Top News:
John Harper / New York Daily News:
Eduardo Nunez would give the Mets the speed and athleticism they need — During many an off-the-record chat at his locker, Alex Rodriguez loved to play fantasy GM and tell me what he'd do if he were in charge. And the one guy he was always insisting should play more was Eduardo Nunez.
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Bill Madden / New York Daily News:
Mets' Jay Bruce signing just latest example of MLB's frozen free-agent market — A big chunk of ice broke loose from baseball's frozen offseason free agent market with the Mets re-uniting with Jay Bruce for three years/$39 million on Wednesday. Lest anyone think, however …
Matt Ehalt / NorthJersey.com:
Mets have added quality reliever and power bat, but still have open spot for infielder
Dave Clark / Cincinnati.com:
Could Frazier join Bruce with Mets?
Anthony Fenech / Detroit Free Press:
Detroit Tigers agree to deals with relievers Shane Greene, Alex Wilson — The Detroit Tigers have agreed to contracts with two of their four remaining arbitration-eligible players this afternoon. — According to multiple people with knowledge of the situation, right-handed relievers Shane Greene …
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Anthony Fenech / Detroit Free Press:
Detroit Tigers reach deal with James McCann, look to sign four others
Detroit Tigers reach deal with James McCann, look to sign four others
Discussion:
Detroit News, Toronto, Elite Sports NY and Motor City Bengals
Peter Botte / New York Daily News:
Yu Darvish refutes report that Yankees offered him long-term contract — Yu says it's not true. — After revealing earlier in the week that the Yankees were on his list of six teams he's considering in free agency, Yu Darvish took to Twitter again on Friday to refute a report that the Bombers recently made him a long-term offer.
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John Harper / New York Daily News:
What Brian Cashman can do to help Yankees' chances of landing Yu Darvish
Anthony Rieber / Newsday:
Yu Darvish a pitcher of interest to Brian Cashman and Yankees
Yu Darvish a pitcher of interest to Brian Cashman and Yankees
Discussion:
MLB on Yahoo! Sports
ESPN:
Blue Jays, Josh Donaldson reach $23M deal for 2018 season — Third baseman Josh Donaldson and the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday broke the record for the highest salary among players eligible for arbitration, reaching agreement on a one-year deal for $23 million, a source told ESPN's Jerry Crasnick, confirming multiple reports.
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Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Wainwright heads into final year of contract with renewed fire — Back in St. Louis again for another Winter Warm-Up weekend, a staple of his offseason for more than a decade, Cardinals starter Adam Wainwright will sing some tunes for charity, will go way over his scheduled time signing autographs for fans …
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ESPN:
Buster Olney's top 10 teams: Are the Astros and Dodgers still baseball's best? — Postseason performances have outsize value in Major League Baseball, and this is why David Freese shares emotional space with Bob Gibson in St. Louis, why several generations of New Englanders …
Discussion:
Bleacher Nation
New York Daily News:
Mets and Matt Harvey avoid arbitration with one-year, $5.625 million deal: report — The Mets and Matt Harvey reportedly avoided arbitration on Friday with an agreement on a one-year, $5.625 contract. — After a 2017 season marred by injury, a team-mandated suspension and poor pitching …
Discussion:
MLB on Yahoo! Sports
Josh Dawsey / Washington Post:
Trump derides protections for immigrants from ‘shithole’ countries — President Trump grew frustrated with lawmakers Thursday in the Oval Office when they discussed protecting immigrants from Haiti, El Salvador and African countries as part of a bipartisan immigration deal, according to several people briefed on the meeting.
Discussion:
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Mary Kay Cabot / Plain Dealer:
Browns hiring Ken Zampese as quarterbacks coach in reunion with Hue Jackson — CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Browns will likely draft a quarterback such as Josh Rosen or Sam Darnold No. 1 overall, and now he'll have a new position coach guiding him, a league source told cleveland.com.
Discussion:
ProFootballTalk, FanRag Sports and Pro Football Rumors
Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Gibson says remarkable 1968 season had its painful moments — Fifty years ago — really, has it been that long? — Cardinals Hall of Fame righthander Bob Gibson sashayed through the National League with a 22-9 record, 13 shutouts, 28 complete games, 268 strikeouts and a mind-numbing 1.12 earned-run average, best in the modern era.
Phil Thompson / Chicago Tribune:
Comics take swings at ‘skinny’ Kyle Schwarber, Kris Bryant at Anthony Rizzo's benefit — Chicago Tribune — “Curb Your Enthusiasm” actor and Cubs fan Jeff Garlin was a last-minute scratch as host of Anthony Rizzo's Laugh Off for Cancer on Thursday night at Studio Paris …
ESPN:
Charlie Blackmon, Rockies avoid arbitration with $14M deal — The Colorado Rockies and All-Star center fielder Charlie Blackmon agreed to a one-year deal worth $14 million, a source confirmed to ESPN on Friday. — Blackmon, who will be eligible for free agency after the 2018 season …
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MLB on Yahoo! Sports