Check out Mini-Ballbug for simple mobiles or Ballbug Mobile for modern smartphones.
11:45 AM ET, February 16, 2019

Ballbug

 Top News: 
Wallace Matthews / The Charlotte Observer:
The ghost of Matt Harvey looms over Jacob deGrom contract talks  —  The bond between Jacob deGrom and Brodie Van Wagenen was expected to be the glue that held the Mets pitching staff together.  —  But that bond is changing rapidly, and may end up being the wedge that drives them apart.
RELATED:
Bob Raissman / New York Daily News:
Would Jacob deGrom tarnish his good-guy image by boycotting the media?  —  If Mets suits and Jacob deGrom don't reach agreement on a contract extension before the season starts, the Cy Young winner could launch a media boycott to express his displeasure over the situation.
Bill Madden / New York Daily News:
Mickey Callaway is not the only NL East manager who'll be under the microscope  —  TAMPA - On the first day of spring training, Mickey Callaway reiterated what his boss, Brodie Van Wagenen, first said and all the media pundits have since been echoing: He's supposed to win this year.
Mike Puma / New York Post:   Yoenis Cespedes walking without pain, wants to return to Mets this season
Deesha Thosar / New York Daily News:   Why the Mets hung onto Devin Mesoraco, Jacob deGrom's personal catcher
Dave Clark / Cincinnati.com:
Drew Storen joins Kansas City Royals on minor-league contract  —  Billy Hamilton, Homer Bailey and now Drew Storen.  —  The relief pitcher who last pitched in Major League Baseball in 2017 for the Cincinnati Reds - before undergoing Tommy John surgery that forced him to miss all of last season …
Discussion: Royals Review
RELATED:
Lynn Worthy / Kansas City Star:   Royals, veteran pitcher Homer Bailey have placed a low-risk bet on each other
Dave Clark / Cincinnati.com:   Homer Bailey: 'When you put up a 6 (ERA) ... you're not going to be wearing pinstripes'
Associated Press:
Baseball notebook: Severino gets big deal with Yankees  —  Righthander Luis Severino avoided an arbitration hearing with the New York Yankees, agreeing Friday to a $40 million, four-year contract, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press.
RELATED:
Jeff Passan / ESPN:
Yankees sign Luis Severino to multiyear extension
James Wagner / New York Times:   Luis Severino Agrees to 4-Year Deal as Yankees Try to Lock Up Young Core
Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Chris Carpenter is a very special assistant for the Cardinals  —  JUPITER, Fla.  • The Cardinals' Mike Maddux is among the most respected pitching coaches in major league baseball, and former Cardinal Chris Carpenter was one of its most respected pitchers until he retired some six years ago.
Discussion: Viva El Birdos
RELATED:
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:   With everything ‘simplified,’ Fowler reports to spring on an upswing
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:   No regrets: Jose Martinez bids farewell to first baseman's glove
Gabriel Burns / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Freddie Freeman arrives early to camp  —  It should come as no surprise Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman was among the early arrivals to spring training.  —  Position players aren't required to arrive until Wednesday, but Freeman arrived Friday and held his first media assembly Saturday morning.
RELATED:
Gabriel Burns / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Acuna arrives early for spring training  —  Ronald Acuna arrived early to spring training Saturday, launching his highly anticipated sophomore campaign.  —  The 21-year-old Braves outfielder hit over .400 last spring.  He didn't join the big league club until late-April …
Gabriel Burns / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
No, the Braves aren't in talks with Craig Kimbrel  —  In the past two days, the rumor mill has run rampant with a Craig Kimbrel-Braves reunion.  It makes sense to a degree: A homecoming for a fan favorite who'd undoubtedly make the bullpen more formidable.  —  But the Braves and Kimbrel aren't engaged in conversations.
RELATED:
Gabriel Burns / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
First-day impressions from Braves spring training
Discussion: Talking Chop
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Cubs reliever Junichi Tazawa expected to arrive Monday  —  Chicago Tribune  —  Free-agent reliever Junichi Tazawa is expected to arrive Monday at the Cubs' spring training camp.  —  Tazawa, who signed a minor league contract two weeks ago, has been delayed by visa issues in his native Japan.
Discussion: MLB Trade Rumors
Anthony Fenech / Detroit Free Press:
Meet Zac Houston: The ‘funky’ throwing Detroit Tigers pitcher vying for a bullpen spot  —  LAKELAND, Fla. — Zac Houston can't really describe his pitching mechanics.  —  When he tries, he just keeps coming back to “weird” and “funky” and “it's just a lot.”
Alden Gonzalez / ESPN:
Dodgers SS Corey Seager looking to leave difficult season in the past  —  GLENDALE, Ariz. — Confined to crutches and unable to contribute, Corey Seager found himself in an awkward middle space while his Los Angeles Dodgers advanced to a second consecutive World Series last fall.
John Tomase / WEEI:
Bogaerts on signing extension rather than risking free agency: ‘You obviously have to think about that’  —  FORT MYERS, Fla. — We've been discussing a contract extension for Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts since about 2013, which makes it strange that his impending free agency seems to be catching so many of us by surprise.
RELATED:
Rob Bradford / WEEI:
Potential free agent-to-be Brock Holt: I want to be in Boston forever
Discussion: NESN.com
Associated Press:
Phillies still sizing up Bryce Harper, Manny Machado, other free agents  —  CLEARWATER, Fla. — With spring training underway, Philadelphia Phillies president Andy MacPhail is certain his team is built to win right now.  —  EDITOR'S PICKS  —  As for adding someone like outfielder Bryce Harper …
Discussion: ESPN and NESN.com
Nick Piecoro / Arizona Republic:
Steven Souza says he's finally healthy after injury-wrecked season  —  Right fielder Steven Souza Jr. pointed to one of the few positives to come from the pectoral injury that wrecked his debut season with the Diamondbacks.  —  “I can take my shirt off and show you a cool party trick,” Souza said.
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Column: If Manny Machado signs with the White Sox, he'll have to abide by the Renteria Rule  —  Photos of the White Sox at spring training at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Ariz., before the 2019 season.  —  Chicago Tribune … Rest assured the Sox won't be sending a message like that to Machado …
RELATED:
Teddy Greenstein / Chicago Tribune:
Ex-Dodgers teammates laud Manny Machado's ‘awesome’ skill and offer varying takes on ‘Johnny Hustle’ comment
Discussion: Forbes
 
