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ESPN:
Despite scrutiny, officials expect MLB probe after Shohei Ohtani decision — When Shohei Ohtani announces his choice of which Major League Baseball team he wants to play for, a number of MLB officials said they wouldn't be surprised if it spawned an immediate investigation into how the process played out.
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ABC News, SBNation.com, MLB on Yahoo! Sports, NESN.com, DodgerBlue.com and baseballmusings.com
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Amara Grautski / New York Daily News:
Japanese star Shohei Otani decides to sign with Angels — A few days after deciding New York wasn't for him, the Babe Ruth of Japan has signed with the Angels. — Shoehei Otani, the highly sought after pitcher/outfielder, confirmed his decision on Friday afternoon through his agency.
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Pinstripe Alley
Maria Torres / Kansas City Star:
Royals lose former SM South pitcher Mike Morin to Mariners — Shawnee Mission South graduate Mike Morin won't return to Kansas City in a Royals uniform next season. — After signing a one-year contract with his hometown team last week, Morin was claimed off waivers by the Seattle Mariners on Friday.
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Angels To Sign Shohei Ohtani — Shohei Ohtani has decided to sign with the Angels, agent Nez Balelo of CAA Baseball announced today. Balelo issued the following statement on his client's decision: … The Angels were one of seven finalists for Ohtani, joined in that regard by the Mariners, Rangers, Cubs, Padres, Dodgers and Giants.
Discussion:
U.S.S. Mariner, Baseball Essential, DodgerBlue.com, NESN.com and Legends On Deck
Jorge L. Ortiz / USA Today:
How Shohei Ohtani will alter the balance of power in the AL West — The Seattle Mariners and Texas Rangers were all-in on Shohei Ohtani, figuring the Japanese two-way star could help them challenge the World Series champion Houston Astros for American League West supremacy.
ESPN:
Two-way Japanese star Shohei Ohtani agrees to sign with Angels — Japanese star Shohei Ohtani has agreed to sign with the Los Angeles Angels, his agent said on Friday. — In addition to the Angels, Ohtani had met with the Chicago Cubs, Texas Rangers, Los Angeles Dodgers, San Francisco Giants, San Diego Padres and Seattle Mariners.
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The Ringer
Jeff Fletcher / Orange County Register:
Japanese star Shohei Ohtani chooses Angels over 6 other MLB teams, including Dodgers
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
Fran Kilinski / New York Daily News:
Angels players are giddy on Twitter over Shohei Otani's decision to sign with team
Discussion:
Fox News, Halos Heaven and The Guardian
ESPN:
Stanton open to playing for the Yankees — While the Los Angeles Dodgers have been mentioned as the inevitable fallback option if the Miami Marlins are unable to trade Giancarlo Stanton to St. Louis or San Francisco, they're not the only big-market glamour team that intrigues the National League MVP.
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Bleacher Report
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UPI:
Miami Marlins OF Giancarlo Stanton voids trade to St. Louis Cardinals, San Francisco Giants — The St. Louis Cardinals and San Francisco Giants both announced Friday that they agreed to deals to acquire Miami Marlins slugger Giancarlo Stanton but the National League MVP declined to waive his no-trade clause.
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Stanton Saga: One fish, two wish, will he be a red fish — or blue fish? — ST. LOUIS • With one move Thursday afternoon, the Miami Marlins sent a clear message that brought instant clarity and resolution to all the speculation that had been simmering for weeks on the hot stove and gripped fans around baseball.
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Bleacher Report, McCovey Chronicles and MLB Daily Dish
Kevin Spain / USA Today:
Cardinals, Giants out of the running for Giancarlo Stanton — The St. Louis Cardinals and San Francisco Giants said they're out of the running for Miami Marlins star outfielder Giancarlo Stanton. — Stanton, still owed $295 million from his record $325 million, 13-year contract …
Discussion:
Bleacher Nation
Scott Gleeson / USA Today:
Report: Giancarlo Stanton won't OK trade to Giants or Cardinals
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish, CLTV, Bleed Cubbie Blue, MLB on Yahoo! Sports and baseballmusings.com
Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
Giancarlo Stanton Informs Cardinals He Will Not Waive No-Trade Clause
Discussion:
Chicago Tribune
Nicholas Parco / New York Daily News:
Giancarlo Stanton will only approve trade to Yankees, Cubs, Dodgers or Astros: report
Discussion:
NESN.com, New York Post and MLB on Yahoo! Sports
Anthony Fenech / Detroit Free Press:
Detroit Tigers sign pitcher Mike Fiers to 1-year, $6 million deal — Get to know new Detroit Tigers manager Ron Gardenhire, who spent 13 years as manager of the Minnesota Twins in 2002-14. He replaces Brad Ausmus with the Tigers. Video by Brian McNamara, Detroit Free Press Wochit — CONNECT
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Evan Woodbery / MLive.com:
Tigers reportedly sign veteran pitcher Mike Fiers to 1-year deal
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Bleacher Nation
Anthony Fenech / Detroit Free Press:
Detroit Tigers close to signing starting pitcher Mike Fiers to one-year deal
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MLB on Yahoo! Sports
Bob Nightengale / USA Today:
Yankees, GM Brian Cashman finalizing five-year, $25 million extension — New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman's grip on the club's baseball operations is growing even firmer, as he and the club are finalizing a five-year, $25 million contract extension, according to a person with direct knowledge of the deal.
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MLB on Yahoo! Sports, Bleacher Report and MLB Trade Rumors
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Arizona Republic:
Top 2017-18 MLB free agents … Catcher Chris Iannetta and the Colorado Rockies have agreed to a two-year deal. — A fourth-round pick by Colorado in 2004, Iannetta spent parts of six seasons with the team before being traded to the Los Angeles Angels on Nov. 30, 2011, for pitcher Tyler Chatwood.
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Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Diamondbacks Claim Henry Owens
Discussion:
MLB on Yahoo! Sports, AZ Snake Pit and Over the Monster
ESPN:
Five trades we'd love to see at the winter meetings — Let's make a deal! The real general managers certainly haven't been, that's for sure. It has been the slowest offseason in memory, as teams wait for free agents to bring down their prices and Shohei Ohtani and Giancarlo Stanton to make their decisions.
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Jeff Wilson / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
Who might be next for Rangers after missing on Ohtani? — As of Thursday afternoon, a baseball source said that he wasn't sure how much thought the Texas Rangers had given to Plan B in their off-season blueprints. — Plan A, of course, was Shohei Ohtani. — Twenty-four hours later, though, that changed in earnest.
Eduardo A. Encina / Baltimore Sun:
Orioles pitcher Kevin Gausman plans to honor Roy Halladay by wearing his No. 34 — Former Orioles first baseman Rafael Palmeiro is reportedly considering a return to the majors at age 53. — Orioles beat writers Eduardo Encina and Jon Meoli talk about the Orioles' minor league signings.
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Camden Chat
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