Top News:
Eduardo A. Encina / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Orioles, right-hander Alex Cobb agree to four-year deal — SARASOTA, Fla. — With fewer than 10 days to go until Opening Day, the Orioles are nearing their biggest upgrade of the offseason: a deal with former Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Alex Cobb, according to an industry source.
Discussion:
Baltimore Sun
RELATED:
Roch Kubatko / School of Roch:
Orioles nearing deal with Alex Cobb (final update) — SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles played the waiting game again in free agency and are close to scoring with the biggest piece remaining on the free agent market. — Right-hander Alex Cobb is nearing an agreement with the Orioles …
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com and Orioles Hangout
Adam Wells / Bleacher Report:
Alex Cobb, Orioles Reportedly Agree to Contract After 7 Seasons with Rays
Alex Cobb, Orioles Reportedly Agree to Contract After 7 Seasons with Rays
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors, Bleacher Nation, Camden Chat and Lone Star Ball
Ben Reiter / Sports Illustrated:
How Giancarlo Stanton Negotiated His Way to the Yankees to Create Baseball's Scariest Lineup — Created with Sketch. — By acquiring Giancarlo Stanton, the Yankees created a lineup that will take power to new heights. — As midnight approached on Thursday, Dec. 7 …
Discussion:
NESN.com, miamiherald, MLB Baseball News …, baseballmusings.com and USA Today
RELATED:
Associated Press:
Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner suffers broken left wrist — GLENDALE, Ariz. — The reigning National League champion Dodgers are going to be without their red-headed slugger on Opening Day, and possibly for a while after. — Justin Turner has a broken left wrist after being hit …
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
RELATED:
ESPN:
Jose Abreu leaves game against Rangers with left hamstring tightness, status is day to day — Chicago White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu left Tuesday's game against the Texas Rangers with tightness in his left hamstring. — Abreu, who was removed in the top of the third inning after going 1 …
RELATED:
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Column: Now that White Sox have sent Michael Kopech down, when will he be back up?
Colleen Kane / Chicago Tribune:
White Sox send Michael Kopech and Jacob May to minors
White Sox send Michael Kopech and Jacob May to minors
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …
Pete Caldera / Daily Record:
Aaron Boone's opening day Yankees lineup will be seasoned by analytics — TAMPA, Fla. - Yankees Universe has been getting some loud hints about manager Aaron Boone's opening day lineup, though nothing is official yet. — All spring, Boone has been pondering different lineup combinations with his coaches.
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley and NorthJersey.com
RELATED:
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
No closer is no problem so far for Cardinals — • With new pitching coach Mike Maddux along with him, Cardinals manager Mike Matheny had his annual late-spring chat with owners Tuesday and went straight to the bullpen. — He didn't wait for Maddux to call on the inevitable question.
RELATED:
Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Voit stars but Cardinals fall to Mets 8-7
John Fay / Cincinnati.com:
Cincinnati Reds right-hander Michael Lorenzen dealing with injury — Reds right-handed pitcher Michael Lorenzen struggled in his second start of spring training Thursday against the Chicago White Sox The Enquirer/Adam Baum — GOODYEAR, Ariz. - Right-hander Michael Lorenzen's quest to make the starting rotation is probably over.
Discussion:
redsminorleagues.com and Red Reporter
RELATED:
Bill Plunkett / Orange County Register:
Cody Bellinger, Joc Pederson, Trayce Thompson homer to carry Dodgers past A's — THE GAME: Cody Bellinger, Joc Pederson and Trayce Thompson hit home runs to give the Dodgers a 3-0 victory over the Oakland A's on Monday night at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Ariz.
Discussion:
DodgerBlue.com, Athletics Nation, MLB Baseball News … and Daily Breeze
RELATED:
Bill Shaikin / Los Angeles Times:
Dodgers beat Athletics 3-1, but lose Justin Turner
Dodgers beat Athletics 3-1, but lose Justin Turner
Discussion:
DodgerBlue.com
Ben Axelrod / WKYC-TV:
What does Jose Altuve's new contract mean for Cleveland Indians SS Francisco Lindor? — The Houston Astros shortstop just signed a 5-year, $151 million contract extension. — If Francisco Lindor's trademark smile has looked brighter than usual lately, there might be a reason why.
RELATED:
Roger Mooney / Tampa Bay Times:
Rays OF Mallex Smith's hamstring passes test — SARASOTA — OF Mallex Smith's chances of being ready by opening day took a positive step Tuesday when he had five at-bats during a minor-league game. — “Everything came out with flying colors,” manager Kevin Cash said.
RELATED:
Roger Mooney / Tampa Bay Times:
Rays' Matt Andriese: A starter in bullpen land
Nick Piecoro / Arizona Republic:
Arizona Diamondbacks spring training - 2018 … In his first official at-bat of the spring, Alex Avila launched a home run to right-center field in Goodyear. It remains his only hit in Cactus League play. If anyone with the Diamondbacks is even remotely worried about this, that would make them far more concerned than Avila.
RELATED:
Daily Record:
Yankees grab Anyelo Gomez in MLB Rule 5 draft — Anyelo Gomez is a Yankee once more. — After being taken from the Yankees by the Braves in the MLB Rule 5 draft in December, Gomez is now back with New York after the Yankees snagged him Tuesday in the same manner. He will be assigned to Class AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre:
RELATED:
Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
Athletics Agree To Terms With Brett Anderson — The Athletics have agreed to a contract with veteran lefty Brett Anderson, according to Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle. It's a minors deal, but other terms are not yet known. — If the deal becomes official …
Discussion:
San Francisco Chronicle, MLB Baseball News …, MLB Daily Dish and Athletics Nation
Detroit Free Press:
Next Slide — LAKELAND, Fla. — The Detroit Tigers may leave Florida with a dozen pitchers and 13 position players to start the 2018 season. — Tigers manager Ron Gardenhire acknowledged on Tuesday that's the split he'd prefer to have heading north, before adding that no final decision has been made.
Alex Butler / UPI:
Russell Martin makes great catch, gets smacked in face by pole … Toronto Blue Jays catcher Russell Martin — and his man bun — were hit with a pole Tuesday at Spectrum Field in Clearwater, Fla. — The collision went down in the bottom of the second inning in the Blue Jays' 2-0 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies.
Discussion:
USA Today
Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
Mark Leiter Diagnosed With Mild Flexor Strain — Phillies righty Mark Leiter has been diagnosed with a mild flexor strain, according to Jim Salisbury of CSNPhilly.com (via Twitter). He will be shut down for two to three weeks before attempting to ramp back up.
Discussion:
The Good Phight, MLB Baseball News … and Call to the Pen
Mark Maske / Washington Post:
NFL sets new definition for controversial catch rule … The NFL is about to have a new catch rule. The league's rule-making competition committee is poised to change the controversial rule by eliminating two provisions that were particularly confounding over the years to players …
Discussion:
ProFootballTalk, sports.MyNorthwest.com, The Ringer, USA Today, Big Blue View, CBS Boston and NESN.com
SportsDayDFW com / Dallas Morning News:
This was the biggest conversation Jon Daniels and the Rangers had at the beginning of winter — Rangers GM Jon Daniels appeared on 105. 3 The Fan's G-Bag Nation recently to talk about his ballclub heading into the start of the season. Here are some of the highlights.
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball