Top News:
Ronald Blum / Associated Press:
Manfred: No DH or draft changes likely for 2019 — ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Don't look for a National League designated hitter this year or for new anti-tanking rules in June's amateur draft. — Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred said Friday that management is focused on pace-of-game changes …
Discussion:
Sporting News, MLB Baseball News …, MLB Trade Rumors and Bleed Cubbie Blue
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.
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.
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …
Maury Brown / Forbes:
Shortened TV Breaks Are Part Of Manfred's MLB Pace-Of-Play Plan
Shortened TV Breaks Are Part Of Manfred's MLB Pace-Of-Play Plan
Discussion:
Bleacher Report, Bleacher Nation, Baseball Essential and Camden Chat
Wallace Matthews / New York Daily News:
Think Hal Steinbrenner and Yankees are pinching pennies? You can thank Jacoby Ellsbury and Giancarlo Stanton for that — The last position player the Yankees signed to a long-term free agent deal was Jacoby Ellsbury. That happened in December of 2013. — If you want to get to the root …
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Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:
Yankees Spring Training Preview: Biggest questions as Bombers try to chase down Red Sox
Anthony Rieber / Newsday:
Bryce Harper, Manny Machado in pinstripes? Hal Steinbrenner says never say never
Bryce Harper, Manny Machado in pinstripes? Hal Steinbrenner says never say never
Discussion:
Sporting News, Pinstripe Alley, New Jersey Online, Newsday and New York Post
Jimmy Golen / Associated Press:
6 things to watch for as the Red Sox begin spring training workouts
6 things to watch for as the Red Sox begin spring training workouts
Discussion:
Over the Monster and The Athletic
ESPN:
Giants' Farhan Zaidi says ‘mutual interest’ led to Bryce Harper meeting — SAN FRANCISCO — Bryce Harper's meeting with the Giants in Las Vegas this week was the product of “mutual interest on both sides,” new San Francisco baseball operations chief Farhan Zaidi said Friday.
Discussion:
Associated Press
RELATED:
Associated Press:
Phillies set to open spring still waiting on Bryce and Manny — PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Still chasing Bryce Harper and Manny Machado, the Philadelphia Phillies are headed to spring training with high hopes and a revamped lineup. — Expectations would increase if they finally land their superstar.
Alex Pavlovic / MLB Baseball News, Scores …:
Giants entered a Harper field lacking too many contenders
Giants entered a Harper field lacking too many contenders
Discussion:
ClutchPoints and South Side Sox
Associated Press:
Mets sign Danny Espinosa to minor league deal — NEW YORK — Danny Espinosa and the New York Mets have agreed to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training. — The veteran switch-hitter gives the Mets even more depth in a crowded infield. He could be a backup option at shortstop behind Amed Rosario.
RELATED:
Scott Chiusano / New York Daily News:
Mets sign utility infielder Danny Espinosa to minor-league deal
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Giants, Rene Rivera Agree To Minor League Deal
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
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Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Ryan Tepera, Kyle Barraclough Lose Arbitration Cases
Ryan Tepera, Kyle Barraclough Lose Arbitration Cases
Discussion:
Federal Baseball
Matthew Florjancic / WKYC-TV:
Indians SS Francisco Lindor out 7-9 weeks with calf strain — Cleveland Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor is expected to miss 7-9 weeks with a right calf strain. — CLEVELAND — Cleveland Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor will get a later start to the 2019 season than either him or the club wanted.
Discussion:
Let's Go Tribe and MLB Baseball News …
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Tom Withers / MLB Baseball News, Scores …:
Indians All-Star SS Lindor out 2 months with calf strain
Indians All-Star SS Lindor out 2 months with calf strain
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
Darren Sabedra / Mercury News:
Why these Mater Dei transfers caught De La Salle's attention — 'If you look at it, transferring in for a semester, that's transferring for one specific thing' — When the California Interscholastic Federation softened its athletic transfer policy two years ago, making it easier to move …
Discussion:
Los Angeles Times and Daily Breeze
Toronto Sun:
Mets-Nationals or Cubs-Cardinals set for London in 2020 — ORLANDO, Fla. — Major League Baseball is considering one of two matchups for its 2020 series in London: New York Mets vs. Washington Nationals or Chicago Cubs vs. St. Louis Cardinals. — Two people familiar with the discussions told …
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue
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:
MLB Baseball News … and Amazin' Avenue
RELATED:
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, witf.org, NPR, The Big Lead, FOX31 Denver, Page Six, Bloomberg, The Japan Times, Daily Journal, Chico Enterprise-Record, Splinter and Hollywood Life
Kansas City Star:
Yordano Ventura's guaranteed contract still not paid two years after death; estate is broke — Two years after Royals pitcher Yordano Ventura died in a single-car crash in his native Dominican Republic, the $20.25 million remaining on his contract has not been paid. — And his estate is broke.
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …, Royals Review and The Comeback
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 …