Top News:
Bob Nightengale / USA Today:
MLB rule changes: League still discussing universal DH and expanded playoffs for 2021 season — PHOENIX — Major League Baseball, fearing that the pandemic could create havoc with their scheduling once again, is proposing the return of seven-inning doubleheaders and extra-inning games beginning …
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue, Royals Review, Bleacher Nation, NBCSports.com, MLB Trade Rumors, Federal Baseball and Washington Times
RELATED:
Emma Baccellieri / Sports Illustrated:
MLB's To-Do List: What Needs to Be Answered Before the 2021 Season — How many teams are going to make the playoffs? Will there be a universal DH? Will there be a full season? So many questions. So few answers. — The last few offseasons have gotten baseball fans increasingly used …
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue
Jayson Stark / The Athletic:
Phillies make J.T. Realmuto 5-year, 9-figure offer — Amid signs that the free-agent market is finally beginning to awaken from its two-month hibernation, the Phillies have made a new nine-figure offer to free-agent catcher J.T. Realmuto. — According to an industry source familiar with the negotiations …
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Molina stays ready, waits, says in interview he could retire with ‘head held high’ if no offer fits — On his social media platform of choice, Instagram, free agent Yadier Molina shared video Tuesday of him taking batting practice with his brother's team in an otherwise empty ballpark.
Discussion:
Cardinals News, MLB Trade Rumors, Bleacher Nation, Bleed Cubbie Blue and Cubs Insider
RELATED:
Dan Caesar / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Media Views: Shannon could be entering final season as Cards broadcaster … Will it be a 50 finale for Mike Shannon? — Multiple sources say 2021 will be the last year in the Cardinals' radio booth for Shannon, who began there in 1972 and is heading into his 50th season in that role.
Discussion:
Awful Announcing
Ben Badler / Baseball America:
2020-21 MLB International Signings Tracker — 2020-21 International signing tracker — *Click each team to go directly to that team's outlook. — The 2020-21 international signing period opens today, a signing class that normally would have started on July 2, 2020 but moved back to Jan. 15, 2021.
Associated Press:
Francisco Lindor, Michael Conforto among 8 New York Mets players to reach 1-year deals — NEW YORK — The New York Mets agreed to one-year contracts with eight players Friday to avoid salary arbitration, including shortstop Francisco Lindor, outfielder Michael Conforto and first baseman-outfielder Dominic Smith.
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …
Scott Lauber / The Philadelphia Inquirer:
Three former Phillies who could return and be a big boost to the 2021 roster — If anything, the Chicago White Sox's four-year, $54 million agreement this week with reliever Liam Hendriks affirmed that, even in a pandemic, some teams will still pay a premium for top-level talent.
Discussion:
PHILLY SPORTS NETWORK, Phillies Nation and MLB Trade Rumors
Kevin O'Connor / The Ringer:
The Rockets Still Have a Mess to Clean Up — Houston doesn't have to worry about James Harden anymore, but there are more questions than answers—starting with John Wall's role on the team — James Harden got his wish. Now the Rockets must rebuild who they are again.
RELATED:
Dan Hajducky / ESPN:
Mickey Mantle baseball card shatters record, sells for $5.2 million — A Mickey Mantle baseball card has shattered a 5-month-old record for highest-selling sports card of all time, going for $5.2 million, PWCC Marketplace announced on Thursday. — The 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle PSA 9 …
Discussion:
Cubs Insider, Yankees News, Deadspin, Sports Illustrated and New York Post
Kyle Koster / The Big Lead:
Rey Ordóñez and the Fault in Our Stars — When logging onto the Internet (capitalized in assorted style guides back then) required a dial tone, they pumped up to four baseball games into my childhood home for the price of a cable-television package.
Discussion:
Broad Street Buzz, Rink Royalty, Sabre Noise and Guilty Eats
Jesse Sanchez / MLB.com:
Here's where top int'l prospects are signing — January 15th is the new July 2nd. — The date has changed, but the excitement and its significance to baseball remains the same. — Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the international signing period that was scheduled to begin on July 2, 2020, starts today and ends on Dec. 15, 2021.
Liam McKeone / The Big Lead:
Aaron Rodgers Remembers Every One of His 89 Career Interceptions — Truly elite professional athletes operate on a completely different plane than the rest of us mere mortals. It is rarely so apparent as it is when watching Aaron Rodgers play quarterback for the Green Bay Packers.
Discussion:
Corn Nation, Old Juve and Acme Packing Company