Top News:
Rustin Dodd / Kansas City Star:
Free agent first baseman from KC says playing for Royals would be ‘dream come true’ — There is at least one free-agent first baseman with a strong desire to play for the Royals. — Logan Morrison, a Kansas City native coming off a career season in Tampa Bay, said Thursday in an interview …
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USA Today:
MLB free agents: Top 73 players available — As the game's most intriguing and prized possession remains unavailable - for now - Major League Baseball's 30 franchises are prepared to jump feet-first into some 90 days of high-stakes shopping. — While Shohei Otani, a 23-year-old power hitter …
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Column: Cubs should focus on re-signing Wade Davis, let Jake Arrieta walk — Will these Cubs players be back on the team next season? — Chicago Tribune — The only way up for the Cubs in 2018 is to at least make it back to the World Series, and the retooling begins next week at the general mangers meetings in Orlando, Fla.
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Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Cubs promote Brandon Hyde to bench coach, ‘have to listen’ to trade offers — Chicago Tribune — Cubs first-base coach Brandon Hyde was promoted to bench coach. — Hyde confirmed the move, which was first reported in a tweet by Ken Rosenthal. Hyde takes over for Dave Martinez …
Susan Slusser / San Francisco Chronicle:
Christian Yelich, Marcell Ozuna among A's possible winter targets — Count the A's among the teams circling around the most recent expected breakup of the Marlins. — One item on Oakland's wish list this winter is an outfielder with several years of team control remaining, sources told The Chronicle on Wednesday.
Discussion:
CBS13
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Scooby Axson / SI.com:
MLB Rumors: J.D. Martinez, Jay Bruce Seeking Big Deals
MLB Rumors: J.D. Martinez, Jay Bruce Seeking Big Deals
Discussion:
CBS Boston, MLB Daily Dish and The Comeback
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
A's Interested In Christian Yelich, Marcell Ozuna
A's Interested In Christian Yelich, Marcell Ozuna
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish
Associated Press:
Rangers can pay most for Shohei Otani, followed by Yanks, Twins — NEW YORK — Texas, the New York Yankees and Minnesota can pay the most to a young international amateur free agent as highly touted pitcher-outfielder Shohei Otani prepares to enter the market, and Major League Baseball …
Discussion:
CBSSports.com, Lone Star Ball and Bleacher Nation
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Fox Sports:
Athletics outfielder Mark Canha has surgery on right wrist — OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) Outfielder Mark Canha of the Oakland Athletics had arthroscopic surgery on his right wrist to remove a cyst and is expected to be fully healthy by spring training. — The team said Wednesday the procedure took place Tuesday in Los Angeles.
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UPI:
Oakland Athletics: Mark Canha undergoes wrist surgery — Oakland Athletics outfielder Mark Canha had arthroscopic surgery on his right wrist to remove a cyst, the team announced. — The surgery was performed at the Kerlan-Jobe Clinic in Los Angeles on Tuesday.
Fox Sports:
Red Sox make Dana LeVangie pitching coach — BOSTON (AP) New Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora filled out his staff on Wednesday, making Dana LeVangie the pitching coach and adding Ramon Vazquez to the coaching staff. — Steve Langone was made the manager of advance scouting.
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Scott LauberESPN / ESPN:
Red Sox promote Dana LeVangie from bullpen to pitching coach
Red Sox promote Dana LeVangie from bullpen to pitching coach
Discussion:
Over the Monster and MLB on Yahoo! Sports
Scott LauberESPN / ESPN:
Boston catching prospect Daniel Flores, 17, dies of cancer
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Red Sox Prospect Daniel Flores Passes Away Due To Cancer
Red Sox Prospect Daniel Flores Passes Away Due To Cancer
Discussion:
Over the Monster, MLB on Yahoo! Sports, The Comeback and MLB Daily Dish
Doug Mittler / ESPN:
Rumor Central: Could Jay Bruce return to Queens? — The New York Mets might be open to a reunion with free agent Jay Bruce if he would be open to playing both the outfield and first base. — According to Mike Puma of the New York Post, the Mets have a hole to fill in the outfield …
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors and New York Post
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Phil Thompson / Chicago Tribune:
Theo Epstein's foundation to present $150,000 to youth mentoring program in Chicago — The BASE founder Robert Lewis Jr., from left, Cubs team President Theo Epstein, Bank of America executive Paul Lambert and baseball journalist Peter Gammons pose with the World Series trophy …
ESPN:
What a week for Bregman, Pederson, Kapler and Koufax — When Sam Bregman was a youngster, he would hang around the clubhouse of the Washington Senators. His father, Stan, was the attorney for the ballclub, which gave him access to such greats as manager Ted Williams and outfielder Frank Howard.
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Anthony Rizzo wins Marvin Miller Man of the Year Award — Chicago Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo attends a ceremony to commemorate The Anthony Rizzo Foundation's $3.5 million commitment to Lurie Children's Hospital. The foundation created two endowed funds for cancer patients and their families.
Joe Posnanski / Joe Blogs - Medium:
Can Eric Hosmer field? — Every year since 2006—wow, I cannot believe it has been that long—I have been a voter for the Fielding Bible Awards. The awards were invented by John Dewan and friends all those years ago because they were totally into baseball defense ... and like everyone else they really disliked the Gold Gloves.
Discussion:
Royals Review
ESPN:
Projecting the biggest free-agent deals: Paying for power and pitching — Nothing in sports reminds me of a 1980s game show as much as Major League Baseball's free-agent period. There are no roster bonuses or misleading options that teams will never pick up, and non-guaranteed contracts for big names are exceedingly rare.
Daniel Levitt / FiveThirtyEight:
Roy Halladay Was The Greatest Pitcher Of His Generation — Yesterday's news that the great pitcher Roy Halladay had died in a plane crash sent baseball's fraternity of players and coaches into a state of deep mourning. Around the league, tributes to Halladay's technical skill and work ethic poured in.
Discussion:
Boston Globe, Rolling Out, SI.com and Jays From The Couch
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Rob Maaddi / Toronto Sun:
Roy Halladay remembered for his hard work and generosity
Roy Halladay remembered for his hard work and generosity
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley, The Good Phight and Bluebird Banter