Check out Mini-Ballbug for simple mobiles or Ballbug Mobile for modern smartphones.
6:30 PM ET, December 4, 2018

Ballbug

 Top News: 
ESPN:
Jeff Wilpon: Mets wanted to ‘block’ rival Phillies from All-Star closer Edwin Diaz  —  New York Mets executive Jeff Wilpon said the team aggressively pushed to acquire Edwin Diaz in part to “block” the rival Philadelphia Phillies from trading for the All-Star closer.  —  EDITOR'S PICKS
RELATED:
Bob Nightengale / USA Today:
Mariners' rebuild painful to watch, but it didn't have to be  —  It has been 17 years since it was the most prestigious home on the block, but with the wear and tear, it needed an upgrade to fix the flaws.  —  Still, no one told the Seattle Mariners they had to douse it with gasoline …
Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:
Mets say it would take this to trade Noah Syndergaard, plus a David Wright update  —  The Mets have been willing to listen to offers on Noah Syndergaard this winter, but they are not expecting to hear a return that is enough for them to part with the big right-hander.
Discussion: Bleacher Report
Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:
Phillies' interest in Edwin Diaz forced Mets to go all-in on closer  —  The Mets were not going to let Edwin Diaz get away.  —  When the club heard that the Phillies were pushing for a deal to bring Diaz to the City of Brotherly Love, they pushed harder.  —  “We got word of that …
Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:   Win-now Mets in need of more moves following Robinson Cano trade
Daily Record:   Five questions as NY Mets welcome Robinson Cano and Edwin Diaz
Associated Press:
Mariners set sights on 2021 by dealing Cano, Diaz and Segura
Discussion: Beyond the Box Score
ESPN:   Trade sending Robinson Cano, Edwin Diaz to Mets now official
Associated Press:
Robinson Cano returns to New York — as a Met
Discussion: Bless You Boys
Mike Puma / New York Post:
Jay Bruce speaks after Mets trade, with Van Wagenen praise
Discussion: SNY
New York Post:
Mets complete Robinson Cano, Edwin Diaz blockbuster trade
Yahoo! Sports:
Sources: After landing LeBron, Magic Johnson travels with Dodgers officials to court Bryce Harper  —  Bryce Harper likely means a journey to Las Vegas, the 26-year-old outfielder's hometown and a place where one generally arrives with hope and cash and leaves with less of both.
RELATED:
Chicago Tribune:
White Sox send Jim Thome to Las Vegas to meet with Bryce Harper  —  The White Sox aren't letting the state of their rebuild stand in the way of having lofty ambitions.  —  Hall of Fame slugger Jim Thome flew to Las Vegas last month as part of the organization's sales pitch …
Discussion: Bleacher Nation and DodgerBlue.com
Chicago Tribune:
Dodgers enter Bryce Harper sweepstakes — and that's a game-changer  —  The Washington Post  —  For a solid month now, the pursuit of free agent outfielder Bryce Harper, centered mainly around a trio of east coast franchises — in Washington, Philadelphia and the Bronx …
Mark Fischer / New York Daily News:
Yankees president Randy Levine says 'We're as good as the Red Sox'  —  Conceding the Red Sox are superior is forbidden in these parts and Randy Levine is staying within the ideals of the Evil Empire.  —  Even if it means stretching popular opinion.  —  “I think we're as good as the Red Sox right now …
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Column: The Cubs have needs to address with winter meetings approaching — and the time is ripe to make roster moves  —  Photos of Theo Epstein, the Cubs' president of baseball operations.  —  Chicago Tribune  —  Baseball lifer Jack McKeon thought Cubs bench coach Brandon Hyde was qualified …
Scooby Axson / Sports Illustrated:
MLB Trade Rumors: Dodgers Meet With Bryce Harper
Discussion: WEEI
Rob Bradford / WEEI:
Why Kelvin Herrera will be of some interest to Red Sox  —  On the surface, it seems like an easy equation.  —  The Red Sox need a closer and that is exactly what Kelvin Herrera represents when healthy.  Add in the fact that Dave Dombrowski tried trading for the 28-year-old …
RELATED:
Bill Plaschke / The Charlotte Observer:   Dodgers make the right move by giving manager Dave Roberts a new contract
Associated Press:   World Series champ Red Sox accept invitation to White House
Associated Press:
Absent Nathan Eovaldi gets biggest cheers at Red Sox video premiere
Discussion: NBCSports.com
Rob Bradford / WEEI:
What's next for David Ortiz? The slugger explains his role with the Red Sox
Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
Nationals To Sign Patrick Corbin  —  The Nationals have agreed to a deal with veteran lefty Patrick Corbin, according to Chelsea Janes of the Washington Post (via Twitter).  Corbin, a client of ISE Baseball, has landed a $140MM guarantee over a six-year term, Jon Heyman of Fancred tweets.
RELATED:
Bob Nightengale / USA Today:
With everybody making moves, the NL East is suddenly baseball's most compelling division  —  The National League East has suddenly become the most intriguing, mesmerizing and dynamic division in all of baseball.  —  The furious divisional quartet of the Washington Nationals, New York Mets …
ESPN:
Young players have officially taken over major league baseball  —  This summer, when we asked major league veterans to talk about getting old, only one of them — Adam Jones, father of two sons — brought up Lightning McQueen.  —  Aging is not so much the body breaking down, Jones theorized …
Ken Rosenthal / The Athletic:
Inside the Phils' pursuit of Segura; is Haniger the next to go?  ; Mets not finished yet; more notes  —  Imagine closer Edwin Díaz providing the difference down the stretch as the Mets edge the Phillies for the 2019 NL East title.  —  Far-fetched?  Perhaps, at least as both teams are presently constituted.
RELATED:
David Schoenfield / ESPN:
What Jean Segura trade says about Phillies' pursuit of Manny Machado
Ryan Divish / The Seattle Times:
Mariners send Jean Segura, Juan Nicasio and James Pazos to the Phillies in a five-player trade
ESPN:
Reports: Phillies near deal for Mariners All-Star Jean Segura
Discussion: NBCSports.com
 
