Top News:
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cardinals add power pitchers Helsley, Cabrera to roster, protecting them from Rule 5 draft — The decisions the Cardinals ended up making before Tuesday's deadline to set their roster had less to do with the roles a handful of prospects could play for them in the coming season than it did assuring …
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Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Roster moves leave Cubs and White Sox with little risk of losing top prospects in Rule 5 draft — Chicago Tribune — The maneuvering by the Cubs and White Sox prior to Tuesday's deadline to finalize 40-man rosters left them with minimal risk three weeks before the Rule 5 draft.
Detroit Free Press:
Last Slide — The Detroit Tigers wasted no time in protecting one of the big pieces of their future. — On Monday afternoon - more than 24 hours before the 8 p.m. Tuesday deadline to protect players from the Rule 5 draft - the Tigers added right-hander Franklin Perez to the 40-man roster.
Discussion:
Bluebird Banter
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Deadline To Set 40-Man Rosters Before Rule 5 Draft Is Tonight — The deadline for Major League teams to set their 40-man rosters in advance of next month's Rule 5 Draft is tonight at 8pm ET. As such, baseball fans should expect to see a flurry of activity over the next 11 hours.
Discussion:
Royals Review, Denver Post, Purple Row and Al's Ramblings
Bobby Nightengale / Cincinnati.com:
Cincinnati Reds add Jimmy Herget to 40-man roster ahead of Rule 5 Draft deadline
Discussion:
Red Reporter and River Avenue Blues
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cardinals shuffle minor-leaguers on 40-man roster to protect four prospects
Discussion:
Halos Heaven, Twinkie Town, The Crawfish Boxes and Athletics Nation
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Players Added To The 40-Man Roster
Discussion:
The Athletic, DRaysBay, The Good Phight, Bluebird Banter and Talking Chop
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Cubs pitching coach Jim Hickey steps down, becoming the team's third coach who won't return — Chicago Tribune — An unsettling Cubs offseason became choppier Tuesday, when they confirmed that pitching coach Jim Hickey resigned after only one season for what he called personal reasons.
Discussion:
Bleacher Nation, Bleed Cubbie Blue and The Athletic
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Marc Topkin / Tampa Bay Times:
Former Rays pitching coach Jim Hickey leaves Cubs for ‘personal reasons’ — Former Rays pitching coach Jim Hickey has left the Cubs after one season for what the team said were “personal reasons.” — The Cubs made the announcement Tuesday afternoon with a statement from baseball operations chief Theo Epstein:
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
Jeff Gordon / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Tipsheet: Cubs chaos continues as pitching coach Hickey departs — Say, what's going on with the Chicago Cubs? — Manager Joe Maddon is entering the final year of his five-year contract — and he is not getting an extension, despite his 387-261 record in the Windy City.
Discussion:
Bleacher Nation
Jesse Yomtov / USA Today:
Manny Machado clarifies controversial ‘Johnny Hustle’ comment — After a tumultuous postseason, Manny Machado is doing his best to answer lingering questions that hang over his free agency. — Machado was criticized during the National League Championship Series for not running out a ground ball …
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ESPN:
Manny Machado hopes to address ‘Johnny Hustle’ comment with interested teams — Manny Machado, on the verge of what could be one of the richest free-agent contracts in baseball history, wants teams to know that he is “the guy who does whatever he can to win for his team” and hopes to clarify his …
Discussion:
Bleacher Report and MLB Trade Rumors
Associated Press:
Rays DFA C.J. Cron after career-high 30 homers — ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Rays have designated C.J. Cron for assignment after the slugger hit 30 home runs with an .816 OPS last season. — Cron batted .253, slugged .493 and drove in 74 runs in his first season with Tampa Bay …
Bill Madden / New York Daily News:
Yankees trading for James Paxton was no-brainer as price was right, but there are plenty of red flags — Before we get into why the Yankees' trade for Seattle ace James Paxton was really a no-brainer, it is at least worth acknowledging all the red flags with this deal that may ultimately render …
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Travis Sawchik / FiveThirtyEight:
The Yankees Snapped Up This Offseason's Best Pitcher
Discussion:
CBSSports.com, Halos Heaven, Newsday and Baseball America
Buster Olney / ESPN:
Miami Marlins must deal J.T. Realmuto before it's too late — The Washington Nationals had some of the worst catching production in the big leagues last season, with players at that position combining for just a .209 average, 54 runs and 12 homers. Among would-be contenders …
Emily Jones / Dallas Morning News:
‘He gets it’: What Adrian Beltre meant to the Rangers, through the eyes of field reporter Emily Jones — Emily Jones, Texas Rangers reporter for FOX Sports Southwest, wrote this first-person essay for The Dallas Morning News: — It's hard to imagine a Rangers' clubhouse without Adrian Beltre in it.
Discussion:
Bless You Boys
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Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Adrian Beltre Retires
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball and MLB Baseball News …
Tim Healey / Newsday:
Former NL managers among the Mets' candidates for bench coach, sources say — Jim Riggleman, who managed five teams, and former Braves skipper Fredi Gonzalez are among those being considered for the job. — In search of a new bench coach, the Mets have keyed in on a certain type of baseball lifer: former National League managers.
Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
Padres, Mariners In Talks On Significant Potential Trade — 4:57pm: A deal is “not thought to be close” right now, Rosenthal adds on Twitter, though the fact that players have been asked about their no-trade clauses still seems to indicate it's a serious possibility.
Discussion:
Bleacher Report, Sporting News and Gaslamp Ball
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Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Red Sox Acquire Colten Brewer
Discussion:
East Village Times, MLB Baseball News …, Over the Monster, Cubs Insider and Gaslamp Ball
