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.
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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.
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …, Over the Monster and The Athletic
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.
Discussion:
Sporting News, Pinstripe Alley, Newsday, New Jersey Online and New York Post
ESPN:
Hal Steinbrenner says Yankees have made the right moves — ORLANDO, Fla. — Hal Steinbrenner has heard the constant criticism in New York: Why haven't the Yankees tried to sign Bryce Harper or Manny Machado? — “I get hammered every year about something,” the New York owner said Thursday.
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News … and Pinstripe Alley
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
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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 …
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …, MLB Trade Rumors and The Good Phight
Ken Rosenthal / The Athletic:
The Marlins' trade strategy on Realmuto; baseball's staring contest; Moose and Milwaukee?; more notes
Discussion:
Bleacher Report, Bleacher Nation and Bleed Cubbie Blue
Jeff PassanESPN / ESPN:
Phillies acquire catcher J.T. Realmuto from Marlins
Discussion:
DodgerBlue.com and baseballmusings.com
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.
Discussion:
The Athletic, NPR, USA Today and baseballmusings.com
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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 …
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Joe Noga / Plain Dealer:
Cleveland Indians sign free agent outfielder Matt Joyce to minor-league contract — CLEVELAND, Ohio — Free agent outfielder Matt Joyce, who played the last two seasons in Oakland, has signed a minor-league contract with the Cleveland Indians and will be invited to big league camp at spring training.
Discussion:
Let's Go Tribe, Bleacher Report, MLB Trade Rumors and MLB Baseball News …
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Giants, Rene Rivera Agree To Minor League Deal
Discussion:
McCovey Chronicles
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.
Discussion:
The Week, CNN, NPR, witf.org, FOX31 Denver, The Japan Times, Page Six, The Big Lead, Bloomberg, Hollywood Life, Chico Enterprise-Record and Splinter, more at WeSmirch »
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 …
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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)
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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
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 …
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Alex Pavlovic / MLB Baseball News, Scores …:
Giants entered a Harper field lacking too many contenders — Giants entered a Harper field lacking too many contenders originally appeared on — SAN FRANCISCO - When the Giants first started dreaming of Bryce Harper, they did so as contenders, the three-time champs with a roster full …
Discussion:
ClutchPoints and South Side Sox
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 …
