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12:45 PM ET, February 8, 2019

Ballbug

 Top News: 
Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:
Yankees Spring Training Preview: Biggest questions as Bombers try to chase down Red Sox  —  The Yankees won 100 games last year.  They won the American League wild-card game.  The Bombers also had the misfortune of being in the division with the best team in baseball in 2018.
RELATED:
Jimmy Golen / Associated Press:
6 things to watch for as the Red Sox begin spring training workouts  —  BOSTON (AP) — The goal is the same for the Boston Red Sox in 2019: finish the season flopping around on the pitcher's mound, celebrating another World Series title.  —  All that's left is for them to figure out who's at the bottom of the pile.
Anthony Rieber / Newsday:
Bryce Harper, Manny Machado in pinstripes?  Hal Steinbrenner says never say never  —  The Yankees' managing general partner likes the improvements to his team but is open to adding a big-ticket item.  —  ORLANDO, Fla. — It's unlikely that the Yankees will sign Manny Machado or Bryce Harper.
Scott Chiusano / New York Daily News:
Hal Steinbrenner wants Yankees fans to know he's 'never done until I'm done' when it comes to Manny Machado and Bryce Harper  —  The Yankees just keep teasing their fans.  —  There was a time when they didn't have to tease, when it was expected they would be not just in the mix for every frontline player, but the top contender.
ESPN:
Hal Steinbrenner says Yankees have made the right moves
Discussion: Pinstripe Alley
ESPN:
Frank Robinson, MVP, first black manager, dies at 83  —  MLB, Cleveland Indians, Baltimore Orioles, Cincinnati Reds, Washington Nationals  —  Frank Robinson, the first African-American manager in Major League Baseball and the only player to win MVP in both leagues, has died at age 83, MLB said Thursday.
RELATED:
Associated Press:   Reaction to the death of baseball great Frank Robinson
Joe Erwin / New York Daily News:   Frank Robinson was an amazing ballplayer, but a true trailblazer as the first black manager
Jon Becker / Orange County Register:
Frank Robinson, Baseball Hall of Famer, dies at 83
Tyler Carey / KHOU-TV:
Baseball legend, Beaumont native Frank Robinson dies at 83
ESPN:
J.T. Realmuto deal continues stunningly sad Marlins tradition  —  1. The first J.T. Realmuto trade rumors started to show up in September 2016, like this one: … Doesn't look like much, but for two key facts.  The first is this had come roughly two and a half months after Realmuto got good.
Discussion: FanGraphs Baseball
RELATED:
Associated Press:
J.T. Realmuto, the catcher the Mets wanted, traded from Marlins to Phillies for 3 players  —  MIAMI — In October, J.T. Realmuto's agent predicted the Miami Marlins' All-Star catcher would be with another team by spring training.  —  He was right.  —  After months of speculation over what they'd do …
David Schoenfield / ESPN:   With Realmuto joining Phillies, could Harper or Machado follow?
Jeff PassanESPN / ESPN:
Phillies acquire catcher J.T. Realmuto from Marlins
Bob Nightengale / USA Today:   Phillies get All-Star catcher J.T. Realmuto in trade with Marlins
Associated Press:
Cleveland Indians agree to minor league deals with Ryan Flaherty, Dioner Navarro  —  CLEVELAND — Infielder Ryan Flaherty has agreed to a minor league contract with the Cleveland Indians and will report to big league spring training.  —  The 32-year-old would get a one-year contract paying $800,000 …
RELATED:
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Giants, Rene Rivera Agree To Minor League Deal  —  The Giants and free-agent catcher Rene Rivera are in agreement on a minor league contract, reports MLB Network's Jon Heyman (via Twitter).  A client of MDR Sports Management, Rivera will head to Major League Spring Training and compete …
Discussion: McCovey Chronicles
Joe Noga / Plain Dealer:
Cleveland Indians sign free agent outfielder Matt Joyce to minor-league contract
Jeff Bezos:
No thank you, Mr. Pecker  —  Something unusual happened to me yesterday.  Actually, for me it wasn't just unusual—it was a first.  I was made an offer I couldn't refuse.  Or at least that's what the top people at the National Enquirer thought.  I'm glad they thought that, because it emboldened them to put it all in writing.
Jeff PassanESPN / ESPN:
Major League Baseball to rename disabled list as ‘injured list’  —  The disabled list is going on the permanent DL.  —  Major League Baseball will rename the disabled list as the “injured list,” a source familiar with the plan told ESPN.  —  The league will make the change out of concern that the term …
RELATED:
Associated Press:
DL shelved: Baseball's disabled list becomes injured list
Discussion: baseballmusings.com
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
2019 will be an important year for both Joe Maddon and Rick Renteria, Chicago's yin and yang of managers  —  Cubs manager Joe Maddon, left, and White Sox manager Joe Maddon both are focusing on improvement heading into spring training.  (Photos by Chris Sweda and Nancy Stone/Chicago Tribune)
RELATED:
Mark Gonzales / Kansas City Star:   Cubs have struck out with homegrown pitchers in recent years, but they're working to change that
ESPN:
Rangers sign outfielder Hunter Pence to minor league deal  —  The Texas Rangers have signed outfielder Hunter Pence and infielder Matt Davidson to minor league contracts with invitations to major league spring training camp, the team announced Thursday.  —  Pence, a three-time All-Star …
RELATED:
Jeff Wilson / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
Arlington product Pence to attempt to extend MLB career with hometown Rangers
Discussion: Dallas Morning News
Jon Meoli / Baltimore Sun:
Orioles announce minor league coaching staffs, bringing a mix of familiar faces, new voices  —  The Orioles' minor league coaching staffs announced Friday feature a mix of familiar faces in new roles and fresh blood from the college and amateur ranks, as the organization looks to overhaul …
Discussion: Camden Chat
CBS Detroit:
Does Tigers Rebuild Mean No Expectation Of Contending?  —  DETROIT (AP) — Player development is the key for 2019 squad.  —  For the Detroit Tigers, success isn't really measured in wins and losses these days.  —  That's what happens when a franchise knows it is rebuilding and has almost no expectation of contending.
Discussion: Bless You Boys
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Ryan Tepera, Kyle Barraclough Lose Arbitration Cases  —  Blue Jays right-hander Ryan Tepera and Nationals righty Kyle Barraclough have lost their arbitration cases against their respective teams, Jeff Passan of ESPN reports (via Twitter).  Tepera will be paid at the $1.525MM rate filed …
Discussion: MLB Baseball News …
Associated Press:
AL East teams at the start of spring training  —  A team-by-team look at the American League East entering spring training, including key players each club acquired and lost, and dates of the first workout for pitchers and catchers, and the full squad:  —  ___  —  Boston Red Sox
 
