Top News:
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:
DRaysBay and Let's Go Tribe
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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.
Discussion:
Viva El Birdos, DRaysBay, MLB Baseball News …, Lone Star Ball and Bleacher Nation
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
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 …
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue
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Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
Cubs Avoid Arbitration With Kris Bryant, Javier Baez — 3:07pm: The Cubs will pay Javier Baez an even $10MM, per Jeff Passan of ESPN.com (via Twitter). That's $700K north of his projected earning point. The sides are said to be interested in hammering out a longer-term contract …
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …, Cubs Insider, Sports Illustrated and Bleed Cubbie Blue
Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
Reds Avoid Arbitration With Trevor Bauer
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …, MLB Daily Dish and Red Reporter
Connor Grott / UPI:
Mookie Betts, Boston Red Sox avoid arbitration with record $27M deal — The Boston Red Sox avoided arbitration with star outfielder Mookie Betts after both sides agreed on a record-setting deal, the team announced Friday. — League sources told ESPN and MLB Media that Betts signed a one-year, $27 million agreement with the Red Sox.
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News … and baseballmusings.com
RELATED:
ESPN:
Source: Mookie Betts, Red Sox agree to record $27M deal — Outfielder Mookie Betts is getting a one-year, $27 million deal from the Boston Red Sox in a record agreement to avoid arbitration, a source told ESPN's Jeff Passan on Friday. — The amount breaks the arbitration record of $26 million …
Discussion:
USA Today
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Brewers Sign Jedd Gyorko, Designate Jake Faria — 4:30pm: The deal is official. It includes a club option for 2021. — The Brewers announced they've designated righty Jake Faria for assignment to create roster space. — 11:03am: The Brewers have agreed to a Major League contract …
Discussion:
Brew Crew Ball
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Associated Press:
Brewers 'Counsell gets 3-year contract extension through '23
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …, Brew Crew Ball and baseballmusings.com
Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
Brewers Extend Craig Counsell
Discussion:
Brew Crew Ball and MLB Daily Dish
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:
Purple Row, MLB Trade Rumors, USA Today, Cubs Insider, Bleacher Nation, Halos Heaven 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:
Pinstripe Alley, Royals Review, MLB Baseball News …, New York Post, Bluebird Banter and DRaysBay
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
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:
Pinstripe Alley and Sports Illustrated
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:
Over the Monster, DRaysBay, The Crawfish Boxes and baseballmusings.com
