Top News:
Gabriel Burns / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Winter Meetings notes: Braves seek power bat, backup shortstop — The 2019 MLB winter meetings are underway in San Diego. The Braves did much of their heavy lifting beforehand, signing a plethora of relievers, a catcher and veteran starter Cole Hamels. — Third base and/or a power hitter remain the team's most discussed need.
Discussion:
Talking Chop
RELATED:
MLB Trade Rumors:
Latest On Kris Bryant — The Cubs have reportedly been in fervent pursuit of trade possibilities, exploring deals involving much of their roster — including Kris Bryant. There are some wrinkles to structuring a deal for the superstar third baseman, as well as some new market developments of note.
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …, The Athletic and Bleed Cubbie Blue
Gordon Wittenmyer / Chicago Sun-Times:
Outcome of Kris Bryant grievance hearing won't slow Cubs in trade talks this winter — Cubs expect the decision on Bryant's October hearing over service-time manipulation to land in their favor and preserve the remaining two years of club control over the 2016 MVP.
Discussion:
Cubs Insider and Bleacher Nation
Jeff Wilson / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
Winter meetings open with Texas Rangers stuck on hold in pursuit of Anthony Rendon — The race for the Texas Rangers to acquire Anthony Rendon is on, supposedly. — More like the wait is on. — Day One of the annual winter meetings produced a lot of nothing from the top of the market for the Rangers.
ESPN:
2019 MLB winter meetings rumors, dates, free-agent updates and predictions
Discussion:
Cubs Insider, Bleacher Nation, Federal Baseball, Bleed Cubbie Blue and ESPN Press Room U.S.
Rob Bradford / WEEI:
The Monday Baseball Column: A closer look at Red Sox' trade options
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …, Bleed Cubbie Blue, NESN.com, MLB Trade Rumors and Over the Monster
Jeff Passan / ESPN:
Gerrit Cole watch, big spenders and more: Passan answers 20 winter meetings questions
Discussion:
Bluebird Banter and MLB Baseball News …
ESPN:
Sources: Stephen Strasburg stays with Nats on $245M deal — Stephen Strasburg and the Washington Nationals have reached agreement on a seven-year deal, the team announced. Sources told ESPN's Jeff Passan that the value of the deal is a record-setting $245 million.
Discussion:
Federal Baseball, Bleed Cubbie Blue, MLB Baseball News …, baseballmusings.com and Amazin' Avenue
RELATED:
Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
Latest On Madison Bumgarner — 5:11pm: The Giants, Bumgarner's lone team to date, are among his suitors and will meet with his representation this week, president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi told Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area. … Interestingly, although they're not known for their spending …
Discussion:
NBCSports.com, New York Post, Talking Chop and Bleacher Nation
Alex Pavlovic / NBCSports.com:
MLB free agency: Giants, Madison Bumgarner's agents to meet this week
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …, McCovey Chronicles and MLB Trade Rumors
Ken Rosenthal / The Athletic:
Didi Gregorius might find a fit with the Reds; the Cubs' waiting game with Kris Bryant; more notes — The Reds already have signed free-agent infielder Mike Moustakas to a four-year, $64 million deal and also are interested in another high-priced free agent, outfielder Marcell Ozuna, according to major-league sources.
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …, The Good Phight, MLB Trade Rumors and Bleacher Nation
RELATED:
Connor Byrne / MLB Trade Rumors:
Brewers Reportedly Interested In Didi Gregorius
Discussion:
Brew Crew Ball and Al's Ramblings
Mike DePrisco / MLB Baseball News, Scores …:
ESPN releases Sunday Night Baseball schedule, Nationals make zero appearances — ESPN released its Sunday Night Baseball schedule for the 2020 season and the World Series Champion — Nationals are not on it. — The Mets are scheduled to play three times on baseball's prime time television slot, while the
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports, Boston Red Sox News …, Brew Crew Ball and Bleed Cubbie Blue
RELATED:
Mark Polishuk / MLB Trade Rumors:
NL Central Notes: Stearns, Hader, Pirates, Reds — Let's take a look at the latest from around the NL Central... - “Frankly, at this point, we don't think too much about that,” Brewers GM David Stearns told Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (Twitter video link) …
Discussion:
Brewers News and Cincinnati.com
Nick Piecoro / Arizona Republic:
Prospects could be in play as Diamondbacks look to fill holes — SAN DIEGO - As he searches for ways to fill multiple holes on his roster, Diamondbacks General Manager Mike Hazen isn't ruling out the idea of trading from his improved prospect inventory. — “I feel like we should be in a position …
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
Marc Topkin / Tampa Bay Times:
Is something amiss with Rays' trade of Tommy Pham? — Padres say they are still “working through” some things with results of physical, likely concerning his elbow. — SAN DIEGO — The Rays' trade of Tommy Pham to the Padres as part of a five-player deal was agreed to on Thursday …
Discussion:
San Diego Union-Tribune, DRaysBay and MLB Trade Rumors
New York Post:
Le'Veon Bell went bowling all night after Jets ruled him out with flu — Le'Veon Bell was too ill to bowl over Dolphins defenders on Sunday afternoon, but not to knock down some pins late Saturday night. — The Jets running back, who missed Sunday's win because of the flu …
Discussion:
Sports Illustrated and ProFootballTalk
Sporting News:
MLB's marijuana, opioid policies reportedly set to change amid new drug agreement — MLB will stop testing players not on 40-man rosters for marijuana use as part of a still-to-be-finalized drug agreement between the league and Players' Association, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.
Discussion:
NBCSports.com, redsminorleagues.com, MLB Baseball News … and baseballmusings.com
