Top News:
Jeff Passan / ESPN:
Sources: Tarik Skubal wins arbitration over Tigers, to make $32M — Detroit Tigers star left-hander Tarik Skubal will be paid $32 million this year after a three-person salary arbitration panel ruled in his favor Thursday over the $19 million salary the team proposed, sources told ESPN.
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Tim Stebbins / MLB.com:
Framber, Tigers agree to 3-year deal worth $115 million (source) — A Tigers rotation already led by the best starting pitcher in the American League is about to become even more fearsome. — The Tigers have agreed to a three-year, $115 million deal with left-hander Framber Valdez, sources told MLB.com on Wednesday.
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Andrew Birkle / Detroit Free Press:
Tarik Skubal's message to Framber Valdez after signing with Tigers — Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal had a simple message for his new teammate Framber Valdez. — “Dinners on you” Skubal said in a post on his Instagram story shortly after the Valdez signing went public.
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The Athletic, Yahoo Sports, USA Today, Bleacher Report, Bleacher Nation and MLB Trade Rumors
Michael Baumann / FanGraphs Baseball:
Skubal Becomes Ta-Richest Player in Arbitration History
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Yahoo Sports, Sports Illustrated, SportsNet Pittsburgh, The Athletic, MLive.com and Plain Dealer
Evan Petzold / Detroit Free Press:
Javier Báez suspended from 2026 World Baseball Classic for marijuana — Detroit Tigers shortstop Javier Báez won't play for Team Puerto Rico in the 2026 World Baseball Classic due to marijuana use. — Báez is not eligible to participate in the 2026 WBC because he is serving …
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Sports Illustrated, USA Today, Forbes, cubsinsider.com and Yahoo Sports
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Cody Stavenhagen / The Athletic:
Tigers' Javier Báez suspended from 2026 WBC for marijuana usage: Source — Share full article — Detroit Tigers shortstop Javier Báez is ineligible to play for Team Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic because of marijuana use, a league source confirmed Thursday.
Discussion:
Associated Press, Yahoo Sports and MLive.com
Sean McAdam / masslive.com:
State of the Sox: Signing of Isiah Kiner-Falefa leaves Red Sox incomplete — When it comes to evaluating a signing or a trade, it's important to take context into account. … Those are all worthwhile questions to consider after the Red Sox earlier this week agreed to a one-year …
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Over the Monster, MLB Trade Rumors, Bleacher Nation, MLB.com and New Jersey Online
Michael Clair / MLB.com:
Reigning MVPs, Cy Youngs among 78 All-Stars on Classic rosters — Twenty years ago, the first World Baseball Classic in history began, forever reshaping the global game. Plenty of superstars and future Hall of Famers took the field that year, with Ken Griffey Jr., Ichiro Suzuki …
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Yahoo Sports and Dodger Blue
David Purdum / ESPN:
Guardians' Clase allegedly rigged pitches in 48 games, document says — Indicted Cleveland Guardians pitcher Emmanuel Clase is accused of throwing suspicious pitches to benefit bettors in at least 48 games over two years, significantly more than was initially revealed by federal prosecutors …
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Yahoo Sports, New York Post, Plain Dealer and Fox News
Associated Press:
MLB players strike deal to be turned into AI characters that can chat with fans — Major League Baseball players have agreed to let a tech company create AI characters of themselves that can chat and interact with fans. Under an agreement announced Thursday between Genies and MLB Players Inc. …
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New Jersey Online and Yahoo Sports
Associated Press:
Mark McGwire returns to Athletics in player development role — Former slugger Mark McGwire is back with his first organization, rejoining the Athletics as a special assistant to player development. — He played at least parts of 12 seasons for the then-Oakland Athletics and was a nine-time All-Star.
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MLB Trade Rumors
Rogers Sports & Media:
Legendary Blue Jays Broadcaster Buck Martinez Announces Retirement … “Buck Martinez is a legend in baseball,” said Greg Sansone, President, Sportsnet. “His voice is synonymous with summer, and his passion for the sport and dedication to his craft are unrivaled.
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Yahoo Sports, New York Post, Awful Announcing, Seattle Sports and Plain Dealer
The Athletic:
Initial bids in Padres' sale process expected near end of February: Sources — Share full article — The San Diego Padres appear to be moving closer to a potential sale, with initial bids expected around the end of February, people briefed on the process told The Athletic.
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Bleacher Nation and Bleacher Report
