Lowdown: Trading Thor?  —  Follow @djshort and @Rotoworld_BB on Twitter.  —  Despite back-to-back losing seasons, the Mets think they can contend next season.  And with the quality of the top of their starting rotation, it's understandable why they think there's a path.

Padres release former first-rounder Cory Spangenberg  —  Cory Spangenberg's time with the Padres has come to an end.  —  The former first-rounder was released Friday, three days after the organization designated him for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster for up-and-coming prospects.

Trade/Free Agent Rumors: Segura, Diaz, Greinke, Happ  —  The Phillies are expected to be one of the offseason's busiest teams, and thus it's no surprise they're heavily featured in this latest roundup of hot stove news from MLB.com's Jon Paul Morosi.  Some highlights...

Canadian scientist names beetle after former Blue Jays star Jose Bautista  —  OTTAWA, Ontario — Jose Bautista has a new namesake buzzing around.  —  Entomologist Bob Anderson of the Canadian Museum of Nature has dubbed a newly discovered species of beetle Sicoderus bautistai after the former Toronto Blue Jays star.

MLB rumors: Yankees face new suitor for Nathan Eovaldi, Patrick Corbin, J.A. Happ, Dallas Keuchel  —  Yankees general manager Brian Cashman began to overhaul his starting rotation on Monday, when he traded for Seattle Mariners left-hander James Paxton.  —  But Cashman wants at least one more arm for the rotation.

Goldy Rush?  Doorbusters and deals for Cardinals as baseball's feast starts cooking  —  ST. LOUIS  • At various times already this offseason, Cardinals officials have described how they would like to land a middle-order hitter (again), that their focus is on corner infielders (easier fit) …

Royals Hire Mike Matheny As Special Advisor  —  The Royals announced that they've hired former Cardinals manager Mike Matheny as a special advisor to the team's player development staff St. Louis fired Matheny in July despite the fact that he was signed through the 2020 season.

Before Yankees would consider Manny Machado deal, Hal Steinbrenner needs a meeting  —  Manny Machado's selective hustling is a concern for Hal Steinbrenner, though the Yankees managing general partner remains open to the possibility of signing the superstar free agent shortstop.

What does the Nationals' outeld look like without Bryce Harper?  Good and cheap.  —  The Washington Post  —  It may be hard to imagine the Washington Nationals without Bryce Harper, without his power and presence in the middle of the lineup, without the edge, and relevancy …

If Phillies strike out on Bryce Harper and Manny Machado, they see more options ahead  —  Rick Hahn is the architect of a team that has averaged 92 losses over six years, including 100 last season.  Yet there he was, standing in a ballroom at the general managers' meetings earlier this month …