 Archived Page Info: 
This is a snapshot of Ballbug at 11:45 AM ET, February 16, 2019.

View the current page or another snapshot:


 
 See Also: 
Ballbug: site main
Ballbug River: reverse chronological Ballbug
Ballbug Mobile: for phones
Ballbug Leaderboard: Ballbug's top sources
 
 Subscribe: 
Ballbug RSS feed
 
 
 More News: 
Brian T. Smith / Houston Chronicle:
Astros moving Aledmys Diaz around field in spring training
Discussion: Houston Chronicle
Bill James Online:
On Collusion  —  One thing that baseball fans under the age …
Discussion: Beyond the Box Score
Jack Etkin / Forbes:
A Comeback With The Rockies Would Be “Almost Storybook” For Michael Saunders
Discussion: Purple Row and Rox Pile
Tom Haudricourt / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
Catchers: Eager Yasmani Grandal went right to work after surprising deal with the Brewers
Discussion: Press Gazette Media
Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
Brewers Sign Jay Jackson
Discussion: Brew Crew Ball
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Column: Addison Russell and the Cubs are under the microscope for all the wrong reasons
Discussion: MLB Baseball News …
Jeff Wilson / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
What has Miller feeling like ‘normal baseball player’ again early in Rangers camp?
 Earlier Picks: 
Associated Press:
Scott Servais: ‘Overzealous’ offseason behind Mallex Smith's sore shoulder
Associated Press:
Roberto Osuna to close for Houston Astros this season
Jeff Wilson / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
'We didn't sign you to be Adrian Beltre.' Here's why Rangers did sign Asdrubal Cabrera
Associated Press:
Tigers beat Michael Fulmer in final arbitration case; players win 6-4
John Fay / Cincinnati.com:
Cincinnati Reds went with quantity when looking for pitchers to create a quality rotation
Discussion: Red Reporter and Redleg Nation
Matthew Florjancic / WKYC-TV:
Terry Francona: 'I'm betting on the under' for Francisco Lindor's return to Indians
Associated Press:
Tommy ‘T-bone’ Giordano, longtime MLB scout and executive, dies at 93
Discussion: Sporting 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’

 
Sister Sites:

Techmeme
 Top news and commentary for technology's leaders, from all around the web
Mediagazer
 Top news and commentary for media professionals from all around the web
memeorandum
 What US political commentators are discussing online right now
WeSmirch
 The top celebrity news from all around the web on a single page