 Archived Page Info: 
This is a snapshot of Ballbug at 6:30 PM ET, December 4, 2018.

View the current page or another snapshot:


 
 See Also: 
Ballbug: site main
Ballbug River: reverse chronological Ballbug
Ballbug Mobile: for phones
Ballbug Leaderboard: Ballbug's top sources
 
 Subscribe: 
Ballbug RSS feed
 
 
 More News: 
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Hot Stove update: Cardinals explore Goldschmidt trade, look for market clarity as meetings approach
Discussion: MLB Daily Dish
Joey Kaufman / Orange County Register:
USC reportedly to hire Kliff Kingsbury as offensive coordinator
Associated Press:
New LA Angels manager Brad Ausmus finalizes coaching staff
 Earlier Picks: 
Associated Press:
Japanese star lefty Yusei Kikuchi available to MLB teams on Tuesday
David Schoenfield / ESPN:
So you want to add an ace? Top targets and red flags
 

 
From WeSmirch:

Miranda Siwak / Us Weekly:
50 Cent Is ‘Going for Sole Custody’ of His Son With Daphne Joy After She Was Named in Diddy Lawsuit (Exclusive)

People:
Rebel Wilson Recalls Romantic First Date with Fiancée Ramona: ‘I Think You Need to Come Back to My House’ (Exclusive)

Ryan Gajewski / The Hollywood Reporter:
Melissa Barrera on Getting Fired From ‘Scream’ and the Controversy That Followed

 
Sister Sites:

Techmeme
 Top news and commentary for technology's leaders, from all around the web
Mediagazer
 Top news and commentary for media professionals from all around the web
memeorandum
 What US political commentators are discussing online right now
WeSmirch
 The top celebrity news from all around the web on a single page