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:
MLB Baseball News … and Bleacher Report
RELATED:
David Haugh / Chicago Tribune:
Column: Can Cubs do more in 2019 by doing less this offseason? Seems unlikely. — Photos of Theo Epstein, the Cubs' president of baseball operations. — Chicago Tribune — In the middle of a Chicago winter, Joe Maddon delivered a cold reality. — “Not going to happen,” …
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:
‘The Cubs got the perfect guy’: Daniel Descalso brings leadership skills and versatility to Wrigley Field
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
Wallace Matthews / New York Daily News:
Adam Ottavino is no splash signing, but this Yankee bullpen is now the best in baseball — From the Bronx Bombers to the Bronx Bullpen. — That is what the Yankees appear to be transitioning into this offseason, a team built more to protect leads than to take them.
RELATED:
ESPN:
Red Sox unlikely to spend big to sign closer, Dave Dombrowski says — While the New York Yankees made another move to strengthen their bullpen, Boston Red Sox president Dave Dombrowski said Thursday he didn't expect to spend a lot of money on a closer. — Dombrowski, speaking …
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …
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 …, Baseball Essential, NESN.com, CBS New York and Lone Star Ball
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Yankees Close To Dealing Sonny Gray
Yankees Close To Dealing Sonny Gray
Discussion:
NBCSports.com, Lookout Landing and Redleg Nation
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
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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.
John Harper / SNY:
Why Mets making Cubs castoff Chili Davis hitting coach shouldn't cause alarm — Cubs president Theo Epstein didn't really want to fire Davis, according to multiple sources — Curious as to why the Mets hired a hitting coach, Chili Davis, who lasted all of one year with the Cubs?
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …, Chicago Sun-Times, Bleacher Nation and Cubs Insider
RELATED:
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 …
Tom Verducci / Sports Illustrated:
If the Phillies Sign Bryce Harper, It Won't Preclude Them From Trying to Eventually Lure Mike Trout — The Phillies are considered the frontrunner for Bryce Harper, but they'll keep their eyes on Mike Trout, who grew up just 45 miles away from Philadelphia.
Discussion:
Bleacher Report and The Good Phight
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Scott Orgera / Forbes:
Harper And Machado Sweepstakes: A Look Back At 10 Long-Term Free Agent Contracts
Jeff Sullivan / FanGraphs Baseball:
Contract Crowdsourcing Again: Bryce Harper and Manny Machado
Contract Crowdsourcing Again: Bryce Harper and Manny Machado
Discussion:
Talking Chop, Pinstripe Alley and MLB Baseball News …
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:
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
White Sox to televise six spring training games — Chicago Tribune — The White Sox will televise six spring training games, the team announced Thursday. — Five of those games will be carried by NBC Sports Chicago and one by WGN-Ch. 9. In addition, 11 game webcasts will be shown on the team's website.