White Sox could target familiar names in free-agent pitching market  —  Photos of Cubs pitcher John Lackey.  —  Chicago Tribune  —  With three rookies penciled in to join James Shields in a rotation likely lacking Carlos Rodon while he recovers from shoulder surgery …

Shohei Otani to the Yankees seems like an inevitable conclusion after latest developments  —  This has to happen, right?  —  That's the obvious reaction to the news on Monday night that the MLB Players Association extended a soft deadline regarding a new agreement with Japanese Baseball …

Cards make roster moves as Rule 5 draft window closes  —  St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Austin Gomber throws long toss during St. Louis Cardinals spring training on Thursday, Feb. 16, 2017, at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, Fla. Photo by Chris Lee, clee@post-dispatch.com

Rumor Central: Blue Jays in the mix for J.D. Martinez?  —  The Toronto Blue Jays could emerge as “a dark horse candidate” for free-agent outfielder J.D. Martinez, suggests Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports.  —  The Blue Jays are not expected to bring back outfielder Jose Bautista and have yet …

MLB Hot Stove: Marlins kick off Jeter regime with their first trade with Yankees  —  Garrett Cooper is the answer to a trivia question  —  There have been two near-constants during Derek Jeter's brief time a owner of the Miami Marlins: 1.  Giancarlo Stanton trade rumors; and 2.

Rumor Central: Hisashi Iwakuma weighing offer from Mariners?  —  The Seattle Mariners apparently are interested in keeping Hisashi Iwakuma around as he recovers from shoulder surgery.  —  Iwakuma on Monday told reporters in his native Japan, including the Japan Times, that he is considering an offer he has received from the Mariners.

Jim Thome, Chipper Jones join Hall of Fame ballot; Dodgers make roster moves  —  New faces on this year's Hall of Fame ballot include, top row, left to right: Chris Carpenter, Johnny Damon, Andruw Jones, Chipper Jones, Carlos Lee.  Bottom row: Kevin Millwood, Johan Santana, Jim Thome …

MLB free agent predictions: Where J.D. Martinez, Yu Darvish, Jake Arrieta will land  —  The period between the general manager meetings and the winter meetings - set to run this year from Dec. 11-14 - often brings about a spurt of free agent activity as MLB teams flush with cash are eager to spend it before the holidays.

MLB Removing Prospects From Braves  —  Major League Baseball informed multiple Braves international signings today that they will become free agents, multiple sources told Baseball America.  Those players include shortstop Kevin Maitan, catcher Abrahan Gutierrez, second baseman Yunior Severino …

Astros to open '18 on the road, will unveil World Series banner April 2  —  The Houston Astros will unveil the first World Series banner in franchise history on April 2, 2018, when they host the Baltimore Orioles in their regular-season home opener on ESPN.  —  The reigning champion Astros …

Dodgers trade reliever Josh Ravin to Braves for cash  —  LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Dodgers have traded pitcher Josh Ravin to the Atlanta Braves in exchange for cash considerations.  —  Los Angeles designated the 29-year-old right-hander for assignment earlier Monday.

Joe Morgan Asks Baseball HOF Voters To Keep Steroid Users Out Of Hall  —  Joe Morgan is serious about baseball's standards of excellence.  —  The Cincinnati Reds legend and baseball Hall of Famer wrote a letter to the Baseball Writers' Association of America on Monday in which he implored Hall …