Top News:
Bob Nightengale / USA Today:
MLB Winter Meetings return with prospect of pandemonium on the horizon — SAN DIEGO — It's another gorgeous, serene day in San Diego, but stroll inside the Manchester Grand Hyatt, there is turbulence and a lobby full of folks running for cover. — It's the annual MLB Winter Meetings …
Discussion:
Bleacher Nation, Call to the Pen, FanSided, MLB Baseball News …, The Good Phight and MLB - The Athletic
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MLB - The Athletic:
Padres have met with top free-agent shortstop Trea Turner twice ahead of Winter Meetings — SAN DIEGO — The Padres have met with free-agent shortstop Trea Turner twice in person ahead of next week's Winter Meetings in San Diego, major-league sources told The Athletic, signaling …
Abbey Mastracco / New York Daily News:
What to watch for from the Mets at MLB's Winter Meetings — The Winter Meetings begin Sunday in San Diego and it may finally bring some clarity to the Mets' ongoing roster retool. With Jacob deGrom still unsigned it could provide an opportunity to finally get him signed.
Discussion:
Newsday and Denver Post
Ken Rosenthal / MLB - The Athletic:
What I'm hearing on the MLB Hot Stove about the Dodgers, Brewers and more — The Dodgers are capable of pivoting in virtually any direction, which is just how they like it. — Including the return of Clayton Kershaw, whose deal is pending a physical, the Dodgers are about $45 million under …
Jon Heyman / New York Post:
Astros' Justin Verlander reluctance could open door for other teams — Word is, the Astros and Justin Verlander are “far apart” in talks. Verlander seeks $130 million for three years (the Max Scherzer deal), and the Astros, with their deep rotation, seem pessimistic on Verlander …
Ken Rosenthal / MLB - The Athletic:
Aaron Judge's contract likely to be for nine years, sources say — The way the free-agent market for Aaron Judge is developing, it appears increasingly likely the winning bid will be for nine guaranteed years, sources involved in the negotiations say. — A nine-year deal for Judge …
Discussion:
Sports Illustrated, Associated Press, MLB Trade Rumors, MLB.com, Dodger Blue, NESN.com, NBCSports.com, Pinstripe Alley, Bleacher Nation and Battery Power
Jason Mackey / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Sources: Bryan Reynolds requests trade as his situation takes odd turn before Winter Meetings. — Bryan Reynolds' standing with the Pirates took an odd an expected turn on Saturday afternoon, as sources confirmed to the Post-Gazette that the outfielder has requested a trade.
Jeff Passan / ESPN:
Sources: Rangers, Jacob deGrom agree to 5-year, $185M deal — MLB, Texas Rangers, New York Mets — Two-time Cy Young winner Jacob deGrom agreed to a five-year, $185 million contract with the Texas Rangers, sources told ESPN, bringing the most talented pitcher in baseball …
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Hot Stove ignites with return of MLB Winter Meetings; Cardinals seek their first spark — SAN DIEGO — Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak, like so many of his industry peers, often remarks how deadlines spur action. Trade talks can idle or yo-yo, simmer or dwindle …
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
Buster Olney / ESPN:
How Jacob deGrom decided to ditch New York and become a Texas Ranger — Chris Young, the head of baseball operations for the Texas Rangers, called Bruce Bochy on Thursday with news that stunned the new manager. “Jacob wants to come with us,” Young said. — Bochy's response: “Are you kidding me?”
Discussion:
New York Post, Dallas Morning News and Battery Power
The Athletic:
What we're hearing on the Cubs, Dansby Swanson and others ahead of the Winter Meetings — Several agents laughed when asked to define what the Chicago Cubs mean by “intelligent spending.” As the president of baseball operations at Wrigley Field, Jed Hoyer preaches patience and pragmatism …
Discussion:
theScore.com, Bleacher Nation and Cubs Insider
ESPN:
Tampa Bay Rays, Zach Eflin reach agreement on 3-year, $40M deal — Right-hander Zach Eflin and the Tampa Bay Rays are in agreement on a three-year contract worth $40 million, sources told ESPN's Jeff Passan. — The deal, which is pending a physical, is the largest free-agent contract in Rays history …
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Charlie Goldsmith / Cincinnati.com:
Former Red Kyle Farmer, named 2022 team MVP, reflects on an era gone by — As former Cincinnati Reds shortstop Kyle Farmer reflected on the trade that sent him last month to the Minnesota Twins, he got a FaceTime call from former Reds outfielder Jesse Winker.