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11:45 AM ET, January 29, 2025

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 Top News: 
Keith Law / New York Times:
Top 100 MLB prospects 2025: Keith Law's rankings, with Roman Anthony at No. 1  —  Welcome to this year's ranking of the top 100 prospects in baseball.  I've been compiling and writing such rankings for 18 years now, and those of you who've read them before will find the format here similar to those from the recent past.
RELATED:
Kiley McDaniel / ESPN:
Top 100 MLB prospects for 2025, ranked by Kiley McDaniel  —  It's time to rank the top prospects in Major League Baseball for the upcoming season, some of whom will be in the majors in 2025 and others who will rise through the minors in the years ahead.  —  Many of the top prospects …
Associated Press:
Rangers make network to produce, distribute game broadcasts  —  ARLINGTON, Texas — The Texas Rangers have created a new company to oversee production and distribution of their game broadcasts.  —  The MLB team on Monday unveiled the Rangers Sports Media & Entertainment Company.
RELATED:
Evan Grant / Dallas Morning News:
Texas Rangers announce Rangers Sports Network, with major cable deals expected soon  —  The Texas Rangers hope to soon announce deals for local TV rights, expanding their digital footprint well beyond 2024. … It's all about the “R.”  —  What used to stand for “regional” …
Dennis Lin / New York Times:
Brother of late Padres owner responds to widow's lawsuit in court filing  —  Matt Seidler filed a response to the lawsuit brought by the widow of late San Diego Padres owner Peter Seidler, denying allegations that he and his brother acted in bad faith, while alleging that their accuser …
Ken Rosenthal / New York Times:
Austin Hays agrees to one-year deal with Reds: Source  —  The Cincinnati Reds, continuing to add to new manager Terry Francona's roster, have reached agreement on a one-year, $5 million contract with free-agent outfielder Austin Hays, according to a source briefed on the discussions.
Jim Bowden / New York Times:
Twelve MLB breakout candidates I'm excited to scout in spring training  —  One of the most fun parts of each major-league season is when a player puts together a breakout year, playing well beyond expectations and/or past performance.  —  I reached out to all 30 MLB teams recently to learn …
Jon Heyman / New York Post:
Francisco Lindor needs to be Mets' next captain  —  My suggestion for the Mets won't engender any unnecessary drama, and it definitely shouldn't trigger even so much as a single boobird, unlike in the strangely mixed reaction at their fan festival Saturday at Citi Field.
Maury Brown / Forbes:
MLB Revenues Hit Record $12.1 Billion In 2024  —  The business of Major League Baseball was exceptionally good in 2024, as the league saw a surge in popularity and growth across the business.  —  The league reported $12.1 billion in gross revenues for last year; a record high.
Temple Now:
Tragic news to share  —  It is with deep sadness that we write to share news of the death of first-year student Tyler Sabapathy.  Over the weekend, Tyler sustained critical injuries and ultimately passed away this afternoon.  —  The loss of a promising 18-year-old man like Tyler is both tragic and traumatic.
Discussion: Associated Press and New York Post
Ken Rosenthal / New York Times:
Why Steve Cohen's ‘brutally honest’ comments on Alonso negotiations were so unusual, plus more MLB notes  —  Many fans found it refreshing when New York Mets owner Steve Cohen gave what he described as a “brutally honest” assessment of the team's contract talks with free-agent first baseman Pete Alonso.
Chris Cotillo / masslive.com:
Red Sox are $32 million below CBT threshold; here's what they could spend it on  —  February starts on Saturday.  Truck Day is exactly one week away.  Alex Cora and Craig Breslow will hold their opening media sessions of spring training in just about two weeks (on February 11) in Fort Myers.
Discussion: NESN.com and Sports Illustrated
Jesse Rogers / ESPN:
Cubs to acquire reliever Ryan Pressly from Astros, sources say  —  CHICAGO — The Cubs are finalizing a trade to acquire closer Ryan Pressly from the Houston Astros, pending medical review, sources told ESPN's Jeff Passan on Sunday.  —  Pressly will waive his no-trade clause to facilitate the move …
Nick Piecoro / Arizona Republic:
DBacks still looking for roster upgrades as spring nears  —  Despite being a month removed from the surprise signing of right-hander Corbin Burnes, the Diamondbacks have yet to finish rounding out their roster.  —  To hear general manager Mike Hazen explain it, this is not for lack of trying …
 
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From WeSmirch:

Charlotte Edwardes / The Guardian:
‘True activism has to cost you something’: Bridgerton's Nicola Coughlan on politics, paparazzi and parasocial fandom

Caroline Graham / Daily Mail:
‘See me one more time before I die’: Thomas Markle issues desperate plea to Meghan from hospital bed - and says Duchess HASN'T called him after ‘life or death’ leg amputation

Us Weekly:
Alix Earle and Braxton Berrios Split After 2 Years Together, Sources Say (Exclusive)

 
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