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7:40 PM ET, February 3, 2025

Ballbug

 Top News: 
Jason Beck / MLB.com:
Flaherty agrees to return to Tigers' rotation  —  DETROIT — What would the 2024 Tigers' playoff run have looked like with Jack Flaherty in their rotation?  —  They can't replay the Trade Deadline.  But on Sunday night, they did the next-best thing by bringing Flaherty back for another try.
RELATED:
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.
David Schoenfield / ESPN:
MLB 2025 free agency: Alex Bregman's strengths, concerns, best fits  —  Alex Bregman has been one of the best players in baseball since his first full season with the Houston Astros in 2017, helping them to eight consecutive trips to the playoffs and two World Series titles.
Discussion: NESN.com
Eric Stephen / True Blue LA:
Jack Flaherty returns to the Tigers  —  LA native was acquired by the Dodgers from Detroit at the 2024 trade deadline.  Flaherty heads back to the Tigers with a 2-year deal that guarantees $35 million, including a player option for 2026.  —  Jack Flaherty was acquired by the Dodgers …
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.
George Vecsey / New York Times:
Fay Vincent, Baseball Commissioner in a Stormy Era, Dies at 86  —  He presided in a period of union strife, the emergence of steroid use, the banning of Pete Rose and an earthquake that rattled a World Series.  —  Fay Vincent, a lawyer who presided over Major League Baseball …
RELATED:
Adam J. Morris / Lone Star Ball:
Former MLB Commissioner Fay Vincent has died  —  Fay Vincent, the MLB Commissioner forced out by Jerry Reinsdorf and his cronies, has passed away  —  Fay Vincent, the former MLB Commissioner who was forced out by a clique of hardline owners who then installed Bud Selig as Commissioner …
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:
Thousands pay tribute to late Rickey Henderson in Oakland  —  OAKLAND, Calif. — When Ken Griffey Jr.'s baseball-star father struggled to get through to the talented teen, Rickey Henderson somehow could.  —  The younger Griffey, who considers himself fortunate to have roamed …
D.J. Short / NBCSports.com:
2024-25 MLB Free Agent Tracker: Top players, latest Hot Stove signings; Bregman, Alonso lead best available  —  The MLB Hot Stove is in full swing, and you can track all of the activity from the 2024-25 MLB offseason in our handy free agent tracker.  —  The list, which is based …
Discussion: Yahoo Sports
Brad Townsend / Dallas Morning News:
Mavs GM Nico Harrison on stunning Luka Doncic trade: 'It's my job to make tough decisions'  —  The Mavs are sending their star player to the Lakers in a stunning deal. … Update:  —  This story has been updated with quotes from Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison.
 
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 More News: 
Jeff Sanders / San Diego Union-Tribune:
Padres notes: Dylan Cease talks trade rumors, roster developments, Yu Darvish still there for Roki Sasaki
Discussion: MLB.com and MLB Trade Rumors
Alden Gonzalez / ESPN:
Could Albert Pujols become an MLB manager someday?
Discussion: Forbes and The Good Phight
 Earlier Picks: 
Kiley McDaniel / ESPN:
2025 MLB farm system rankings: Prospect insights, analysis
 

 
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Janine Henni / People:
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