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.
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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 …
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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
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.
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Scott Boeck / Knoxville News-Sentinel:
Six MLB players who could be traded over the winter
Six MLB players who could be traded over the winter
Discussion:
USA Today
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.
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Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
Indians Extend Carlos Carrasco
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.
Discussion:
Los Angeles Times, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, MLB Baseball News … and NESN.com
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 …
Discussion:
The Good Phight and MLB Baseball News …
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
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Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
Red Sox Re-Sign Nathan Eovaldi
Red Sox Re-Sign Nathan Eovaldi
Discussion:
WEEI, New York Post, NBC Bay Area, MLB Baseball News … and Beyond the Box Score
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.
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