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?
Dave Clark / Cincinnati.com:
Yasiel Puig: ‘Merry Christmas!’ response to Cincinnati Reds fan opening photo as present
Discussion:
Red Reporter
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:
The Good Phight, Let's Go Tribe, 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 …
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:
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, Call to the Pen, FanGraphs Baseball, Lookout Landing and Athletics Nation
Associated Press:
Matt Shoemaker agrees to 1-year deal with Blue Jays — TORONTO — Free-agent pitcher Matt Shoemaker has agreed to a one-year, $3.5 million contract with the Toronto Blue Jays, the team announced Friday. — Shoemaker went 2-2 with a 4.94 ERA in seven starts with the Los Angeles Angels last season.
Discussion:
Batter's Box Interactive …
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.
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.
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 …
Geoff Baker / The Seattle Times:
In court documents, Mariners allege that Lorena Martin was dishonest and misrepresented herself — Former Mariners high performance director Dr. Lorena Martin, fired in November, denied the team's allegations. “The Mariners are fabricating a termination rationale to avoid their contractual obligations,” she said.
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com and Lookout Landing
