Top News:
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 — With Major League Baseball's winter meetings days away and the best free agent starting pitcher already off the market, the offseason is about to take off in earnest. — There already has been a burst of activity.
Discussion:
USA Today
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.
RELATED:
Nick Piecoro / Arizona Republic:
Arizona Diamondbacks didn't let emotions stand in way of Paul Goldschmidt trade — Discussing the possibility of a Paul Goldschmidt trade earlier this offseason, a rival evaluator mused about what the situation would say about the state of the Diamondbacks under General Manager Mike Hazen.
Discussion:
AZ Snake Pit
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
White Sox newcomer Alex Colome eager to compete for closer role: ‘I know I can do the job’ — Chicago Tribune — Newcomer Alex Colome's 96 career saves make him a natural candidate to handle the closer role for the White Sox. — “I wasn't expecting a trade to Chicago,” Colome said Thursday during a conference call with reporters.
Jesse Rogers / ESPN:
Cubs might have to get creative without budget for a winter meetings splash — CHICAGO — What happens when you don't have the money to fix something that's broken? Sometimes the answer is to find a creative solution instead. That's seemingly what the Chicago Cubs' front office is facing …
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …, Bleacher Nation and Cubs Insider
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:
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:
MLB Baseball News … and The Good Phight
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:
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:
Royals Review and MLB Daily Dish
Anthony Fenech / Detroit Free Press:
Detroit Tigers hope to cash in Nicholas Castellanos for prospects — Taking a look at what the Tigers' starting lineup and pitching rotation could look like to open the 2019 season. Video by Anthony Fenech and Ryan Ford, Detroit Free Press. — CONNECT — The names have changed, but the vision remains the same.
Discussion:
The Crawfish Boxes
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Source: Cubs interested in free-agent pitcher Joakim Soria — Chicago Tribune — One of the more frustrating moments of the Cubs' late-season slide occurred when Joakim Soria struck out Javier Baez with the tying and go-ahead runs on base to end a sixth-inning rally and help the Brewers secure …
Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
Red Sox Re-Sign Nathan Eovaldi — 4:22pm: The deal has been formally announced. Per Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports (via Twitter), Eovaldi's guarantee will actually be an even $68MM over the four-year term. — “We're very happy to have Nathan back with us,” president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said in a press release.
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …, WEEI, NBC Bay Area, Beyond the Box Score and MLB Daily Dish
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Buster Olney / ESPN:
Where will Yankees turn after losing out on Corbin?
Where will Yankees turn after losing out on Corbin?
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …
Jeff Wilson / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
In midst of rebuild, Rangers won't spend big for 2019. How far will their payroll drop? — Gone from the Texas Rangers' 2018 payroll are the salaries of Adrian Beltre, Cole Hamels, Matt Moore, Martin Perez, Doug Fister, Robinson Chirinos, Jake Diekman and others.