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3:05 PM ET, February 8, 2019

Ballbug

 Top News: 
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.
RELATED:
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.
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.
Scott Chiusano / New York Daily News:   Hal Steinbrenner wants Yankees fans to know he's 'never done until I'm done' when it comes …
David Schoenfield / ESPN:   With Realmuto joining Phillies, could Harper or Machado follow?
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:
Ryan Tepera, Kyle Barraclough lose salary arbitration cases  —  Relievers Ryan Tepera of the Toronto Blue Jays and Kyle Barraclough of the Washington Nationals lost their salary arbitration cases Friday.  —  Tepera was awarded a $1,525,000 salary Friday rather than his request for $1.8 million.
RELATED:
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:   Ryan Tepera, Kyle Barraclough Lose Arbitration Cases
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:
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.
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Giants, Rene Rivera Agree To Minor League Deal
Discussion: KNBR-AM and McCovey Chronicles
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
Jon Becker / Orange County Register:
Frank Robinson, Baseball Hall of Famer, dies at 83
Joe Erwin / New York Daily News:   Frank Robinson was an amazing ballplayer, but a true trailblazer as the first black manager
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.
Associated Press:
No designated hitter or draft changes likely in MLB this season  —  ORLANDO, Fla. — Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred said management is focused on pace-of-game changes for 2019, and bolder ideas suggested by players such as expanding the designated hitter to the National League are too complicated to be put in place for this season.
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
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.
Nick Piecoro / Arizona Republic:
All eyes on GM Mike Hazen as Arizona Diamondbacks spring training nears  —  The reaction from John Hazen's elementary school classmate was one of disbelief.  —  “It was just like, ‘Your dad traded Paul Goldschmidt?’”  Mike Hazen recounted.  —  Hazen did not enjoy the telling of the story …
Discussion: MLB Baseball News …
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
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
Tom Withers / MLB Baseball News, Scores …:
Indians All-Star SS Lindor out 2 months with calf strain  —  CLEVELAND (AP) — Indians All-Star shortstop  —  Francisco Lindor will likely miss the start of the season with a strained right calf.  —  Lindor, one of baseball's best all-around players, sustained the injury recently while working out in Orlando, Florida.
Discussion: MLB Trade Rumors
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
 
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 More News: 
CBS Detroit:
Does Tigers Rebuild Mean No Expectation Of Contending?
Discussion: Bless You Boys
Associated Press:
AL East teams at the start of spring training
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
 Earlier Picks: 
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?
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?
Daily Record:
Mets sign catcher Devin Mesoraco to minor-league contract
Discussion: NorthJersey.com
 

 
From WeSmirch:

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

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

Beth Harris / Associated Press:
Louis Gossett Jr., 1st Black man to win supporting actor Oscar, dies at 87

 
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