Top News:
Ben Frederickson / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cardinals' Weaver packs on pounds — Leave it to a skinny — but hey, not as skinny as he once was — starting pitcher to make gaining weight sound so hard and food in general sound so ... blah. — “I sat down with a nutritionist,” Luke Weaver said after one big sigh. — “It was like a 5,000-calorie (per day) deal.
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Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
True to his word, Molina makes trip to Venezuela — Although his guest had repeatedly promised to come visit him in Venezuela, Cardinals first baseman Jose Martinez didn't believe it until the plane arrived. — At least he had rented a house for Yadier Molina.
Fox Sports:
Ozuna excited to join playoff contender in St. Louis — ST. LOUIS (AP) Marcell Ozuna knew he was likely to be traded when the Miami Marlins began their salary purge during the offseason, and he paid special attention to the rumors about where he might play this year.
St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
ST. LOUIS • When the Cardinals traded Magnerius Sierra, some worried about losing the weapon that he was - this throwback speedster, as if he was draped in an 80s baby blue V-neck Cards uniform. — But there is another base stealer on the horizon, one who could make a Sierra-like splash on the Cards at some point in 2018.
St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
ST. LOUIS • As Cardinals players make their trip through the media room at Winter Warm-Up, they are almost always asked about their goals for the upcoming season. — Their responses tend to get overlooked, because all too often they are the same ones cited every by every player, every year.
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Bader eager to learn from Ozuna after being mentioned in trade rumors
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cardinals Winter Warm-Up: Traveling path from good to great
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cardinals pitcher Miles Mikolas learned value of quick outs in Japan
Kurt Voigt / Associated Press:
St. Louis Cardinals not ruling out more free agent signings
St. Louis Cardinals not ruling out more free agent signings
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors and NBCSports.com
Jeff Wilson / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
Darvish staying calm in stalled market, but would Rangers have a chance if he blinks? — Yu Darvish can probably scratch the Houston Astros off his list of suitors. — The Astros, the reigning world champs, added to their deep starting rotation Sunday by acquiring right-hander Gerrit Cole from the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Discussion:
SI.com
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Bob Nightengale / WKYC-TV:
Pittsburgh Pirates trade Gerrit Cole to World Series champion Houston Astros — In return, the Pirates received pitchers Joe Musgrove, Michael Feliz, outfielder Jason Martin and third baseman Colin Moran. — The defending World Series champion Houston Astros just got better.
ESPN:
Fantasy reaction to Gerrit Cole's trade to the Astros — The long-rumored trade of Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Gerrit Cole to the Houston Astros was consummated Saturday night and while it's nice for the defending champions to secure another solid starter and they didn't give …
John Harper / New York Daily News:
Yankees, after passing on Gerrit Cole, now have real chance at getting Yu Darvish for ‘reasonable price’ — So the Yankees didn't get Gerrit Cole, who was traded to the Astros Saturday, but the package the Pirates received was underwhelming enough to make me think Brian Cashman has a bigger deal in mind.
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley, MLB on Yahoo! Sports, The Good Phight, Bleacher Nation, Lone Star Ball and Bleed Cubbie Blue
Justin Verlander / ESPN:
Pirates RHP Gerrit Cole traded to Astros in 5-player deal
Pirates RHP Gerrit Cole traded to Astros in 5-player deal
Discussion:
Bucs Dugout, Over the Monster and Pinstripe Alley
Denver Post:
Hall of Fame umpire Doug Harvey, called “God” by players, dies at 87 — VISALIA, Calif. — Doug Harvey was so sure of his calls on the diamond, he ended every game the same way. Following the last out, the umpire took his wad of chewing tobacco and flung it on home plate.
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Steve Gardner / USA Today:
Hall of Fame countdown: A great all-around talent, Larry Walker deserves a closer look — USA TODAY Sports is counting down the top 24 candidates on the 2018 Baseball Hall of Fame ballot in advance of the Jan. 24 election results. The countdown is based on voting by our power rankings panel, which includes five Hall voters.
ESPN:
Baseball's best bets to break out in 2018 — Predicting breakout seasons is the holy grail for front office executives and fantasy baseball players, one of baseball's most profitable prognostication challenges. The 2018 season will have its own Justin Smoak and Yonder Alonso …