Top News:
ESPN:
Yasmani Grandal, White Sox agree to four-year, $73M deal — MLB, Chicago White Sox, Milwaukee Brewers — The Chicago White Sox have agreed to terms on a four-year, $73 million contract with free-agent All-Star catcher Yasmani Grandal, the team announced Thursday.
Discussion:
Sports Illustrated, baseballmusings.com and MLB Baseball News …
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Jake May / Sports Illustrated:
Yasmani Grandal, White Sox Agree Four-Year, $73 Million Deal for Largest In Team History — The free agent signed a four-year, $73 million deal on Thursday — The Chicago White Sox have landed one of the best catchers on the market this offseason, by signing Yasmani Grandal to a four-year, $73 million deal on Thursday.
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …, NBCSports.com, South Side Sox and Red Reporter
George A. King III / New York Post:
Yankees filing grievance to owe Jacoby Ellsbury less money — The Yankees may not be on the hook for all of the $26 million they owe Jacoby Ellsbury. — The Post has learned, according to several people with knowledge of the situation, the Yankees are attempting to recoup some of the money …
Discussion:
Sports Illustrated, MLB.com, MLB Baseball News …, Associated Press, NBCSports.com, Pinstripe Alley and Bleed Cubbie Blue
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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 …
Discussion:
New York Post, Beyond the Box Score, Lone Star Ball and Call to the Pen
Dylan A. Chase / MLB Trade Rumors:
MLB Owners Approve Sale Of Royals To John Sherman — MLB owners have approved the sale of the Kansas City Royals baseball club to area businessman John Sherman, as reported by ESPN's Jeff Passan (Twitter link). — In August, word came that longtime Royals owner David Glass was discussing …
Discussion:
Royals Review and Let's Go Tribe
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Lynn Worthy / Kansas City Star:
MLB puts unanimous stamp of approval on John Sherman as next Royals owner — Now it's just a matter of paperwork and the transfer of about a billion dollars for John Sherman to officially take over as the new principal owner of the Kansas City Royals. — Major League Baseball's owners voted unanimously …
Discussion:
Associated Press, Ballpark Digest, Royals Review, Kings of Kauffman and KC Kingdom
Associated Press:
Baseball owners approve Greg Johnson as Giants' control person — SAN FRANCISCO — Greg Johnson was approved by the major league clubs as the new controlling owner of the San Francisco Giants. — Following the decision Thursday at the owners meetings in Arlington, Texas …
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Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Gerardo Parra Signs With Japan's Yomiuri Giants
Discussion:
Federal Baseball, MLB Baseball News …, Purple Row, Lookout Landing, NBCSports.com and McCovey Chronicles
Craig Calcaterra / MLB Baseball News, Scores …:
Gerardo Parra signs with Japan's Yomiuri Giants
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports, Federal Baseball and baseballmusings.com
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.
Discussion:
The Ringer, MLB Baseball News …, Bleed Cubbie Blue, Lowell Sun, New York Post, New York Daily News, Halos Heaven and Amazin' Avenue
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Claire Bessette / The Day:
Congressmen urge Major League Baseball to scrap ‘radical’ minor league overhaul
Discussion:
NBCSports.com, Let's Go Tribe, Baseball America, MLB Trade Rumors, Halos Heaven, SportBusiness and MLB Baseball News …
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Mariners, Evan White Agree To Long-Term Contract — The Mariners and first base prospect Evan White are in agreement on a six-year, $24MM contract that contains three club options, Jim Callis of MLB.com reports (via Twitter). The contract, which can max out at $55.5MM if the options are exercised …
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …, Lone Star Ball, FanGraphs Baseball, Lookout Landing and MLB Daily Dish
Nathan Morabito / WCNC-TV:
Mother charged after 3-year-old falls from escalator and dies — Jaiden Cowart, 3, passed away after falling from an escalator at Charlotte-Douglas International Airport. His mom is now being charged in his death. — CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Two months after 3-year-old Jaiden Cowart fell …
Discussion:
NBC News, New York Post and Reason
Mark Polishuk / MLB Trade Rumors:
Phillies Hire Joe Dillon As Hitting Coach — The Phillies announced that Joe Dillon has been hired as the team's new hitting coach. Dillon is a familiar face within the NL East, as he has been the Nationals' assistant hitting coach for the last two seasons, and the hitting coach for Washington's Triple-A affiliate in 2014-15.
Discussion:
The Good Phight
John Romano / Tampa Bay Times:
Orlando baseball is not a threat to Tampa Bay, but apathy is — While communities across North America are gearing up for MLB expansion or relocation, Tampa Bay seems to be reacting with indifference to Rays attendance and stadium concerns. — ST. PETERSBURG — It would be easy to poke fun of the Orlando Dreamers today.
Discussion:
DRaysBay and Ballpark Digest
Joel A. Erickson / Indianapolis Star:
Colts Darius Leonard on fumble that wasn't: 'I had it and ... they said it wasn't a fumble' — HOUSTON — The reporters had left Darius Leonard, had finished asking him questions about the play, and the play still bothered him. — Leonard pulled out his phone, found the video of the play …
Discussion:
Washington Post, Sports Illustrated, Associated Press, New York Post and ProFootballTalk
