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1:55 PM ET, December 5, 2017

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 Top News: 
Jeff Wilson / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
Sources: Rangers officials travel to meet with Ohtani  —  Officials with the Texas Rangers, including general manager Jon Daniels, have traveled to Los Angeles for a meeting with Japanese two-way star Shohei Ohtani, according to multiple baseball sources.  —  The sources were inconclusive …
RELATED:
Jeff Wilson / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
How do Rangers fare vs. other six Ohtani finalists?  —  Crickets could be heard on the phone lines to Texas Rangers officials again Monday, as club officials continued to keep their mouths shut and their fingers from texting with the media.  —  Baseball sources, though …
ESPN:
LHP Mike Minor agrees to deal with Rangers  —  Free-agent left-hander Mike Minor has reached agreement on a contract with the Texas Rangers pending completion of a physical exam, a baseball source confirmed to ESPN on Monday.  —  Minor, 29, is 44-42 with a 3.93 ERA over six seasons with the Atlanta Braves and Kansas City Royals.
Rustin Dodd / Kansas City Star:   Shohei Ohtani trims list to seven teams, Royals among those eliminated
Jeff Wilson / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:   Rangers re-sign Tony Barnette, reportedly land reliever Mike Minor
Rustin Dodd / Kansas City Star:   After breakout season in Royals' bullpen, Minor reportedly agrees to terms with Texas
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cardinals are out of Ohtani sweepstakes, but remain in Stanton talks
Discussion: Washington Post
Rustin Dodd / Kansas City Star:
Inspired by Yordano Ventura, former Braves pitching prospect signs with Royals  —  In the aftermath of the international signing scandal that ensnared the Atlanta Braves, Major League Baseball granted free agency to 12 prospects in their minor-league system.
RELATED:
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Angels Agree To Terms With Kevin Maitan  —  12:00pm: Jesse Sanchez of MLB.com reports that Maitan will receive a $2.2MM signing bonus (Twitter link).  That's more than the Halos have in available 2017-18 international funds, so it indeed seems that they'll be paying Maitan with their 2018-19 bonus pool.
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Royals Agree To Deal With Former Braves Prospect Yefri Del Rosario  —  The Royals have agreed to sign right-hander Yefri Del Rosario for a $650K signing bonus, reports Jesse Sanchez of MLB.com (via Twitter).  The 18-year-old Rosario had originally signed for a $1MM bonus with Atlanta …
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Bullpen help remains a priority for Cubs despite their pursuit of Shohei Ohtani  —  Will these Cubs players be back on the team next season?  —  Chicago Tribune  —  While the Cubs' pursuit of Shohei Ohtani intensifies, the need for bullpen help is just as great and perhaps more urgent for the team.
RELATED:
Jesse RogersESPN / ESPN:
How are the Cubs still in the running for Shohei Ohtani?
Post Sports Desk / New York Post:
The Shohei Ohtani sweepstakes is down to seven
Discussion: SI.com, True Blue LA and Gaslamp Ball
ESPN:
Ex-Braves GM John Coppolella ‘disgraced and humbled’  —  Former Atlanta Braves general manager John Coppolella, making his first public comments since his resignation and lifetime ban from baseball, said he has been “disgraced and humbled” by events of the last two months and is “heartbroken” …
Discussion: MLB Trade Rumors and Talking Chop
ESPN:
Reports: Cards sign Miles Mikolas to 2-year deal; RHP 31-13 in Japan  —  The St. Louis Cardinals signed right-hander Miles Mikolas to a two-year contract Tuesday, according to multiple reports.  —  Mikolas, who has pitched in Japan since 2015, will receive between $14 million to $16 million in the contract, according to the reports.
Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:
Mets looking for relievers to shore up back-end of bullpen in a seller's market  —  Thank goodness it's been warm outside, because the MLB stove is barely room temperature.  The Mets — who have holes at first base, the outfield, second base and in the bullpen — have made just one minor-league signing so far.
John Harper / New York Daily News:
With manager and Otani situations resolved, Yankees are free to move forward with offseason plans  —  With Aaron Boone officially named on Monday as the new manager, confirming the Daily News report on Friday, and Shohei Otani no longer a consideration, the Yankees can move forward now in planning …
ABC News:
Bengals lose Vontaze Burfict, Joe Mixon, Adam Jones to injury in loss to Steelers  —  CINCINNATI — Linebacker Vontaze Burfict was one of three Bengals?players in concussion protocol following a violent game that saw two players taken off the field on backboards during Cincinnati's?
Discussion: FanRag Sports and ProFootballTalk
 
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 More News: 
Susan Slusser / San Francisco Chronicle:
A Stanton deal could benefit A's if Stephen Piscotty freed up
Chris Mitchell / FanGraphs Baseball:
KATOH's Guide to the 2017 Rule 5 Draft
Discussion: DRaysBay and Al's Ramblings
St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Quick Hits: Goold on the Cardinals
Associated Press:
Tigers aren't tendering contract to reliever Bruce Rondon
 Earlier Picks: 
Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
Rangers Re-Sign Tony Barnette
Discussion: MLB Daily Dish and Lone Star Ball
ESPN:
White Sox name Omar Vizquel manager of Class A Winston-Salem
 

 
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