Ballbug: COLORADO ROCKIES / MLB (Patrick Saunders/Denver Post)

11:10 AM ET, January 11, 2015

Top News:

Charlie Wilmoth / MLB Trade Rumors:

Athletics Acquire Ben Zobrist, Yunel Escobar — The Rays have announced that they've traded Ben Zobrist and shortstop Yunel Escobar to the Athletics for catcher/DH John Jaso, shortstop prospect Daniel Robertson, and outfield prospect Boog Powell. The Rays also announced …

Discussion: Beyond the Box Score, Baseball Essential, DRaysBay, Athletics Nation, MLB Daily Dish, Bleacher Report, HardballTalk and Metsblog

Susan Slusser Updated / Associated Press:

A's set to acquire Ben Zobrist, Yunel Escobar — Tampa Bay Rays second baseman Ben Zobrist connects for a home run against the Boston Red Sox, Friday, Oct. 4, 2013, in Boston. — The A's are finalizing a deal to acquire two-time All-Star Ben Zobrist and shortstop Yunel Escobar from the Tampa Bay Rays, the Chronicle has learned.

Discussion: South Side Sox, Federal Baseball, Athletics Nation, CBSSports.com, Lone Star Ball, SBNation.com and Fox Sports

Charlie Wilmoth / MLB Trade Rumors:

Matt Silverman On The Ben Zobrist Trade — The trade of Ben Zobrist and Yunel Escobar to the Athletics for John Jaso, shortstop prospect Daniel Robertson and outfield prospect Boog Powell on Saturday was a franchise-changing one for the Rays, who parted with a longtime star.

Discussion: Athletics Nation, Baseball Essential and DRaysBay

Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:

Herzog calls 1985 team his best as Cards manager — Whitey Herzog managed the Cardinals for 11 seasons, not starting one of those years and not finishing two others — one being 1980, when he ascended to the general manager's post with a month to go in the season and then hired himself back as manager when the season was over.

Richard Justice / MLB.com:
Acquiring left-hander could make St. Louis an early World Series favorite

Discussion: Viva El Birdos and Phillies Nation

Greg Johns / MLB.com:

Cano to log short stint in Dominican Winter League — 11/16/14: Robinson Cano discusses his experience eating Japanese cuisine and talks about the injury to his right foot — SEATTLE — Robinson Cano has been granted permission by the Mariners to play a handful of games …

Discussion: HardballTalk

Greg Johns / MLB.com:

Former Seattle Steelhead played 10 seasons of baseball after serving in World War II — Ken Griffey Jr., Herb Simpson and Alvin Davis at Safeco Field in 2013. (Ben Van Houten/Mariners) — SEATTLE — Herb Simpson, the last known surviving member of the Seattle Steelheads …

Discussion: MLB Trade Rumors

Patrick Saunders / Denver Post:

COLORADO ROCKIES / MLB — MORE MOVES MUST BE MADE BY ROCKIES BEFORE SPRING TRAINING — The Denver Post — Colorado starting pitcher Jhoulys Chacin delivered to the plate in the first inning. The Colorado Rockies hosted the San Francisco Giants on May 21, 2014. (Denver Post file)

Discussion: baseballmusings.com

Mitch Abramson / NY Daily News:

Yankees lefthander CC Sabathia says knee is feeling ‘fine’ after injury-shortened season — Sabathia was all smiles on Friday night at the inaugural boxing card for Roc Nation Sports, the same sports agency that inked him last January to represent him on and off the field.

Discussion: HardballTalk

Lynn Henning / The Detroit News:

Tigers: Iglesias on target for return to full health — Still to come are the hard tests that will determine if he can run and shift nimbly, and repeatedly, on a baseball field during successive days and games. But the Tigers are satisfied shortstop Jose Iglesias is closer to a reunion with full health and his vital lineup role.

Discussion: CBSSports.com and HardballTalk

Nick Piecoro / Arizona Republic:

Arizona Diamondbacks GM Dave Stewart: Price too high for catchers via trade — On the day the Diamondbacks traded Miguel Montero, General Manager Dave Stewart said finding another catcher was something the club had to do. But after seeing the cost of catchers on the trade market, Stewart doesn't seem to feel that way anymore.

Discussion: HardballTalk, CBSSports.com and Metsblog

T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com:

Reliever shows return of velocity in winter ball — 6/16/14: Juan Carlos Oviedo forces Manny Machado to pop out, notching the save and securing the Rays' 5-4 victory — ARLINGTON — The Rangers acquired a veteran closer that not many people had heard of when they signed right-hander Juan Carlos Oviedo …

Discussion: Pinstripe Alley and Lone Star Ball

Ben Badler / Baseball America:

First Showcase Scheduled For Hector Olivera — Teams have been informed that Cuban infielder Hector Olivera will have his first open showcase on Jan. 21 and 22 at the Giants' academy in the Dominican Republic. — It will be the first opportunity for teams to scout Olivera since he left Cuba in September.

Discussion: South Side Sox, Nats Insider, The LoHud Yankees Blog and MLB Trade Rumors