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12:05 PM ET, December 11, 2018

Ballbug

 Top News: 
USA Today:
Mets, Yankees involved in three-way trade discussions with Marlins on J.T. Realmuto  —  LAS VEGAS - Only in Las Vegas.  —  In his bold pursuit of Marlins catcher J.T. Realmuto, Mets general manager Brodie Van Wagenen raised the stakes - having dangled Noah Syndergaard and courted the Yankees in an attempt to make it happen.
RELATED:
Joel Sherman / New York Post:
One of biggest hurdles of Noah Syndergaard-to-Yankees seems gone  —  LAS VEGAS — That the Mets and Yankees would even contemplate a trade large enough to ship Noah Syndergaard from Queens to The Bronx provides symbolism for where the teams are at this offseason:
NorthJersey.com:
Catcher upgrades on the Mets' agenda as Winter Meetings get underway
Discussion: Bucs Dugout
Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:
Mets GM Brodie Van Wagenen says nobody is untouchable if a deal would make club better immediately
Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:   Yankees are considering Japanese lefty Yusei Kikuchi to fill starting pitching needs
Tom Verducci / Sports Illustrated:
Winter Meetings Notebook: Don't Be So Quick to Heap Praise on the Mets' Moves Just Yet
Discussion: MLB Baseball News …
Jesse Rogers / ESPN:
Cubs GM Jed Hoyer says finding another David Ross is key  —  LAS VEGAS — With the lack of leadership in the clubhouse in 2018 dubbed a “miscalculation,” the Chicago Cubs are searching for their next David Ross.  —  The former catcher turned Cubs executive/ESPN broadcaster famously won …
RELATED:
Jesse Rogers / ESPN:
Can cash-strapped Cubs solve need for late-game relief?  —  LAS VEGAS — If you're still looking for the Chicago Cubs to go swimming in the deep end of the free-agent pool, you may have to wait for another offseason.  Once again, the front office more than intimated that it won't be spending the big bucks this winter.
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Cubs say they're looking to tweak their roster: 'There's no untouchables'
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:   Jed Hoyer says the Cubs' budget parameters haven't changed
Associated Press:
Coming off hip surgery, Giants' Buster Posey could be limited early in season  —  LAS VEGAS — Buster Posey's recovery from right hip surgery might limit how much the San Francisco Giants All-Star catches during spring training and at the start of the season.
RELATED:
Henry Schulman / San Francisco Chronicle:
Giants' Zaidi plans to meet with agent for Harper, Kikuchi  —  LAS VEGAS — As a Giants contingent led by new baseball operations chief Farhan Zaidi walked through the winter-meetings hotel Monday, the group ran into agent Scott Boras and his staff.  Fortunately for all involved, a Jets-versus-Sharks confrontation did not occur.
Discussion: NBCSports.com and MLB Trade Rumors
Associated Press:
MLB: Tyson Ross and Tigers agree to one-year contract  —  Free-agent right-hander Tyson Ross and the Detroit Tigers on Monday reached an agreement on a one-year, $5.75-million contract.  —  Ross, 31, had an 8-9 record with a 4.15 earned-run average last season between San Diego and St. Louis.
Arash Markazi / ESPN:
Dodgers ‘encouraged’ after Corey Seager goes from rehab to training  —  LAS VEGAS — Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager, who missed all but 26 games last season after having Tommy John surgery, has gone from rehabbing to training for next season, according to Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman.
Discussion: Sporting News
RELATED:
ESPN:   Bryce Harper Watch: Who will land the superstar free agent?
Andy McCullough / Los Angeles Times:   Philadelphia Phillies are poised to make splash with Bryce Harper or Manny Machado
ESPN:
Adam OIttavino says game is different now and Babe would struggle  —  Whatever team gets free-agent reliever Adam Ottavino, it will have a confident pitcher.  —  Assessing the state of today's game on MLB's Statcast podcast, the 33-year-old right-hander said that Babe Ruth couldn't keep up.
Discussion: Los Angeles Times
RELATED:
Jesse Yomtov / USA Today:
Free agent reliever Adam Ottavino: ‘I would strike Babe Ruth out every time’  —  Free agent reliever Adam Ottavino certainly isn't selling himself short this winter.  —  In an interview on MLB.com's Statcast Podcast, Ottavino said that Babe Ruth would struggle in the modern game.
Discussion: MLB Baseball News …
USA Today:
What every MLB team wants for Christmas  —  'Tis the (off)season in Major League Baseball, with all 30 teams scheming to best position themselves for the upcoming season and beyond.  —  Santa was kind to the Boston Red Sox last winter, delivering a middle-of-the-order bat in J.D. Martinez …
RELATED:
Bob Nightengale / USA Today:
World Series hero Nathan Eovaldi earns his Red Sox payday: 'He's like Teddy Roosevelt'
Marc Topkin / Tampa Bay Times:
Winter meetings: Rays manager Kevin Cash on openers, acquisitions and more
Discussion: MLB Trade Rumors
Susan Slusser / San Francisco Chronicle:
A's, catcher Jonathan Lucroy not close on potential salary figures  —  LAS VEGAS - Oakland will add a catcher this winter, general manager David Forst said Monday, which means that the team won't go into the spring with just Josh Phegley, Sean Murphy and Beau Taylor competing for the two spots.
Discussion: NBCSports.com
RELATED:
Susan Slusser / San Francisco Chronicle:
A's talking to D.J. LeMahieu, may be ready to move on from Jed Lowrie
Discussion: NBC Bay Area and Athletics Nation
Alden Gonzalez / ESPN:
Kaleb Cowart claimed by Mariners, eyes Shohei Ohtani 2-way feat  —  LAS VEGAS — Shohei Ohtani might not be the game's only two-way player for much longer.  —  On Monday, in the first day of the Winter Meetings from Las Vegas, the Seattle Mariners made an otherwise understated roster move …
Anthony Fenech / Detroit Free Press:
How addition of Tyson Ross fits in Detroit Tigers' starting rotation  —  LAS VEGAS — They came to the desert and didn't waste much time in adding to what has now become a crowded starting rotation picture.  —  The Detroit Tigers signed right-hander Tyson Ross to a one-year deal …
RELATED:
Jon Meoli / Baltimore Sun:
Orioles ‘pretty far along’ in managerial search as Mike Elias' first winter meetings take on unique face  —  Orioles executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias continues to search for the team's next manager as baseball's winter meetings begin.  (Jon Meoli, Baltimore Sun video)
Gabriel Burns / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Braves winter meetings mailbag: Day 1  —  We're at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas for the 2018 winter meetings, the latest step in a crucial offseason for the Braves.  —  Over the next few days, we'll be answering fan questions submitted on Twitter relative to the Braves' plans.
RELATED:
Gabriel Burns / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:   Braves entertaining calls on major league talent
Robert Sanchez / ESPN:
Dominant 20: One magical, midseason at-bat showed how Mookie Betts morphed into an MVP  —  Mookie Betts is No. 14 on ESPN The Magazine's list of the most dominant athletes of the year.  Click here for more on the Dominant 20, which also includes Mike Trout, at No. 20.
 
