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ESPN:
AL Central offseason preview: Will Indians actually trade Corey Kluber? — With free agency underway, the offseason is going to pick up steam. What are the big questions facing all 30 teams? Today we look at how baseball's weakest division, the AL Central, might try to get a little tougher.
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Chelsea Janes / Chicago Tribune:
Some laugh at $400 million for Bryce Harper. Here's how Scott Boras plans to get it. — The Washington Post — Scott Boras has a binder for Bryce Harper, like he does for most of his top-dollar clients. It's divided into a handful of sections and populated with carefully curated PowerPoint slides, positioned just so.
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
Buster Olney / ESPN:
A Corey Kluber blockbuster? These teams might be in the mix — Corey Kluber will be 33 years old next April, and if he was about to hit free agency there would be important questions about the high risk of a long-term investment in a pitcher with more than 2,000 innings logged in professional baseball.
Discussion:
Beyond the Box Score
Marcus Kwesi O'Mard / NESN.com:
Dodgers Offered Nationals This Star In Pursuit Of Bryce Harper Trade
Discussion:
Minor League Ball
Joel Sherman / New York Post:
The moment of truth when Yankees could tear up plans for Machado
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley, New Jersey Online and Sox Machine
Associated Press:
Baseball notebook: Japan beats MLB All-Stars in opener — Yuki Yanagita hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the ninth inning Friday to lift Japan to a 7-6 win over the MLB All-Stars in the opening game of a six-game exhibition series in Japan. — Juan Soto, Carlos Santana and Amed Rosario …
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …
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Wallace Matthews / Baltimore Sun:
Mets GM Brodie Van Wagenen convinced the Wilpons to spend big money before, now he must get them to do it again — As an agent, Brodie Van Wagenen sold the Mets Yoenis Cespedes and Todd Frazier, but over the past month he may have pulled off his greatest sales job of all: Selling himself as their next GM.
Scott Chiusano / New York Daily News:
Jacob deGrom is still trying to wrap his head around his former agent becoming Mets new GM: report
Michael Blinn / New York Post:
Mets trade target trying to ignore swirling rumors
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue
New York Daily News:
Mets and J.P. Ricciardi, who was special ass't to the GM under Sandy Alderson, ‘part ways’
Associated Press:
Marlins catcher J.T. Realmuto not distracted by trade rumors
Discussion:
Bleacher Report and Brew Crew Ball
Tim Healey / Newsday:
GM Brodie Van Wagenen: Mets ‘covered’ at catcher, but still looking
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors, Amazin' Avenue and New York Post
Matt Ehalt / Daily Record:
Yankees and Mets both leave winter meetings targeting pitching upgrades
Discussion:
NorthJersey.com
Jon Meoli / The Charlotte Observer:
As baseball powers focus on competitive balance tax, Orioles payroll puts them on opposite end of spectrum — Since the end of the World Series late last month, baseball's biggest teams have been outlining their plans for the offseason in relation to the league's competitive balance tax.
Buster Olney / ESPN:
Cubs open to trading 3B Kris Bryant — Kris Bryant won the Rookie of the Year award in 2015, an MVP award the next season, and he will forever be remembered in Chicago for making the last play to clinch Game 7 of the Cubs' 2016 championship, grinning as he released the throw to first.
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Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Cubs President Theo Epstein shoots down Kris Bryant trade talk
Discussion:
Bleacher Nation
Kerry Crowley / The Charlotte Observer:
Behind the scenes of the Giants' search for a new visionary — SAN FRANCISCO — When the Giants opened their search for a “next-gen” front office visionary at the end of September, Dodgers general manager Farhan Zaidi quietly expressed concern about his chances of landing the position.
Associated Press:
Details of Trevor Rosenthal's Nationals contract unveiled — WASHINGTON — Trevor Rosenthal could earn $30 million over two years if he becomes the Washington Nationals' closer and regularly finishes games. — Coming back from Tommy John surgery, Rosenthal finalized a one-year contract this week that guarantees him $7 million.
Dave Clark / Cincinnati.com:
Report: Hunter Jones, son of former Red and ex-WLW host Tracy Jones, signs with Nationals — Hunter Jones, the son of former Cincinnati Reds player and ex-70 WLW host Tracy Jones, signed a minor-league deal with the Washington Nationals after hitting .301 this past season between Double …
Tom Schad / USA Today:
Great-grandpa wins Massachusetts lottery by playing numbers of Boston Red Sox stars — A Boston Red Sox fan won the lottery this week by playing the jersey numbers of some of the team's best players. — Jim Aylward Jr. of Templeton, Massachusetts won a $100,000 prize in the state's …
Phil Miller / Star Tribune:
Joe Mauer will officially retire from baseball — The Twins first baseman played 15 seasons in Minnesota, but concussion issues cut short his career. — TEXT SIZE — Joe Mauer lined a vintage Joe Mauer hit, slicing a double to left field in his final at-bat, then saluting the roaring crowd …
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …, Twinkie Town, MLB Daily Dish, MLB Trade Rumors and Lone Star Ball
Chandler Rome / Houston Chronicle:
Astros hire Ehsan Bokhari as new director of research and development — The Astros hired Ehsan Bokhari as their new director of research and development, headlining a plethora of changes and promotions announced on Friday within the department. — A senior analyst with the Dodgers …
