Top News:
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.
Discussion:
Washington Post, MLB Baseball News …, Sporting News, Federal Baseball, Bleacher Nation, MLB Trade Rumors and Daily Record
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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 …
Discussion:
New York Post, Federal Baseball, Phillies Nation, MLB Baseball News … and Arizona Republic
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 …
Discussion:
DodgerBlue.com
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.
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 …
ESPN:
NL East offseason preview: Will Bryce Harper, J.T. Realmuto be on the move? — With free agency underway, the offseason is going to pick up steam. What are the big questions facing all 30 teams? Here's a look at the NL East, where a changing of the guard seems to be taking shape.
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.
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 …
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors, Dome and Bedlam, DRaysBay, MLB Daily Dish, Lookout Landing, Bluebird Banter and Bleacher Nation
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Jim McLennan / AZ Snake Pit:
Arizona Diamondbacks named Wilson Defensive Team of the Year
Arizona Diamondbacks named Wilson Defensive Team of the Year
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
Gabriel Burns / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Freddie Freeman wins another defensive honor
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
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
As GM meetings open, Cardinals watch which way trade winds blow
As GM meetings open, Cardinals watch which way trade winds blow
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors and Fish Stripes
Jon Tayler / Sports Illustrated:
The Yankees Still Need to Fix Their Pitching Staff Even After Re-Signing CC Sabathia — The Yankees' lack of starting pitching depth was their biggest problem in 2018. What can they do this offseason to fix it? — CC Sabathia's final ride will come in the Bronx.
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …, Pinstripe Alley, Lookout Landing and NESN.com
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Wallace Matthews / Baltimore Sun:
Now we'll see if Yankee owner Hal Steinbrenner has some Boss in him, and here's what he can do to prove it
Wallace Matthews / New York Daily News:
CC Sabathia and Yankees close to finalizing one-year deal to bring veteran lefty back to Bronx
CC Sabathia and Yankees close to finalizing one-year deal to bring veteran lefty back to Bronx
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley
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 willl not return in 2019.
Discussion:
Chicago Tribune
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.
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News … and Bluebird Banter
Maria Torres / Los Angeles Times:
Angels show interest in free-agent catcher Wilson Ramos … The Angels are among five teams interested in signing free-agent catcher Wilson Ramos, according to a person familiar with the situation but not authorized to speak on it publicly. — Ramos is a nine-year veteran who was an all-star …
Discussion:
Phillies Nation