Top News:
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Winter market has been frigid, but Cubs players stoking competitive fire — Chicago Tribune — President Theo Epstein stressed patience as he and his staff try to fortify the Cubs pitching staff during what has so far been a tedious winter. — “Realistically we'd like to add another pitcher …
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue
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Fox Sports:
Bryant gets $10.85M, record for 1st arbitration eligible — CHICAGO (AP) Kris Bryant has agreed to a $10.85 million, one-year deal with the Chicago Cubs, a record for a player eligible for arbitration for the first time. — The previous mark was held by Ryan Howard, who was awarded $10 million …
Jesse RogersESPN / ESPN:
Source: Cubs' Kris Bryant gets $11M, most for first-time arbitration-eligible player
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Cubs agree to terms with Kyle Hendricks, Justin Wilson, Tommy La Stella
Cubs agree to terms with Kyle Hendricks, Justin Wilson, Tommy La Stella
Discussion:
MLB on Yahoo! Sports and Bleed Cubbie Blue
Jesse RogersESPN / ESPN:
Are the Cubs one pitcher short as they play free-agent waiting game?
Are the Cubs one pitcher short as they play free-agent waiting game?
Discussion:
MLB on Yahoo! Sports
Phil Thompson / Chicago Tribune:
Comics take swings at ‘skinny’ Kyle Schwarber, Kris Bryant at Anthony Rizzo's benefit
Comics take swings at ‘skinny’ Kyle Schwarber, Kris Bryant at Anthony Rizzo's benefit
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue
Anthony Fenech / Detroit Free Press:
Detroit Tigers avoid arbitration with 3, but no deal yet with Iglesias — The Tigers' 16-year streak of avoiding salary arbitration hearings is in jeopardy. — The team agreed to contracts with three of their four remaining arbitration-eligible players on Friday but are $1.2 million apart with shortstop Jose Iglesias.
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Bless You Boys
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Associated Press:
Tigers avoid arbitration with Nicholas Castellanos, Alex Wilson, Shane Greene — DETROIT — The Detroit Tigers have agreed to a one-year, $6.05 million contract with Nicholas Castellanos, avoiding arbitration. — The Tigers also reached one-year deals with right-handers Alex Wilson ($1,925,000) and Shane Greene ($1.95 million).
Anthony Fenech / Detroit Free Press:
Detroit Tigers agree to deals with relievers Shane Greene, Alex Wilson
Detroit Tigers agree to deals with relievers Shane Greene, Alex Wilson
Discussion:
Motor City Bengals
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cards avoid hearings, have deals with Ozuna, Wacha, Lyons — Before introducing the centerpiece of their offseason and new focal point of their lineup to the home crowd this weekend at the Winter Warm-Up, the Cardinals reached an agreement with Marcell Ozuna on his salary for the coming season …
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Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cardinals, Ozuna avoid arbitration with $9 million deal for 2018
Cardinals, Ozuna avoid arbitration with $9 million deal for 2018
Discussion:
MLB on Yahoo! Sports
Associated Press:
Alex Wood gets $6 million from Dodgers; Yasmani Grandal gets $7.9 million — LOS ANGELES — All-Star pitcher Alex Wood agreed to a $6 million deal with the Dodgers, and catcher Yasmani Grandal settled at $7.9 million. They are among seven Los Angeles players agreeing to one-year contracts that avoid arbitration.
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Bill Plunkett / Orange County Register:
Dodgers reach contract agreements with all of their arbitration-eligible players — LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers reached agreement on one-year contracts with all of their arbitration-eligible players Friday. — The Dodgers have not gone to an arbitration hearing with a player since reliever Joe Beimel in 2007.
Discussion:
True Blue LA
ESPN:
Source: Manny Machado avoids arbitration with $16M deal — Manny Machado agreed to a one-year, $16 million deal with the Baltimore Orioles on Friday to avoid a salary arbitration hearing in February, a source told ESPN. — Machado, 25, is a three-time All-Star with two Gold Gloves over parts of six seasons with the Orioles.
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Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Orioles Avoid Arbitration With Zach Britton, Brad Brach
Orioles Avoid Arbitration With Zach Britton, Brad Brach
Discussion:
Jays Journal, Camden Chat and MLB on Yahoo! Sports
Associated Press:
Anthony Rendon, Nationals agree on $12.3M contract — WASHINGTON — Nationals third baseman Anthony Rendon more than doubled his salary going into 2018, reaching agreement on a $12.3 million contract Friday to avoid salary arbitration. — Rendon made $5.8 million last season, his first year of arbitration eligibility.
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Chelsea Janes / Washington Post:
Nationals avoid arbitration with Anthony Rendon, Tanner Roark and Michael A. Taylor
Nationals avoid arbitration with Anthony Rendon, Tanner Roark and Michael A. Taylor
Discussion:
Federal Baseball
Associated Press:
Mets reach deals with Jacob deGrom, Noah Syndergaard, Matt Harvey, 5 more — NEW YORK — The New York Mets have reached one-year deals with starters Jacob deGrom, Noah Syndergaard and Matt Harvey and settled with five other players. — Relievers Jeurys Familia, AJ Ramos and Hansel Robles …
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CBS New York:
Yu Darvish Changes Story, Says Yankees Did Offer Him Contract — NEW YORK — Yu Darvish backtracked Friday after initially refuting a report that he received a long-term contract offer from the Yankees. — On Thursday, Michael Kay reported on his ESPN radio show that the Yankees offered …
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors, MLB Daily Dish, NESN.com and Pinstripe Alley
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Peter Botte / New York Daily News:
Yu Darvish refutes report that Yankees offered him long-term contract
Yu Darvish refutes report that Yankees offered him long-term contract
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley
Globe and Mail:
Jays sign Josh Donaldson to one-year, $23-million contract — Third baseman Josh Donaldson and the Toronto Blue Jays have agreed to a $23 million (U.S.), one-year contact, the largest one-year deal for an arbitration-eligible player. — The new deal gives the 2015 AL MVP a $6 million raise.
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
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Associated Press:
Angels reach deal with Garrett Richards, other arbitration eligibles — LOS ANGELES — Pitchers Garrett Richards, Tyler Skaggs and Matt Shoemaker agreed to one-year deals with the Los Angeles Angels along with the team's other seven arbitration-eligible players. — Richards, the team's ace, agreed at $7.3 million.
Associated Press:
Astros give Dallas Keuchel $13.2M, one-year deal — HOUSTON — Astros starter Dallas Keuchel agreed to a $13.2 million, one-year contract after helping lead Houston to its first World Series title, and designated hitter/catcher Evan Gattis got a $6.7 million deal.
Associated Press:
Braves reach $3.4 million deal with reliever Arodys Vizcaino; two others get deals — ATLANTA — The Atlanta Braves have agreed to a one-year, $3.4 million deal with reliever Arodys Vizcaino, avoiding arbitration. — The Braves also avoided arbitration with two other players …