Top News:
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cards notebook: Waino's future not an issue for either side right now — Cardinals starter Adam Wainwright said he spent parts of last season oscillating between thinking he was pitching well enough for a contract extension to pitching poorly enough that he wouldn't get one.
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Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cecil started early to be ready for late-game assignments — ST. LOUIS • On a scale of 1 to 10, where 10 is what the Cardinals signed him to do in relief and 1 is, well, something shy of being released, Brett Cecil proved to be a harsh grader of his first season in the club's bullpen.
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.
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Bader eager to learn from Ozuna after being mentioned in trade rumors
Discussion:
Viva El Birdos
St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
ST. LOUIS • When the Cardinals traded Magnerius Sierra, some worried about losing …
St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
ST. LOUIS • As Cardinals players make their trip through the media room at Winter Warm-Up …
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cardinals Winter Warm-Up: Traveling path from good to great
Discussion:
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.
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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Kaz Nagatsuka / Japan Times:
Hideki Matsui elected to Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame — Hideki Matsui already has three Central League MVPs, a World Series MVP and a People's Honor Award, and he has played for the most storied teams in both Japan and the United States. — “Godzilla” has collected numerous accolades …
Discussion:
MLB on Yahoo! Sports and FanRag Sports
Mike Mazzeo / New York Daily News:
Mets' infield options shrink as Howie Kendrick signs with Nationals — Howie Kendrick was linked as a possible infield option for the Mets, but the versatile veteran will be staying with the NL East rival Nationals, agreeing to a two-year, $7 million deal with Washington, according to multiple reports.
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Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
Nationals Nearing Agreement With Howie Kendrick — The Nationals are nearing a deal with infielder/outfielder Howie Kendrick, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today (via Twitter). The prospective contract would promise Kendrick $7MM over two years. — If the contract is finalized …
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish, FanRag Sports and Lone Star Ball
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 …
Associated Press:
Blue Jays announce plans for extended protective netting at Rogers Centre — TORONTO — The Blue Jays will extend the protective netting at Rogers Centre to the outfield end of each dugout this season and increase the height of netting behind home plate by approximately 10 feet, to 28 feet.
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Cubs say Sammy Sosa not welcome back until he puts ‘everything on the table’ — Chicago Tribune — The red carpet won't be rolled out at Wrigley Field for Sammy Sosa until he comes clean. — Chairman Tom Ricketts issued a lengthy but vague reply Saturday at the Cubs Convention …
Discussion:
MLB on Yahoo! Sports, CBS Chicago and Bleed Cubbie Blue
