Top News:
Pete Caldera / USA Today:
Yankees' addition of DJ LeMahieu casts more doubt on potential Manny Machado signing — .A lukewarm pursuit of Manny Machado might have just gone cold for the New York Yankees — On Friday, the Yankees and infielder D.J. LeMahieu agreed on a two-year, $24 million contract, first reported by the YES Network's Jack Curry.
RELATED:
Chicago Tribune:
Manny Machado's high school coach thinks he'll choose the White Sox — Photos of Manny Machado, one of the top free agents this season. — Chicago Tribune — Where will Manny Machado land? — His high school baseball coach says it'll be the White Sox.
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Yankees To Sign DJ LeMahieu — 11:43am: LeMahieu is heading to the Yankees, tweets Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. His contract is believed to be a two-year deal with a guarantee in the range of $24MM. — 11:40am: The Yankees are closing in on a two-year contract with free-agent second …
Discussion:
New Jersey Online, NBCSports.com, MLB Baseball News … and Beyond the Box Score
Wallace Matthews / New York Daily News:
Zach Britton has one thing on his mind by returning to the Yankees - winning ... Manny Machado's motivations may be different — Zach Britton, who two years ago led the American League in saves, says he re-signed with the Yankees despite knowing he will not close, for a simple reason.
Scott Lauber / Philly.com:
Phillies hire Manny Machado's mentor as infield coach, as pursuit of megastar free agents heats up
Phillies hire Manny Machado's mentor as infield coach, as pursuit of megastar free agents heats up
Discussion:
NESN.com
Jeff PassanESPN / ESPN:
Aaron Nola, Trevor Story likely to join Luis Severino in arbitration hearings — Colorado Rockies shortstop Trevor Story and Philadelphia Phillies ace Aaron Nola did not reach settlements on one-year deals for the 2019 season and are expected to head to arbitration hearings to determine their salaries …
Discussion:
The Good Phight and Mile High Sports
RELATED:
Matt Ehalt / USA Today:
Jacob deGrom gets record contract; Mets still hopeful for long-term extension — A historic season resulted in a historic raise for Jacob deGrom. — DeGrom received the largest arbitration raise in Major League Baseball history by agreeing to a $17 million deal for 2019, according to a source.
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …
Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:
Jacob deGrom and the Mets avoid arbitration as Cy Young winner accepts $17M for 2019 — Jacob deGrom is finally getting paid. — No, the Mets have not stepped up and signed the National League Cy Young winner to a multi-year extension as many of their fans are calling for them to do.
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cards hope to complete one-year deals with Ozuna, Wacha before Friday's arbitration deadline
Mike Puma / New York Post:
Mets eye short-term Jacob deGrom fix with arbitration looming
Mets eye short-term Jacob deGrom fix with arbitration looming
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …
Matt Ehalt / Daily Record:
Mets may have found their No. 2 hitter in free agent Jed Lowrie — Ed Kranepool (l) and Art Shamsky (r) discuss the 1969 title team — Brodie Van Wagenen's busy offseason continued Thursday night with the surprising development that Jed Lowrie agreed to a two-year, $20-million deal.
RELATED:
Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
Mets To Sign Jed Lowrie
Mets To Sign Jed Lowrie
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish, Elite Sports NY, DRaysBay, Bleacher Nation and Lone Star Ball
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Brewers In “Heavy” Pursuit Of Infield Upgrade
Brewers In “Heavy” Pursuit Of Infield Upgrade
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball, Brew Crew Ball and Bleacher Nation
Jesse Rogers / ESPN:
Cubs sign suspended SS Addison Russell for below market value — CHICAGO — The Cubs have signed suspended shortstop Addison Russell to a one-year deal worth $3.4 million, avoiding an arbitration hearing, according to a source. — Russell can make up to a total of $4 million with roster time incentives …
Anthony Fenech / Detroit Free Press:
Detroit Tigers prospect Gregory Soto suspended 20 games by MLB — Who will start for the Detroit Tigers in 2019 after their offseason acquisitions — Gregory Soto, the Detroit Tigers' left-handed pitching prospect who was named the organization's minor league pitcher of the year two seasons ago, has been suspended 20 games.
Gabriel Burns / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Braves avoid arbitration with Foltynewicz, 3 others — The Braves avoided arbitration with starter Mike Foltynewicz ($5.475 million), reliever Arodys Vizcaino ($4.8 million), utilityman Charlie Culberson ($1.395 million) and outfielder Adam Duvall ($2.9 million) before the 1 p.m. Friday deadline.
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News … and Talking Chop
Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
Indians Avoid Arbitration With Francisco Lindor — The Indians have agreed to a 2019 salary with star shortstop Francisco Lindor, Paul Hoynes of the Plain Dealer reports (Twitter links). It's a $10.55MM deal, checking in just shy of the first-year arb-eligible record set last year by Kris Bryant at $10.85MM.
Discussion:
Let's Go Tribe
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Alex Bregman Undergoes Arthroscopic Elbow Surgery — The Astros announced Friday that third baseman Alex Bregman underwent arthroscopic surgery to remove loose bodies from his right elbow earlier today. Bregman is expected to be limited at the start of Spring Training but ready for full duty by Opening Day.
Discussion:
The Crawfish Boxes
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Dodgers Acquire Russell Martin — 5:48pm: Los Angeles will take on $3.6MM of Martin's salary, with the Jays paying the other $16.4MM of what's still due, per Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca (Twitter link). — 1:30pm: The Blue Jays have formally announced the trade.
Discussion:
Jays From The Couch, Bluebird Banter and True Blue LA
Craig Edwards / FanGraphs Baseball:
Nationals Gain Upside with Brian Dozier — While much of the focus of the Nationals' offseason has been the potential loss of Bryce Harper, the club has been one of the more active teams this winter. Their big move brought in Patrick Corbin. They also signed Anibal Sanchez and traded Tanner Roark.
Discussion:
Halos Heaven, Bleacher Report, Bucs Dugout, baseballmusings.com and MLB Trade Rumors
RELATED: