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7:10 AM ET, December 31, 2018

Ballbug

 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?
RELATED:
Daniel Starkand / DodgerBlue.com:
MLB Free Agent Rumors: Yasmani Grandal Rejected 4-Year, $60 Million Contract Offer From Mets  —  Perhaps the thinnest position in all of baseball is catcher, and one of the best in the league is currently on the free agent market in Yasmani Grandal, who spent the last four seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
David Schoenfield / ESPN:
Big questions left over from 2018 that 2019 will have to answer
Discussion: True Blue LA
Connor Byrne / MLB Trade Rumors:
Blue Jays Acquire Clayton Richard  —  4:15pm: Both teams have announced the trade.  The Blue Jays are also getting cash considerations in the deal.  —  3:55pm: Richard's going to Toronto, Nicholson-Smith tweets.  The Blue Jays will give up minor leaguer outfielder Connor Panas, per Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.
RELATED:
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.
Andy Clayton / New York Daily News:
Dwight Gooden is healthy, happy and getting ready to pitch again  —  Good news, Mets fan.  Dwight Gooden is warming up his arm.  —  What a fantasy that would be to go back in time and see “Doc” back on the Shea Stadium mound ready to dominate another overmatched chump with his electric right arm.
RELATED:
Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:
Jacob deGrom is our Daily News Sports Person of the Year (and yes, it was unanimous)  —  Midway through last season, Jacob deGrom let his frustration show.  That day, the Mets ace had been let down yet again by the team around him, having another strong start spoiled.
Bobby Nightengale / Cincinnati.com:
Reds Xtra: Where will Cincinnati Reds' top prospect Nick Senzel play next year?  —  When Spring Training begins in February, all eyes will be on top prospect Nick Senzel.  It's clear that the Reds believe he can contribute to the Major League team next season, but there are other questions:
Mike Rosenstein / New Jersey Online:
MLB rumors: Here's ex-Yankee David Robertson's price tag |  Will Red Sox pay up?  —  What Yankees can do while waiting for Manny Machado  —  Joe Kelly has signed a three-year, $25 million deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Andrew Miller has agreed to a two-year, $25 million contract with the St. Louis Cardinals.
Discussion: Pinstripe Alley
Connor Byrne / MLB Trade Rumors:
Diamondbacks Acquire Robby Scott  —  The Diamondbacks have acquired left-hander Robby Scott from the Reds for cash, according to an announcement from Cincinnati.  The Reds designated Scott for assignment on Dec. 21, ending a brief run with the club that began when it claimed him off waivers from the Red Sox on Dec. 10.
Discussion: AZ Snake Pit
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.
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.
Japan Times:
Giants, veteran reliever Ryan Cook agree to terms of $1.3 million deal  —  The Yomiuri Giants have reached an agreement to acquire former major league pitcher Ryan Cook, the team announced on Saturday.  —  The 31-year-old Cook, who played this year with the Seattle Mariners …
Discussion: MLB Trade Rumors
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
 
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 More News: 
Gerry Fraley / Dallas Morning News:
Rangers' Yohander Mendez ends Venezuela winter-league stay on down note
Gerry Fraley / Dallas Morning News:
There's more than one reason why Jurickson Profar's time with the Rangers was a huge disappointment
Jeff Passan / MLB Baseball News, Scores …:
Sources: Angels agree to deal with Jonathan Lucroy after disappointing 2018 season
Discussion: Lone Star Ball
Lee Judge / Kansas City Star:
Before we get to 2019, did Joe Buck ruin the World Series? Or was it analytics?
 Earlier Picks: 
Ben Frederickson / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
After moving on from Kelly, Cardinals bring back catcher Pena
Michelle Berth / Over the Monster:
Prioritizing the contract extensions for Boston's upcoming free agents
Jay Jaffe / ESPN:
How defense helps or hurts players on the Hall of Fame ballot
ESPN:
Rays' Tommy Pham: Tampa Bay has ‘really no fan base at all’
Discussion: Sports Illustrated
 

 
From WeSmirch:

Catherine Santino / People:
Sydney Sweeney Shares Emotional Response to Controversial American Eagle Jeans Ad: 'I'm Against Hate' (Exclusive)

Reuters:
American playwright Jeremy O. Harris arrested in Japan on alleged drug smuggling

Nicolai Ouroussoff / New York Times:
Frank Gehry, Titan of Architecture, Is Dead at 96

 
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