Top News:
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cardinals lose pitcher Chris Ellis in Rule 5 draft, but nab reliever, shortstop — LAS VEGAS • The type of pitcher Chris Ellis could be for the Kansas City Royals in the coming season is what the Cardinals found in a low-risk pick from the Rangers' system — without all the tricky Rule 5 requirements.
RELATED:
Anthony Fenech / Detroit Free Press:
Why Detroit Tigers took Reed Garrett in Rule 5 draft — LAS VEGAS — After last season's struggle to find Victor Reyes playing time in the outfield, the Detroit Tigers went a different direction in Thursday's Rule 5 draft. — With the No. 5 pick, the team selected Reed Garrett …
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Cubs and White Sox brace for losses in today's Rule 5 draft — Chicago Tribune — The White Sox seemed more concerned than the Cubs about the possibility of losing a player in Thursday's Rule 5 draft. — “I think we'll probably lose at least one guy,” Sox General Manager Rick Hahn said.
Discussion:
Bluebird Banter
Anthony Fenech / Detroit Free Press:
Detroit Tigers select reliever Reed Garrett in MLB Rule 5 draft
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Column: The White Sox are making progress just by being in the Bryce Harper sweepstakes
Jorge Castillo / Los Angeles Times:
Dodgers ready to add Joe Kelly to their bullpen
Discussion:
Over the Monster and MLB Baseball News …
Gabe Lacques / USA Today:
Carlos Santana returns to Cleveland as Indians, Mariners, Rays pull off huge three-team deal — LAS VEGAS - Baseball's winter meetings closed with a moderate bang on Thursday, as the Seattle Mariners, Cleveland Indians and Tampa Bay Rays pulled off a three-team deal that had all the trappings of the modern game.
Discussion:
Beyond the Box Score
RELATED:
Matthew Florjancic / WKYC-TV:
Three-team trade gives Indians flexibility for future — Thursday's three-team trade with the Seattle Mariners and Tampa Bay Rays has given the Cleveland Indians flexibility, both financially and athletically, in 2019. — CLEVELAND — CLEVELAND — After many reports about starting pitching …
Bob Nightengale / USA Today:
MLB teams close winter meetings with Christmas lists, but who will get the presents? — LAS VEGAS — Seattle Mariners general manager Jerry Dipoto pulled off a three-way trade while lying in his hospital bed with a blood clot in his lung, but still managed to fist-bump his assistant, and even the nurses, while hooked up to monitors.
Ben Axelrod / WKYC-TV:
Cleveland Indians trade Edwin Encarnacion and Yandy Diaz, reacquiring Carlos Santana — According to Jon Heyman of Fancred, the Indians are nearing a 3-team deal involving Edwin Encarnacion, which will bring back Carlos Santana back to Cleveland. — CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Indians …
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors and Lookout Landing
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
After a quiet week at the winter meetings, the Cubs still have some work to do this offseason — Chicago Tribune — The Cubs won't conduct their first spring-training workout for two months, and the season opener is 3½ months away. — Those dates provide temporary relief …
RELATED:
Tim Keown / ESPN:
What went wrong at the 2018 winter meetings? — LAS VEGAS — Late Wednesday morning, as baseball's winter meetings slogged to their grim and quiet conclusion, Scott Boras stood on a raised platform in front of a 25-foot fake Christmas tree steps away from a casino in the middle of the desert.
RELATED:
David Schoenfield / ESPN:
How to spice up the winter meetings after a dull week in Vegas — LAS VEGAS — Here's one problem with baseball's winter meetings: It's not even winter. — Besides that, every year there is much anticipation heading into the annual gathering, as the media assembles in numbers that dwarf the World Series.
Pete Caldera / Daily Record:
Yankees exit Winter Meetings still seeking bullpen help, as are the Red Sox — LAS VEGAS - Whenever it occurs, the Manny Machado meeting should be the highlight event on the Yankees' winter calendar. — Until then, and possibly for weeks after, the Yankees will be seeking to upgrade their relief corps.
Discussion:
NorthJersey.com
Bobby Nightengale / Cincinnati.com:
Cincinnati Reds pick utility player Connor Joe in Rule 5 Draft from Los Angeles Dodgers — LAS VEGAS - On the final day of the Winter Meetings at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, the Reds made one more addition to their roster Thursday through the Rule 5 Draft.
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News … and Redleg Nation
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Kerry Crowley / Mercury News:
Giants active in Rule 5 draft, add two players to major league roster — LAS VEGAS-Farhan Zaidi didn't stick around for the final day of the Winter Meetings. — But that didn't stop the Giants from remaining active. — The Giants selected a pair of players in Major League Baseball's Rule 5 draft …
Scott Lauber / Philly.com:
Phillies could replace Nationals as the new ‘Team Boras’ | Extra Innings — What happens in Vegas ... well, so much for that. For the past three days, the winter meetings raged in Las Vegas, and as always, rumors were rampant. The Phillies, as expected, were in the middle of everything.
Discussion:
Philly.com
RELATED:
George A. King III / New York Post:
What's holding up a Sonny Gray trade from the Yankees
Discussion:
NESN.com, Pinstripe Alley, Sporting News, Beyond the Box Score and MLB Trade Rumors
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Boras talks, we listen, Cardinals don't entertain individual meeting with Harper
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
Janie McCauley / Associated Press:
AP source: Righty Lance Lynn, Rangers reach three-year deal — LAS VEGAS (AP) — Free agent right-hander Lance Lynn and the Texas Rangers reached agreement on a $30 million, three-year contract during the winter meetings, a person with direct knowledge of the agreement said.
RELATED:
Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
Brewers Acquire Alex Claudio — The Brewers have officially struck a deal with the Rangers to acquire lefty Alex Claudio, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic (Twitter links). Texas will receive Milwaukee's competitive balance pick in the deal, which will deliver the club a draft choice …
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …, Brew Crew Ball, Bleacher Nation and Al's Ramblings
Gabriel Burns / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Braves eager to see glut of young arms in camp — The Braves have a good idea about which pitchers will comprise their initial five-man rotation. And they'll consider those who miss the cut as bullpen pieces. — Manager Brian Snitker suggested the team will be “90 percent” certain what their rotation will look like entering camp.
Dan Caesar / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
La Russa fumes in TV interview about his role in Baines' Hall of Fame selection — Former Cardinals manager Tony La Russa has taken considerable heat this week for his role in getting Harold Baines into baseball's Hall of Fame. But no criticism was hotter than what he faced Wednesday …