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 More News: 
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Election to Hall of Fame ‘an out-of-body experience’ for Lee Smith
Associated Press:
Reds claim left-hander Robby Scott off waivers from Boston
Associated Press:
Senior VP Josh Rawitch wins award for PR excellence
Brad Galli / WSYM-TV:
Report: Tigers OF Nick Castellanos drawing interest from Braves
Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:
Yankees are heavily engaged in Sonny Gray talks with 11 teams already expressing interest
Nick Piecoro / Arizona Republic:
GM Mike Hazen not planning to tear down Diamondbacks after Paul Goldschmidt trade
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Molina set for knee cleanup, won't have offseason workouts impeded
 Earlier Picks: 
Ryan Divish / The Seattle Times:
Mariners finalize 25-year lease agreement to remain at ballpark formerly known as Safeco Field
Mark Polishuk / MLB Trade Rumors:
Rays, Indians Discussed Trade Of Edwin Encarnacion, Yandy Diaz
Discussion: Plain Dealer
Bobby Nightengale / Cincinnati.com:
Cincinnati Reds manager David Bell open to using Michael Lorenzen in the outfield
Discussion: Red Reporter and MLB Daily Dish
Tom Haudricourt / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
Top 10 offseason moves by Milwaukee Brewers general manager David Stearns
Discussion: Brew Crew Ball
Associated Press:
AP Source: Royals, Hamilton agree to $5.25M contract
Discussion: baseballmusings.com
Matthew Florjancic / WKYC-TV:
REPORT: Trade talks ‘have intensified’ for starter Corey Kluber
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Ken Williams: White Sox's pursuit of Bryce Harper, other top free agents an ‘obvious’ choice
 

 
From WeSmirch:

Caroline Graham / Daily Mail:
‘See me one more time before I die’: Thomas Markle issues desperate plea to Meghan from hospital bed - and says Duchess HASN'T called him after ‘life or death’ leg amputation

Zoey Lyttle / People:
Alix Earle and Braxton Berrios Break Up After Over 2 Years of Dating: Sources

Charlotte Edwardes / The Guardian:
‘True activism has to cost you something’: Bridgerton's Nicola Coughlan on politics, paparazzi and parasocial fandom

 
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