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8:40 AM ET, January 14, 2019

Ballbug

 Top News: 
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 …
RELATED:
Jeff PassanESPN / ESPN:
Manny Machado has offer from White Sox for 8-year contract  —  As the sweepstakes for baseball's best free agents heat up, Manny Machado is sitting on an eight-year offer from the Chicago White Sox and still engaged with the Philadelphia Phillies while their pursuit of Bryce Harper grew stronger …
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 …
David Schoenfield / ESPN:
How Bryce Harper and Manny Machado measure up among baseball's best  —  The largest total-value contract in MLB is Giancarlo Stanton's 13-year, $325 million extension that he signed with the Miami Marlins in 2015, now carried by the New York Yankees.  —  You know Scott Boras would love to break that record.
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Column: White Sox's long shot pursuit of Manny Machado could be paying off  —  Photos of Manny Machado, one of the top free agents this season.  —  Chicago Tribune  —  As unlikely as it seemed entering the offseason, the White Sox could wind up one of the biggest winners of free agency.
Andy Schwartz / Baltimore Sun:
Report: Phillies may favor Bryce Harper over Manny Machado  —  Of The Morning Call  —  The Phillies' meeting with Bryce Harper in Las Vegas went so well that the team may be shifting its focus to Harper instead of Manny Machado, according to MLB.com's Todd Zolecki, who cited a pair of sources.
Buster Olney / ESPN:
Yankees betting Miguel Andujar's work ethic will help fix defense  —  A longtime American League evaluator discussed the defense of New York Yankees third baseman Miguel Andujar last week, and noted the journey of Hall of Famer Wade Boggs.  In his climb through the minor leagues …
Discussion: MLB Trade Rumors and NESN.com
Mark Fischer / New York Daily News:
Bryce Harper, Manny Machado sweepstakes nearing end with Yanks nowhere to be found
Discussion: NBCSports.com and MLB Trade Rumors
Thomas Boswell / Chicago Tribune:   Column: The Nationals have built a contending roster without Bryce Harper.  What if he stays in D.C.?
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.
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
5 hot topics heading into this weekend's Cubs Convention  —  Photos of the Cubs' annual fan fest through the years.  —  Chicago Tribune  —  Spring training starts in less than a month, and the anticipation will swell leading up to this weekend's Cubs Convention.
Anthony Fenech / USA Today:
Ex-Tigers analyst Rod Allen: Fight with partner Mario Impemba more like ‘baseball brawl’  —  Former Fox Sports Detroit analyst and Detroit Tigers announcer Rod Allen spoke with Free Press business columnist Carol Cain on the “Michigan Matters” program on Sunday morning on WWJ-TV.
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 …
Discussion: Gaslamp Ball
RELATED:
Kevin Acee / sandiegouniontribune.com:
Moving Myers again means Padres loaded in outfield, lacking at third
Gilbert Manzano / Orange County Register:
Chargers blown out of NFL playoffs by Tom Brady and New England Patriots  —  FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - Desmond King held his hands out with his lower body in a wide stance, as the Chargers' punt returner waited for the ball to arrive.  —  It went through his hands and bounced off his left thigh.
Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Shildt: Cardinals have at least five No. 1 starting pitchers  —  One area the Cardinals have not really addressed this offseason is their starting pitching but, as Mike Shildt prepares for his first full season as manager, he is more than satisfied with what he has in his top five, plus the five or so behind them.
 
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 More News: 
Paul Hoynes / Plain Dealer:
What do the players say? Will 2019 Cleveland Indians be better or worse than 2018 edition?
Matthew Florjancic / WKYC-TV:
Leonys Martin healthy after life-threatening infection, ready to return to Indians
Justin Michael / Mile High Sports:
Whatever Arenado wants, the Rockies should oblige him
Discussion: Purple Row
Ken Davidoff / New York Post:
The last-ditch option for heating up MLB's Hot Stove season
Discussion: Pinstripe Alley
 Earlier Picks: 
TC Zencka / MLB Trade Rumors:
Manny Pina's Contract Details
Discussion: Brew Crew Ball
Bill Madden / New York Daily News:
Let's hold off on anointing Brodie Van Wagenen as the man who made Mets act like a big market team
Discussion: Amazin' Avenue
Associated Press:
Phillies avoid arbitration with six players, not Aaron Nola
Associated Press:
Twins reach deals with eight players to avoid arbitration
 

 
From WeSmirch:

Eileen Reslen / Page Six:
Christine Quinn alleges ‘abusive’ husband Christian Richard threw dog poop at her, peed on her floor in violent outburst

Leyla Mohammed / BuzzFeed News:
Penn Badgley Got Honest About The Differences Between Being A Dad And A Stepdad As He Recalled Initially Struggling To Bond With His 15-Year-Old Stepson

Tom Bryant / The Mirror:
Paul O'Grady's beloved dog nuzzled star's shoulder as devoted husband battled to save him

 
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