Sources: Phillies seen as top bidder for Zack Wheeler  —  The bidding for right-hander Zack Wheeler continues to progress toward resolution, with the Philadelphia Phillies seen by sources as the most potent bidders — and the Reds, White Sox and Rangers also involved.

Mets in Talks to Sell 80% of Team to Investor Steve Cohen  — Deal would value Major League Baseball club at $2.6 billion  — The billionaire would take control of team after five years  —  The owners of the New York Mets are in talks to sell up to 80% of the Major League Baseball team …

How the signing of Cole Hamels affects Braves' 2020 payroll  —  Apparently, Liberty Media CEO Greg Maffei was serious a couple of weeks ago when he said the Braves would “spend some money” this offseason.  And apparently, Braves executive Mike Plant was serious, too, when he said on that same day, “We're going to go after it.”

Angels agree to stay in Anaheim through 2050, stadium to be sold for $325 million  —  Anaheim's hometown baseball team would continue playing in Angel Stadium for another 30 years, and the city would sell the stadium and 133 acres around it to a business partnership including team owner Arte Moreno …

Brewers Nearing Acquisition Of Omar Narvaez  —  The Brewers are closing in on a deal with the Mariners to acquire catcher Omar Narvaez, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic (via Twitter).  The trade return remains unknown.  —  Narvaez is one of the few backstops in baseball that can match …

Marlins Park To Sport New Look In 2020  —  Marlins Park continues to evolve with two significant changes to the field for the upcoming season.  The Miami Marlins will install a synthetic grass surface at Marlins Park as part of a multi-year corporate partnership with Shaw Sports Turf.

2019 Minor League Manager Of The Year: Corey Ragsdale  —  Awards and recognition really aren't Corey Ragsdale's thing.  —  They're nice and all, he said, but they're more a reflection of a team effort rather than one person pulling on the rope.  —  So Ragsdale is deflecting credit to players …

Player treatment, not discipline, likely for opioids  —  MIAMI — Players who test positive for opioids would enter treatment and not be suspended under the change to Major League Baseball's drug agreement being negotiated by management and the players' association, according to union head Tony Clark.

2020 Competitive Balance Draft Pick Order  —  Major League Baseball has determined the orders of Competitive Balance Rounds A and B for the 2020 amateur draft, Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com reports.  Comp Round A takes place after the first round of the draft, while Comp Round B goes down at the conclusion of the second round.

St. Pete, Rays end talks of sharing team's home slate with Montreal  —  The Rays and the city of St. Petersburg have broken off talks regarding the possibility of the team playing some home games in a location other than the Tampa Bay area, according to a letter released from the mayor's office Wednesday.