Top News:
Matt Breen / Philly.com:
Phillies' meeting with Bryce Harper might not end in an immediate deal, but optimism builds about free agency prospects — It took roughly 10 weeks, but the Phillies finally found themselves on Saturday face-to-face with Bryce Harper. — The Phillies — led by owner John Middleton …
RELATED:
Bob Nightengale / USA Today:
Philadelphia Phillies emerge as clear-cut favorite to land Bryce Harper after meeting — LOS ANGELES - The Philadelphia Phillies, and not the Washington Nationals, have emerged as the clear-cut favorite to sign free-agent outfielder Bryce Harper after meeting with him for five hours Saturday in Las Vegas …
Discussion:
New York Post, MLB Baseball News … and MLB Trade Rumors
Steve Politi / New Jersey Online:
Yankees will regret passing on Manny Machado and going cheap in the 2018-19 free agent market — So that's it? — The Yankees' big splash from the vaunted 2018-19 free agent class, the one fans have been hearing about for years now, is a utility infielder named DJ LeMahieu.
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley and Beyond the Box Score
Thomas Boswell / Chicago Tribune:
Column: The Nationals have built a contending roster without Bryce Harper. What if he stays in D.C.? — The Washington Post — Where is the market for Bryce Harper? Whose dog did Manny Machado kick? — And how smart-plus-lucky do the Nationals look right now?
Associated Press:
Padres moving Wil Myers back to the outfield, may need third baseman — SAN DIEGO — Wil Myers said Saturday that he's moving back to the rebuilding Padres' crowded outfield, indicating that San Diego is likely still in the market for a third baseman. — Myers said the decision …
RELATED:
Kevin Acee / sandiegouniontribune.com:
Moving Myers again means Padres loaded in outfield, lacking at third — Wil Myers confirmed on Saturday that he is once again an outfielder. — “What we think is best for the team is for me to go back to the outfield,” said Myers, who began his career as an outfielder …
Discussion:
Bleacher Nation, Cubs Insider, Redleg Nation and MLB Trade Rumors
Anthony Fenech / Detroit Free Press:
Tigers deal with Nicholas Castellanos paves way for eventual trade — Who will start for the Detroit Tigers in 2019 after their offseason acquisitions — Heading toward Friday's deadline for teams and players to exchange salary arbitration figures, one case stood out as the Detroit Tigers' most complicated.
Matthew Florjancic / WKYC-TV:
Leonys Martin healthy after life-threatening infection, ready to return to Indians — After overcoming a life-threatening bacterial infection, outfielder Leonys Martin is healthy and ready to get back to playing baseball for the Cleveland Indians. — CLEVELAND — Outfielder Leonys Martin …
Rich Hammond / Orange County Register:
Rams show playoff toughness, beat Dallas Cowboys to advance to NFC title game — C.J. Anderson, Todd Gurley run over the Dallas defense in a 30-22 home victory — LOS ANGELES - Dallas had a good game plan, a winning one. So the Rams co-opted it, improved it, rolled it up and smacked the Cowboys around with it Saturday night.
Discussion:
Daily News, Daily Breeze, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin and Whittier Daily News
TC Zencka / MLB Trade Rumors:
Manny Pina's Contract Details — Catcher Manny Pina signed for $1.6MM in 2019, his first season of arbitration eligibility, but the Milwaukee Brewers hold a team option for 2020 worth $1.85MM, per Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. — The team option for 2020 also includes …
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Associated Press:
MLB arbitration: Mookie Betts, Jacob deGrom and Khris Davis land big pay raises — Red Sox outfielder Mookie Betts follows through with his third home run of the game against the Royals during the seventh inning of a game May 2, 2018, in Boston. (Elise Amendola / Associated Press)
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Newsday:
Mets avoid arbitration with everyone; Jacob deGrom to get $17M in 2019
Mets avoid arbitration with everyone; Jacob deGrom to get $17M in 2019
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue
Evan Drellich / NBCSports.com:
Avoiding arbitration with all players gives Red Sox cost certainty
Avoiding arbitration with all players gives Red Sox cost certainty
Discussion:
Over the Monster
Associated Press:
Phillies avoid arbitration with six players, not Aaron Nola — PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Philadelphia Phillies have avoided arbitration with six players, including second baseman Cesar Hernandez and third baseman Maikel Franco. — All-Star right-hander Aaron Nola didn't reach an agreement with the team.
Ken Davidoff / New York Post:
The last-ditch option for heating up MLB's Hot Stove season — Oh, goodness, the hand-wringing. — So much hand-wringing over this slow-moving free-agent market. From the players' side. From the media. From the fans. — It's enough to drive a free-market advocate into considering ... salary caps and floors?
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley
Justin Michael / Mile High Sports:
Whatever Arenado wants, the Rockies should oblige him — As the 2019 season approaches, the Colorado Rockies have many questions surrounding the future of the roster. The one that most Rockies fans are focused on is whether or not Nolan Arenado and the club can come to an agreement on a long-term contract extension.
Discussion:
Purple Row and MLB Baseball News …