Top News:
Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Braves' Rodriguez to miss significant time for shoulder injury — As pleased as the Braves were to trade for second baseman Brandon Phillips and pay such a relatively small price for the former All-Star, they felt awful about the reason they needed to make the move: to replace injured Sean Rodriguez.
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ESPN:
Reds trading second baseman Brandon Phillips to Braves — Long rumored to be on the move, Brandon Phillips is finally leaving Cincinnati. A source told ESPN's Buster Olney on Sunday that the Reds have agreed to a trade that will send the second baseman to the Atlanta Braves. — EDITOR'S PICKS
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley, Fish Stripes, NESN.com and WCMH-TV
Connor Byrne / MLB Trade Rumors:
Braves Acquire Brandon Phillips — The Braves have announced that they've acquired second baseman Brandon Phillips from the Reds in exchange for minor league pitchers Andrew McKirahan and Carlos Portuondo. Phillips is owed $14MM in 2017, the last year of his contract, and the Reds will pay all but $1MM of that sum.
Discussion:
NBCSports.com, Bless You Boys, Red Reporter, Brew Crew Ball, CBS Atlanta, ESPN, Bucs Dugout, Redleg Nation, Yahoo Sports and Talking Chop
Kerouac Smith / Fox Sports:
Source: Reds expected to announce trade sending Brandon Phillips to Braves — The Cincinnati Reds are close to finalizing a deal that would send veteran second baseman Brandon Phillips to the Atlanta Braves, a source told FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal. — The deal, expected to be completed …
Discussion:
Red Reporter, Redleg Nation and baseballmusings.com
Bob Nightengale / USA Today:
Spring training story lines: From the Cubs to the World Baseball Classic — Just 101 days ago, the Chicago Cubs rewrote history. Does it seem longer since the night a smiling, stumbling Kris Bryant tossed the ball across the diamond to Anthony Rizzo, capping a wild Game 7 that clinched …
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors, MLB Daily Dish, South Side Sox, Federal Baseball and Washington Post
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Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Cubs hope late-winter insurance protects rotation from rigors of season — Coming off the World Series win, the Cubs have only a few key roster spots to fill. — But a second consecutive lengthy postseason combined with a longer spring training will necessitate that several seasoned veterans be brought along slower than usual.
Discussion:
ESPN, Chicago Tribune and Bleacher Nation
Hannah Jeter / The Players' Tribune:
The Derek I Know — This is the first of a new editorial series in which family members, friends, and those closest to them, share special insights into the athletes they love. — I thought he was a pitcher. — I know it sounds strange that I didn't know he was a shortstop.
Discussion:
Yahoo Sports, USA Today, CBS New York, FanRag Sports, NESN.com, East Bay Times, The Big Lead and TMZ.com, more at WeSmirch »
Baseball Prospectus:
The Top 101 Prospects of 2017 — While it's entirely likely you'll skip right ahead to the rankings, we wanted to provide some context for the list. As always, prospect lists are a snapshot in time—in this case January 1, when the list was compiled. It's possible a prospect's situation …
Discussion:
Over the Monster, Athletics Nation, Viva El Birdos, Amazin' Avenue and Lone Star Ball
Marc Stein / ESPN:
Magic's Serge Ibaka appears in play as trade deadline approaches — While Kevin Durant was reacquainting himself with Oklahoma City soil Saturday night, former teammate Serge Ibaka was a three-hour drive away from the KD-in-OKC tension, playing for the Orlando Magic in Dallas. — Stay tuned, though.
Discussion:
Hoops Rumors, FanRag Sports, NESN.com and Sportsnet.ca
Peter King / SI.com:
Tom Brady Tells the Story of the Super Bowl 51 Comeback — Plus more on the Falcons, Terrell Owens, John Lynch and 10 Things — Will the Falcons ever get over Super Bowl loss? — The MMQB's Peter King takes twitter questions from his followers on Twitter.
Discussion:
The Ten-Yard Line, ProFootballTalk, It Is What It Is, USA Today, NESN.com and FanRag Sports
Joe Piazza / Fox Sports:
Detroit Tigers: Team Owner Mike Ilitch Dies At Age 87 — Longtime Detroit Tigers and Red Wings owner Mike Ilitch has passed away at the age of 87. — In a press release from Ilitch Holdings, Inc., Chris Ilitch (Mike's son) announced his father's passing on Friday.
Discussion:
Major League Baseball, PR Newswire, baseballmusings.com and USA Today
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Associated Press:
Detroit Red Wings, Tigers owner and Little Caesars founder Mike Ilitch dies at age 87
Discussion:
Bless You Boys, Associated Press, Let's Go Tribe, ESPN, Yahoo Sports, MLB Daily Dish and Sportsnet.ca
Detroit Free Press:
Next Video … The first time Jim Leyland met Mike Ilitch …
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors, FanRag Sports and USA Today
Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
Tigers Owner Mike Ilitch Passes Away
Discussion:
Yahoo Sports, Detroit Free Press and Pro Hockey Rumors
Anthony Fenech / Detroit Free Press:
How baseball and the Detroit Tigers became Mike Ilitch's true love
Discussion:
Camden Chat, Let's Go Tribe, USA Today and Ballpark Digest
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Reds Claim Lisalverto Bonilla — The Reds announced on Monday that they've claimed right-hander Lisalverto Bonilla off waivers from the division-rival Pirates. The 26-year-old Bonilla had been designated for assignment in Pittsburgh last week after the Bucs acquired righty Pat Light from the Twins.
Discussion:
Redleg Nation, Red Reporter and Bucs Dugout
ESPN:
Sources: MLB wants 30-second limit for managers to decide on replay challenges — As it zeroes in on ways to improve its pace of play, Major League Baseball has turned its attention to an area of built-in dead time — instant replay. — And its first target is managers.
Discussion:
Bleacher Nation
Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
Dodgers To Re-Sign Chase Utley — SUNDAY: Utley's contract is believed to include a $2MM salary plus incentives, tweets FanRag's Jon Heyman. — FRIDAY: The Dodgers have agreed to a one-year deal to bring back infielder Chase Utley, according to Andy McCullough of the Los Angeles Times (via Twitter).
Discussion:
True Blue LA, MLB Daily Dish, ThinkBluePC and FanRag Sports
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Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
Dodgers To Sign Franklin Gutierrez
Discussion:
Bleacher Nation, FanRag Sports and Lookout Landing
