Top News:
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cardinals finalizing deal to send Jose Martinez, Arozarena to Rays for top pitching prospect — For most of the winter the Cardinals have entertained interest from other teams in their plethora of outfield bats in hopes that a trade would not just offer them talent but also clarity for their roster, and room to maneuver.
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Viva El Birdos, Bleacher Nation, MLB Baseball News …, Lone Star Ball and DRaysBay
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Jeff Passan / ESPN:
Jose Martinez part of Cardinals' package for Rays lefty prospect Matt Liberatore — MLB, St. Louis Cardinals, Tampa Bay Rays — The St. Louis Cardinals are trading outfielders Jose Martinez and Randy Arozarena to the Tampa Bay Rays for left-handed prospect Matt Liberatore …
Discussion:
Let's Go Tribe
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cardinals trade Jose Martinez, Arozarena to Rays for standout lefty prospect, and leave open other options — Matthew Liberatore, a 6-foot-6 lefthander, delivers a pitch for the Bowling Green (Ky.) Hot Rods of the Class A Midwest League during the 2019 season. (Photo by Austin Anthony/Bowling Green Daily News)
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
Ken Rosenthal / The Athletic:
With four superstars on the trade market the hot stove is still sizzling, and more notes — All but four of Jim Bowden's top 35 free agents are signed, but the Hot Stove season isn't close to over. Not when four high-profile clubs (the Cubs, Cardinals, Red Sox and Dodgers) remain largely inactive.
Discussion:
Cubs Insider, Purple Row, USA Today, Halos Heaven, MLB Trade Rumors, Bleacher Nation and Chicago Sun-Times
Brendan Kuty / New Jersey Online:
In bizarre lawsuit, Yankees' failed prospect says Derek Jeter ruined his career — In a rambling, conspiracy-laced lawsuit, a failed prospect, who never played above High-A and had a career batting average of .244, sued the Yankees for $34 million and blamed Yankees legend Derek Jeter …
Discussion:
New York Post, Pinstripe Alley, Royals Review, MLB Baseball News …, Bluebird Banter and DRaysBay
Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
Brewers Extend Craig Counsell — The Brewers have announced a new contract with manager Craig Counsell, as first reported by Robert Murray (Twitter link). It's said to take the skipper through the 2023 season. — Counsell, 49, was already under contract through the 2020 campaign under the extension he reached in the fall of 2016.
Discussion:
Brew Crew Ball and MLB Daily Dish
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Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
White Sox Announce Edwin Encarnacion Signing, Designate Kodi Medeiros — The White Sox have formally announced their previously reported one-year contract with slugger Edwin Encarnacion, designating left-hander Kodi Medeiros for assignment in order to open a spot on the 40-man roster.
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News … and South Side Sox
Connor Byrne / MLB Trade Rumors:
Astros Acquire Austin Pruitt — The Astros have acquired right-hander Austin Pruitt from the Rays in exchange for outfielder Cal Stevenson and righty Peyton Battenfield, per Brian McTaggart of MLB.com. Robert Murray first reported Stevenson was headed to the Rays.
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com, Over the Monster, DRaysBay and FanGraphs Baseball
Nick Piecoro / Arizona Republic:
Sources: Arizona Diamondbacks nearing deal with reliever Hector Rondon — (Photo: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports) — The Diamondbacks added another power arm to their bullpen, agreeing to terms with reliever Hector Rondon on a one-year deal with a club option for 2021, sources said Wednesday.
Discussion:
FanGraphs Baseball, AZ Snake Pit, MLB Trade Rumors, Over the Monster and MLB Baseball News …
Connor Byrne / MLB Trade Rumors:
Angels, Max Stassi Avoid Arbitration — The Angels and catcher Max Stassi have avoided arbitration with an $800K agreement, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com tweets. That's the exact salary MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz projected for Stassi a few months back. — Stassi didn't hit much in 2019 …
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Yankees To Sign Chris Iannetta — 12:16pm: The Yankees and Iannetta are in agreement on a minor league deal, tweets MLB Network's Jon Heyman. — 11:50am: The Yankees and veteran catcher Chris Iannetta are close to finalizing a minor league contract WFAN's Sweeny Murti reports (via Twitter).
Discussion:
Sports Illustrated and Pinstripe Alley
Jordan McPherson / Miami Herald:
With ‘no shortage of potential candidates,’ who will be the Marlins' center fielder? — With spring training just about a month away, a better idea of what the 2020 Miami Marlins will look like is starting to take shape. — One big question still remains: With no clear front-runner, who will be the team's starting center fielder?
Discussion:
Fish Stripes and Marlins News
Jeff Wilson / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
Earlier weekend starts for Texas Rangers games another bonus of Globe Life Field roof — The roof at Globe Life Field will give baseball fans a break from the summer sun and soaring temperatures. The players on the field will enjoy that, too. — It will also give the Texas Rangers …
David Barron / Houston Chronicle:
Young girl hit by foul ball at Astros game still suffering, seven months later — The 2½-year-old girl who suffered a skull fracture when hit in the head by a foul ball at an Astros game May 29 continues to be treated for a brain injury that has left her at lasting risk for seizures …
Discussion:
NBC News, The Crawfish Boxes, CBS News, New York Post, USA Today, NBCSports.com and Houston Astros on Yahoo! …
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