Top News:
Ken Rosenthal / The Athletic:
With the signing of Starlin Castro, a possible Plan B comes into focus for the Nationals — As the World Series champion Nationals await resolution on free-agent third baseman Josh Donaldson, they are putting together a possible Plan B. — The Nats have reached agreement …
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David Kaplan / NBCSports.com:
Why the Cubs and Theo Epstein haven't done anything this offseason — With the calendar flipped to 2020, the upcoming baseball season is not far away. Spring Training starts in a little over a month and Opening Day is right around the corner in late March.
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors, Bleacher Nation, Cubs Insider and MLB Baseball News …
Phil Miller / Star Tribune:
Twins likely out of the bidding for Josh Donaldson — The free agent third baseman is seeking a four-year deal for more than $100 million. — TEXT SIZE — The Twins' pursuit of Josh Donaldson isn't over, but the team has grown pessimistic about the outcome.
Discussion:
Twinkie Town and Talking Chop
ESPN:
Source: Nationals to bring back infielder Asdrubal Cabrera — The Washington Nationals are re-signing Asdrubal Cabrera to a one-year, $2.5 million contract, a source told ESPN's Jeff Passan. — Cabrera joins a Nationals free-agency haul that includes Stephen Strasburg, Howie Kendrick, Starlin Castro and Will Harris.
Discussion:
Plain Dealer, baseballmusings.com and Let's Go Tribe
RELATED:
Anthony Franco / MLB Trade Rumors:
Nationals To Re-Sign Asdrubal Cabrera — The Nationals are in agreement on a one-year contract with free agent infielder Asdrúbal Cabrera, reports Jon Heyman of MLB Network (via Twitter). Robert Murray first reported the sides were nearing a deal (via Twitter).
Discussion:
Federal Baseball and Bleacher Nation
ESPN:
Source: Nationals, Starlin Castro reach 2-year, $12M deal — MLB, Washington Nationals, Miami Marlins — Free-agent second baseman Starlin Castro has reached a two-year, $12 million deal with the Washington Nationals, a source familiar with the deal confirmed to ESPN's Jeff Passan on Friday.
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
Nationals To Sign Starlin Castro
Discussion:
NBCSports.com and Fish Stripes
Justin Rimpi / Sports Illustrated:
With Glut of Starting Pitching for New York Mets, Steven Matz Will Find Himself on Outside Looking In — The New York Mets, and more specifically General Manager Brodie Van Wagenen, have made a concerted effort this off season to improve one of the strongest parts of their team in 2019.
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New York Post:
Yoenis Cespedes' ankle fracture came during incident with wild boar — In May when Yoenis Cespedes fractured his right ankle at his Port St. Lucie ranch, Mets GM Brodie Van Wagenen described a “violent” fall but provided no context how the fall occurred. — The same was true last month …
Bill Plaschke / Los Angeles Times:
Column: Dodgers brass defends lack of offseason moves amid fan frustration — The boos have finally gone deep. — This Dodgers fans' annual offseason frustration, which usually swirls around the dugout of Dave Roberts or desk of Andrew Friedman, has soared beyond both this winter …
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com and MLB Trade Rumors
Bradford William Davis / New York Daily News:
The Mets need J.D. Davis to follow in J.D. Martinez's footsteps — Mets masher J.D. Davis' 2019 ascent was a major catalyst for their late-season pennant drive, and easily the best acquisition of Brodie Van Wagenen's brief tenure with the Mets. But between Davis' well-documented defensive struggles …
Lindsey Adler / The Athletic:
Sources: Yankees make sweeping changes to training staff after record-setting season of injuries — The Yankees will make significant changes to their strength-and-conditioning and training staff rosters for 2020 following a year in which they set a record for most injured players in a single season.
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors, Pinstripe Alley, Yankees News and New York Post
Craig Calcaterra / MLB Baseball News, Scores …:
Giants sign Tyson Ross to a minor league deal — San Francisco Giants have signed pitcher — Tyson Ross to a minor league deal with an invitation to spring training. If he makes the team it'll be a $1.75 million pact. He can earn up to another $1.75 million in performance bonuses …
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
Matthew DeFranks / Dallas Morning News:
Former Stars coach Jim Montgomery checks into rehab for alcohol abuse, says it was ‘appropriate call’ to fire him — Montgomery: “Losing my job as head coach of the Dallas Stars last month was a wake-up call. It was also the appropriate call.” … It was Montgomery's first public comment since …
Discussion:
New York Post and Denver Post
