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
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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 …
Discussion:
The Seattle Times and Sports Illustrated
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
Associated Press:
Mariners set sights on 2021 by dealing Cano, Diaz and Segura
Mariners set sights on 2021 by dealing Cano, Diaz and Segura
Discussion:
Beyond the Box Score
Mike Puma / New York Post:
Jay Bruce speaks after Mets trade, with Van Wagenen praise
Jay Bruce speaks after Mets trade, with Van Wagenen praise
Discussion:
SNY
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.
Discussion:
NESN.com, Bleacher Report, MLB Trade Rumors, Bleacher Nation, True Blue LA, South Side Sox and DodgerBlue.com
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
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 …
Discussion:
Over the Monster, The Athletic, MLB Baseball News …, CBS Boston and MLB Trade Rumors
RELATED:
Bill Plaschke / The Charlotte Observer:
Dodgers make the right move by giving manager Dave Roberts a new contract
Associated Press:
Absent Nathan Eovaldi gets biggest cheers at Red Sox video premiere
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
What's next for David Ortiz? The slugger explains his role with the Red Sox
Discussion:
Over the Monster, MLB Baseball News …, Sports Illustrated and NESN.com
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.
Discussion:
The Comeback, The Ringer, FanGraphs Baseball, Federal Baseball and Al's Ramblings
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.
Discussion:
SNY, Cubs Insider, MLB Trade Rumors, The Good Phight and Bleacher Nation
RELATED:
David Schoenfield / ESPN:
What Jean Segura trade says about Phillies' pursuit of Manny Machado
What Jean Segura trade says about Phillies' pursuit of Manny Machado
Discussion:
Phillies Nation, NBCSports.com and Bluebird Banter