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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 …
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Talking Chop and MLB Baseball News …
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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.
Evan Drellich / NBCSports.com:
Red Sox still need bullpen help in lame offseason — BOSTON — This offseason sucks. — Apologies if that comes off crude. But it is a daily thought, and likely shared by some. — What a boring, dragging winter. Red Sox fans and employees still bask in the glow of the World Series, as they should.
Discussion:
Over the Monster
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, CBS New York, Pinstripe Alley, 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
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 …
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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,” …
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
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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.
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).
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:
NBCSports.com, Chicago Sun-Times, Cubs Insider and Bleacher Nation
Tom Verducci / Sports Illustrated:
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 …
Discussion:
DodgerBlue.com
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.
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …