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4:45 PM ET, January 17, 2019

Ballbug

 Top News: 
Jesse Rogers / ESPN:
Cubs GM: Giving second chance to Addison Russell ‘was the right thing to do’  —  CHICAGO — Chicago Cubs ownership on Thursday reasserted its stance that having suspended shortstop Addison Russell under contract for 2019 is not an endorsement of his having violated the league's domestic abuse policy …
Discussion: Bleacher Report
RELATED:
Jesse Rogers / ESPN:
‘I came up on one-year deals’: How Joe Maddon is approaching 2019  —  CHICAGO — Though they've won the most regular-season games in baseball over the past four seasons, the Chicago Cubs aren't likely to catch much of a break from fans this weekend during their annual winter convention.
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Ian Happ excited to be reunited with new Cubs hitting coach Anthony Iapoce: 'He's a really high-energy guy'  —  The Cubs partnered with Good Sports, a nonprofit that gives kids lifelong benefits of sport and physical activity by providing equipment, apparel and footwear to those most in need on Jan. 17 …
Discussion: Chicago Tribune
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
‘The Cubs got the perfect guy’: Daniel Descalso brings leadership skills and versatility to Wrigley Field  —  Daniel Descalso during a game for the Diamondbacks on June 4, 2017.  (Patrick Farrell / TNS)  —  Chicago Tribune  —  As the oldest of six children, Daniel Descalso realized the importance of setting a good example.
Rick Morrissey / Chicago Sun-Times:
The Cubs have money to sign Bryce Harper, but ownership doesn't want to spend it
Discussion: baseballmusings.com
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Yankees To Sign Adam Ottavino  —  12:47pm: Fancred's Jon Heyman tweets that Ottavino will be guaranteed $27MM over the three-year term.  —  12:42pm :The Yankees have agreed to terms on a contract with free-agent reliever Adam Ottavino, ESPN's Jeff Passan tweets.
RELATED:
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Yankees Close To Dealing Sonny Gray  —  3:11pm: David O'Brien of The Athletic tweets that any trade of Gray won't include the Braves.  There have been no recent discussions between New York and Atlanta, per O'Brien.  —  1:51pm: Heyman now tweets that the Yankees are “close” to trading Gray.
Discussion: Redleg Nation
Associated Press:   Yankees' DJ LeMahieu says he'll bring many gloves to spring training
Daily Record:   Yankees' D.J. LeMahieu expects to shuttle around the infield for his new club
Scott Orgera / Forbes:
Harper And Machado Sweepstakes: A Look Back At 10 Long-Term Free Agent Contracts  —  Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own.  — Share to facebook  — Share to twitter  — Share to linkedin  —  With Bryce Harper and Manny Machado reportedly seeking deals …
RELATED:
Jeff Sullivan / FanGraphs Baseball:
Contract Crowdsourcing Again: Bryce Harper and Manny Machado
Mark Fischer / New York Daily News:
Manny Machado's agent slams White Sox rumors and is livid
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Manny Machado's agent blasts ‘inaccurate and reckless’ reports as the White Sox's pursuit of the star continues
Discussion: Talking Chop
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:   Ian Clarkin returns to the Cubs for a 2nd time on waiver claim from the White Sox
Bobby Nightengale / Cincinnati.com:
With an active offseason, Cincinnati Reds players happy to move on from rebuilding stage  —  Making a guest appearance on WLW's “Hot Stove League” on Wednesday night, one day before the team's annual caravan began, Reds catcher Tucker Barnhart didn't mince words about the last few seasons:
RELATED:
John Fay / Cincinnati.com:
2019 Cincinnati Reds: Annual caravan to Reds Country rolls with optimism in its wake  —  The Cincinnati Reds Winter Caravan is an effort to sell the club to the far reaches of Reds Country - places like Huntington, West Virginia; Chillicothe, Ohio; Cynthiana, Kentucky; and Madison, Indiana.
Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:
Mets officials aren't sure of Yoenis Cespedes' future  —  Do not expect any updates on Yoenis Cespedes.  —  The Mets slugger, who is entering the third year of a four-year deal, is not expected to return from double-heel surgery until at least July.  —  Mets GM Brodie Van Wagenen …
RELATED:
Associated Press:   Mets newcomer Jed Lowrie ready to play all over the diamond
Daily Record:   Mets not looking to trade Todd Frazier after Jed Lowrie signing
Mark Fischer / New York Daily News:
Mets fan favorite Wilmer Flores lands with new team  —  No waterworks this time around.  —  On the day the Mets gave away his former No. 4, Wilmer Flores agreed to a one-year deal, including a team option, with the Diamondbacks, ESPN reported Wednesday.  —  The former fan favorite …
RELATED:
Arizona Republic:
Arizona Diamondbacks to sign infielder Wilmer Flores, according to report
ESPN:   Source: Diamondbacks agree with Wilmer Flores on 1-year deal
Matthew Florjancic / WKYC-TV:
Report: Padres pursuing Indians SP Corey Kluber to flip him to third team  —  Reportedly, the San Diego Padres are pursuing Cleveland Indians ace pitcher Corey Kluber in order to flip him to another team.  —  CLEVELAND — Oh, the tangled web Major League Baseball has weaved …
St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
50 greatest St. Louis Cardinals pitchers  —  Selected by Rick Hummel, who has covered baseball for the Post-Dispatch since the 1970s and and was inducted into the writers' wing of the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2007.  —  HALL OF FAME BASEBALL WRITER RICK HUMMEL MAKES THE PICKS
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cardinals loaded with prospects at third base  —  A total of 43 players were invited to the Cardinals' minor-league instructional camp in Jupiter, Fla., and that list includes the club's three most-recent top draft choices: shortstop Delvin Perez (2016), outfielder Scott Hurst (2017), and this past year's first-round pick, Nolan Gorman.
RELATED:
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:   As Cardinals' prospects gather in Jupiter, Alex Reyes returns (briefly) to the mound
 
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 More News: 
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Royals' Eric Skoglund Suspended 80 Games
Discussion: AZ Snake Pit
Tom Haudricourt / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
Brewers invite nine minor-leaguers to spring camp, including top prospect Keston Hiura
Discussion: Brew Crew Ball
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
White Sox reward Omar Vizquel for work with top prospects
 Earlier Picks: 
Phil Rosenthal / Chicago Tribune:
Marty Brennaman — who called Cubs fans ‘most obnoxious’ — to retire after 46 seasons as Reds voice
Discussion: Cubs Insider
David Schoenfield / ESPN:
Five moves we want to see this offseason
 

 
From WeSmirch:

Miranda Siwak / Us Weekly:
50 Cent Is ‘Going for Sole Custody’ of His Son With Daphne Joy After She Was Named in Diddy Lawsuit (Exclusive)

Jeff Conway / Forbes:
Olivia Colman Reflects On Her Beloved Career: ‘I Have Been Very Lucky’

Heidi Parker / Daily Mail:
Jennifer Aniston, 55, and Sandra Bullock, 59, are seen leaving a plastic surgery office in Connecticut that is known for facelifts and rhinoplasty

 
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