Check out Mini-Ballbug for simple mobiles or Ballbug Mobile for modern smartphones.
8:20 AM ET, December 7, 2018

Ballbug

 Top News: 
Sam McDowell / Kansas City Star:
As the MLB winter meetings near, let's take a look at the Royals' objectives there  —  During a span of 72 hours in a haven for those with a risk-seeking propensity, the top brass of 30 MLB teams will gather in a hotel and install, tweak and refine offseason blueprints.
RELATED:
Pete Caldera / Daily Record:
Yankees have a long wish list heading into Winter Meetings  —  Brian Cashman on the Yankees' need to add pitching  —  At the Winter Meetings one year ago, the Yankees introduced a new slugger to slot into their new manager's lineup.  —  Aaron Boone's welcome gift was Giancarlo Stanton …
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Royals Interested In Billy Hamilton  —  The Royals are “looking hard” at recently non-tendered center fielder Billy Hamilton, tweets Rustin Dodd of The Athletic.  MLB.com's Jeffrey Flanagan suggests interest on the Royals' behalf in a column as well, noting that while GM Dayton Moore …
Discussion: Bucs Dugout and Royals Review
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Goldschmidt's peers already see a match between All-Star slugger and the Cardinals  —  The phone call came while Turner Ward was at breakfast in Los Angeles, about to head to the ballpark as the Dodgers' first-year hitting coach.  The previous summer, in 2015, he had the same position with Arizona …
RELATED:
Nick Piecoro / Arizona Republic:
Carson Kelly eager to catch on with Diamondbacks  —  Waiting his turn behind one of the best catchers in baseball wasn't easy on Carson Kelly.  Following his trade on Wednesday to the Diamondbacks for Paul Goldschmidt, Kelly said on a conference call that he's eager to show his new team what he can do.
Nick Piecoro / Arizona Republic:
Arizona Diamondbacks didn't let emotions stand in way of Paul Goldschmidt trade
Discussion: AZ Snake Pit
Buster Olney / ESPN:
Buster's Buzz: Biggest contender holes after run of major trades  —  Agents and executives have noted a trend — a concerning trend, for the veteran players — that will soon manifest for the middle class of the free-agent market: Teams are filling some of their big needs through trades.
RELATED:
Scott Boeck / Knoxville News-Sentinel:
Six MLB players who could be traded over the winter
Discussion: USA Today
Houston Chronicle:
Winter Meetings and the AL West: Seattle Mariners
Matt Ehalt / Daily Record:   Mets will be aggressive, but are Bryce Harper, Manny Machado in play?
Toronto Sun:
Carlos Carrasco gets US$47M, 4-year deal from Indians  —  CLEVELAND — Carlos Carrasco's career has taken some dramatic turns, re-routed by elbow surgery, a therapeutic trip to the bullpen and several freakish injuries.  —  He persevered, blossoming into a special pitcher — and person — for the Cleveland Indians.
RELATED:
Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
Indians Extend Carlos Carrasco
Discussion: Let's Go Tribe and MLB Daily Dish
ESPN:
Kluber for Schwarber and more trades we want to see in Vegas  —  Trades have dominated the hot stove season so far, and why should that stop in Las Vegas?  —  Before the winter meetings begin in Sin City, we identified another wave of big-name players who could be on the move …
ESPN:
Ex-MLB players Luis Valbuena, Jose Castillo killed in car crash  —  Former Major League Baseball players Luis Valbuena and Jose Castillo were killed in a car accident Thursday night, a spokesperson for their Venezuelan team, Cardenales de Lara, confirmed.  —  Valbuena was 33.  Castillo was 37.
Bradford Doolittle / ESPN:
MLB's next big thing: Ranking the Today's Game Era Hall of Fame ballot  —  When the baseball industry makes its way to Las Vegas this weekend for the winter meetings, among the early arrivals will be the members of the 16-person “Hall of Fame-appointed electorate,” which is charged with evaluating …
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Cubs name Tommy Hottovy pitching coach; former major-league pitcher was advance scouting coordinator  —  Cubs President Theo Epstein discusses the team's finances this offseason and new pitching coach Tommy Hottovy on Thursday, Dec. 6, 2018.  (Mark Gonzales/Chicago Tribune)  —  Chicago Tribune
Discussion: MLB Trade Rumors
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Phillies Acquire Jose Alvarez From Angels  —  The Phillies announced Thursday that they've acquired left-handed reliever Jose Alvarez from the Angels in a straight-up swap for right-handed reliever Luis Garcia.  —  At first glance, the move looks like a head-scratcher for the Halos …
Darren Hartwell / NBCSports.com:
MLB Rumors: Is Craig Kimbrel holding up free-agent reliever market?  —  The Boston Red Sox reportedly checked one item off their to-do list Thursday by agreeing to a contract with free-agent pitcher Nathan Eovaldi.  —  Their next priority could be free-agent closer Craig Kimbrel, and apparently …
Discussion: The Athletic and Over the Monster
RELATED:
Gabriel Burns / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
2018 winter meetings: Braves still seek outfield, pitching help  —  The Braves contingent travels to Las Vegas with a shortened shopping list after reeling in catcher Brian McCann and third baseman Josh Donaldson.  Their go-get-it mentality still leaves three primary concerns: Corner outfield, rotation and bullpen.
RELATED:
Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:   Alex Anthopoulos Discusses Braves' Remaining Offseason Plans
 
 Archived Page Info: 
This is a snapshot of Ballbug at 8:20 AM ET, December 7, 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: 
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
White Sox newcomer Alex Colome eager to compete for closer role: ‘I know I can do the job’
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Source: Cubs interested in free-agent pitcher Joakim Soria
J.P. Hoornstra / Daily News:
What's in a pitch? A Biola statistician connects a change in the baseball to movement
Manish Mehta / New York Daily News:
Inside look at Jets GM Mike Maccagnan and Todd Bowles' eroding relationship
 Earlier Picks: 
Jeff Wilson / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
In midst of rebuild, Rangers won't spend big for 2019. How far will their payroll drop?
Anthony Fenech / Detroit Free Press:
Detroit Tigers hope to cash in Nicholas Castellanos for prospects
Discussion: The Crawfish Boxes
Rob Longley / Toronto Sun:
Tulo and other Blue Jays veterans on notice as winter meetings approach
Jesse Rogers / ESPN:
Cubs might have to get creative without budget for a winter meetings splash
Discussion: Bleacher Nation and Cubs Insider
 

 
From WeSmirch:

Eileen Reslen / Page Six:
Christine Quinn alleges ‘abusive’ husband Christian Richard threw dog poop at her, peed on her floor in violent outburst

Tom Bryant / The Mirror:
Paul O'Grady's beloved dog nuzzled star's shoulder as devoted husband battled to save him

Leah Bitsky / Page Six:
Leonardo DiCaprio, 49, and Vittoria Ceretti, 25, spark engagement rumors as she flaunts new ring

 
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