Top News:
Maria Torres / Los Angeles Times:
Bryce Harper, Manny Machado headline 2018 free agency — When he signed a $93-million, three-year contract extension with the Dodgers on Friday, Clayton Kershaw opted not to test a free-agent market headlined by a pair of younger generational talents in Bryce Harper and Manny Machado.
Discussion:
FanGraphs Baseball
RELATED:
Tim Dierkes / MLB Trade Rumors:
2018-19 Top 50 MLB Free Agents With Predictions — MLB Trade Rumors is proud to present our 13th annual Top 50 Free Agents list! For the entire list of free agents, plus the ability to filter by signing status, position, signing team, and qualifying offer status, check out our mobile-friendly free agent tracker here.
Discussion:
Sox Machine, Bleacher Nation, Purple Row, Cubs Insider, DRaysBay, Talking Chop, Federal Baseball and Al's Ramblings
Chandler Rome / Houston Chronicle:
Astros extend qualifying offer to pitcher Dallas Keuchel — Only Dallas Keuchel received a qualifying offer from the Astros before Friday's 4 p.m. deadline, meaning the free agent lefthander could accept the one-year, $17.9 million deal and return to Houston for the 2019 season.
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Rockies Will Not Issue Any Qualifying Offers
Discussion:
Purple Row and The Crawfish Boxes
Associated Press:
Alex Cora brings World Series trophy to Puerto Rico — CAGUAS, Puerto Rico — Hundreds of arms stretched into the sky in the hometown of Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora on Saturday, as fans took pictures and video of the first man from Puerto Rico to lead a team to a World Series championship.
RELATED:
ESPN:
Alex Cora bringing World Series trophy to his Puerto Rican hometown
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News … and NBCSports.com
Joel Sherman / New York Post:
‘Pissed off’ Hal Steinbrenner opens up: Red Sox anger, Machado caution
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley, Cubs Insider, Sportsnet.ca, NESN.com and MLB Baseball News …
Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:
Mets cut Rafael Montero, once considered an ace of the future — Once considered a future ace of the franchise, Rafael Montero was cut by the Mets Friday. The right-hander, who had surgery in the spring, ended up pitching in just 58 major league games for the Mets.
RELATED:
Mike Puma / New York Post:
Filling Mets' holes may not be biggest challenge for new GM … And now begins the annual game of wondering if the Mets will spend on free agents. — The Mets took a relatively conservative approach last winter, spreading moderate sums over several positions, and struck out in free agency as Jay Bruce …
David Schoenfield / ESPN:
Why Mookie Betts is the perfect player, and other fun stats — Before there was Baseball-Reference.com, there was “The Bill James Handbook,” the annual statistical compilation of the baseball season. The “Handbook” still exists, and it's still wonderful — 600 pages of stats and essays and delightful nuggets of information.
Nick Piecoro / Arizona Republic:
Multi-talented Daulton Varsho could be Diamondbacks' catcher of the future — Diamondbacks prospect Daulton Varsho has a short, stocky build, a compact swing from the left side, more power than expected and enough speed that some scouts think he could one day steal 20 bases in the big leagues.
Marc Topkin / Tampa Bay Times:
Rays Tales: Laying out the agenda for a busy offseason — With offseason business officially starting following the end of the World Series, the Rays have plenty to do as always. But with a bit of a different approach this year, as they have the bulk of their roster set …
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
Jon Meoli / Baltimore Sun:
Source: Orioles have interviewed seven candidates in first phase of search to replace Dan Duquette — Former Boston Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington is among the candidates the Orioles have interviewed or plan to interview to replace Dan Duquette. (Associated Press)
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors and Camden Chat
ESPN:
Reports: Rangers hire Chris Woodward as new manager — The Texas Rangers have hired Los Angeles Dodgers third-base coach Chris Woodward as their new manager, according to multiple reports. — The news was first reported Friday by USA Today Sports. — Woodward, 42, will take on his first …
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
Bill James Online:
The Strikeout Push/Pull Effect — Hey, guys. I am aware that I owe you one article from the Rookie series, and I'll get to that next, and then we'll get back to the Bill James Life in Prison Baseball Game, try to re-launch that, but first of all I got carried away with a serious research question …
Discussion:
Beyond the Box Score and baseballmusings.com
