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
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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
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.
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …, CBS New York, Pinstripe Alley and Lone Star Ball
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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
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 …
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Tom Verducci / Sports Illustrated:
If the Phillies Sign Bryce Harper, It Won't Preclude Them From Trying to Eventually Lure Mike Trout
If the Phillies Sign Bryce Harper, It Won't Preclude Them From Trying to Eventually Lure Mike Trout
Discussion:
Bleacher Report and The Good Phight
Jeff Sullivan / FanGraphs Baseball:
Contract Crowdsourcing Again: Bryce Harper and Manny Machado
Contract Crowdsourcing Again: Bryce Harper and Manny Machado
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …, Talking Chop and Pinstripe Alley
Mark Fischer / New York Daily News:
Manny Machado's agent slams White Sox rumors and is livid
Manny Machado's agent slams White Sox rumors and is livid
Discussion:
Purple Row, Sporting News, Fish Stripes and MLB Daily Dish
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:
Discussion:
redsminorleagues.com and Redleg Nation
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 …
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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 …
Discussion:
Sporting News and Sports Illustrated
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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.
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