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8:00 PM ET, November 16, 2018

Ballbug

 Top News: 
Bob Nightengale / USA Today:
Phillies will spend big bucks in free agency, ‘maybe even be a little bit stupid about it’  —  ATLANTA — If anyone had any doubt about Philadelphia Phillies owner John Middleton's intentions this winter, he made it abundantly clear before leaving the Major League Baseball owners' meetings.
RELATED:
Scott Lauber / Philly.com:
Phillies owner John Middleton vows to spend big this winter  —  For months, the presumption across baseball has been that the Phillies are poised to spend money — big, big money — this winter to acquire the generational superstar who will bridge the chasm between rebuilding and serious World Series contention.
Corey Seidman / NBCSports.com:   What would spending ‘stupid’ money look like for Phillies this offseason?
David Schoenfield / ESPN:
With best years behind them, Giants face tough task of starting over  —  There is perhaps one positive way to look at the San Francisco Giants ' 2018 season.  In 2017, the team lost 98 games and finished 40 games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League West …
RELATED:
Gabe Lacques / USA Today:
Bryce Harper: Why the Atlanta Braves should sign free agent  —  Bryce Harper, a National League MVP at 23, is a free agent at 26, peddling his services in an industry that's grown to nearly $11 billion in annual revenues.  His combination of skills, age and marketing cachet make him an excellent fit for any major league franchise.
Associated Press:
Yelich near-unanimous pick as National League MVP; Carpenter finishes 9th  —  • Mookie Betts is ready to become an ambassador for baseball, now that he's won a batting title, World Series and Most Valuable Player award with Boston.  “I enjoy being kind of a face around the game.
RELATED:
David Schoenfield / ESPN:
Newly crowned MVP Mookie Betts staking a claim as MLB's best player
Discussion: CBS Boston
Matt Snyder / CBSSports.com:
Red Sox's Mookie Betts, Brewers' Christian Yelich win 2018 MLB MVP honors
Andy McCullough / Los Angeles Times:   Mookie Betts, Christian Yelich win AL and NL MVP awards
Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
Christian Yelich, Mookie Betts Win MVP Awards
Discussion: Al's Ramblings
Jeff Fletcher / BBWAA:
Brewers outfielder Christian Yelich is nearly unanimous as MVP in first season after trade
Associated Press:
Rangers hire Julio Rangel to handle pitching staff  —  ARLINGTON, Texas — Julio Rangel has been hired by the Texas Rangers as pitching coach for new manager Chris Woodward.  —  Rangel will be with a big league staff for the first time after 12 years as a pitching instructor and coordinator …
RELATED:
Gerry Fraley / Dallas Morning News:
Rangers hire first-timer to majors Julio Rangel as new pitching coach  —  Texas Rangers rookie manager Chris Woodward will have a pitching coach making his major-league debut in 2019.  —  The Rangers on Friday unveiled Julio Rangel as their pitching coach.  Rangel, 43, has never worked at the major-league level.
Ken Rosenthal / The Athletic:
Digging into Harper's defensive slide; Keuchel is more reliable than dominant; Syndergaard to Padres?  —  Not surprisingly, agent Scott Boras has an explanation for the sharp decline in Bryce Harper's defensive metrics during the 2018 season.  —  The explanation derives from another …
Buster Olney / ESPN:
For many players, this will be a long, cold winter  —  By the end of spring training this year, there was an angry undercurrent among players and in the union because of the sheer volume of established veterans who were mostly ignored in free agency.  Mark Reynolds, a solid defender …
Andy Martino / SNY:
Yankees moving toward Sonny Gray trade  —  Significant interest in the beleaguered righty  —  The Yankees have multiple offers on the table for RHP Sonny Gray and are in the process of weighing them, according to major league sources.  —  GM Brian Cashman has been open about Gray's need …
Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
Angels To Sign Peter Bourjos  —  The Angels have struck a deal to bring outfielder Peter Bourjos back to the organization, MLBTR's Steve Adams reports on Twitter.  It'll be a minor-league pact for the 31-year-old.  —  Bourjos has seen action in each of the past nine MLB campaigns, the first four of those coming in Los Angeles.
Discussion: Halos Heaven
Bob Nightengale / USA Today:
Ben Zobrist, start designing your customized cleats.  MLB grants players more shoe freedom.  —  ATLANTA — Baseball's shoe police can go home.  —  Major League Baseball and its owners approved an amendment to the basic agreement that finally loosens restrictions on the design and colors of players' footwear in games.
Discussion: MLB Baseball News …
Anthony Fenech / Detroit Free Press:
Who could be the Detroit Tigers' next yearly award winners?  —  For the first time in 13 seasons, the Detroit Tigers did not have a player or manager receive a vote for a yearly award from the Baseball Writers' Association of America.  —  The absence of standout individual performances is not surprising …
 
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 More News: 
ESPN:
Veteran catcher Jeff Mathis agrees to two-year deal with Rangers
Discussion: AZ Snake Pit
George A. King III / New York Post:
David Robertson's Yankees return threatened by behind-the-scenes vote
Discussion: Pinstripe Alley
Matthew Florjancic / WKYC-TV:
Cleveland Indians INF Jose Ramirez finishes third in 2018 AL Most Valuable Player voting
 Earlier Picks: 
ESPN:
Yankees GM: Hustling ‘always a prerequisite,’ but won't discuss Manny Machado
Discussion: New Jersey Online
Associated Press:
Japan beats MLB All-Stars 4-1 in final of exhibition series
 

 
From WeSmirch:

Tamantha Ryan / Page Six:
50 Cent's ex Daphne Joy accuses him of rape, physical abuse amid Diddy lawsuit drama — but he denies it

People:
Gypsy Rose Blanchard Announces Separation from Husband 3 Months After Prison Release

Jeff Conway / Forbes:
Olivia Colman Reflects On Her Beloved Career: ‘I Have Been Very Lucky’

 
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