Top News:
Charles Odum / Globe and Mail:
Atlanta Braves punished for circumventing international signing rules — The Braves lost 13 prospects and former general manager John Coppolella was banned for life by Major League Baseball on Tuesday for circumventing international signing rules from 2015-17.
Discussion:
USA Today, Bleed Cubbie Blue and baseballmusings.com
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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:
MLB on Yahoo! Sports, MLB Trade Rumors and Talking Chop
Craig Calcaterra / NBCSports.com:
Unprecedented sanctions: MLB bans former Braves GM for life, makes 12 signees free agents — Major League Baseball has slammed the hammer down on the Atlanta Braves as the result of their violations of rules on the international free agent market. — Former Braves General Manager John Coppolella …
Discussion:
MLB on Yahoo! Sports, Amazin' Avenue and Halos Heaven
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 …
Danny Knobler / Bleacher Report:
Rob Manfred Strikes Fear in Heart of MLB by Banning Former Braves GM for Life
Rob Manfred Strikes Fear in Heart of MLB by Banning Former Braves GM for Life
Discussion:
SI.com, FanRag Sports and Talking Chop
Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
MLB Announces Permanent Ban For John Coppolella
MLB Announces Permanent Ban For John Coppolella
Discussion:
Purple Row, FanGraphs Baseball, redsminorleagues.com and Ken Rosenthal
Ben Badler / Baseball America:
MLB Removing Prospects From Braves
MLB Removing Prospects From Braves
Discussion:
Gaslamp Ball, Redleg Nation, MLB on Yahoo! Sports, Talking Chop, Walk-Off Walk, Bucs Dugout and Lone Star Ball
Fox Sports:
AP source: MLB, Japanese, union reach posting deal — NEW YORK (AP) Major League Baseball, its players' union and the Japanese commissioner's office agreed Tuesday to a new posting system that could allow star pitcher-outfielder Shohei Ohtani to be put up for bid next week, a person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press.
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Joel Sherman / New York Post:
The chase for Shohei Ohtani is real now … Shohei Ohtani is going to be quite a Christmas gift for some team. — Officials from the major leagues, Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) and the Players Association reached a tentative agreement Tuesday to grandfather in the old posting agreement …
Discussion:
Cubs Insider, NESN.com and MLB Trade Rumors
Jeff Fletcher / Orange County Register:
Angels hire Josh Paul as bench coach, add Brad Ausmus to front office — Josh Paul, who spent part of his big league career playing for the Angels under Mike Scioscia, has been hired as the Angels new bench coach. — Earlier this month the Angels moved bench coach Dino Ebel to third base coach, replacing Ron Roenicke.
Discussion:
NBCSports.com, MLive.com and MLB Trade Rumors
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ESPN:
Report: Angels hire ex-Tigers manager Brad Ausmus — The Angels are hiring former Tigers manager Brad Ausmus as a special assistant to general manager Billy Eppler, the Orange County Register reported. — Ausmus will assist with scouting and evaluations, according to the Register.
Jacob Shafer / Bleacher Report:
Each MLB Team's Nightmare 2017-18 Offseason Scenario — Every MLB franchise enters the offseason with dreams. Unfortunately, like all dreams, they can curdle into nightmares. — In some cases, it's a club failing to acquire the assets necessary to remain a viable contender or vault toward a title.
Discussion:
Over the Monster
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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
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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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:
SI.com, FanRag Sports, CollegeFootballTalk, Dallas Morning News and The Comeback
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 …
Discussion:
AZ Snake Pit
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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