Top News:
Jesse RogersESPN / ESPN:
Source: Cubs' Kris Bryant gets $11M, most for first-time arbitration-eligible player — CHICAGO — Former Rookie of the Year and MVP Kris Bryant received a record settlement for a first-time arbitration-eligible player on Friday as he agreed to a one-year, $10.85 million deal with the Chicago Cubs …
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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 …
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Cubs agree to terms with Kyle Hendricks, Justin Wilson, Tommy La Stella — Chicago Tribune — The Chicago Cubs agreed to terms Friday with pitchers Kyle Hendricks and Justin Wilson. — The agreements were reached hours before teams and arbitration eligible players face a noon deadline …
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue
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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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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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
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:
Pirates Breakdown, Toronto, Elite Sports NY and Motor City Bengals
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 …
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MLB on Yahoo! Sports
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, Pro Football Rumors and FanRag Sports
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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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.
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Hit & Run, more at WeSmirch »
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
Brad Biggs / Chicago Tribune:
Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio agrees to return to Bears — As much as the Bears sought a fresh voice and new approach for the offense and quarterback Mitch Trubisky, they were pretty happy with how the defense has come along. — They have to feel like they might have the best for both sides …
Discussion:
The Ten-Yard Line and Pro Football Rumors