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12:35 PM ET, December 4, 2017

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 Top News: 
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cardinals are out of Ohtani sweepstakes, but remain in Stanton talks  —  ST. LOUIS  • The Cardinals, severely hamstrung by how much of a bonus they could offer, are not one of the teams that will be visit with free-agent Shohei Ohtani and were described Sunday night as “out” on the sweepstakes to sign the two-way star.
Discussion: Washington Post
RELATED:
ESPN:
Shohei Ohtani turns down Yankees, Red Sox, per GMs  —  The Babe Ruth of Japan, Shohei Ohtani, will not be playing in the House that Ruth Built.  Nor will he end up where the Babe began his career.  —  New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman informed reporters Sunday night …
Anthony Fenech / Detroit Free Press:
Detroit Tigers not a finalist for Japanese sensation Shohei Ohtani  —  In the least surprising news of the Detroit Tigers' off-season, the team is not going to sign Japanese sensation Shohei Ohtani.  —  On Sunday night, Ohtani's agency began whittling down his list of potential suitors …
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
With a compelling offer to Marlins, Cardinals await Stanton's decision  —  ST. LOUIS  • When the Cardinals began, in earnest, their role in the Stanton Saga their goal was to put together such a compelling offer for the Miami Marlins that the only thing between them and a bona fide …
Mark Polishuk / MLB Trade Rumors:
Mariners, Giants, Padres, Rangers, Cubs, Angels Among Teams To Meet With Shohei Ohtani  —  11:40pm: The Angels are indeed one of the finalists, as per The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal (via Twitter).  —  10:39pm: The Angels are thought by “multiple sources” to be one of the finalists, Yahoo Sports' Jeff Passan tweets.
Connor Byrne / MLB Trade Rumors:
Marlins Agree To Framework Of Giancarlo Stanton Deals With Cards, Giants  —  10:14pm: The 2-3 day timeline is “quite a hopeful estimate,” sources tell Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports.  —  5:47pm: The Stanton deal is expected to be wrapped up within the next 2-3 days, Craig Mish tweets.
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Cubs reportedly remain in contention for Shohei Ohtani  —  Japan starter Shohei Otani pitches against South Korea during the first inning of their semifinal game at the Premier12 world baseball tournament at Tokyo Dome in Tokyo on Nov. 19, 2015.  (Shizuo Kambayashi / AP)  —  Chicago Tribune
Discussion: Halos Heaven and Union-News
Andy McCullough / Los Angeles Times:
After ruling out several teams, Japanse star Shohei Ohtani expected to meet with Dodgers  —  Shohei Ohtani appears to prefer to play for a small-market team in the majors near the West Coast.  (Getty Images)  —  The Dodgers and Angels are expected to meet with Shohei Ohtani this week …
Cincinnati.com:
Reds' status unknown as Shohei Ohtani sweepstakes begin heating up  —  The Shoehi Ohtani sweepstakes are reportedly reaching the second round, although it's not known yet if the Reds are in or out.  —  According to various reports, Ohtani's representatives have told 14 teams …
Jeff Wilson / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
Silence is golden? No word yet if Rangers are still in on Ohtani
Discussion: Lone Star Ball
Tampa Bay Times:   Tampa Bay Rays told they are out of running for Japanese two-way star Shohei Ohtani
Peter Botte / New York Daily News:
Yankees informed they are out of the running to land Shohei Otani, Brian Cashman reveals  —  The Japanese Babe Ruth will not be coming to New York.  —  The Yankees were informed they will not be one of the teams invited to make an in-person pitch to Shoehei Otani, Brian Cahsman announced Sunday.
RELATED:
John Harper / New York Daily News:
Yankees finally know how other teams feel after Shohei Otani shockingly spurns the Bombers  —  For once there was nothing the Yankees could do to sway a free agent.  —  Their money couldn't help them.  Their championship tradition didn't matter.  Their location in the great city …
Dennis Lin / sandiegouniontribune.com:
Padres extend A.J. Preller through 2022  —  The Padres have extended General Manager A.J. Preller's contract through the 2022 season.  (Hayne Palmour IV / San Diego Union-Tribune)  —  The Padres waded through reconstruction in 2017, auditioning and, in some cases, committing to youth.
RELATED:
ESPN:
Padres GM A.J. Preller gets extension through 2022 season
Discussion: MLB on Yahoo! Sports
Matt Breen / Philly.com:
Phillies manager Gabe Kapler after meetings with J.P. Crawford and Rhys Hoskins: ‘Wow’  —  J.P. Crawford received a text message last month as his off-season continued in Southern California.  It was from Gabe Kapler, the new Phillies manager, and he wanted to have dinner with Crawford.
ESPN:
Digging down through baseball's circles of payroll hell  —  The dream scenario for most major league teams is to be a top contender while simultaneously building a top farm system that can meet the short-term and long-term needs of the organization.  But as the saying goes …
Joel Sherman / New York Post:
Inside how Aaron Boone won over the Yankees  —  Aaron Boone couldn't hide his lack of in-uniform credentials.  It was not as if he could tell Yankees officials he had managed three years at Double-A and been a bench coach for two in the majors.  —  His résumé was his résumé …
Discussion: baseballmusings.com
RELATED:
Ken Davidoff / New York Post:   The Yankees' questions Aaron Boone will need to answer
 
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