Top News:
Jorge Castillo / Los Angeles Times:
What's next for the Dodgers? Bryce Harper? J.T. Realmuto? A look at the possibilities — Last Saturday, a post appeared on Major League Baseball's Instagram account featuring a photo of Bryce Harper and a question splashed across the bottom: Are the Dodgers the favorites for Bryce?
Discussion:
The Sports Daily, MLB Trade Rumors and DodgerBlue.com
RELATED:
David Schoenfield / ESPN:
Big questions left over from 2018 that 2019 will have to answer — As we count down the hours to the new year, baseball is still on the mind. It's always on the mind. I'm thinking of some of 2018's still-unanswered questions as we look ahead to 2019. ... Where will Bryce Harper and Manny Machado sign?
Ben Axelrod / WKYC-TV:
Report: Cleveland Indians unlikely to trade Corey Kluber or Trevor Bauer — According to Anthony Castrovince of MLB.com, the Cleveland Indians may not be making a big move with their pitching staff this offseason after all. — For the better part of the past two months …
RELATED:
Chelsea Howard / Sporting News:
MLB trade rumors: Indians unlikely to move Corey Kluber, Trevor Bauer — The Indians may not make a big trade with one of their aces after all. — Corey Kluber and Trevor Bauer have garnered interest on the trade market, but it's unlikely the Indians will end up moving either pitcher, according to MLB.com's Anthony Castrovince.
Discussion:
Let's Go Tribe, The Good Phight, New Jersey Online and DodgerBlue.com
Jay Jaffe / ESPN:
How defense helps or hurts players on the Hall of Fame ballot — It would be inaccurate to say that a shelf full of Gold Gloves used to be easily converted into a golden ticket to Cooperstown, not when players such as 11-time winner Keith Hernandez, nine-timer Don Mattingly and a handful of eight-timers …
ESPN:
Rays' Tommy Pham: Tampa Bay has ‘really no fan base at all’ — Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Tommy Pham issued a stinging assessment Thursday of his team's attendance woes, telling SiriusXM that a new stadium or even relocation might be needed to draw more fans.
RELATED:
Mike Sherman / Tampa Bay Times:
Tommy Pham: Rays need a new stadium or a new city
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …
ESPN:
Slugger Nelson Cruz, Twins agree to one-year deal — Free-agent slugger Nelson Cruz has agreed to a one-year deal with the Minnesota Twins for $14.3 million, a source confirmed to ESPN on Thursday. — The deal also features a $12 million team option for 2020, according to the source.
Discussion:
Beyond the Box Score and Chicago Sun-Times
RELATED:
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Twins To Sign Nelson Cruz
Discussion:
Sports Illustrated, FanGraphs Baseball, House of Houston, Lookout Landing and Athletics Nation
Gerry Fraley / Dallas Morning News:
There's more than one reason why Jurickson Profar's time with the Rangers was a huge disappointment — Gerry Fraley, Rangers beat writer for SportsDayDFW.com and The Dallas Morning News, answered your questions about the team during a live chat Thursday. Below are highlights, edited for clarity.
ESPN:
The Year That ... : What we'd bet baseball in 2018 will be remembered for forever — What you know about 1918: the flu pandemic, the end of World War I, and the Boston Red Sox winning their final World Series of the century. — The last one wouldn't have seemed historic to the average human in 1918.
Discussion:
Over the Monster
Lee Judge / Kansas City Star:
Before we get to 2019, did Joe Buck ruin the World Series? Or was it analytics? — Fox Sports broadcaster Joe Buck. — MICHAEL PEREZ — After the 2018 World Series, Fox broadcaster Joe Buck gave a radio interview in which he said TV ratings were down because the games weren't that compelling.
Ben Frederickson / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
After moving on from Kelly, Cardinals bring back catcher Pena — Francisco Pena will again have a chance to secure the role as Cardinals backup catcher. — The Cardinals have signed Pena to a minor-league deal for 2019 with an understanding that he will arrive at spring training with a chance …
Detroit Free Press:
Detroit Tigers were 2nd-worst in sports in 2018; things are looking up — With the Detroit teams all in varying degrees of a rebuild, the Tigers have perhaps been more willing to embrace the struggle. — That said, “we'll be good in a few years” is a hard sell. Even harder in today's win-now culture.
Michelle Berth / Over the Monster:
Prioritizing the contract extensions for Boston's upcoming free agents — Baseball sucks. In terms of free agency, baseball seems to make it worse on the fans than any other professional sport. You get to watch these guys play for what feels like forever.
Discussion:
Surviving Grady
Chicago Tribune:
Cubs lose minor-league field coordinator Tim Cossins to Orioles, promote Chris Valaika to hitting coordinator — Chicago Tribune — Tim Cossins, the Cubs' minor-league field and catching coordinator since December 2012, left the organization Thursday to join new Orioles manager Brandon Hyde's staff.
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue
