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Bob Nightengale / USA Today:
Bryce Harper will sign with the Phillies. You can bank on it. — CARLSBAD, Calif. — It was the Bryce Harper show Wednesday, or as agent Scott Boras cleverly called it, “Harper's Bazaar.” — It has nothing to do with the fashion industry, and everything to do with a man who's about to become …
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Bob Nightengale / USA Today:
Bryce Harper turned down $300 million offer from Nationals — CARLSBAD, Calif. — The Washington Nationals' contract offer to All-Star outfielder Bryce Harper was for 10-year, $300 million that he rejected five weeks ago, two persons with direct knowledge of the proposed deal told USA TODAY Sports.
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Matt Ehalt / Daily Record:
Gary Sanchez to have shoulder procedure, but expected to be ready for Opening Day — CARLSBAD, Calif. — The Yankees may have a reason for Gary Sanchez's lost season. — Sanchez will undergo a debridement procedure on his left shoulder, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman announced Wednesday during the GM Meetings.
Jesse Rogers / ESPN:
Agent Scott Boras ready to listen to ‘historical’ offers for Bryce Harper — CARLSBAD, Calif. — Declaring “Harper's Bazaar” open for business on Wednesday, baseball superagent Scott Boras is ready to listen to high-priced offers for Bryce Harper, his 26-year-old superstar client.
Morning Call / Baltimore Sun:
Reporter says ‘bank on it,’ Phils will get Bryce Harper — At least one national baseball writer has hitched himself to the “Harper-to-the-Phillies” wagon. — USA Today's Bob Nightengale thinks the Phils are a shoo-in to sign Harper. — Harper, 26, has spent his entire career in Washington …
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Wallace Matthews / New York Daily News:
Let the games begin between agent Scott Boras and the Yankees over Bryce Harper — CARLSBAD, Ca. - Super agent Scott Boras says Bryce Harper is a “generational player,” a once-in-a-lifetime talent who over the course of what is expected to be a 10-year, $300 million-plus free agent contract will …
Ryan Divish / The Seattle Times:
Mariners working on a trade that would send catcher Mike Zunino, outfielder Guillermo Heredia to the Rays — Seattle will also send outfielder Guillermo Heredia to Tampa in exchange for outfielder Mallex Smith, who hit .296 with the Rays last season. — Mike Zunino may not have to go far …
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ESPN:
Rays finalizing trade for Mariners catcher Mike Zunino, per report — The Mariners are finalizing a trade with the Tampa Bay Rays involving catcher Mike Zunino, the Seattle Times reported Wednesday. — Seattle would send Zunino and part-time outfielder Guillermo Heredia to Tampa Bay …
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Column: Future of Cubs pitching coach Jim Hickey in question after report he's on way out — Photos of Theo Epstein, the Cubs' president of baseball operations. — Chicago Tribune — Cubs President Theo Epstein on Wednesday declined comment on an WMVP-AM 1000 report that pitching coach Jim Hickey will not return in 2019.
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Henry Schulman / San Francisco Chronicle:
Giants' new baseball chief Zaidi talks Bumgarner, rebuild, working with Bochy — Giants CEO Larry Baer first met Farhan Zaidi on Friday. They reconvened Sunday and Monday, when Baer offered the Dodgers general manager the chance to lead San Francisco's front office for at least the next five years.
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Associated Press:
Farhan Zaidi ready to take a team effort leading Giants — SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Farhan Zaidi understands the intrigue that stems from his unique baseball path: from the small-budget Oakland Athletics to the big-spending Los Angeles Dodgers and back to the Bay Area to join the rival Giants.
Andy McCullough / Baltimore Sun:
Dodgers have to figure out how to replace Farhan Zaidi — In the early days of the 2017 season, a name on the transaction wire piqued the interest of Farhan Zaidi. He remembered Max Muncy from his time as a member of Oakland's front office, and retained affection for the squat infielder's plate discipline and simplified swing.
Associated Press:
Dodgers exercise Roberts' option while eyeing long-term deal — CARLSBAD, Calif. (AP) — The Los Angeles Dodgers have exercised their option on Dave Roberts' contract for 2019 while continuing to work on a long-term deal for the manager who has taken the team to consecutive World Series.
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Jorge Castillo / Los Angeles Times:
Dodgers pick up option on manager Dave Roberts' contract
Dodgers pick up option on manager Dave Roberts' contract
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Gabriel Baumgaertner / Sports Illustrated:
The Dodgers Were Wise to Keep Dave Roberts as Their Manager. That Should Be Obvious to Everyone.
The Dodgers Were Wise to Keep Dave Roberts as Their Manager. That Should Be Obvious to Everyone.
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Associated Press:
White Sox extend manager Rick Renteria's contract past 2019 — CARLSBAD, Calif. — The rebuilding Chicago White Sox have extended manager Rick Renteria's contract. — General manager Rick Hahn declined to give specifics Wednesday other than the extension goes past 2019, when Renteria's original three-year deal was set to end.
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Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Expect a shift in ‘mindset’ to increase defensive shifts used by Cardinals — CARLSBAD, Calif. • While the Cardinals canvass the market for possible upgrades at first or third base, the team has already assured there will be one change for their infielders in 2019.
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Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Ankiel's comeback delayed by elbow surgery, but Cardinals plan to have offer waiting
Ankiel's comeback delayed by elbow surgery, but Cardinals plan to have offer waiting
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MLB Trade Rumors
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Blue Jays Hire Dave Hudgens As Bench Coach — The Blue Jays announced Wednesday that they've hired Astros hitting coach Dave Hudgens as manager Charlie Montoyo's new bench coach. Hudgens, 62 next month, becomes the third member of Houston manager A.J. Hinch's staff to be hired away by another organization since season's end.
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Bluebird Banter and MLB Baseball News …
Wallace Matthews / New York Daily News:
CC Sabathia and Yankees close to finalizing one-year deal to bring veteran lefty back to Bronx — CARLSBAD, Ca. — So far, the 2019 Yankees are looking a lot like the 2018 Yankees. — A week after re-signing Brett Gardner, the longest-tenured player on their roster, to a one-year deal for next season …
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