Top News:
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cardinals search for ‘star power’ that could guide return to postseason — With a vested — and invested — interest in upselling teams on all the added benefits of offense, agent Scott Boras, who reps a handful of free-agent hitters this winter, arrived at last week's GM meetings with a metaphorical map …
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Benjamin Hochman / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
This offseason is do or die for Cards' identity — Benjamin Hochman is a sports columnist for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch — If you look closely, the birds on the bat have their wings clipped. — These next 11 months aren't just about the team returning to the playoffs …
Peter Botte / New York Daily News:
Yankees interview Chris Woodward - ex-Met and current Dodgers 3rd base coach - for manager gig — The list has been expanded to five now of those who have interviewed with GM Brian Cashman for the Yankees' managerial opening since Joe Girardi was let go at the conclusion of the season.
Discussion:
DodgerBlue.com
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Christian Red / New York Daily News:
Aaron Boone has been preparing to be an MLB manager his entire life — Driving Tim Wakefield's first pitch in the bottom of the 11th inning of the 2003 ALCS over the left field wall at the old Yankee Stadium to help the Bombers clinch the American League pennant and send the Red Sox home qualifies …
Discussion:
MLB on Yahoo! Sports, The Comeback and Mercury News
Kyle Downing / MLB Trade Rumors:
Mariners Acquire Nick Rumbelow — The Mariners have announced that they've acquired right-hander Nick Rumbelow from the Yankees in exchange for a pair of minor league pitchers, left-hander JP Sears and righty Juan Then. — It's not an earth-shattering trade by any means …
Discussion:
Pinstriped Prospects, Lookout Landing, U.S.S. Mariner, MLB Daily Dish, FanRag Sports and Baseball America
Anthony Fenech / Detroit Free Press:
How to rebuild Detroit Tigers? Many paths back to baseball relevancy — ORLANDO, Fla. - The first rule about rebuilding is don't compare your work to someone else's. — Yet the blueprints for a productive overhaul are easy to see as philosophies around Major League Baseball have evolved …
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Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Column: Astros looking for cure for World Series hangover
Marlowe Alter / Detroit Free Press:
Miguel Cabrera instantly sheds weight working with LeBron James' trainer — First a World Series win, now a beautiful Tuscan wedding. Newly married couple Kate Upton and Justin Verlander have a lot to celebrate. Us Weekly reports that they both shared their happiness about their weekend nuptials on social media on Monday.
Mike Axisa / CBSSports.com:
MLB Hot Stove: Agent confirms Shohei Ohtani wants to pitch and hit in MLB — Ohtani is arguably the best hitter and pitcher in Japan — Come Monday, we will finally find out whether Japanese two-way star Shohei Ohtani will come over to MLB this offseason.
Discussion:
Let's Go Tribe
ESPN:
Braves prospect Ronald Acuna named Arizona Fall League MVP — Atlanta Braves No. 1 prospect Ronald Acuna earned the Joe Black Most Valuable Player Award of the Arizona Fall League after slashing .325/.414/.639 with seven home runs in 23 games. — At 19 years old, he is the youngest player in AFL history to take home the honor.
Marc Topkin / Tampa Bay Times:
As Rays start dealing, how far will they go? — After collecting intelligence at last week's GM meetings, the Rays soon will launch their offseason mission of trading at least a couple of veterans to reduce payroll. — The question is how far they will go how many players they deal …
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
Bill James Online:
Judge and Altuve — The bedrock assumption upon which all sabermetrics is founded is that the importance of each statistical accomplishment depends upon its connection to wins and losses. It was a belief of sportswriters and baseball professionals, in the pre-analytical era …
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
Matt Gelb / Philly.com:
Phillies hire Jim Gott for bullpen coach as staff slowly forms — The Phillies still need a bench coach and a pitching coach for Gabe Kapler's first season as manager, but they have a bullpen coach: Jim Gott, who pitched for 14 years in the majors and worked for the last five seasons in the Angels' minor-league system.
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors