Top News:
Ronald Blum / Associated Press:
Shohei Ohtani wins AL Rookie of the Year; Ronald Acuna takes NL honor — Shohei Ohtani was rewarded for a Ruthian season at the plate — and on the mound. — Baseball's best two-way player since the Babe at the dawn of the live-ball era a century ago, Ohtani was an overwhelming pick …
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David Schoenfield / ESPN:
Ronald Acuna Jr. has flashed the talent to soon become NL's top player — Shohei Ohtani and Ronald Acuña Jr. are the rookies of the year and while you can argue the merits of the other candidates, I think the voters made the right selections. In the end, the votes weren't close …
David Schoenfield / ESPN:
Angels' Shohei Ohtani beats Yankees duo to win AL Rookie of the Year — Shohei Ohtani became the fourth Japanese-born player to win Rookie of the Year, as the Los Angeles Angels' two-way sensation beat out New York Yankees duo Miguel Andujar and Gleyber Torres for the American League award.
Discussion:
Beyond the Box Score
Wallace Matthews / New York Daily News:
Shohei Ohtani was a phenomenon; Miguel Andujar was simply phenomenal for the Yankees — I didn't have a vote for AL Rookie of the Year this year, but if I did I would have cast it for Miguel Andujar. — It would have been easy to fall victim to the hype machine, or to be seduced …
Jeff Fletcher / BBWAA:
Angels' two-way star Shohei Ohtani wins AL Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year
Discussion:
Baseball America, Bleed Cubbie Blue, Pinstripe Alley, theangelsavenue.com and baseballmusings.com
Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
Mariners' Leadership Accused By Former Director Of High Performance Lorena Martin Of Derogatory Remarks — Mariners director of high performance Lorena Martin, who was hired into her role just over one year ago, has leveled serious charges against key figures in the Seattle baseball operations department in an Instagram post.
Discussion:
Lookout Landing
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Bill Baer / MLB Baseball News, Scores …:
Dr. Lorena Martin accuses members of Mariners' front office of making bigoted comments — Dr. Lorena Martin, recently let go as the — Mariners' director of high performance, is accusing members of the front office of making racist comments against foreign-born players. In her Instagram post, Martin wrote:
Discussion:
The Seattle Times and Lookout Landing
TJ Cotterill / thenewstribune:
Mariners deny ex-employee's accusations of racism toward Latino staff, players — Lorena Martin was hired just over a year ago to fill a position unique to baseball. No other organization before the Seattle Mariners had a director of high performance in the baseball operations department.
Discussion:
CBSSports.com, The Athletic, Lookout Landing, Bleacher Nation, Deadspin and The Comeback
ESPN:
Why are baseball managers so short? — There's an odd thing about MLB managers: They're pretty short. — They're even shorter now than they were. They're shrinking! Or, more accurately, some of the taller managers have been replaced by shorter managers: Jeff Bannister (74 inches) …
Associated Press:
Dallas Keuchel declines Houston's 1-year qualifying offer — HOUSTON — Starter Dallas Keuchel has declined the one-year qualifying offer the Houston Astros offered him. — Keuchel could still sign with the Astros, but if he signs with another team before next year's draft the Astros …
Buster Olney / ESPN:
Time for Giants to decide what to do with Madison Bumgarner — The timing of Farhan Zaidi's hiring by the Giants could not be better for an organization that probably needs a clear-eyed examination of its most treasured on-field asset. It would be too much to ask some in the ownership group …
Chad Finn / Boston Globe:
One thought on each player who was on the Red Sox' World Series roster — Consider this the transition to 2019... The Red Sox won the World Series 16 days ago Tuesday. They've sprayed their champagne, reveled with the city on the duck boats, and scattered for the offseason.
Discussion:
Over the Monster
Craig Calcaterra / NBCSports.com:
Yankees are doing extensive due diligence into Manny Machado — The Yankees began the offseason with talk of modest goals and keeping under the luxury tax threshold, but not everyone believes that they are going to sit out the big time free agents this winter.
Discussion:
Beyond the Box Score, CBSSports.com, Royals Review, Pinstripe Alley, Sportsnet.ca and NESN.com
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Associated Press:
Joe Mauer officially bids Twins farewell in tear-filled news conference — MINNEAPOLIS — Yes, the narrative of Joe Mauer's career was missing a championship chapter. That plotline stalled for a few years while the star was set back by injuries. — Still, this story of the Minnesota native …
Discussion:
Twinkie Town
