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 …
RELATED:
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, Federal Baseball, MLB Trade Rumors and Bleacher Nation
Barry Petchesky / Deadspin:
It's Time For Some Bryce Harper Game Theory — When last we left the Bryce Harper Derby ... absolutely nothing was happening, or so we were led to believe. The 26-year-old superstar outfield has been taking his time, sitting on (as far as we know) a single formal offer, $300 million over 10 years, from the Washington Nationals.
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue, Cubs Insider and NBCSports.com
Darren Hartwell / NBCSports.com:
Will Manny Machado sign soon? Instagram activity sparks Yankees buzz
Discussion:
La Vida Baseball and Pinstripe Alley
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.
RELATED:
Ken Rosenthal / The Athletic:
Tulo's determination to stay at short; making sense of the Mariners' plan; the Marlins need to act; more notes — Troy Tulowitzki has bet on himself as a shortstop before — did it in the 2005 draft, in fact. — More than 13 years later, Tulowitzki is taking a different kind of gamble …
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors and Let's Go Tribe
Jeff PassanESPN / ESPN:
Sources: Yankees acquiring SS Troy Tulowitzki to bolster infield
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley, Bleacher Report, River Avenue Blues, New York Times, The Runner Sports, Cubs Insider, Fish Stripes, FenwayNation and Deadspin
Wallace Matthews / New York Daily News:
Troy Tulowitzki is just a spare part, Manny Machado is still the big target for the Yankees
Connor Byrne / MLB Trade Rumors:
Yankees, Troy Tulowitzki Agree To Deal
Discussion:
River Avenue Blues
Jesse Rogers / ESPN:
Do Cubs have enough to keep up in baseball's toughest division? — CHICAGO — Search “Cubs” in any social media platform these days, and you're not going to find the same vibe that existed after the 2016 World Series. A team coming off a disappointing finish — combined with a quiet winter so far …
Discussion:
Viva El Birdos
RELATED:
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.
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue
Chris McCosky / Detroit News:
The forgotten prospect? RHP Bryan Garcia ready to reclaim spot in Tigers' plans — Detroit - It's almost like he's the forgotten prospect. — Before he had to have Tommy John surgery to repair his right elbow on Feb. 16 last year, Bryan Garcia was on the verge of breaking into the big leagues …
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
Ryan Fagan / Sporting News:
Baseball Hall of Fame 2019: SN's Ryan Fagan explains his ballot — Voting for the Hall of Fame is an honor and a privilege. Filling out my ballot, and writing the companion column explaining my thought process, is one of my favorite parts of the year. It's a bit stressful and exhausting …
Discussion:
WEEI
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 …
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
