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 …
Discussion:
Dallas Morning News, WFAA-TV, Lone Star Ball and MLB Trade Rumors
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Marc Topkin / Tampa Bay Times:
Tampa Bay Rays hot topics: Blame Shohei Ohtani and Giancarlo Stanton — We don't know what moves the Rays will make this off-season, just that there will be some big ones as they look to cut payroll and decide whether to try to remain competitive or go for a rebuild.
John Shea / San Francisco Chronicle:
Why Giants make sense for Shohei Ohtani — There are reasons to believe Japanese megastar Shohei Ohtani, on the verge of his blockbuster decision, could send the Bay Area into a frenzy by choosing to play for the Giants. — They go beyond the usual reasons free agents pick teams.
Discussion:
McCovey Chronicles
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.
Jesse RogersESPN / ESPN:
How are the Cubs still in the running for Shohei Ohtani?
Discussion:
All - Kyodo News+ and Bleacher Nation
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
Alex Pavlovic / NBCSports.com:
Source: Giants one of first known finalists to meet with Shohei Ohtani
Discussion:
Bleacher Nation, McCovey Chronicles and KNBR-AM
ESPN:
Breaking down the seven finalists in the race to sign Shohei Ohtani
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball, Halos Heaven, SBNation.com and FanRag Sports
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.
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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 …
Discussion:
FanGraphs Baseball, FanRag Sports, Royals Review and Bucs Dugout
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Angels Agree To Terms With Kevin Maitan
Discussion:
MLB on Yahoo! Sports, Bleacher Nation and MLB Daily Dish
John Harper / New York Daily News:
Yankees would be wise to acquire Kyle Schwarber to fill DH role after missing out on Shohei Otani — The Yankees wanted Shohei Otani mostly for his pitching, but they were also willing to let him hit as a DH when he wasn't on the mound, so his refusal to consider playing in the Bronx raises the question of who will get those at-bats.
RELATED:
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
Anthony Fenech / Detroit Free Press:
Detroit Tigers sign centerfielder Leonys Martin to Major League deal — The Tigers have made another upside play. — This time, it's outfielder Leonys Martin, who is just a season removed from being a productive centerfielder. — Martin joins the Tigers on a Major League deal, the team announced Tuesday afternoon.
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.
Discussion:
MLB on Yahoo! Sports
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.
Cleveland Indians / TribeVibe:
Cleveland Indians, Dan Otero agree on two-year contract with 2020 club option — The Cleveland Indians today announced the club has signed RHP DAN OTERO to a two-year contract with a club option for the 2020 season. — Otero, 32, has spent the last two seasons in the Indians bullpen …
Discussion:
MLB on Yahoo! Sports and MLB Trade Rumors
