Top News:
New York Times:
Juan Soto bidding reaches $600M, MLB sources say; process of eliminating teams underway — LOS ANGELES — The floor for Juan Soto is $600 million. — The bidding for the free-agent MLB outfielder has surpassed that amount, according to two people briefed on the negotiations who were not authorized to speak publicly.
Discussion:
Crossing Broad, The Boston Globe, MLB Trade Rumors, Bleacher Nation, NESN.com, cubsinsider.com, OnPattison, New York Post, Dodgers Nation, Staten Island Advance, Daily Mail, New Jersey Online, SNY, Pinstripe Alley, Yahoo Sports, New York Daily News, Trump's defense pick …, Sportsnet.ca, BVM Sports, masslive.com and Over the Monster
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Mark Feinsand / MLB.com:
Yanks could swing big for Adames if they miss on Soto (sources) — The Yankees remain hopeful about bringing Juan Soto back to the Bronx, but in the event that the slugger signs elsewhere, New York will have plenty of money to pivot to Plan B. — According to sources …
MLB.com:
Soto favorites have emerged, and rumors are flying. Let's discuss — Mets? Yankees? Red Sox? Blue Jays? Mystery team? — While many free agents have yet to come off the board, nearly all of the attention is on 26-year-old outfielder Juan Soto, who by this time next week might have signed a new contract.
Discussion:
New Jersey Online, NESN.com, Amazin' Avenue, Sports Illustrated, BVM Sports and Boston.com
Alden Gonzalez / ESPN:
Source: Superstar Juan Soto nearing decision on free agency — LOS ANGELES — Juan Soto's much-hyped free agency is nearing its final stages, with a source familiar with the process opening the possibility that the star outfielder could pick his destination by the end of this week — before the start of the annual winter meetings.
Discussion:
Camden Chat, Just Baseball, Bleacher Nation, NESN.com, OnPattison, Dodgers Nation, Battery Power and BVM Sports
Jon Conahan / Sports Illustrated:
New York Yankees Considered Threats To Poach Philadelphia Phillies Star Relievers — The New York Yankees need relievers and the two Philadelphia Phillies stars could help them fix that issue. — The New York Yankees feel like a team just waiting around, hoping to pounce on whoever becomes available.
Discussion:
New Jersey Online
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New York Times:
Farhan Zaidi talking to Dodgers about front office role: Sources — The Los Angeles Dodgers are talking to their former general manager and ex-San Francisco Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi about returning to the organization, league sources told The Athletic on Tuesday.
Discussion:
Bleacher Nation, McCovey Chronicles, Dodgers Nation, MLB Trade Rumors, NBC Sports Bay Area … and BVM Sports
Kiley McDaniel / ESPN:
The trades we want to see at MLB's 2024 winter meetings — Open Extended Reactions — Baseball's winter meetings start on Monday, and while there's plenty of buzz surrounding this year's free-agent class, led by Juan Soto, the trade market could prove to be just as exciting.
Discussion:
Yahoo Sports, OnPattison, WI Sports Heroics, Bleacher Nation, Sporting News and NESN.com
Jim Bowden / New York Times:
7 big trades I'd like to see happen at MLB's Winter Meetings — MLB's Winter Meetings begin Monday, and this offseason the anticipation is a bit higher than the past few years. Many in the industry believe the top free agents, who have been garnering offers for weeks, are close to making decisions.
Discussion:
Camden Chat, WI Sports Heroics, New Jersey Online, Sporting News and MLB.com
Mark Sheldon / MLB.com:
Reds have ‘flexibility’ heading into Winter Meetings — This story was excerpted from Mark Sheldon's Reds Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox. — CINCINNATI — Once free agent Nick Martinez became the Reds' highest paid player …
Discussion:
Red Reporter, Redleg Nation and MLB Trade Rumors
Associated Press:
Bad Bunny — Spotify Wrapped 2024 is here, and Taylor Swift is once again the platform's most-streamed artist — 'Tis the season to unpack Spotify Wrapped. And it should come as no surprise that in 2024, for a second year in a row, Taylor Swift has been named its most-played artist, ranking in more than 26.6 billion streams.
Discussion:
WKYC-TV and Toledo Blade
Jayson Stark / New York Times:
The Golden At-Bat rule could give MLB a new shine. But is it worth it? — When the commissioner of baseball speaks, we listen. — So we were listening a few weeks ago when Rob Manfred stopped by the podcast of Puck's John Ourand and dropped this giant breadcrumb about a rule change …
Discussion:
Sports Illustrated, Crossing Broad, WI Sports Heroics, Climbing Tal's Hill, Omny Studio, McCovey Chronicles, Lookout Landing, New York Post, Purple Row, Plain Dealer, Yahoo Sports, Baseball America, OnPattison, Bleeding Yankee Blue, MLB Trade Rumors, NBC Sports Bay Area …, Bleed Cubbie Blue, NESN.com, Pinstripe Alley, Toronto Sun, Chicago Tribune, DLLS Sports, cubsinsider.com, Bluebird Banter, Battery Power, New York Daily News, The Good Phight and Royals Review
Darragh McDonald / MLB Trade Rumors:
KBO's Kiwoom Heroes Post Hyeseong Kim — 10:41pm: The Heroes announced that the posting window will open at 8:00 am Eastern on Thursday. MLB is evidently waiting until tomorrow to formally notify teams about his availability. Kim will have until 5:00 pm Eastern on January 3 to sign (X link via Yoo).
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley, Yahoo Sports, WI Sports Heroics, Last Word On Baseball, Covering the Corner and BVM Sports
USA Today:
Detroit Tigers have interest in Ha-Seong Kim in MLB free agency … Gannett may earn revenue from sports betting operators for audience referrals to betting services. Sports betting operators have no influence over nor are any such revenues in any way dependent on or linked to the newsrooms or news coverage.
Discussion:
Yahoo Sports
