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3:00 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:
Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:   Yankees are considering Japanese lefty Yusei Kikuchi to fill starting pitching needs
NorthJersey.com:
Catcher upgrades on the Mets' agenda as Winter Meetings get underway
Discussion: Bucs Dugout
Joel Sherman / New York Post:
One of biggest hurdles of Noah Syndergaard-to-Yankees seems gone
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 …
Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:
Mets GM Brodie Van Wagenen says nobody is untouchable if a deal would make club better immediately
Brendan Kuty / New Jersey Online:
MLB rumors: Yankees in on Zach Britton, market to start ‘narrowing down’ …
Discussion: Sporting News
Gabriel Burns / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Braves winter meetings mailbag: Day 1
Discussion: Talking Chop
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.
RELATED:
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 …
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:   Jed Hoyer says the Cubs' budget parameters haven't changed
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Cubs say they're looking to tweak their roster: 'There's no untouchables'
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
Associated Press:   MLB: Tyson Ross and Tigers agree to one-year contract
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:
Ben Axelrod / WKYC-TV:
Who is Alex Verdugo?  Meet the Los Angeles Dodgers' top prospect linked to the Cleveland Indians in trade talks  —  Meet the Los Angeles Dodgers' top prospect linked to the Cleveland Indians in a potential Corey Kluber trade.  —  As Major League Baseball's Winter Meetings in Las Vegas get underway …
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.
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
John Fay / Cincinnati.com:
Cincinnati Reds Blog: Here are the pros and cons of trading 2B Scooter Gennett  —  Reds beat writers John Fay and Bobby Nightengale sit down for a conversation with new Cincinnati Reds manager David Bell.  —  (While my partner Bobby Nightengale is in Las Vegas covering the Winter Meetings …
RELATED:
Associated Press:
AP Source: Royals, Hamilton agree to $5.25M contract
Discussion: baseballmusings.com
Jim Salisbury / NBCSports.com:
Sources: Phillies showing significant interest in outfielder Andrew McCutchen  —  LAS VEGAS — The Phillies are showing significant interest in free agent outfielder Andrew McCutchen, according to sources.  —  General manager Matt Klentak has acknowledged a desire to upgrade the outfield …
RELATED:
Andy McCullough / Los Angeles Times:   Philadelphia Phillies are poised to make splash with Bryce Harper or Manny Machado
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 …
Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
White Sox Acquire Ivan Nova  —  12:58am: Young hurler Yordi Rosario and $500K in international spending capacity are going to the Bucs, Heyman tweets.  The deal has now been announced.  —  12:10pm: The Pirates will receive a “young pitcher” and an unstated amount of international bonus pool availability …
Jeff Wilson / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
Rangers interested in Morton for rotation.  Who else might fit for 2019 (and maybe beyond)?  —  As the Texas Rangers contemplate future seasons, they must also contemplate the now.  —  The now, in baseball-ese, is the upcoming season, and the Rangers plan to field a team for each of the 162 games on their 2019 schedule.
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)
 
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 More News: 
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Theo Epstein on Cubs assistant hitting coach Terrmel Sledge: 'He's really progressive, and he'll fit in well'
Robert Sanchez / ESPN:
Dominant 20: One magical, midseason at-bat showed how Mookie Betts morphed into an MVP
Discussion: CBS Boston
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Election to Hall of Fame ‘an out-of-body experience’ for Lee Smith
Anthony Fenech / Detroit Free Press:
How addition of Tyson Ross fits in Detroit Tigers' starting rotation
Associated Press:
Reds claim left-hander Robby Scott off waivers from Boston
 Earlier Picks: 
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
 

 
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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