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3:25 PM ET, December 7, 2018

Ballbug

 Top News: 
Maria Torres / Los Angeles Times:
Former Angels infielder Luis Valbuena is killed in a car crash  —  Former Angels infielder Luis Valbuena, who played in Anaheim as recently as August, was killed in a car crash late Thursday after playing in a winter league game in his native Venezuela.  —  Cardenales de Lara teammate Jose Castillo …
RELATED:
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.
Doug Delony / KHOU-TV:
‘RIP hermano’: Teammates, fans react to deaths of two former Houston Astros  —  Valbuena played in 222 games for Houston in 2015-16, while Castillo had a 15-game stint in 2008.  —  HOUSTON - The baseball community is in mourning early Friday after news broke overnight of the deaths of two Major League players.
Associated Press:
Ex-MLB players Luis Valbuena, Jose Castillo die in car crash in Venezuela  —  CARACAS, Venezuela — Former Major League Baseball players Luis Valbuena and Jose Castillo have been killed in a car crash in Venezuela.  —  MLB tweeted late Thursday the 33-year-old Valbuena and 37-year-old Castillo died.
Jim Reineking / WKYC-TV:
Former Cleveland Indians player Luis Valbuena among 2 dead in crash  —  Valbuena played for the Cleveland Indians from 2009-2011.  —  Luis Valbuena and Jose Castillo, both Major League Baseball players, died in an automobile accident in Venezuela on Thursday, according to multiple reports.
Discussion: Detroit News, CBS News and WEEI
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Luis Valbuena, Former Pirates Infielder Jose Castillo Killed In Car Accident In Venezuela
Discussion: Al's Ramblings
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Paul Goldschmidt could put St. Louis ‘over the top’ in NL Central, Cardinals boss says  —  Chicago Tribune  —  The day after Cubs President Theo Epstein called 2019 a year of “reckoning,” the rival Cardinals said they hope to end their three-year postseason drought after trading for six-time All-Star Paul Goldschmidt.
RELATED:
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 …
Discussion: Viva El Birdos
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:   Cardinals introduce the new centerpiece of their offense: No. 46 Goldschmidt
Arizona Republic:   Paul Goldschmidt is just the latest Arizona Diamondbacks great to be traded
Jon Tayler / Sports Illustrated:
Paul Goldschmidt Trade Underscores MLB's Depressing Boom-and-Bust Culture
Discussion: NESN.com and FiveThirtyEight
Nick Piecoro / Arizona Republic:
Carson Kelly eager to catch on with Diamondbacks
Discussion: Viva El Birdos
Nick Piecoro / Arizona Republic:
Arizona Diamondbacks didn't let emotions stand in way of Paul Goldschmidt trade
Discussion: AZ Snake Pit
Dave Sheinin / Chicago Tribune:
In a winter of bold moves, Bryce Harper and Manny Machado are still waiting  —  The Washington Post  —  It takes a certain resolve to trade away the best position player in your franchise's history, coming off a season in which you contended until mid-September, but that's what the Arizona Diamondbacks …
Discussion: Federal Baseball
RELATED:
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.
Discussion: Fish Stripes and Red Reporter
Pete Caldera / Daily Record:   Yankees have a long wish list heading into Winter Meetings
Emma Baccellieri / Sports Illustrated:   What Should the Phillies Do as the Winter Meetings Near? Start Spending, Baby!
Gabriel Burns / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
2018 winter meetings: Braves still seek outfield, pitching help
Discussion: Talking Chop
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:
Paul Hoynes / Plain Dealer:
Cleveland Indians listening to trade offers on Edwin Encarnacion and Yandy Diaz
Discussion: DRaysBay
Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
Indians Extend Carlos Carrasco
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 …
Discussion: New Jersey Online and True Blue LA
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 …
David Schoenfield / ESPN:
Keeping playoff hero Eovaldi a risk Red Sox could afford to take  —  One of my favorite moments of the postseason came when the Red Sox lost Game 3 of the World Series to the Dodgers, the 18-inning game that never ended.  Nathan Eovaldi was the losing pitcher after serving up a walk-off home run to Max Muncy.
Discussion: Pinstripe Alley
RELATED:
Darren Hartwell / NBCSports.com:
MLB Rumors: Is Craig Kimbrel holding up free-agent reliever market?
Discussion: Over the Monster and The Athletic
Brian Cashman / Daily Record:
Yankees pitchers and catchers report date, and spring training schedule announced  —  Here's something to warm up a December day: Yankees pitchers and catchers will officially report to spring training at Tampa, Fla., on Feb. 13, with their first official full-squad workout set for Feb. 19.
 
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 More News: 
Marc Topkin / Tampa Bay Times:
Rays considering ex-Astro Charlie Morton among starting pitching options
Discussion: MLB Trade Rumors and DRaysBay
Brian T. Smith / Houston Chronicle:
Smith: It's a little early to be worrying about Astros' offseason
Discussion: Plain Dealer and Arizona Sports
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
White Sox newcomer Alex Colome eager to compete for closer role: ‘I know I can do the job’
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Royals Interested In Billy Hamilton
Discussion: Bucs Dugout and Royals Review
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Cubs name Tommy Hottovy pitching coach; former major-league pitcher was advance scouting coordinator
Discussion: MLB Trade Rumors
 Earlier Picks: 
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Source: Cubs interested in free-agent pitcher Joakim Soria
Jeff Wilson / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
In midst of rebuild, Rangers won't spend big for 2019. How far will their payroll drop?
Discussion: MLB Trade Rumors and The Athletic
Buster Olney / ESPN:
Buster's Buzz: Biggest contender holes after run of major trades
 

 
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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

 
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