Top News:
Washington Post:
The world just learned of the Astros' cheating. Inside baseball, it was an open secret. — On the evening of Oct. 22, 2019, a group of umpires, Major League Baseball officials and the brain trusts of the Washington Nationals and Houston Astros — the respective general managers …
RELATED:
Nancy Armour / USA Today:
Pitcher Mike Bolsinger says cheating Astros changed course of his career — The Houston Astros wronged a lot of people, in a lot of ways. — But the damage they did to Mike Bolsinger - to his career and to his whole life - was particularly harsh, and the former Toronto Blue Jays pitcher wants them held accountable.
The Athletic:
Details emerge about Carlos Beltrán's role in the 2017 Astros clubhouse and the team's sign-stealing scheme — You're an accessory to a robbery, and now you're in the backseat of the getaway car. You never intended to be part of a criminal act. But the doors are locked …
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News … and Sports Illustrated
Jeff Passan / ESPN:
Sources: Astros owner Jim Crane to talk strategy with team amid scandal — WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Houston Astros owner Jim Crane is expected to meet with the full Astros roster Wednesday to discuss the team's strategy for publicly addressing the sign-stealing scandal that has rocked …
Discussion:
New York Post, Sports Illustrated and Associated Press
Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
Mike Bolsinger Sues Astros Over Sign-Stealing Scheme
Discussion:
Sports Illustrated
Joel Sherman / New York Post:
MLB plotting playoff expansion — with reality TV twist — Imagine a team picking its playoff opponent. Think about Brian Cashman and the Yankees deciding whether to face the Red Sox or avoid them in the first round of the postseason. All on live TV. — Well, it is probably coming soon to the major leagues.
Discussion:
MLB.com, Pinstripe Alley, NBCSports.com, MLB Trade Rumors, Baseball America, FanGraphs Baseball, Lookout Landing, Sports Illustrated, Royals Review, MLB Baseball News …, Twinkie Town, Talking Chop, Bless You Boys, DRaysBay, AM New York, Purple Row, Camden Chat, Brew Crew Ball, baseballmusings.com, Yahoo! Sports, Bleacher Nation and NESN.com
RELATED:
ESPN:
Sources: MLB weighing major changes to postseason, including growing number of teams to 14 — Major League Baseball is mulling significant changes to its postseason, including increasing the number of teams from 10 to 14 and adding a reality TV-type format to determine which teams play each …
Discussion:
NBCSports.com and Bleed Cubbie Blue
Associated Press:
Red Sox Name Ron Roenicke as Interim Manager — Roenicke, Boston's bench coach, was put in charge on the eve of the team's first spring training workout. He replaced Alex Cora, who was let go because of his role in the Astros' sign-stealing scandal. — FORT MYERS, Fla. …
Discussion:
Talking Chop, Royals Review, The Good Phight and New York Times
RELATED:
Joon Lee / ESPN:
Chaim Bloom says Red Sox prioritized ‘big picture’ over fan reaction in trading Mookie Betts
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish, Let's Go Tribe and Lone Star Ball
Craig Edwards / FanGraphs Baseball:
The Big Mookie Betts Deal Is Finally Happening, but the Dodgers-Angels Trade Isn't
Max Goodman / Sports Illustrated:
Breaking Down a Potential Yankees vs. Dodgers World Series Matchup
Discussion:
Over the Monster
Alden Gonzalez / ESPN:
Joe Maddon opens up on leaving Chicago Cubs, returning to L.A. Angels — LONG BEACH, Calif. — Joe Maddon settled into a small Italian deli bordering the Pacific coast Friday, only a block from the high-rise condominium that housed him for the past month, and instantly felt regret.
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …, NBCSports.com, Sports Illustrated and Chicago Cubs News …
Patrick Mooney / The Athletic:
When Kris Bryant gets to Mesa, he'll be the center of attention for a Cubs team in flux — While the rest of Major League Baseball has spent around $2.1 billion on free agents this offseason, the Cubs are banking on fuzzy concepts like attention to detail and a more structured clubhouse environment …
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors, Bleacher Nation, MLB Baseball News … and Bleed Cubbie Blue
Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
Phillies Hope For 2nd Half Return From David Robertson — The Phillies are hopeful they've got a built-in summer acquisition in the form of veteran reliever David Robertson. As Matt Breen of the Philadelphia Inquirer reports on Twitter, new Phils skipper Joe Girardi says that he hopes Robertson …
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News … and Phillies Nation
Tim Healey / Newsday:
Mets manager Luis Rojas: ‘We expect to be a contender’ — PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — With a calm confidence that his players describe as his norm, manager Luis Rojas did not equivocate Tuesday in his first daily news conference of spring training: The 2020 Mets should be a playoff team.
Discussion:
Newsday
Harry Pavlidis / Baseball Prospectus:
Cracking Crystal: The 2020 PECOTA Standings Projections — If you rub a crystal ball it will show you the future. If the ball is cracked you might cut yourself. Injury is more likely than insight. Still, it is time for the annual feasting on the expectations of our projection system with the 2020 PECOTA Standings.
