Will White Sox fans get over it if neither Manny Machado nor Bryce Harper comes to the South Side?  —  The Dodgers' Manny Machado before a World Series game on Oct. 26, 2018.  (Harry How / Getty Images)  —  Chicago Tribune  —  If you thought you were going to get an Xbox One or PlayStation 4 …

MLB, MLBPA, Cuba strike historic pact for players to sign without defecting  —  HAVANA — Major League Baseball, its players' association and the Cuban Baseball Federation reached an agreement that will allow players from the island to sign big league contracts without defecting …

Detroit Tigers add three pitchers on minor league deals  —  The Detroit Tigers added three pitchers on minor-league deals, the team announced on Wednesday afternoon, bolstering their organizational depth on the mound.  —  As first reported by the Free Press last week, right-hander Eduardo Paredes …

Angels sign free agent Trevor Cahill to bolster rotation  —  The Los Angeles Angels, in desperate need of pitching when the offseason began, plugged holes in their starting rotation by betting on the upside with a couple of former All-Stars on short-term contracts.

Astros reliever Joe Smith has Achilles surgery  —  Houston Astros reliever Joe Smith will miss six to eight months after undergoing surgery for a ruptured left Achilles tendon, general manager Jeff Luhnow announced Thursday.  —  Smith, 34, was injured during a workout last week, and the Astros said the surgery was performed Tuesday.

Adam Jones?  Melky?  Where Van Wagenen's Mets turn next … The pronouncement this week from Brodie Van Wagenen that his Mets can already be viewed as the team to beat in the NL East might not be a positive development for those expecting another splash or two this winter by the general manager.

MLB Mock Draft … Updated on: 12/20/2018  —  SEE FULL LIST  —  1  —  Adley Rutschman  —  Oregon State  —  Notes:  —  Why It Makes Sense: Rutschman is more cemented into the No. 1 overall prospect slot than Florida righthander Brady Singer was at this time last year.

Baseball Writers to honor Lee Smith, Costas, Mikolas, Carpenter at Jan. 20 dinner  —  Recently named Hall of Fame pitcher Lee Smith, Hall of Fame broadcaster Bob Costas and 2018 Cardinals stars Miles Mikolas and Matt Carpenter will be among the headliners at the 61st St. Louis Baseball Writers' dinner …

Josh Lindblom, Seth Frankoff Re-Sign With Korea's Doosan Bears  —  The Doosan Bears of the Korea Baseball Organization have announced new deals with right-handers Josh Lindblom and Seth Frankoff.  H/t to Dan Kurtz of MyKBO.net (Twitter link).  —  Both hurlers will receive notable paydays for their 2018 efforts.

Cody Anderson, Indians avoid arbitration with one-year deal  —  CLEVELAND — Indians right-hander Cody Anderson has avoided salary arbitration by agreeing to a one-year contract for $641,250.  —  Anderson, who hasn't pitched in the majors since 2016 and is trying to make a comeback from elbow surgery …

Dodgers have a surplus of starting pitchers that could work to their advantage  —  A smile formed on Dave Roberts' face when the arithmetic was presented to him.  He had just declared that the Dodgers view Alex Wood as a starting pitcher.  He said the same about Kenta Maeda a little earlier.

Globe Life Field progressing nicely, and just look at that crane  —  Globe Life Field is starting to look like a ballpark.  —  The construction has gone vertical.  The concrete on the main concourse is all poured.  Suites have taken shape beneath main concourse.