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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ESPN:
Orioles face a tough reality with Zach Britton — In the eyes of some rival evaluators, the Orioles have been overachievers the past six years. With a win-loss record of 66 games over .500 in that span, Baltimore has reached the playoffs three times, despite inhabiting the same division …
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors and DodgerBlue.com
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 …
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, Talking Chop, U.S.S. Mariner, MLB Daily Dish, Lookout Landing and FanRag Sports
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Mike Axisa / CBSSports.com:
Don't expect ‘frantic’ movement, huh? Mariners make third trade in four days — Then again, three trades in four days might be behind Jerry Dipoto's usual pace — Since naming Jerry Dipoto their new general manager in September 2015, no team has made more trades than the Seattle Mariners.
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
Discussion:
MLB on Yahoo! Sports and The Comeback
John Silver / ESPN:
Rumor Central: Rockies, Cardinals interested in Brandon Kintzler as a closer — Brandon Kintzler is likely to turn his short time as a closer with the Minnesota Twins into a full-time closer job next year. — According to MLB.com's Jon Morosi, Kintzler is drawing interest from teams that need a closer …
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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Marc Carig / Newsday:
Third time through the order isn't a charm, and Mets are ready to deal with it — For starting pitchers, every trip through the batting order means a greater advantage for the hitters. By the third time around, the task is particularly treacherous, especially for those not blessed …
Katherine TerrellESPN / ESPN:
Bengals TE Tyler Eifert has procedure done on knee — Cincinnati Bengals tight end Tyler Eifert had a procedure done to remove a cyst from his knee, a source told ESPN's Dan Graziano. — Eifert is already on injured reserve after undergoing back surgery that ended his season.
Discussion:
ProFootballTalk and FanRag Sports
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 and MLB on Yahoo! Sports
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
