sports, Bleacher Nation and MLB Daily Dish
ESPN:
Farm system rankings: The top 10 — Eight of the top 10 teams could comfortably be called rebuilders, teams that traded away major-league talent in 2016 to add prospects. Even the Yankees, whether or not they used the term, were in rebuild mode last season, landing three top-100 prospects in their two big deadline deals.
Jeff Wilson / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
Rangers sign Ross with goal of boosting rotation for stretch run — The Texas Rangers have put the finishing touches on what they believe will be their starting rotation for most of the season. — But general manager Jon Daniels on Friday wouldn't put a finger on when right-hander Tyson Ross …
Discussion:
NBCSports.com, Amazin' Avenue, Bleacher Nation and MLB Trade Rumors
Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
Rangers To Sign James Loney — The Rangers have agreed to a minor-league deal with first baseman James Loney, according to Jon Heyman of Fan Rag (via Twitter). The veteran will make $1MM if he can break onto the MLB roster. — Loney, 32, played an even 100 games last year for the Mets …
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball and MLB Daily Dish
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
The Dodgers are looking all over the place for a second baseman — The Dodgers' pursuit of Brian Dozier isn't dead and won't be dead until another second baseman is in their uniform — and who knows, even then a trade with the Twins might be possible. — The stalemate over Dozier, however …