Top News:
Jeff Passan / Yahoo! Sports:
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 …
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Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Braves' punishment frees up ‘phenom’ prospect Cardinals could chase — ST. LOUIS • As the Cardinals prepared for their premeditated spending spree on international talent in 2016, they drew on months of time spent scouting and developing relationships with a peer group of standout talents in Venezuela.
Discussion:
Talking Chop and MLB on Yahoo! Sports
Ben Badler / Baseball America:
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 …
Discussion:
MLB on Yahoo! Sports, Lone Star Ball, Talking Chop and Walk-Off Walk
Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
MLB Announces Permanent Ban For John Coppolella
Discussion:
FanGraphs Baseball, redsminorleagues.com, Walk-Off Walk and Ken Rosenthal
Chris Kuc / Chicago Tribune:
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
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ESPN:
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.
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Joel Sherman / New York Post:
The chase for Shohei Ohtani is real now
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors, Cubs Insider and NESN.com
Associated Press:
5 minor leaguer pitchers suspended for drug violations — NEW YORK — Five minor league pitchers have been suspended for drug violations. — The commissioner's office announced the penalties Tuesday. — Three of the players are part of the Toronto system.
Discussion:
FanRag Sports
Stefan Stevenson / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
Rangers-Astros season-opener part of ESPN's quadruple-header — The Silver Boot Series kicks into gear on national television in 2018. — The Texas Rangers' 2018 season opener against the World Series champion Houston Astros will be broadcast on ESPN March 29 from Globe Life Park.
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball
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Brent Zwerneman / Houston Chronicle:
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 …
Discussion:
FanRag Sports, CollegeFootballTalk, Dallas Morning News and The Comeback
ESPN:
Yankees' Aaron Judge has left shoulder surgery, expected to be ready for spring training — NEW YORK — Rookie of the Year Aaron Judge had arthroscopic surgery on his left shoulder on Monday, but he is expected to be ready for the beginning of spring training, the New York Yankees announced.
Discussion:
MLB on Yahoo! Sports and baseballmusings.com
Associated Press:
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.
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue
Nick Piecoro / Arizona Republic:
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 …
Anthony Fenech / Detroit Free Press:
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 …
Discussion:
Bless You Boys
Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:
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.
Doug Mittler / ESPN:
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 …
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Jon Heyman / FanRag Sports:
Blue Jays could emerge as dark horse for JD Martinez
Discussion:
MLB on Yahoo! Sports, Toronto, MLB Trade Rumors and Bluebird Banter
R.J. Anderson / CBSSports.com:
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.
Discussion:
USA Today, The Runner Sports and MLB Trade Rumors
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