Top News:
Mike Mazzeo / New York Daily News:
Shohei Otani's Japanese club plans to make star available to MLB teams via posting system — Shohei Otani continues to inch closer toward his goal of becoming a major-leaguer in 2018. — On Friday, Otani's Japanese club, the Nippon Ham Fighters, announced that it plans to make the 23-year-old …
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Jeff Wilson / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
Daniels taking more-with-less blueprint to general manager meetings — Maybe the prognosticators around Major League Baseball are starting to believe Jon Daniels' annual off-season claim that the Texas Rangers just don't have that much money to spend. — Unlike in past off-seasons …
Tod / All - Kyodo News+:
Baseball: Fighters OK Otani's use of posting system to go to majors — The Nippon Ham Fighters said Friday they will allow slugging ace Shohei Otani to use the posting system this offseason to try to land a deal with a major league team. — “Everyone in our ballclub accepts his thoughts …
Discussion:
MLB on Yahoo! Sports, SI.com and Dallas Morning News
Japan Times:
KYODO — The Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters said Friday they will allow Shohei Otani to use the posting system this offseason to try to land a deal with a major league team. — “Everyone in our ballclub accepts his thoughts,” Fighters manager Hideki Kuriyama told a news conference …
Discussion:
FanRag Sports, MLB Trade Rumors and MLB Daily Dish
Jeff Wilson / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
Ohtani to be posted, but what's next for the Babe Ruth of Japan? — Reports from Japan early Friday morning say that Shohei Ohtani, the Babe Ruth of Japan and the player at the top of the Texas Rangers' off-season wish list, will be posted by the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters.
ESPN:
Reports: Japanese star Shohei Otani to be made available to MLB
Discussion:
Let's Go Tribe, Bleacher Nation, FanGraphs Baseball, MLB on Yahoo! Sports and CBSSports.com
Dylan Hernandez / Los Angeles Times:
Shohei Ohtani to be made available to MLB teams, Nippon-Ham Fighters announce
Discussion:
DodgerBlue.com
Associated Press:
Former Indians, Mariners manager Eric Wedge becomes second person to interview with Yankees — NEW YORK — Former Cleveland and Seattle manager Eric Wedge has become the second person to interview with the New York Yankees for their dugout opening. — Yankees bench coach Rob Thomson interviewed …
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Mike Mazzeo / New York Daily News:
Yankees interview ex-Indians manager Eric Wedge as search for Girardi replacement continues — Add Eric Wedge to the Yankees' list. — The Bombers interviewed Wedge for their managerial vacancy, the team announced Friday. — Wedge, 49, managed both the Indians and Mariners.
George Sipple / Detroit Free Press:
Ex-Detroit Tigers LF Justin Upton named 2017 Tiger of the Year — Justin Upton no longer wears the Old English D, but he was voted Tiger of the Year for 2017. — Upton received 15 of the 26 first-place votes by the Detroit Chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America.
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Fox Sports:
Upton voted Tiger of the Year despite trade — DETROIT (AP) Justin Upton was voted Tiger of the Year despite being traded by Detroit with a month remaining in the season. — Upton received 15 of 26 first-place votes from the Detroit chapter of the Baseball Writers' Association of America.
ESPN:
Jose Altuve and Buster Posey win fourth Silver Slugger Awards — World Series champions Jose Altuve and George Springer were among the 2017 Louisville Slugger Silver Slugger Award winners announced Thursday. The award goes to one player per league, per position and is selected by a vote of MLB coaches and managers.
Discussion:
Lookout Landing
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ESPN:
Baseball gave everyone something to love in 2017 ... except managers — FOR ALL THE MOMENTS of a World Series that was part home-run derby, part All-Star Game and every bit a classic, there was one in particular when the Houston Astros separated themselves from the Los Angeles Dodgers …
Discussion:
Over the Monster
Daryl Van Schouwen / Chicago Sun Times:
White Sox could face tough decisions on Abreu, Garcia — Sign-Up for our Sports Newsletter … Phase one of the White Sox rebuild, the trading of top major league assets including Chris Sale, Adam Eaton and Jose Quintana for top prospects, is essentially done.
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Braves Finalize Coaching Staff; Walt Weiss Named Bench Coach — The Braves announced a slew of changes to their coaching staff on Friday, led by the hiring of former Rockies manager Walt Weiss as the club's new bench coach. Atlanta has also hired Eric Young Sr. as its new first base coach …
Discussion:
Talking Chop
