Top News:
ESPN:
Cold stove: The four teams no one talked about at the winter meetings — It was a quiet week in Orlando, if you're just looking at the transactions logs. There was a run on setup relievers, but there are enough setup relievers to go around; a valuable Marlin was traded, but other valuable Marlins somehow weren't.
Discussion:
NBCSports.com, Chicago Tribune and CBSSports.com
RELATED:
Chris Kuc / Chicago Tribune:
Tim Raines joins A.J. Pierzynski, Jose Contreras as White Sox ambassadors
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Winter meetings wrap-up: White Sox aim high while Cubs bolster bullpen
Bob Nightengale / USA Today:
Orioles ready to trade Manny Machado - but fear a back channel to the Bronx
Orioles ready to trade Manny Machado - but fear a back channel to the Bronx
Sean Welsh / Baltimore Sun:
As Orioles ponder Manny Machado trade, who can kids in Baltimore call their hero?
As Orioles ponder Manny Machado trade, who can kids in Baltimore call their hero?
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
Ben Frederickson / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
BenFred: Everybody wins in Cards-A's trade — especially Piscotty's family — Ben Frederickson is a sports columnist for stltoday.com — The Cardinals, on a hot streak and gaining ground on the Rockies and Brewers in the wild-card chase, had been held to one hit in six innings by Padres rookie pitcher Dinelson Lamet.
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
RELATED:
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cardinals finish trades for Ozuna, Piscotty
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cardinals land ‘loud bat’ they coveted with completed deal for Ozuna
Jorge L. Ortiz / USA Today:
In Stephen Piscotty trade with Oakland, Cardinals show grace rarely seen in baseball deals
In Stephen Piscotty trade with Oakland, Cardinals show grace rarely seen in baseball deals
Discussion:
Athletics Nation
ESPN:
Former Reds SS Zack Cozart signs 3-year deal with Angels — The Los Angeles Angels continued their busy offseason Friday, signing infielder Zack Cozart to a three-year contract. — The team did not disclose financial terms, but a source confirmed to ESPN's Jerry Crasnick that the deal is worth $38 million.
Discussion:
MLB on Yahoo! Sports and Lone Star Ball
RELATED:
Rustin Dodd / Kansas City Star:
The Angels find a third baseman. It's not Mike Moustakas — A pair of signings on Friday loosened the lid on baseball's gridlocked free-agent market and presented one interesting development in Kansas City. Mike Moustakas, the Royals' starting third baseman and franchise record holder for home runs …
Associated Press:
Aaron Judge: I can't wait to play alongside Giancarlo Stanton — EDITOR'S PICKS — A look back at the power-hitting duos of history proves it: We've never seen anything quite like the pairing of Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge. — The reigning AL Rookie of the Year alongside the NL MVP.
Discussion:
Forbes, Bleacher Report, Sporting News, NESN.com, FanRag Sports and ESPN
RELATED:
Mike Mazzeo / New York Daily News:
Aaron Judge can't wait to play alongside Giancarlo Stanton — Aaron Judge is looking forward to playing with Giancarlo Stanton — the newest towering terror in the Yankees' lineup. — “He's an MVP,” Judge told the Associated Press on Thursday night, where he was attending the Warriors game.
Jon Becker / Mercury News:
Stephen Piscotty's mom has touching message for Cardinals, fans — PLEASANTON — Fulfilling a lifelong dream sometimes comes with complications. Just ask the Piscotty family. — Fantasy met reality in Pleasanton Thursday when Stephen Piscotty was traded from the St. Louis Cardinals …
Discussion:
St. Louis Business Journal
RELATED:
NBC Sports / MLB on Yahoo! Sports:
Padres, Phillies have an agreement in place on the Freddy Galvis trade — UPDATE: Bob Nightengale reports that the Padres have a “tentative agreement” in place to acquire — Freddy Galvis and a trade “should be finalized” today. The deal will have a minor league pitcher, not yet identified, heading back to Philly for Galvis.
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish, Minor League Ball, Gaslamp Ball and The Good Phight
RELATED:
Matt Breen / Philly.com:
Phillies trade Freddy Galvis to San Diego Padres
Shawn Windsor / Detroit Free Press:
It's a no-brainer: Detroit Tigers should trade Michael Fulmer — George Sipple/Anthony Fenech/Detroit Free Press — Detroit Tigers pitcher Michael Fulmer could become the kind of ace that fronts a starting rotation. Even if he does, it may not matter, as the Tigers aren't likely to push for a World Series title for a while.
RELATED:
Ryan Ford / Detroit Free Press:
Report: Former Detroit Tigers pitcher Frank Lary dead at 87
Report: Former Detroit Tigers pitcher Frank Lary dead at 87
Discussion:
Detroit News and MLB on Yahoo! Sports
George Sipple / Detroit Free Press:
Detroit Tigers willing to give Victor Martinez chance to bounce back
Detroit Tigers willing to give Victor Martinez chance to bounce back
Discussion:
Bless You Boys and Minor League Ball
George A. King III / New York Post:
It may take ditching Clint Frazier to solve Yankees' rotation needs — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Brian Cashman entered the Winter Meetings searching for rotation help and exited without it. — Yet just because baseball's meat market has closed doesn't mean the Yankees general manager won't land a starting pitcher or two.
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Phillies Agree To Terms With Carlos Santana — 1:28pm: Santana's contract is still pending a physical, tweets Jim Salisbury of NBC Sports Philadelphia. Salisbury also tweets that Hoskins will indeed play a significant amount of left field, freeing up the possibility of the trade of an outfielder.
Stefan Stevenson / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
Cole Hamels donating 32,000 square feet Missouri mansion to charity — This is one heck of a Christmas gift. — Texas Rangers' pitcher Cole Hamels and wife Heidi are donating their 32,000 square foot Missouri mansion and over 100 acres on Table Rock Lake to Camp Barnabas …
ESPN:
Indians agree to minor-league deal with Melvin Upton Jr. — The Cleveland Indians have agreed to a minor-league contract with veteran outfielder Melvin Upton Jr., a source confirmed to ESPN's Buster Olney. — The deal will pay Upton a base salary of $1.5 million if he makes …
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Notebook: Cardinals take advantage of Rule 5 draft loophole — After several years of having players handpicked out of their minor-league system by other teams — San Diego was an annual pilferer — the Cardinals did not have a player taken in the major-league portion of the draft Wednesday …