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8:50 AM ET, February 6, 2025

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 Top News: 
Baseball America:
2025 MLB Farm System Rankings For All 30 Teams  —  Image credit: Kristian Campbell (left) and Roman Anthony (Photo by Tayla Bolduc/Worcester Red Sox)  —  The American League East still has the best farm system in baseball, but the crown has shifted to Boston entering the 2025 season following Baltimore's …
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Yankees Claim Braden Shewmake  —  The Yankees announced Wednesday that they've claimed infielder Braden Shewmake off waivers from the Royals.  He'll bring their 40-man roster to capacity, meaning New York will now need to make a roster move once lefty Tim Hill's deal is finalized.
RELATED:
Jesse Rogers / ESPN:
MLB fires umpire Pat Hoberg for shared betting accounts  —  Following a lengthy appeals process, Major League Baseball on Monday has fired umpire Pat Hoberg for “sharing” legal sports betting accounts with a friend who bet on baseball and for intentionally deleting messages key to the investigation into his conduct.
Brendan Kuty / New York Times:
How banned Yankees fan Austin Capobianco's life has changed since his infamous World Series moment  —  Austin Capobianco has grown accustomed to the blowback.  It's been more than three months since the 38-year-old Connecticut man grabbed and pried open the glove of Los Angeles Dodgers right …
Jeff Agrest / Chicago Sun Times:
Alex Cohen will be full-time backup to Cubs TV voice Jon Sciambi on Marquee Sports Network  —  Alex Cohen will be the backup play-by-play voice for Cubs broadcasts on Marquee Sports Network starting this season, the Sun-Times has learned.  —  Cohen, formerly the lead radio and TV voice …
Jeff Passan / ESPN:
Sources: Pete Alonso returning to Mets on 2-year, $54M deal  —  Slugger Pete Alonso and the New York Mets are in agreement on a two-year, $54 million contract, sources told ESPN on Wednesday, ending a lengthy free agency with a return engagement to the only team for which he has played.
Michael Scotto / HoopsHype:
NBA Intel: Lonzo Ball, Nikola Vucevic, Brandon Ingram Trade Talks; Lakers, Warriors, Knicks, more  —  Following blockbuster trades involving Luka Doncic, Anthony Davis, and De'Aaron Fox, teams are moving urgently, only two days before the NBA trade deadline.
Brad Wakai / Sports Illustrated:
Nationals Star Second Baseman Reportedly Wants Long-Term Contract From Team  —  The Washington Nationals star second baseman reportedly is looking for a contract extension from the team.  —  If everything works out for the Washington Nationals, they're going to have one of the best groups of young talent in Major League Baseball.
Evan Petzold / Detroit Free Press:
Alex Bregman watch: Detroit Tigers still in mix despite signing Jack Flaherty  —  The window is open for the Detroit Tigers to make a run for the World Series while reigning Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal remains under contract for the next two seasons, but free-agent third baseman Alex Bregman could be the final piece of the puzzle.
RELATED:
Jason Beck / MLB.com:
Flaherty agrees to return to Tigers' rotation
David Schoenfield / ESPN:
MLB 2025 free agency: Alex Bregman's strengths, concerns, best fits
Discussion: AZ Snake Pit and NESN.com
Chris Cotillo / masslive.com:
Sam Kennedy: Red Sox have taken ‘aggressive approach,’ still have ‘ability to add’ to roster  —  BOSTON — In November, Red Sox president/CEO Sam Kennedy said there was an “extreme urgency” within the organization to have an aggressive offseason and get back to competing for an American League East title in 2025.
Peter Abraham / The Boston Globe:
Could a difference of opinion explain why the Red Sox haven't signed a hitter?  And other thoughts.  —  This story originally appeared in the Globe's Sunday Baseball Notes.  Read the rest here.  —  Agents representing prominent free-agent hitters have been hearing the same thing …
Discussion: Yahoo Sports and masslive.com
Associated Press:
Former Baltimore Orioles infielder Rich Dauer dies at 72  —  Rich Dauer, an infielder who played a decade in the major leagues and won a World Series as a player with Baltimore and as a coach with Houston, has died.  He was 72.  —  The Orioles announced Dauer's death Monday.
 
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 Earlier Picks: 
New York Times:
How Top-Secret Negotiations Led to a Luka Doncic-Anthony Davis Trade
D.J. Short / NBCSports.com:
2024-25 MLB Free Agent Tracker: Top players, latest Hot Stove signings; Bregman, Alonso lead best available
 

 
From WeSmirch:

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

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

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

 
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