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4:40 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.
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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.
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.
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 …
Bob Nightengale / USA Today:
MLB owners: Adopting DH in NL not likely until at least 2022 season  —  Major League Baseball has no plans to adopt a universal DH before the 2022 season, two officials with direct knowledge of the decision, told USA TODAY Sports after the completion of their owners' meetings in Orlando, Fla.
RELATED:
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.
Reuters:
Indians sign OF Joyce to minor-league deal  —  Outfielder Matt Joyce announced on Friday he has signed a minor-league deal with the Cleveland Indians.  —  Joyce, 34, spent the last two seasons with the Oakland Athletics.  He announced the agreement on Twitter and will receive an invite to spring training with the Indians.
Discussion: Amazin' Avenue
RELATED:
Joe Noga / Plain Dealer:
Cleveland Indians sign free agent outfielder Matt Joyce to minor-league contract
Associated Press:   Cleveland Indians agree to minor league deals with Ryan Flaherty, Dioner Navarro
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Giants, Rene Rivera Agree To Minor League Deal
Discussion: KNBR-AM and McCovey Chronicles
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.
Discussion: Associated Press
RELATED:
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Ryan Tepera, Kyle Barraclough Lose Arbitration Cases
Discussion: Federal Baseball
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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Ken Rosenthal / The Athletic:
The Marlins' trade strategy on Realmuto; baseball's staring contest; Moose and Milwaukee?; more notes  —  The Marlins do not deny it.  Their early “asks” for All-Star catcher J.T. Realmuto were high.  —  From the Dodgers, Miami wanted first baseman/outfielder Cody Bellinger.
Jon Becker / Orange County Register:
Frank Robinson, Baseball Hall of Famer, dies at 83  —  Former Giants manager and one of baseball's all-time greats battled bone cancer  —  Frank Robinson, a trailblazer who forged his own path from the playgrounds of West Oakland to baseball immortality, died Thursday after a long battle with bone cancer, according to several reports.
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
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.
Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Big payday ahead for Wacha?  Maybe, but it's not something he wants to talk about  —  JUPITER, Fla.  • Six of 10 potential starting pitchers threw bullpen sessions at the Cardinals' spring training camp on Friday, including righthander Alex Reyes, who has thrown seven or eight times off …
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
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 …
Associated Press:
DL shelved: Baseball's disabled list becomes injured list  —  SHARE URL EMAIL FBMSNGR WHATSAPP SMS  —  ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Major League Baseball is changing the name of its disabled lists to injured lists.  —  Deputy Commissioner Dan Halem said Thursday the change is being made at the suggestion …
Discussion: baseballmusings.com
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 More News: 
Tom Withers / MLB Baseball News, Scores …:
Indians All-Star SS Lindor out 2 months with calf strain
Discussion: MLB Trade Rumors
Alex Pavlovic / MLB Baseball News, Scores …:
Giants entered a Harper field lacking too many contenders
Discussion: ClutchPoints and South Side Sox
Jon Meoli / Baltimore Sun:
Orioles announce minor league coaching staffs, bringing a mix of familiar faces, new voices
Discussion: Camden Chat
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?
 Earlier Picks: 
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?
Discussion: MLB Baseball News …
Cincinnati.com:
Cincinnati Reds question: What to do with top prospect Nick Senzel?
ESPN:
Rangers sign outfielder Hunter Pence to minor league deal
 

 
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