Top News:
Buster Olney / ESPN:
Bryce Harper rejects $300 million? All part of Scott Boras' blueprint — It's a tradition quite unlike any other at Major League Baseball's offseason gatherings. The Boras Corporation will send a text message to reporters informing them that Scott Boras will be fielding questions at an anointed time and place.
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Gabriel Baumgaertner / Sports Illustrated:
How Well Would Bryce Harper Fit With the Yankees? It's Complicated — Bryce Harper will have plenty of options during this free agency. Are the Yankees a feasible one? — When the Yankees acquired reigning NL MVP Giancarlo Stanton and the $286 million remaining on his contract in December 2017 …
Discussion:
CBSSports.com and NESN.com
Jorge Castillo / Los Angeles Times:
Andrew Friedman is mum on whether Dodgers will pursue Bryce Harper after he declined $300 million from Nationals
Andrew Friedman is mum on whether Dodgers will pursue Bryce Harper after he declined $300 million from Nationals
Discussion:
CBSSports.com, New York Post, DodgerBlue.com, Bleacher Nation, Federal Baseball and USA Today
Matt Ehalt / Daily Record:
Scott Boras rips teams that won't spend while downplaying idea Yanks won't consider Harper
Bill Baer / NBCSports.com:
Red Sox senior advisor Bill James thinks all baseball players are replaceable — In the early- and mid-2000's, many debates were had over the meaning of the ethereal “replacement-level player,” used as the baseline for the WAR statistic. It turns out that, after all of this time, a …
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …, FanGraphs Baseball, CBS Boston and NESN.com
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Associated Press:
Man wins $100,000 lottery prize by picking Red Sox jersey numbers — A Massachusetts great-grandfather has won a $100,000 lottery prize by picking the jersey numbers of five members of the World Series-winning Boston Red Sox. — The lottery said in a statement that 84-year-old Jim Aylward Jr. …
David Whitley / Baltimore Sun:
Tim Tebow gets baseball promotion, and outrage ensues — Orlando Sentinel — Spring training is three months away, but it's always Tebow season for baseball skeptics. — They have come out firing after the New York Mets said Tim Tebow would likely start the year in Triple-A. That's …
Discussion:
New York Post and USA Today
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Matt Ehalt / Daily Record:
Manny Machado to the Mets not happening despite team needing a bat
Manny Machado to the Mets not happening despite team needing a bat
Discussion:
USA Today and NorthJersey.com
Mike Puma / New York Post:
Mets kicking the tires on bringing back Asdrubal Cabrera
Mets kicking the tires on bringing back Asdrubal Cabrera
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue, SNY and The Sports Daily
Associated Press:
Mallex Smith dealt to Mariners by Rays for Zunino, Heredia — SEATTLE (AP) — Mallex Smith was made a promise by Seattle general manager Jerry Dipoto when he was acquired for a second time by the Mariners after an initial tenure that lasted less than two hours.
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Mark W. Sanchez / New York Post:
Yankees sign veteran catcher as more Gary Sanchez insurance — A day after the Yankees announced a surprise Gary Sanchez surgery, they moved to further solidify his position. — The Yankees have signed veteran catcher Ryan Lavarnway to a minor league deal with a spring training invite, The Post's Joel Sherman reported Thursday.
Discussion:
Over the Monster
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ESPN:
25 players eligible for MLB arbitration as super 2s — Cincinnati outfielder Scott Schebler and Texas pitcher Matt Bush just missed the cutoff for salary arbitration eligibility, while Chicago Cubs pitcher Carl Edwards Jr. and Toronto pitcher Joe Biagini earned the final spots.
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Jesse Rogers / ESPN:
MLB focused on use of technology to steal signs — CARLSBAD, Calif. — Major League Baseball is continuing to take a hard look at the use of technology in order to steal signs during games, according to MLB deputy commissioner Dan Halem. Discussions this winter will help determine if they expand in-game security.
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …
Anthony Fenech / Detroit Free Press:
Detroit Tigers mailbag: How long will rebuild last? Don't sugarcoat it — Taking a look at what the Tigers' starting lineup and pitching rotation could look like to open the 2019 season. Video by Anthony Fenech and Ryan Ford, Detroit Free Press. — CONNECT — CARLSBAD, Calif. - Buckle up for boredom.
Bill Shaikin / Los Angeles Times:
Document prepared for potential investors says Dodgers plan on staying under luxury tax threshold — The Dodgers plan to keep their player payroll below the level that would require a luxury tax payment for at least the next four years, according to a document prepared for potential investors and reviewed by The Los Angeles Times.
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …, CBSSports.com, NBCSports.com, SBNation.com, MLB Trade Rumors, Bleacher Nation and DodgerBlue.com
ESPN:
AL West offseason preview: Can Angels keep Mike Trout happy? — With free agency underway, the offseason is going to pick up steam. What are the big questions facing all 30 teams? We continue our division-by-division series with a look at the American League West. — 2018 record: 103-59
Associated Press:
J.T. Realmuto, Amed Rosario drive in two runs each to power MLB All-Stars over Yomiuri Giants — TOKYO — J.T. Realmuto and Amed Rosario drove in two runs each to lead the MLB All-Stars over the Yomiuri Giants 9-6 on Thursday in a warm-up game ahead of their six-game exhibition series against Japan's national team.
Discussion:
ESPN
Steve Buffery / Toronto Sun:
Blue Jays have major decisions to make with their infield — CARLSBAD, CA - The Blue Jays infield, with all the intrigue and possible plot lines, is worthy of a Agatha Christie novel. — There are so many different scenarios that could unfold next season, or even this off-season …
Mark Townsend / MLB Baseball News, Scores …:
Silver Slugger winners announced for 2018 — Baseball award season is in full swing. While we won't know the major individual award — MVP, Cy Young, Manager of the Year and Rookie of the Year — winners until week, Major League Baseball has set the table this week with a couple tasty appetizers.
Discussion:
South Side Sox, Over the Monster, Bleed Cubbie Blue and Talking Chop
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
White Sox GM weighs in on Jerry Reinsdorf's patience level — 'It's not running out' — and Michael Kopech's season-ending injury — a ‘kick in the gut’ — Chicago Tribune — Is Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf losing any patience with the rebuild after the White Sox's 100-loss season in 2018? — Not yet.
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Barry M. Bloom / Forbes:
Dodgers Exercise Option To Bring Dave Roberts Back As Manager In 2019 — The Los Angeles Dodgers have picked up the option on Dave Roberts, who will continue to manage the team next season with the hope they can negotiate a longer term deal over time. — Andrew Friedman …
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
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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
Discussion:
DodgerBlue.com
Paul Sullivan / Sacramento Bee:
After knocking off the Cubs in the NL Central, the Brewers are primed for an encore — The Cubs ended their season with a thud, blowing the division to the Brewers and losing in the wild-card game to the Rockies. — President Theo Epstein vowed to fix a “broke” offense in the offseason …
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