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 More News: 
Ernest Hooper / Tampa Bay Times:
What Rays player are you most curious about seeing this spring, and why?
Chandler Rome / Houston Chronicle:
How Astros prospects Forrest Whitley, Corbin Martin topped 110 mph
Jeff Wilson / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
Kiner-Falefa caught 35 games last season. Here's how that number should soar in 2019
Ballpark Digest:
Rome Braves Extend State Mutual Stadium Lease
John Fay / Cincinnati.com:
Cincinnati Reds question: Can veterans Hughes and Hernandez be as good in '19 as they were in '18?
 Earlier Picks: 
Cincinnati.com:
Cincinnati Reds question: What to do with top prospect Nick Senzel?
Jeff Wilson / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
Would adding the DH to the National League help the Rangers find a trade for Choo?
John Romano / Tampa Bay Times:
Changes baseball should and shouldn't make
Daily Record:
Mets sign catcher Devin Mesoraco to minor-league contract
Discussion: NorthJersey.com
Jesse Dougherty / Chicago Tribune:
Giants join the Bryce Harper sweepstakes, which grow stranger by the day
Discussion: MLB Baseball News …
 

 
From WeSmirch:

Tamantha Ryan / Page Six:
50 Cent's ex Daphne Joy accuses him of rape, physical abuse amid Diddy lawsuit drama — but he denies it

People:
Gypsy Rose Blanchard Announces Separation from Husband 3 Months After Prison Release

Jeff Conway / Forbes:
Olivia Colman Reflects On Her Beloved Career: ‘I Have Been Very Lucky’

 
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