Top News:
Kevin Kernan / New York Post:
What Mets told Carlos Beltran regarding sign-stealing scandal — The Mets are playing by MLB's investigative rules and they have told their center of the storm, new manager Carlos Beltran, just that. — General manager Brodie Van Wagenen has told Beltran the Mets will let MLB handle …
RELATED:
Dylan Hernandez / Los Angeles Times:
Yu Darvish is conflicted over Astros sign-stealing allegations — He was like the Olympic athlete who finished fourth, only to learn years later that one or more of the medalists were on steroids. — Or the student denied entry into a prestigious university because his place went to the child of parents who bribed school officials.
Discussion:
WKYC-TV, Chicago Tribune, Bleacher Nation, NBCSports.com, Cubs Insider, Yahoo! Sports, Beyond the Box Score and Baseball Prospectus
Gordon Wittenmyer / Chicago Sun-Times:
Watch Cubs' extension talks with Javy Baez, interest in Japanese CF Shogo Akiyama for 2020 insight — Shogo Akiyama, hitting against a team of MLB All-Stars last year, is on the Cubs' radar as a potential solution to center field and the top of the order. Photo by Kiyoshi Ota/Getty Images
Discussion:
NBCSports.com, The Athletic, Bleed Cubbie Blue, Cubs Insider, FanGraphs Baseball and Bleacher Nation
RELATED:
Patrick Mooney / The Athletic:
On the Cubs' radar: Mike Napoli, Shogo Akiyama, Brandon Morrow
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue, MLB Trade Rumors and Bleacher Nation
Jason Mackey / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
What Ben Cherington as GM means for Pirates — Shortly after 10 a.m. on Friday, Ben Cherington's United flight from Newark touched down at Pittsburgh International Airport, arriving at Gate A10. — Wearing jeans, a flannel shirt and rocking an old-school pair of EarPods …
Discussion:
Bleacher Nation, Sportsnet.ca and Bucs Dugout
RELATED:
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Pirates To Name Ben Cherington General Manager — Former Red Sox general manager and current Blue Jays senior vice president of baseball operations Ben Cherington has accepted an offer to become the next GM of the Pirates, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports (via Twitter).
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish and MLB Baseball News …
Alden Gonzalez / ESPN:
Angels' Mike Trout edges Astros' Alex Bregman for AL MVP — Over the final 22 days of the regular season, Mike Trout couldn't do anything but sit and watch. His right foot, plagued by pain practically every time it hit the ground, could no longer give. He needed season-ending surgery …
RELATED:
Mark Townsend / MLB Baseball News, Scores …:
Cody Bellinger earns NL MVP after leading Dodgers to 106 wins
Discussion:
Federal Baseball and AZ Snake Pit
Jeff Fletcher / BBWAA:
Dodgers' Cody Bellinger wins MVP award
Discussion:
MLB.com, Amazin' Avenue, MLB Trade Rumors, MLB Baseball News … and baseballmusings.com
Jeff Fletcher / BBWAA:
Angels' star Mike Trout joins select company by winning his 3rd MVP award
Discussion:
Athletics Nation, Halos Heaven, MLB Baseball News …, Mercury News and baseballmusings.com
TC Zencka / MLB Trade Rumors:
Royals Sign Matt Reynolds To Minor League Contract — The Kansas City Royals announced the signing of infielder Matt Reynolds to a minor league contract. Reynolds has previously appeared in the majors with the Mets and Nationals. — Reynolds, 29 in December, was a 2nd round draft choice of the New York Mets back in 2012.
Discussion:
Royals Review
Andy McCullough / The Athletic:
Kenta Maeda wants to start, so the Dodgers have a suggestion: pitch better — SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — For Dodgers pitcher Kenta Maeda, the past three seasons have followed a similar trajectory. He prepares to be a starter during spring training. Over the course of two dozen outings, he performs like a credible member of the rotation.
Discussion:
Elysian Fields, MLB Trade Rumors and NBCSports.com
Lynn Worthy / Kansas City Star:
Royals will explore free-agent pitching market, plus other takeaways from GM meetings — Acquiring major-league caliber pitching clearly sits atop the list of offseason priorities for the Kansas City Royals. — Constructing a staff deep with quality arms capable of consistent performance …
Richard Goldstein / New York Times:
Irv Noren, a Bridge Between DiMaggio and Mantle, Dies at 94 — After a strong rookie year with the Washington Senators, he joined the Yankees to fill an outfield gap. He won three World Series rings with the team. — The Yankees had a problem in the spring of 1952.
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Robust rotation, cutting-edge pitching approach has Reds rising as Central threat … SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — With front office execs from almost all of the 29 other clubs and definitely one from each of his National League Central rivals gathered in the same ballroom this past week …
Discussion:
redsminorleagues.com, Redleg Nation and Red Reporter
ESPN:
AL Central offseason preview: Francisco Lindor's future, Twins' rotation in focus — With free agency underway, the offseason is going to pick up steam. What are the big questions facing all 30 teams? — Here's a look at the AL Central, where the teams at the top could be in a state …
Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
Brewers Claim Eric Yardley — The Brewers have claimed righty Eric Yardley off waivers from the Padres, per a club announcement. While the MLB.com transactions page indicates that Yardley was released, he evidently had not yet cleared release waivers. — With the move, the Milwaukee club …
