Top News:
Bob Nightengale / USA Today:
Phillies plan to pursue free-agent 3B Anthony Rendon, despite luxury tax implications — The Philadelphia Phillies, luxury tax be damned, plan to strongly pursue free-agent third baseman Anthony Rendon, with third baseman Josh Donaldson as a potential fall-back plan, two people with direct knowledge told USA TODAY Sports.
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …, MLB Trade Rumors, Phillies Nation, NESN.com and The Athletic
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Todd Dybas / NBCSports.com:
Nationals owner Mark Lerner says team can't afford Stephen Strasburg and Anthony Rendon — The prime question as soon as Stephen Strasburg opted out of his contract was this: Could the Nationals afford to bring back Strasburg and Anthony Rendon? According to managing principal owner Mark Lerner, the answer is no.
Gabe Lacques / USA Today:
Five burning questions for MLB's Winter Meetings — It's not yet time to suggest baseball's offseason will move at a pace much quicker than a tugboat. Yet for the first time in several years, the game's Winter Meetings may actually provide significant movement.
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …, Over the Monster and Federal Baseball
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Nationals To Re-Sign Howie Kendrick — 9:00am: The two sides have finalized a one-year deal that promises Kendrick a $6.25MM guarantee, USA Today's Bob Nightengale reports (Twitter link). It's the same guarantee that Steve Pearce received from the Red Sox on the heels of his own postseason heroics following the 2018 World Series.
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …, Sports Illustrated, FanGraphs Baseball and MLB Daily Dish
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Twins To Sign Alex Avila — The Twins have agreed to a one-year contract with free-agent catcher Alex Avila, ESPN's Jeff Passan tweets. The Excel Sports client will take home a $4.25MM guarantee on the new deal, per the report. — Avila, 33 in January, is no stranger to the AL Central …
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …, MLB Daily Dish, Bless You Boys, MLive.com and Sportsnet.ca
RELATED:
Mark Polishuk / MLB Trade Rumors:
Twins To Re-Sign Michael Pineda
Discussion:
Twinkie Town, SKOR North, Bleacher Nation, MLB Baseball News … and USA Today
Jeff Passan / ESPN:
Sources: Yankees make signing righty Gerrit Cole top offseason priority — The New York Yankees have made signing right-hander Gerrit Cole their clear offseason priority and have ownership-level approval to offer him a record-setting deal, sources familiar with their plans told ESPN.
Connor Byrne / MLB Trade Rumors:
Rays, Padres Agree To Tommy Pham-Hunter Renfroe Trade — FRIDAY, 2:00am: It appears the Rays will also land another prospect in the deal, per Juan Toribio of MLB.com. — 12:27am: The Padres will also acquire minor leaguer Jake Cronenworth in the trade, Dennis Lin of The Athletic reports.
Discussion:
DRaysBay, FanGraphs Baseball, Beyond the Box Score and Gaslamp Ball
RELATED:
Jeff Passan / ESPN:
Tommy Pham headed to Padres; Rays to get Hunter Renfroe
Discussion:
Associated Press
ESPN:
The Chicago Cubs should trade Kris Bryant to the ... Texas Rangers for RHP Cole Winn and 3B Josh Jung: Rangers third basemen ranked 25th in the majors in wOBA, which is why Texas is on the prowl for free agent Anthony Rendon. That will work, but imagine Bryant in those new powder blue Sunday home uniforms …
Discussion:
Bleacher Nation and Cubs Insider
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Tim Tucker / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
How the signing of Cole Hamels affects Braves' 2020 payroll
Discussion:
Talking Chop
J.J. Cooper / Baseball America:
2019 MLB Coach Of The Year: Derek Johnson — Sometimes the best technique a good coach can apply to help a struggling pitcher is to wait and say nothing. — Advice needs to be given. Potential remedies to fix problems need to be proposed. But the right advice at the wrong time is not helpful.
Discussion:
Bleacher Nation and Redleg Nation
Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
Mets Re-Sign Brad Brach — 2:55pm: Brach's signing has been announced. The club designated righty Chris Flexen for assignment to create roster space. — 1:13pm: The Mets have struck a deal with free agent righty Brad Brach, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic (via Twitter).
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …, Amazin' Avenue and MLB Daily Dish
Sam Miller / ESPN:
How is WAR calculated, really? Breaking down a single play to find out — Bryce Harper charged a soft line drive on Sept. 5, fielded it cleanly and fired a strong throw home. The baserunner, Michael Lorenzen, who had started the play on second base, held at third.
Discussion:
Royals Review and Over the Monster
Bill Shaikin / Los Angeles Times:
What we know about the Angels' deal with Anaheim — In the department of sports, the city of Anaheim is on a pretty good run. In a 13-month span, the city's two pro teams have agreed to extend their residency through the first half of this century. — The Ducks last November agreed to call Honda Center home through 2048.
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com, Bleacher Nation, Dodger Blue and NBCSports.com
