Top News:
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Cubs season ticket prices dropping by an average of about 2.5% for 2020, team says — The Cubs missed the postseason for the first time in five seasons in 2019, and season ticket holders will see an average price decrease of about 2.5% next year, according to the team.
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …, The Athletic, Bleed Cubbie Blue and Bleacher Nation
Associated Press:
MLB union unhappy with Braves GM's ‘connecting’ comment — SHARE URL EMAIL FBMSNGR WHATSAPP SMS — NEW YORK (AP) — Two days into the free agent market, the players' association already is angry at a club. — Union head Tony Clark issued a statement Wednesday in response …
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
John Shea / San Francisco Chronicle:
Giants pare list of managerial candidates to Gabe Kapler, two bench coaches — The Giants' managerial search is down to three candidates, and while the club hopes to make the hire soon, team officials do not feel bound by a deadline, The Chronicle has learned.
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …, Mercury News and NBCSports.com
Evan Drellich / The Athletic:
Automated strike zone to debut in Minor League Baseball in 2020, Rob Manfred says — It's getting closer. — Tested already in the independent Atlantic League and the MLB-run Arizona Fall League, the automated strike zone is slated to arrive in Minor League Baseball in some capacity in 2020.
Discussion:
Bless You Boys, Bleacher Nation, Beyond the Box Score, MLB Baseball News …, Sports Illustrated and NBCSports.com
Drew Davison / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
Josh Jung likes carrying Texas Tech legacy as Bobby Bragan Award winner — This has been a banner year for Josh Jung. — He reached the College World Series with Texas Tech in June. He was the Texas Rangers' first-round selection later that month. And he followed in one of his best …
Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
Cardinals Extend John Mozeliak, Mike Girsch, Mike Shildt — The Cardinals have announced new deals for three key members of their leadership, as Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch covers (links to Twitter). President of baseball operations John Mozeliak gets three new years …
Discussion:
Viva El Birdos, Talking Chop, MLB Baseball News … and MLB Daily Dish
ESPN:
Yanks don't give qualifying offer to Didi Gregorius — The New York Yankees have decided not to extend the $17.8 million qualifying offer to shortstop Didi Gregorius, making him a free agent. — The Yankees now will not get draft pick compensation if he signs elsewhere. New York still could try to re-sign him.
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley, Halos Heaven and Houston Chronicle
RELATED:
Mick Akers / Las Vegas Review-Journal:
Las Vegas casino sues NHL's Evander Kane over $500K in gambling markers — Las Vegas casino sues Evander Kane for unpaid gambling markers — San Jose Sharks left wing Evander Kane (9) argues with a referee after fighting with Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Deryk Engelland (5) …
Discussion:
Mercury News, Sports Illustrated and New York Post
The Athletic:
Sources: The Cubs continue to make sweeping changes behind the scenes — Joe Maddon took a lot of the heat for the Cubs, facing the media before and after every game and deflecting some attention from the organization's deeper issues. That cover is gone now that Theo Epstein dismissed …
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …, Cubs Insider, MLB Trade Rumors, Bleed Cubbie Blue and Bleacher Nation
Bob Nightengale / USA Today:
‘Just trying to have some fun’: Nationals' Kurt Suzuki explains wearing MAGA hat at White House visit — Washington Nationals catcher Kurt Suzuki says he was “just trying to have some fun” wearing a “Make America Great Again” hat at the team's World Series championship ceremony at the White House with President Donald Trump on Monday.
Discussion:
NorthJersey.com and The Nation
George A. King III / New York Post:
David Cone ‘self-taught’ his way into Yankees pitching-coach interview — As the Yankees search for Larry Rothschild's replacement they haven't limited the focus to college pitching coaches who have strong analytical backgrounds. — The Yankees contacted David Cone and interviewed him late …
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors and Pinstripe Alley
Jeff Passan / ESPN:
Passan answers 20 big hot stove questions as free agency starts and MLB's offseason drama begins — play — On the day after the World Series, an agent for a prominent free agent this winter expressed shock at how busy his day had been. In the past two seasons, free agency began with a whimper — few texts, fewer calls.
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Super Two Cutoff Set At 2.115 Years Of Service — NOV. 5: This year's cutoff is set at precisely 2.115 days of service, MLBTR has learned. — OCT. 10: This year's cutoff point to determine Super Two status will be unusually low, per Adam McCalvy of MLB.com (via Twitter).
Discussion:
NBCSports.com
Ben Pickman / Sports Illustrated:
MLB Awards Finalists Announced for MVP, Cy Young, Manager of the Year, Rookie of the Year — Just days removed from the end of postseason play, MLB revealed its finalists for each of the four major awards on Monday night. — Just days removed from the end of postseason play …
Discussion:
DRaysBay and MLB Baseball News …
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Mark Townsend / MLB Baseball News, Scores …:
MLB year-end awards: Mike Trout, Cody Bellinger among finalists
MLB year-end awards: Mike Trout, Cody Bellinger among finalists
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley, baseballmusings.com, Federal Baseball, Athletics Nation and Talking Chop