Joe Maddon denies report that Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo urged Chili Davis' firing  —  For the Cubs' Community Service Day, the team partnered with Good Sports, a nonprofit that provides equipment, apparel and footwear youngsters in need, for an event on Jan. 17, 2019, at Patrick Henry Elementary School.

Yankees, Adam Ottavino agree to 3-year, $27 million deal  —  Free-agent reliever Adam Ottavino and the New York Yankees agreed to a three-year, $27 million deal Thursday, league sources told ESPN, fortifying an already deep bullpen with a strikeout-happy right-hander who was one of the best setup men in baseball last season.

Free agent Dallas Keuchel wonders what it takes to get signed  —  With spring training approaching and top free agents remaining unsigned, it's been an another icy winter for baseball's hot stove.  —  Left-handed pitcher Dallas Keuchel is one of the best players still available and took …

Clint Frazier says he's ready to participate in Yankees spring training camp  —  NEW YORK — Clint Frazier is ready for spring training, a development he excitedly announced on Twitter.  —  Via his account Thursday, the Yankees' outfielder — who battled through a concussion …

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:

Buster's Buzz: Red Sox repeat?  Four question marks facing the champs  —  Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora held a morning baseball clinic for a small army of youngsters in his hometown of Caguas, Puerto Rico, last month.  Under the rising sun, Cora hoisted a microphone and introduced …

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 …

Hernandez's star was rising 40 years ago with Cards  —  In the past 50 years, only four Cardinals players have hit double figures in doubles, triples, home runs and stolen bases in the same season.  By the way, that would have been an impossibility in 2018 because the entire team didn't have double figures in triples (nine).

Angels reach one-year deal with Cody Allen to be closer next season  —  Free-agent reliever Cody Allen agreed to a one-year deal with the Los Angeles Angels, league sources told ESPN, filling a void in the back end of their bullpen after a half-decade closing for the Cleveland Indians.

If MLB Implements a Significant Rule Change in 2019, It Will Be a Pitch Clock  — Several potential rule changes were recently discussed between MLB and the players union, but a pitch clock remains the primary focus.  —  No proposed rules change would improve baseball's pace of action issue …