Top News:
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 — • The sunny weeks of spring training are set up to be an ideal time for a front office executive, especially one with some scout's mileage like John Mozeliak, to watch games and spy a future middle-order hitter that a lineup could be built around.
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cardinals land ‘loud bat’ they coveted with completed deal for Ozuna — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. • When the Miami Marlins had their new owners, signed, sealed, and approved, Cardinals executive John Mozeliak was early in line with a phone call. — He had interest in all three of the Miami Marlins' outfielders.
Jorge L. Ortiz / USA Today:
In Stephen Piscotty trade with Oakland, Cardinals show grace rarely seen in baseball deals — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - The St. Louis Cardinals obtained the potent hitter they desperately needed when they traded for outfielder Marcell Ozuna in one of the winter meetings' biggest deals.
Discussion:
Athletics Nation
Brett Bodner / New York Daily News:
Cardinals trade Stephen Piscotty to A's to be closer to mother battling ALS
Discussion:
Kansas City Star, Baseball America and Athletics Nation
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:
Bleacher Report, 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.
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 …
RELATED:
Zach Buchanan / Cincinnati.com:
Reds make Rule 5 Draft trade in only move of Winter Meetings
Discussion:
Let's Go Tribe, MLB on Yahoo! Sports and Redleg Nation
Ryan Ford / Detroit Free Press:
Report: Former Detroit Tigers pitcher Frank Lary dead at 87 — Former Detroit Tigers pitcher Frank Lary died on Wednesday in Northport, Ala., according to the Tuscaloosa News. Lary was 87. — Lary, known as “Mule” or “Taters” due to his rural Alabama upbringing, spent 11 seasons with the Tigers …
RELATED:
George Sipple / Detroit Free Press:
Detroit Tigers willing to give Victor Martinez chance to bounce back
Discussion:
Minor League Ball
George Sipple / Detroit Free Press:
Detroit Tigers select OF Victor Reyes with first pick in Rule 5 Draft
Discussion:
Red Reporter, Bluebird Banter and Amazin' Avenue
Bob Nightengale / USA Today:
Orioles ready to trade Manny Machado - but fear a back channel to the Bronx — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - The Baltimore Orioles can't stand the idea of trading Manny Machado, but it's time to say goodbye to one of the greatest players in franchise history. — The Orioles, providing owner Peter Angelos …
Discussion:
Camden Chat, Baltimore Sun, SI.com, South Side Sox, Bleacher Nation, Baseball Essential, MLB Trade Rumors, School of Roch and The Athletic
RELATED:
Michael Silverman / Boston Herald:
Source: Red Sox talks signal interest in signing both J.D. Martinez, Eric Hosmer — ORLANDO — A source at the winter meetings said that the Red Sox are engaged in talks with not only free agent outfielder J.D. Martinez but also free agent first baseman Eric Hosmer.
Discussion:
Bleacher Report, Sporting News, NESN.com, Bleacher Nation and MLB on Yahoo! Sports
RELATED:
Nick Piecoro / Arizona Republic:
Arizona Diamondbacks watch Fernando Rodney depart, hopeful after ‘quiet’ winter meetings … CONNECT — TWEET — LINKEDIN — COMMENT — EMAIL — MORE — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - After a week at the winter meetings in which the number of significant trades could be counted on one hand …
RELATED:
Marc Topkin / Tampa Bay Times:
Veteran Jonny Venters, prospect Joe McCarthy among 13 Tampa Bay Rays spring invitees — Inspiring veteran LHP Jonny Venters and intriguing prospect 1B/OF Joe McCarthy are among 13 players invited to major-league spring training camp with the Rays. — Others coming as a result …
Discussion:
MLB on Yahoo! Sports
RELATED:
Fox Sports:
Luke Gregerson, Cardinals finalize $11M, 2-year contract — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) Reliever Luke Gregerson and the St. Louis Cardinals have finalized an $11 million, two-year contract. — A 33-year-old right-hander, Gregerson will have salaries of $5 million in each of the next two seasons …
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.
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors and Baseball Essential
Jennifer Baker / Cincinnati.com:
Superbubz's dad finds Joey Votto home run ball for late son's memorial wall — Reds first baseman Joey Votto hit his 34th home run of the season on Thursday and then high-fived 6-year-old Walter “SuperBubz” Herbert, who is suffering from Stage 4 neuroblastoma. He then gave him his bat and jersey.
