Top News:
Jeff PassanESPN / ESPN:
Sources: MLB and players discussing rule changes that could alter game — Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association are discussing potentially drastic changes to the on-field game and economic landscape of the sport in the middle of a collective bargaining agreement …
RELATED:
Dave Sheinin / Baltimore Sun:
MLB considering drastic rule changes that could speed up games and create universal DH — The Washington Post — Major League Baseball and its union have had substantive discussions in recent days over a series of proposals, among the most drastic proposed changes in years …
Gabe Lacques / USA Today:
MLB rule changes are wise - but be careful what you wish for — Evolution is inevitable, and good, and that can even apply to baseball. — Change once came in drips, but two decades of innovation on the backfields and batting cages and boardrooms has flooded the diamond.
Ken Rosenthal / The Athletic:
Three-batter requirement for all pitchers, universal DH part of proposals that could bring big change to baseball — The left-on-left specialist — a left-handed reliever who sometimes faces only one left-handed hitter — soon might be an endangered species in Major League Baseball.
Jeff Wilson / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
Report: MLB, players considering sweeping rules changes for 2019 season — Spring training begins for pitchers and catchers next week and Opening Day is 50 days away, but MLB and the players association are considering jamming in significant rules changes for the regular season.
Discussion:
Bleacher Nation
Andrew Seligman / Associated Press:
Outfielder Brandon Guyer agrees to a minor-league deal with the White Sox — The Clevelands' Brandon Guyer fields a ball during Game 3 of the ALDS against the Astros on Oct. 8, 2018. (David Dermer / AP) — A person familiar with the situation says outfielder Brandon Guyer has agreed …
RELATED:
Jason Rollison / Bucs Dugout:
Pittsburgh Pirates Sign Nick Franklin to a Minor-League Deal — The Pittsburgh Pirates have signed infielder Nick Franklin to a minor-league deal with an invitation to Spring Training — The Pittsburgh Pirates have announced a minor league deal (with an invite to ST) with INF Nick Franklin.
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
White Sox, Brandon Guyer Agree To Minor League Deal
Discussion:
The Sports Daily and NBCSports.com
Randy Miller / Associated Press:
MLB rumors: New suitor for Bryce Harper; Front-runner for Manny Machado? Phillies in on J.T. Realmuto? — RHP Jake Barrett — Adrian Beltre, 3B — Advance Local — Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement (updated 5/25/18) …
Discussion:
NBCSports.com, Bleacher Nation, KNBR-AM, Chicago Sun-Times, MLB Trade Rumors, MLB Daily Dish and NESN.com
RELATED:
Wallace Matthews / New York Daily News:
Yankees are content without Manny Machado or Bryce Harper, says Aaron Boone: 'We're a complete team'
Discussion:
New Jersey Online and Pinstripe Alley
Coley Harvey / ESPN:
Yankees' Aaron Judge would welcome fellow right fielder Bryce Harper
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …, Sporting News, baseballmusings.com and New York Post
Rotoworld.com:
Offseason Lowdown: Get Paid — At least someone is getting paid. — As we wait for literally anything to happen on the free agent market, arbitration cases are working themselves out between clubs and players. And while no teams seem willing to voluntarily lay out money for players' services …
Discussion:
Crossing Broad, NESN.com and Sporting News
RELATED:
Chicago Tribune:
Deep Dish Baseball: Gearing up for spring training and talking to Reds announcer Marty Brennaman — Welcome to the weekly Deep Dish Baseball podcast with Mark Gonzales and Paul Sullivan and other Chicago Tribune writers.
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Cubs invite 27 non-roster players to spring training — Chicago Tribune — The Cubs have invited 27 non-roster invitees to spring training. — Only three of those players are catchers, but Francisco Arcia plans to get a healthy look as the Cubs look for experience behind starter Willson Contreras and Victor Caratini.
Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
Pirates To Sign Tom Koehler — The Pirates have agreed to a minor-league deal with righty Tom Koehler, per Rob Biertempfel of The Athletic (via Twitter). It will not include an invitation to MLB Spring Training. — The lack of a spring invite isn't really an indication of Koehler's ability level …
Discussion:
Bucs Dugout
Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
It's Truck Day — and the unofficial start of Cardinals spring training — Pitchers and catchers officially report to the Cardinals' camp in Jupiter, Fla., next Tuesday. But the unofficial start of spring training came on Wednesday at Busch Stadium. It was Truck Day.
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Column: Cubs' last hurrah on WGN-TV could be a tearjerker — WGN-TV celebrated the 70th anniversary of its first Cubs' broadcast on April 16, 2018. — Chicago Tribune — What's expected to be the last Cubs game on WGN-TV is scheduled for Sept. 27, a Friday night game in St. Louis starting the final series of the 2019 season.
