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, Bucs Dugout, Bless You Boys, Red Reporter, Brew Crew Ball, CBS Atlanta, ESPN, 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:
ProFootballTalk, USA Today, It Is What It Is, NESN.com and FanRag Sports
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
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, MLB Trade Rumors and baseballmusings.com
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Detroit Free Press:
Next Video … The first time Jim Leyland met Mike Ilitch …
Next Video … The first time Jim Leyland met Mike Ilitch …
Discussion:
Yahoo Sports, MLB Trade Rumors and FanRag Sports
Associated Press:
Detroit Red Wings, Tigers owner and Little Caesars founder Mike Ilitch dies at age 87
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
Anthony Fenech / Detroit Free Press:
How baseball and the Detroit Tigers became Mike Ilitch's true love
How baseball and the Detroit Tigers became Mike Ilitch's true love
Discussion:
Camden Chat, Let's Go Tribe, USA Today and Ballpark Digest
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
Dodgers To Sign Franklin Gutierrez
Discussion:
Bleacher Nation, FanRag Sports and Lookout Landing