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7:45 PM ET, February 6, 2025

Ballbug

 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 …
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.
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.
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 …
NCAA.org:
NCAA announces transgender student-athlete participation policy change  —  Men's category open to all eligible student-athletes, women's category restricted to student-athletes assigned female at birth, schools directed to foster welcoming environments on all campuses.
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 …
New York Times:
Journeyman outfielder Tommy Pham signs 1-year deal with Pittsburgh Pirates: Sources  —  Free-agent outfielder Tommy Pham has agreed to a one-year, $4 million contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates, league sources said.  The contract is a major-league deal, with an additional $250,000 in incentives.
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.
New York Times:
MLB fires umpire Pat Hoberg for sharing betting accounts with pro poker player who bet on baseball  —  Major League Baseball has fired umpire Pat Hoberg after he shared sports betting accounts with a professional poker player who bet on baseball.  —  In a news release, the league said it found …
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.
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.
 
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 More News: 
NBCSports.com:
Fantasy Baseball Sleepers for 2025: Josh Lowe, Parker Meadows among hitter candidates in February update
Discussion: Yahoo Sports
New York Times:
How Top-Secret Negotiations Led to a Luka Doncic-Anthony Davis Trade
 Earlier Picks: 
Peter Abraham / The Boston Globe:
Could a difference of opinion explain why the Red Sox haven't signed a hitter? And other thoughts.
Discussion: Yahoo Sports and masslive.com
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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