Top News:
Brett Bodner / New York Daily News:
Cardinals trade Stephen Piscotty to A's to be closer to mother battling ALS — The Cardinals made a trade to do right by one of their players. — St. Louis sent Stephen Piscotty to the Athletics in exchange for Yairo Munoz and Max Schrock on Thursday, ESPN reports.
Discussion:
Bleacher Report, Kansas City Star and St. Louis Post-Dispatch
RELATED:
ESPN:
Cards trade Stephen Piscotty to A's, who will be closer to mom with ALS — The St. Louis Cardinals traded right fielder Stephen Piscotty to the Oakland Athletics on Thursday in exchange for two minor leaguers, the teams announced. — The Cardinals received infielders Yairo Munoz and Max Schrock …
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cards reel in Ozuna — • Already the talk of this offseason among some rivals and agents because of all the talks they're having to stoke their roster, the Cardinals' took their most significant step yet of the winter Wednesday. — Now comes the action.
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Sources: Cardinals set to deal Piscotty to Athletics
Sources: Cardinals set to deal Piscotty to Athletics
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
Marc Topkin / Tampa Bay Times:
Tampa Bay Rays lose RHP Burch Smith in Rule 5 draft, keep Nick Ciuffo — The Rays lost RHP Burch Smith in Thursday's Rule 5 draft but were happy to see him get an opportunity in Kansas City. — They also were pleased to hang on to C Nick Ciuffo, who was left exposed but not selected.
RELATED:
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cardinals reach for a few ‘lottery tickets’ in Rule 5 draft — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. • A loophole used against them a few years ago worked for the Cardinals on Thursday as they reached into the Rule 5 draft and selected a teenage outfielder who they consider a “lottery ticket.”
Zach Buchanan / Cincinnati.com:
Reds make Rule 5 Draft trade in only move of Winter Meetings
Reds make Rule 5 Draft trade in only move of Winter Meetings
Discussion:
Redleg Nation
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
White Sox may pay Rule 5 draft price for upgraded depth
White Sox may pay Rule 5 draft price for upgraded depth
Discussion:
DRaysBay
Ken Rosenthal / The Athletic:
Machado in Chicago? White Sox are serious suitors for the Orioles star — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - In a surprising turn of events, the rebuilding Chicago White Sox emerged Wednesday as the most aggressive suitor for Orioles third baseman Manny Machado, according to major-league sources.
RELATED:
Nicholas Parco / New York Daily News:
White Sox, favorites to land Manny Machado, may be interested in trading him to Yankees for prospects: report
White Sox, favorites to land Manny Machado, may be interested in trading him to Yankees for prospects: report
Discussion:
NESN.com and MLB on Yahoo! Sports
Eduardo A. Encina / Baltimore Sun:
Orioles evaluate Machado's trade market but say it's not yet time to ‘fish or cut bait’
Orioles evaluate Machado's trade market but say it's not yet time to ‘fish or cut bait’
Discussion:
MLB on Yahoo! Sports, Camden Chat and Bleacher Nation
Dave Sheinin / Chicago Tribune:
Marcell Ozuna is the latest Marlin to be sold off from Derek Jeter's ‘pawnshop’ — The Washington Post — The tear-down-and-rebuild model — sometimes referred to indelicately as tanking — has become an accepted and frequently successful strategy in baseball in recent years …
RELATED:
ESPN:
MLB to investigate source of Shohei Ohtani medical information — Major League Baseball will investigate whether a team official leaked Shohei Ohtani's medical information cited in published stories this week, baseball sources told ESPN. — On Tuesday, Sports Illustrated reported that Ohtani …
Discussion:
Halos Heaven, FanGraphs Baseball, Baseball America and Bleacher Report
RELATED:
Anthony Fenech / Detroit Free Press:
Ian Kinsler's no-trade clause forces Detroit Tigers trade with Angels — ORLANDO, Fla. - The Detroit Tigers were frustrated. — It could be felt inside their suite late Wednesday night, less than a half hour until midnight, as general manager Al Avila spoke about trading second baseman Ian Kinsler …
Discussion:
Halos Heaven
RELATED:
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cards notes: Top spot in batting order is up for grabs — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. • First thing's first for the Cardinals as they near spring training. Manager Mike Matheny plans to have a conversation with veteran leadoff hitters Matt Carpenter and Dexter Fowler about who will bat No. 1 entering the season.
RELATED:
Mike Mazzeo / New York Daily News:
With Giancarlo Stanton adding another power bat, Yankees' lineup possibilities seem endless — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — The Yankees' lineup was a frequent topic of conversation during what was an otherwise uneventful Winter Meetings. — Adding the reigning NL MVP, Giancarlo Stanton …
RELATED:
Bradford DoolittleESPN / ESPN:
Will Stanton and Judge become the most prolific slugging duo of all time?
Fox Sports:
Bryce Harper's agent opened contract talk with Nationals — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) With Bryce Harper a year from free agency, the agent for Washington's star opened contract talk with the Nationals. — The 25-year-old right fielder earned $13,625,000 this year and agreed last May to a 2018 deal for $21,625,000.
Discussion:
Federal Baseball, ESPN and USA Today
RELATED:
Jeff Wilson / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
Daniels says time on Rangers' side as winter meetings close, prospects sought — LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLA. — The race to escape the Dolphin half of the Swan & Dolphin Resort on Thursday opened with a false start, as technical difficulties delayed the Rule 5 draft just as the first pick was to be announced.
RELATED:
ESPN:
Twins, closer Fernando Rodney reach 1-year deal — The Minnesota Twins have agreed to a one-year deal with closer Fernando Rodney, according to multiple reports Thursday. — The deal, first reported by Siriux XM, could reach $6 million with incentives and is pending a physical. — EDITOR'S PICKS
Discussion:
Baseball Prospectus and MLB Daily Dish
Matt Gelb / Philly.com:
Phillies lose Carlos Tocci, acquire international cash — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — The Phillies have long liked Carlos Tocci, an outfielder they signed from Venezuela for $750,000 before investing six seasons in his development. But they had left him unprotected from the Rule 5 draft …
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball
Dave Clark / Cincinnati.com:
Todd Frazier reportedly has drawn interest from about 10 teams — Todd Frazier, a former Cincinnati Reds fan favorite and 2015 Home Run Derby champ who has since played for the Chicago White Sox and New York Yankees, is a free agent, has had about 10 teams express various levels of interest …
Discussion:
New York Post and MLB Daily Dish
Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:
Mets leave Winter Meetings with deal for reliever Anthony Swarzak — here's what's next — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Sandy Alderson walked out of the Winter Meetings content with what the Mets accomplished over the past four days. The Mets GM has a deal in place to address the need for another bullpen arm …
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Cubs, White Sox scouts to be honored — Former Cubs scout Stan Zielinski jots down notes while working his way around Alex Box Stadium in Baton Rouge, La., Saturday, June 6, 2009. (Bill Feig / AP) Chicago Tribune — The late Stan Zielinski of the Cubs and Dave Yoakum of the White Sox …