Check out Mini-Ballbug for simple mobiles or Ballbug Mobile for modern smartphones.
1:35 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.
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: CBS News, WEEI and USA Today
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Luis Valbuena, Former Pirates Infielder Jose Castillo Killed In Car Accident In Venezuela
Discussion: Al's Ramblings
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cardinals introduce the new centerpiece of their offense: No. 46 Goldschmidt  —  Arizona Diamondbacks' Paul Goldschmidt, (center) is introduced as the new first baseman for the St. Louis Cardinals at a press conference at Busch Stadium Friday, December 7, 2018.
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 …
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.
Discussion: Viva El Birdos
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:
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 …
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  —  CLEVELAND, Ohio - It's always good to have a backup plan.  A Plan B if Plan A falls through.  —  If the Indians aren't able to get what they want for starting pitchers Corey Kluber or Trevor Bauer in a trade …
Discussion: DRaysBay
Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
Indians Extend Carlos Carrasco
Brian T. Smith / Houston Chronicle:
Smith: It's a little early to be worrying about Astros' offseason  —  The last time the Astros had a relatively quiet offseason, they ended up with Ken Giles as their closer.  —  So why are you panicking so quickly, Astros fans?  —  Sure, one of the best hitters in the game (Paul Goldschmidt) was just traded to St. Louis.
Discussion: Plain Dealer and Arizona Sports
RELATED:
Buster Olney / ESPN:   Buster's Buzz: Biggest contender holes after run of major trades
Scott Boeck / Knoxville News-Sentinel:
Six MLB players who could be traded over the winter
Discussion: USA Today and Detroit Free Press
Houston Chronicle:
Winter Meetings and the AL West: Seattle Mariners
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
 
 Archived Page Info: 
This is a snapshot of Ballbug at 1:35 PM 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: 
Marc Topkin / Tampa Bay Times:
Rays considering ex-Astro Charlie Morton among starting pitching options
Discussion: MLB Trade Rumors and DRaysBay
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:
Phillies Acquire Jose Alvarez From Angels
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
J.P. Hoornstra / Daily News:
What's in a pitch? A Biola statistician connects a change in the baseball to movement
Jeff Wilson / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
In midst of rebuild, Rangers won't spend big for 2019. How far will their payroll drop?
Discussion: The Athletic
 

 
From WeSmirch:

Miranda Siwak / Us Weekly:
50 Cent Is ‘Going for Sole Custody’ of His Son With Daphne Joy After She Was Named in Diddy Lawsuit (Exclusive)

People:
Rebel Wilson Recalls Romantic First Date with Fiancée Ramona: ‘I Think You Need to Come Back to My House’ (Exclusive)

Ryan Gajewski / The Hollywood Reporter:
Melissa Barrera on Getting Fired From ‘Scream’ and the Controversy That Followed

 
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