Top News:
Jeff PassanESPN / ESPN:
Passan: Why the baseball world is waiting on Manny and Bryce — In November 2017, when baseball free agency ground to an unexpected halt, teams claimed that there was no nefariousness to the industry's sudden sheepishness in signing players. They were simply waiting for Shohei Ohtani to pick …
Discussion:
Bleacher Report, MLB Baseball News …, Phillies Nation, Deadspin, Sportsnet.ca, Cubs Insider, NESN.com, Bleacher Nation and Talking Chop
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Jim Salisbury / NBCSports.com:
Source: Phillies plan to meet with Bryce Harper even as they await Manny Machado's decision — The New Year has arrived and the Phillies remain one of at least three teams serious about signing free-agent infielder Manny Machado. — Machado visited with the White Sox, Yankees and Phillies before Christmas.
Chelsea Janes / Washington Post:
Rumors swirl but Bryce Harper's market remains far blurrier than Manny Machado's — A hush settled in over the baseball world recently, a polite quiet that allowed everyone a break for the holidays, at least on the outside. But as the calendar turned, the free agent market continued to churn …
Discussion:
Cubs Insider, MLB Trade Rumors, Bleacher Nation and Federal Baseball
Associated Press:
Troy Tulowitzki agrees to a one-year deal with Yankees — The New York Yankees have obtained a low-cost infield replacement, agreeing to a one-year contract with shortstop Troy Tulowitzki for the major league minimum $555,000, a person familiar with the negotiations told the Associated Press.
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Jeff PassanESPN / ESPN:
Sources: Yankees acquiring SS Troy Tulowitzki to bolster infield — Free-agent veteran shortstop Troy Tulowitzki has agreed to a deal to join the New York Yankees, league sources tell ESPN. — The deal, which is pending completion of a physical exam, provides the Yankees a cost-effective shortstop …
Discussion:
Bleacher Report, Cubs Insider, Pinstripe Alley, Fish Stripes, New York Times, River Avenue Blues, Deadspin, The Runner Sports and FenwayNation
Wallace Matthews / New York Daily News:
Troy Tulowitzki is just a spare part, Manny Machado is still the big target for the Yankees — At his peak, Troy Tulowitzki's offensive talents were closer to those of Alex Rodriguez than Derek Jeter. — Twice he hit more than 30 home runs and five times he posted an OPS over .900 - once …
Darren Hartwell / NBCSports.com:
Will Manny Machado sign soon? Instagram activity sparks Yankees buzz
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …, La Vida Baseball, Pinstripe Alley and New York Post
Connor Byrne / MLB Trade Rumors:
Yankees, Troy Tulowitzki Agree To Deal
Discussion:
River Avenue Blues
ESPN:
The five best trade fits for Corey Kluber — As the calendar turns to 2019, rumors of a Corey Kluber trade continue. A series of money-saving moves saw Yan Gomes, Yonder Alonso, Yandy Diaz, and Edwin Encarnacion traded from a division winner with Carlos Santana and Jake Bauers the principal returns.
Keith Law / ESPN:
Yusei Kikuchi gives Mariners some credibility in midst of rebuild — The Seattle Mariners have been tearing down their major league roster this winter, so it was a modest surprise to hear they'd won the bidding for NPB star Yusei Kikuchi, posted this winter by the Seibu Lions …
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Jeff Passan / ESPN:
Sources: Free-agent lefty Yusei Kikuchi agrees with Mariners
Discussion:
New York Post, Beyond the Box Score and baseballmusings.com
Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Passes for Braves' Chop Fest autograph session on sale Friday — By - Staff reports, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution — Passes for the Braves' 2019 Chop Fest autograph sessions will go on sale on Friday at noon, the team announced Wednesday. — The second annual Chop Fest will be held Jan. 19 …
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Cubs and White Sox seasons storylines for 2019, from the Cactus League openers to the World Series — Photos through the years at Cubs and White Sox spring training. — Chicago Tribune — The 2019 season is approaching, and though plenty of free agents remain unsigned, it's time to start thinking ahead.
Henry Schulman / San Francisco Chronicle:
Giants' Zaidi downplays expectations for ‘big-splash acquisition’ — Nearly two months after he was hired to remake the Giants, and three weeks after the winter meetings, president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi has added one big-league player to the roster, ambidextrous reliever Pat Venditte.
Discussion:
McCovey Chronicles
Dave Clark / Cincinnati.com:
Report: Free-agent pitcher Derek Holland says Cincinnati Reds have been in contact — Free-agent pitcher Derek Holland told MLB Network Radio that the Cincinnati Reds have contacted him during this offseason, according to a report via Twitter from MLB Network's Jon Morosi.
Discussion:
Sports Illustrated, Red Reporter and Baseball My Life
Jon Meoli / Baltimore Sun:
Orioles hire Koby Perez as senior director of international scouting — The Orioles' first piece of business in 2019 was one that new executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias has said was a priority since his arrival in November: bringing in someone to lead the club's under-utilized international scouting operation.
Discussion:
Camden Chat
