Top News:
Toronto Sun:
Catcher Yasmani Grandal, Brewers reportedly agree to one-year deal — NEW YORK — Catcher Yasmani Grandal and the Milwaukee Brewers have agreed to an $18.25 million, one-year contract, a person familiar with the negotiations tells The Associated Press. — The person spoke on condition …
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FiveThirtyEight, NBCSports.com and MLB Daily Dish
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Buster Olney / ESPN:
Buster's Buzz: Brewers' discipline gets Grandal at their price — Agents have nice things to say about working with David Stearns, the Milwaukee Brewers' general manager, with many mentioning his affability. “Good guy,” one agent said recently, relating some of the pleasant conversations he's shared with Stearns.
Associated Press:
Shelby Miller signs 1-year deal with Texas; Jaime Garcia retires; Grandal to Brewers
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St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Tom Haudricourt / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
Brewers reach agreement on one-year, $18.25 million deal with catcher Yasmani Grandal
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
Zachary D. Rymer / Bleacher Report:
Madison Bumgarner to Brewers Blockbuster Would Create Cubs' Worst 2019 Nightmare
Discussion:
Cubs Insider, Bleacher Nation, DodgerBlue.com and Brew Crew Ball
Jeff PassanESPN / ESPN:
Sources: Yasmani Grandal agrees to 1-year, $18.25M deal with Brewers
Discussion:
Deadspin and The Crawfish Boxes
Phil Thompson / Baltimore Sun:
Newcomer Jon Jay says friend Manny Machado will 'do what's best for his family' when making free-agent decision — Chicago Tribune — White Sox general manager Rick Hahn understands how it looks. New outfielder Jon Jay realizes it too. — But both were adamant Thursday …
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Scott Chiusano / New York Daily News:
CC Sabathia is still confident Yankees can land Manny Machado — CC Sabathia believes Manny Machado will come around on the Yankees. They just need to wait him out. — “I feel like the longer it goes on, the better chance we have,” the veteran lefty said on his podcast with Ryan Ruocco.
Phil Thompson / Chicago Tribune:
White Sox make it official: Outfielder Jon Jay agrees to 1-year, $4 million deal — Chicago Tribune — The White Sox made it official Thursday, announcing they agreed to a one-year, $4 million contract with free-agent outfielder Jon Jay. — The addition of Jay, along with the team's trade …
Discussion:
Arizona Sports, Deadspin, The Ringer and Sox On 35th
Corey Seidman / NBCSports.com:
Evolution of free agency is hurting players but could help Phillies with Manny Machado and Bryce Harper
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NESN.com
Wallace Matthews / New York Daily News:
Yankees still in on Manny Machado, but if he wants more than Stanton, ‘good luck’
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …, Bluebird Banter, Amazin' Avenue and FenwayNation
New York Daily News:
Mets sign lefty reliever Luis Avilan to minor-league deal — Before making a bigger splash with the Jed Lowrie signing, though that one came with some questions, the Mets made a smaller move on Thursday to acquire a lefty arm for the bullpen. — They signed Luis Avilan to a minor league deal …
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Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
Mets To Sign Jed Lowrie — In a fascinating development, the Mets have agreed to a two-year deal with veteran infielder Jed Lowrie, according to Jeff Passan of ESPN.com (Twitter link). The Excel Sports Management client will earn $10MM in each of the two seasons of the deal, SNY.tv's Andy Martino tweets.
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish, DRaysBay, Bleacher Nation, MLB Baseball News … and Lone Star Ball
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Brewers In “Heavy” Pursuit Of Infield Upgrade — 5:34pm: LeMahieu is not likely to land in Milwaukee, per MLB.com's Mark Feinsand (via Twitter). It seems the price tag is too steep after the team's addition of Grandal. — 3:40pm: The Brewers surprised many with a sudden agreement …
Discussion:
Brew Crew Ball and Bleacher Nation
Associated Press:
Source: Ex-Dodger Brian Dozier and the Nationals agree to $9-million, one-year deal — Brian Dozier found his latest team — and the Washington Nationals found a temporary solution at second base. — The free agent infielder and the Nationals agreed to a $9-million, one-year contract …
Ken Rosenthal / The Athletic:
The question lingers - how far would the Nationals go to sign Bryce Harper? — Sign Bryce Harper, and the Nationals easily could surpass the luxury-tax threshold for the third straight season. If that happened, they would pay the maximum 50 percent penalty for every dollar they spend above the threshold in 2019.
Discussion:
Phillies Nation, NBCSports.com and Bleacher Nation
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Jeff PassanESPN / ESPN:
Passan: Inside the wild, wonky world of MLB salary arbitration — With $3 million at stake, the Boston Red Sox wanted to create the most compelling argument possible against Mookie Betts without alienating or insulting him. So last January, as they tried to convince a three-person arbitration panel …
Discussion:
Bleacher Nation and NBCSports.com
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Mike Cole / NESN.com:
Bryce Harper's Free Agency Should Be Of Interest To Mookie Betts, Red Sox
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …, Union-News, NBCSports.com, Over the Monster and The Athletic
Associated Press:
John Ryan Murphy, D-Backs reach $900,000, 1-year deal — PHOENIX — Catcher John Ryan Murphy and the Arizona Diamondbacks agreed to a $900,000, one-year contract, a raise from his $558,000 salary last year. — The 27-year-old set career bests with nine homers and 24 RBI in 223 plate appearances, hitting .202.
Steve Buffery / Toronto Sun:
Blue Jays' Dalton Pompey answers call for Canada for Pan Am Games qualifiers — Blue Jays outfielder Dalton Pompey had his bell rung at the 2017 World Baseball Classic playing for the national team, but when the phone rings from Baseball Canada, he still answers the call.
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Cubs will start spring training on Feb. 12 in Arizona — Photos through the years at Cubs and White Sox spring training. — Chicago Tribune — There's still a month left until spring training and dozens of available free agents for the Cubs to peruse.
