Top News:
Mike Chiari / Bleacher Report:
Manny Machado Rumors: Decision Coming Within a Week amid Yankees Links — Free-agent infielder Manny Machado is reportedly expected to sign with a team “within a week,” according to Bruce Levine of 670 The Score in Chicago. — Levine noted that the Chicago White Sox …
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors and NESN.com
RELATED:
Bruce Levine / 670 The Score:
Momentum Growing For Sox In Machado Sweepstakes — Manny Machado is believed to be nearing a decision this week. — MLB — White Sox — (670 The Score) The prevailing feeling across the MLB landscape is that momentum is building for the White Sox in the Manny Machado sweepstakes.
Discussion:
NESN.com
Associated Press:
MLB payrolls dropped for 1st time since 2010 — Spending on Major League Baseball payrolls dropped last season for the first time since 2010, an $18 million decrease attributable to drug and domestic violence suspensions and a player retiring at midseason. — Still, even a year with flat payrolls is unusual for MLB.
Paul Sullivan / Baltimore Sun:
Failing to land Manny Machado — or Bryce Harper — would be a double doink for the White Sox — Photos of Manny Machado, one of the top free agents this season. — Chicago Tribune — If the idea is to make Manny Machado's comfort zone so big he won't think twice about choosing …
Tim Bannon / Chicago Tribune:
The White Sox keep hiring Manny Machado's friends and relatives. Weird coincidence?
The White Sox keep hiring Manny Machado's friends and relatives. Weird coincidence?
Discussion:
The Good Phight, Sox On 35th and Sox Machine
Jeff PassanESPN / ESPN:
White Sox to sign Jon Jay to one-year, $4 million contract
White Sox to sign Jon Jay to one-year, $4 million contract
Discussion:
New Jersey Online, Pinstripe Alley and NBCSports.com
ESPN:
Former Cardinal Chris Duncan takes leave from radio job — Former St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Chris Duncan has taken a permanent leave of absence from his radio job to battle brain cancer. — Duncan, the son of former Cardinals pitching coach Dave Duncan, hit 22 homers as a rookie during St. Louis' 2006 title run.
RELATED:
Scott Boeck / USA Today:
Chris Duncan, former St. Louis Cardinals outfielder, battling brain cancer — Chris Duncan, the former St. Louis Cardinals outfielder who was a part of the 2006 World Series championship team, has taken a permanent medical leave of absence from his ESPN radio show to focus on his battle against brain cancer.
Discussion:
Marin Independent Journal
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Chris Duncan leaves radio role to focus on his battle with brain cancer — Chris Duncan, the Cardinals' slugger who found his swing with a championship team and later his voice with a local sports radio station, has taken a permanent leave from his on-air role to focus on his ongoing battle against brain cancer.
Discussion:
New York Post and FOX2now.com
Phil Thompson / Chicago Tribune:
Kelvin Herrera says White Sox remind him of the rebuilding Royals who won the 2015 World Series — Chicago Tribune — Kelvin Herrera played an integral role on the Royals team that won the 2015 World Series, and the White Sox's newest reliever said he sees some of the same signs …
Discussion:
Sox Machine
RELATED:
Bob Nightengale / USA Today:
Red Sox crave back-to-back World Series championships, but road will be rough
Red Sox crave back-to-back World Series championships, but road will be rough
Discussion:
98.5 The Sports Hub, MLB Trade Rumors and NESN.com
David Schoenfield / ESPN:
Rankings and predictions for every top remaining free agent — It's time for a free-agency update! There are still a lot of free agents out there beside Bryce Harper and Manny Machado — including some quality second basemen, one of the best closers of all time, some past-their-prime outfielders …
Rick Stroud / Tampa Bay Times:
How Cubs manager Joe Maddon helped recruit Bruce Arians to the Bucs — Maddon and Arians grew up about 100 miles apart in Pennsylvania and a dinner at his south Tampa restaurant helped talk the Cardinals coach out of retiremment — Bruce Arians needed some convincing.
Discussion:
ProFootballTalk, Bucs Wire and Bucs Nation
Baseball America:
2018-19 Q&A With Minor League Baseball President Pat O'Conner — Every year at the Winter Meetings, Baseball America sits down with Pat O'Conner, the president of Minor League Baseball, for a wide-ranging interview. This year's sit down was conducted on the final day of the Meetings, at Las Vegas' Mandalay Bay hotel.
Discussion:
redsminorleagues.com
J.J. Cooper / Baseball America:
Astros Scouting And Player Development Is Extending Team's Contention Window — With the Mets needing corner infield depth, the Astros sent third baseman J.D. Davis to New York on Sunday and brought back in return Luis Santana, a promising teenaged middle infield prospect who is years away from the majors.
Ken Davidoff / New York Post:
How David Wright's restructured deal opens up millions for Mets — In his first move in his new job, David Wright ... saved the Mets money? — He did. An industry source confirmed (while also amending) information displayed in the popular website Cot's Baseball Contracts …
Discussion:
Forbes, SNY and Fish Stripes