Top News:
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:
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 …
Rustin Dodd / Kansas City Star:
Shohei Ohtani trims list to seven teams, Royals among those eliminated — Shohei Ohtani could be baseball's best two-way player since Babe Ruth. Yes, this is pure speculation. — This is fact: He will not be playing for the Royals. — Ohtani, the 23-year-old Japanese star …
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 …
Alex Pavlovic / NBCSports.com:
Source: Giants one of first known finalists to meet with Shohei Ohtani — SAN FRANCISCO — As the Giants continued to wait for Giancarlo Stanton to make a decision, they switched gears for a few hours Monday and put the full-court press on their other offseason target.
Discussion:
McCovey Chronicles and KNBR-AM
ESPN:
Breaking down the seven finalists in the race to sign Shohei Ohtani — The Shohei Ohtani Hot Stove League has taken a new twist as reports indicate he has narrowed his list of teams to seven: the Dodgers, Angels, Giants, Padres, Mariners, Rangers and Cubs. Those seven teams have been invited …
Discussion:
SBNation.com, Halos Heaven and FanRag Sports
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
With a compelling offer to Marlins, Cardinals await Stanton's decision
Discussion:
Bleacher Nation, 101Sports.com, CBS St. Louis and FanRag Sports
Post Sports Desk / New York Post:
The Shohei Ohtani sweepstakes is down to seven
Discussion:
SI.com, Gaslamp Ball and True Blue LA
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cardinals are out of Ohtani sweepstakes, but remain in Stanton talks
Discussion:
Washington Post
Anthony Fenech / Detroit Free Press:
Detroit Tigers not a finalist for Japanese sensation Shohei Ohtani
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Shohei Ohtani Plans To Meet With Seven Teams
Discussion:
Bleacher Nation, ThinkBluePC, Red Reporter and Camden Chat
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.
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Jeff Wilson / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
Rangers re-sign Tony Barnette, reportedly land reliever Mike Minor — As the Texas Rangers await word on if they will land Shohei Ohtani, they aren't just sitting still. — The Rangers re-signed right-handed reliever Tony Barnette on a one-year, $1.5 million contract and reportedly have inked left-handed free-agent Mike Minor.
Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
Rangers Re-Sign Tony Barnette
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball and MLB Daily Dish
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 …
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St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Quick Hits: Goold on the Cardinals — Rounding up the hot topics from award-winning writer Derrick Goold's five-hour chat with St. Louis baseball fans.
Rustin Dodd / Kansas City Star:
After breakout season in Royals' bullpen, Minor reportedly agrees to terms with Texas — Mike Minor salvaged a once promising career with a sojourn to the bullpen in 2017, overcoming years of shoulder issues and transforming into the Royals' most trusted reliever.
Associated Press:
Tigers aren't tendering contract to reliever Bruce Rondon — DETROIT (AP) - The Detroit Tigers are not tendering a contract to right-hander Bruce Rondon. — The team announced that decision Friday night. Rondon was once considered a top candidate to be Detroit's closer …
