Top News:
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
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.
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Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Joe Maddon likes his calm Cubs as NL Central competitors load up on talent — Chicago Tribune — The rival Cardinals made a major statement last month by trading for slugger Paul Goldschmidt and signing prized left-handed relief pitcher Andrew Miller. — The Brewers upgraded at catcher …
John Harper / SNY:
Why Mets making Cubs castoff Chili Davis hitting coach shouldn't cause alarm
Why Mets making Cubs castoff Chili Davis hitting coach shouldn't cause alarm
Discussion:
NBCSports.com, Chicago Sun-Times, Cubs Insider and Bleacher Nation
David Haugh / Chicago Tribune:
Column: Can Cubs do more in 2019 by doing less this offseason? Seems unlikely.
Jeff PassanESPN / ESPN:
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.
Discussion:
New York Times and Uni Watch
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ESPN:
Red Sox unlikely to spend big to sign closer, Dave Dombrowski says
Red Sox unlikely to spend big to sign closer, Dave Dombrowski says
Discussion:
Talking Chop, Over the Monster and MLB Baseball News …
Wallace Matthews / New York Daily News:
Adam Ottavino is no splash signing, but this Yankee bullpen is now the best in baseball
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Yankees To Sign Adam Ottavino
Yankees To Sign Adam Ottavino
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley, MLB Baseball News …, Baseball Essential, CBS New York, MLB Daily Dish 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
Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Keith Hernandez's star was rising 40 years ago with Cardinals — St. Louis Cardinals batter Keith Hernandez watches his single drop in, driving in two runs in the sixth inning of Game 7 of World Series, Oct. 30, 1982 in St. Louis, Mo. The RBI tied the game for the Cards and set up the tie-breaking score.
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Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
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).
Jesse Yomtov / USA Today:
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 …
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Scott Orgera / Forbes:
Harper And Machado Sweepstakes: A Look Back At 10 Long-Term Free Agent Contracts
Harper And Machado Sweepstakes: A Look Back At 10 Long-Term Free Agent Contracts
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …
Pete Caldera / Daily Record:
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 …
Discussion:
Sporting News and Pinstripe Alley
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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:
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Jesse Yomtov / USA Today:
Baseball Hall of Fame countdown: Mariano Rivera could break voting record — USA TODAY Sports is counting down the top 10 candidates on the 2019 Baseball Hall of Fame ballot in advance of the Jan. 22 election results. The countdown is based on voting by our power rankings panel, which includes five Hall voters.
Buster Olney / ESPN:
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 …
ESPN:
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.
Discussion:
Let's Go Tribe
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Matthew Florjancic / WKYC-TV:
Report: Padres pursuing Indians SP Corey Kluber to flip him to third team
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 and MLB Baseball News …