Top News:
Rotoworld.com:
Lowdown: Brewers' New Backstop — Brewers' New Backstop — The Milwaukee Brewers became major players in the free agent market on Wednesday, adding some significant punch behind the plate. Jon Morosi of MLB.com reported that the team had secured a one-year commitment from Yasmani Grandal …
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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, Bleacher Nation, DRaysBay, MLB Baseball News … and Lone Star Ball
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 …
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
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 …
Discussion:
FiveThirtyEight, NBCSports.com and MLB Daily Dish
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Associated Press:
Shelby Miller signs 1-year deal with Texas; Jaime Garcia retires; Grandal to Brewers
Discussion:
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
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
Tom Haudricourt / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
Brewers reach agreement on one-year, $18.25 million deal with catcher Yasmani Grandal
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
Jeff PassanESPN / ESPN:
Sources: Yasmani Grandal agrees to 1-year, $18.25M deal with Brewers
Discussion:
Deadspin and The Crawfish Boxes
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.
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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
Corey Seidman / NBCSports.com:
Evolution of free agency is hurting players but could help Phillies with Manny Machado and Bryce Harper
Discussion:
NESN.com
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 …
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Craig Edwards / FanGraphs Baseball:
Nationals Gain Upside with Brian Dozier
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com, Bucs Dugout, Sports Illustrated, Baseball Essential and DodgerBlue.com
Associated Press:
Steven Wright agrees with Red Sox on one-year contract — BOSTON — Knuckleballer Steven Wright and the Boston Red Sox agreed to a one-year contract for $1,375,000, a raise of $275,000, in a deal that avoided arbitration. — An All-Star in 2016, the 34-year-old right-hander started …
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Jeff PassanESPN / ESPN:
Passan: Inside the wild, wonky world of MLB salary arbitration
Discussion:
NBCSports.com and Bleacher Nation
Mike Cole / NESN.com:
Bryce Harper's Free Agency Should Be Of Interest To Mookie Betts, Red Sox
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …, Union-News, Over the Monster, NBCSports.com and The Athletic
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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Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Mets Sign Luis Avilan To Minor League Deal
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …
Associated Press:
Angels avoid arbitration with RHPs JC Ramirez, Nick Tropeano — LOS ANGELES — The Angels agreed to one-year contracts with right-handers JC Ramirez and Nick Tropeano that avoided salary arbitration. — Ramirez agreed at $1,901,000 on Thursday, a raise of $1,000.
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.
