Top News:
Jeff Passan / ESPN:
MLB commissioner says punishments could be severe in sign-stealing scandal — ARLINGTON, Texas — Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred said he believes the sign-stealing scandal that has engulfed the sport involves only the Houston Astros and that he can mete out discipline beyond …
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Craig Calcaterra / NBCSports.com:
Rob Manfred tells MLBPA there will be no economic concessions for labor peace — Last summer Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association took the unprecedented step of opening Collective Bargaining Agreement negotiations over two years before the current CBA expires.
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New York Daily News, Lowell Sun, Amazin' Avenue, Halos Heaven and Bleed Cubbie Blue
Claire Bessette / The Day:
Congressmen urge Major League Baseball to scrap ‘radical’ minor league overhaul — More than 100 congressmen, including U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney, D-2nd District, signed a letter sent Tuesday to all Major League Baseball teams and four members of the MLB commissioner's office expressing …
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Baseball America, SportBusiness, MLB Trade Rumors, Halos Heaven, MLB Baseball News … and Ballpark Digest
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Gerardo Parra Signs With Japan's Yomiuri Giants — Veteran outfielder Gerardo Parra has reached an agreement to sign a contract with the Yomiuri Giants of Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball, the Giants announced Wednesday (hat tip: Patrick Newman of NPB Tracker, on Twitter).
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Craig Calcaterra / MLB Baseball News, Scores …:
Gerardo Parra signs with Japan's Yomiuri Giants — Gerardo Parra has signed with the Yomiuri Giants of Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball, the team announced this morning. — Patrick Newman of NPB Tracker was the first to pick up the announcement. — Parra just won a World Series ring with the Nationals
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Yahoo! Sports and baseballmusings.com
The Athletic:
The TK Show — Tim Kawakami is one of the most respected sports writers in the nation and a leading voice in the Bay Area. With his wealth of connections, he lands top-notch guests on the TK Show and produces must-listen interviews. — TK talks with Giants President of Baseball Operations Farhan Zaidi …
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NBCSports.com and MLB Baseball News …
Ken Davidoff / New York Post:
Mets showing interest in catcher Robinson Chirinos — The Mets, clearly motivated to improve their catching corps, have expressed interest in free agent Robinson Chirinos, according to an industry source. — Chirinos, who will turn 36 next June, enjoyed a strong 2019 season with the Astros …
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MLB Trade Rumors
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US Food and Drug Administration:
Mondelēz Global LLC Conducts Voluntary Recall of Limited Quantity of Cheese Nips (11 oz. Box) Product in the U.S. Due to Potential Presence of Foreign Material — When a company announces a recall, market withdrawal, or safety alert, the FDA posts the company's announcement as a public service.
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CBS Boston, WPIX 11 New York, KTLA, KSNG-TV and New York Post
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Braves Re-Sign Chris Martin — The Braves announced Tuesday that they've re-signed right-hander Chris Martin to a two-year contract. The deal is worth a guaranteed $14MM and will be evenly distributed at $7MM per season, according to the team. Martin is represented by ISE Baseball.
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FanGraphs Baseball, Talking Chop, Braves News, MLB Daily Dish, MLB Baseball News … and Lone Star Ball
Connor Byrne / MLB Trade Rumors:
Yankees Release Jacoby Ellsbury, Designate Greg Bird — The Yankees have released outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury and designated first baseman Greg Bird for assignment as part of a series of roster moves. The club has also designated left-hander Nestor Cortes Jr. and added seven players …
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New York Post and Pinstripe Alley
Vinnie Duber / MLB Baseball News, Scores …:
Omar Vizquel will not return to White Sox organization in 2020 — Omar Vizquel's time helping to develop the — White Sox of the future is over. — The White Sox announced Wednesday that Vizquel, who spent the last two seasons as a manager in the White Sox minor league system, will not be back for 2020.
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Let's Go Tribe, South Side Sox and Boston Red Sox News …
J.J. Cooper / Baseball America:
2019 Rule 5 Draft: 11 Prominent Prospects Unlikely To Be Protected — By 8 p.m. ET on Wednesday, all 30 teams have plenty of decisions to make. Teams must add to their 40-man Major League rosters any Rule 5 eligible players that they want to protect from that draft.
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Associated Press:
Derek Jeter Among 18 Newcomers on 2020 Hall of Fame Ballot — Derek Jeter will likely be an overwhelming choice to join former Yankees teammate Mariano Rivera in Cooperstown. — NEW YORK — Derek Jeter is among 18 newcomers on the 2020 Hall of Fame ballot.
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Craig Calcaterra / MLB Baseball News, Scores …:
Derek Jeter headlines 2020 Hall of Fame ballot
Derek Jeter headlines 2020 Hall of Fame ballot
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New York Post, Red Reporter and Talking Chop
Todd Dybas / NBCSports.com:
Daniel Hudson represents a key offseason question for Nationals — An intact unit from a championship team is typically positive. Bring back the winners. Try it again. Why not? — The Nationals' bullpen, such as it was by the end of the season, will again be populated by pieces from the league's worst ensemble in 2019.
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Federal Baseball and MLB Baseball News …
Daren Smith / MiLB.com:
Twins' Costello found dead in New Zealand — Infield prospect was set to play in Australian Baseball League — Minnesota Twins infield prospect Ryan Costello died overnight in Auckland, New Zealand, his Australian Baseball League team announced early Monday. He was 23.
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AZ Snake Pit, Twinkie Town, Seattle Mariners on Yahoo! …, MLB Baseball News … and MLB Trade Rumors