Top News:
Associated Press:
Marlins LHP Dillon Peters traded to Angels for minor league pitcher — MIAMI — Miami Marlins left-hander Dillon Peters has been traded to the Los Angeles Angels for minor league right-handed reliever Tyler Stevens. — The trade was announced Wednesday. — The 26-year-old Peters had been designated for assignment by Miami.
RELATED:
Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
Angels Acquire Dillon Peters From Marlins — 3:30pm: The two teams have announced the swap of Peters and Stevens. Peter will go on the Halos' 40-man roster, while Stevens will not be added to Miami's 40-man roster. — 2:15pm: The Angels are putting the finishing touches on a trade …
Discussion:
Halos Heaven, Cubs Insider, School of Roch and Sox On 35th
Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
Orioles Sign Jace Peterson, Three Others
Orioles Sign Jace Peterson, Three Others
Discussion:
School of Roch and MLB Baseball News …
Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
Marlins Acquire Nick Anderson, Designate Derek Dietrich
Marlins Acquire Nick Anderson, Designate Derek Dietrich
Discussion:
Bleacher Nation
Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
Dodgers Designate Erik Goeddel, Release Tom Koehler
Dodgers Designate Erik Goeddel, Release Tom Koehler
Discussion:
True Blue LA and Pinstriped Prospects
Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
Padres Designate Colin Rea, Cory Spangenberg, Allen Cordoba
Padres Designate Colin Rea, Cory Spangenberg, Allen Cordoba
Discussion:
East Village Times and Al's Ramblings
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.
RELATED:
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cardinals add power pitchers Helsley, Cabrera to roster, protecting them from Rule 5 draft
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Deadline To Set 40-Man Rosters Before Rule 5 Draft Is Tonight
Deadline To Set 40-Man Rosters Before Rule 5 Draft Is Tonight
Discussion:
The Sports Daily, Royals Review, Purple Row, Denver Post and Al's Ramblings
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
5 candidates to replace Cubs pitching coach Jim Hickey — Chicago Tribune — With several other major-league teams' coaching staffs virtually set, the timing isn't the greatest for the Cubs to be looking for a new pitching coach. — But there are still several qualified candidates …
RELATED:
Jeff Gordon / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Tipsheet: Cubs chaos continues as pitching coach Hickey departs
Tipsheet: Cubs chaos continues as pitching coach Hickey departs
Discussion:
Cubs Insider and Bleacher Nation
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Cubs pitching coach Jim Hickey steps down, becoming the team's third coach who won't return
Cubs pitching coach Jim Hickey steps down, becoming the team's third coach who won't return
Discussion:
Cubs Insider, Bleed Cubbie Blue, Bleacher Nation and The Athletic
Marc Topkin / Tampa Bay Times:
Former Rays pitching coach Jim Hickey leaves Cubs for ‘personal reasons’
Former Rays pitching coach Jim Hickey leaves Cubs for ‘personal reasons’
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
David Schoenfield / ESPN:
The top offseason priority for all 30 MLB teams — You learn a lot when you delve deeply into all 30 teams. These are not always happy things. Like, you learn about the White Sox outfield and your stomach feels like you just ate something bad. You see all the teams that need help …
Discussion:
NESN.com
Associated Press:
Former NASA engineer Sig Mejdal leaves Astros for Orioles — BALTIMORE — New Baltimore Orioles general manager Mike Elias called upon a familiar face to help rebuild the club, hiring former NASA engineer Sig Mejdal from the Houston Astros to be assistant general manager for analytics.
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
RELATED:
ESPN:
Reds keep closer Raisel Iglesias with 3-year contract — The Cincinnati Reds and right-handed reliever Raisel Iglesias have agreed to a new three-year contract, the team announced Wednesday. — Iglesias had 30 saves last season after posting 28 the season before.
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …
RELATED:
Bobby Nightengale / Cincinnati.com:
Raisel Iglesias signs 3-year, $24M contract with Cincinnati Reds, could enter new role — Looking to avoid the arbitration process for the next three years, Raisel Iglesias agreed to a 3-year, $24.1 million contract with the Reds on Wednesday. He will not become a free agent until the conclusion of the 2021 season.
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 …
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors, Bleacher Nation and DodgerBlue.com
RELATED:
Bill Plaschke / Los Angeles Times:
After years of watching over others, Dodgers' ‘mother’ learns others also have her back — The game had finished late, extra innings, the column needed rewriting, and I was hustling through the Dodger Stadium press dining room, headed outside to my cluttered laptop and impossible deadline.
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
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 …
Marc Topkin / Tampa Bay Times:
Longtime Rays minor-league coach/manager Bill Evers joins Rocco Baldelli's Twins staff — Bill Evers, a member of the Rays staff since their 1996 launch of minor-league teams, is leaving to join new manager Rocco Baldelli in Minnesota. — Evers, 64, was hired Wednesday as the final member …
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 …
RELATED:
Travis Sawchik / FiveThirtyEight:
The Yankees Snapped Up This Offseason's Best Pitcher
The Yankees Snapped Up This Offseason's Best Pitcher
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley, Halos Heaven, CBSSports.com, Newsday and The Athletic
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 …
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …
Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
Mets “Seriously Considering” Noah Syndergaard Trade Scenarios — The Mets are “seriously considering” trade scenarios for high-end righty Noah Syndergaard, according to Jon Heyman of Fancred (via Twitter). Per the report, at least six rival organizations are “real players” for the high-octane starter.
Discussion:
NBCSports.com, MLB Daily Dish, Bleacher Nation, MLB & FANTASY … and NESN.com