Sources: MLB to hammer Atlanta Braves, declare 12 minor league players free agents  —  Major League Baseball is expected to hammer the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday for circumventing rules governing the signing of international amateurs, declaring 12 minor league players, including vaunted prospect Kevin Maitan …

White Sox's Eloy Jimenez says he'll ‘force the issue’ of when he reaches majors  —  The White Sox rebuilding project should be complete in 2020.  Here's what the starting lineup and rotation could look like.  Not pictured: Alec Hansen, RHP, minor-leaguer  —  Chicago Tribune

MLB, Players Association agree to new posting system to bring Shohei Ohtani from Japan  —  Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association agreed Tuesday on a new posting system that will allow two-way star Shohei Ohtani to leave Japan and sign with an MLB team for the 2018 season.

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 …

Detroit Tigers taking high-upside, low-risk approach this offseason  —  The Detroit Tigers are following a very straightforward strategy this offseason: High upside, low risk.  —  It was evident in their early off-season minor league free agent signings, and the pattern extended …

Cubs opener to kick off 2018 MLB season  —  Photos of the ongoing renovations at historic Wrigley Field.  —  Chicago Tribune  —  The Cubs will bat leadoff in the 2018 season when they face the Marlins at 11:30 a.m. March 29 at Marlins Park in Miami.  —  March 29 ties the Cubs' earliest season opener.

Texas A&M plans to fire Kevin Sumlin after LSU game  —  COLLEGE STATION - Texas A&M coach Kevin Sumlin will be fired following the Aggies' regular-season finale at LSU on Saturday night, multiple people with knowledge of the situation said.  —  Sumlin is expected to be dismissed …

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 …

Arizona Diamondbacks' Archie Bradley likely to remain in bullpen in 2018  —  The Diamondbacks are moving forward with their offseason plans under the assumption that right-hander Archie Bradley will remain in the bullpen.  What they haven't yet determined is what role he'll fill …

Mets hope new pitching coach Dave Eiland's fresh voice will help turn around struggling staff  —  LaTroy Hawkins knew he wasn't pitching well.  The Yankees fans who booed him knew he was struggling.  The Yankees front office and the coaching staff all knew Hawkins was having a hard time.

Cubs' Will Venable leaves front office to be first-base coach  —  CHICAGO — Will Venable is leaving the Chicago Cubs' front office to be their first-base coach.  —  The former major league outfielder was hired last summer as a special assistant to president of baseball operations Theo Epstein and general manager Jed Hoyer.

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.

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

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 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.

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 …