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 …
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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 and SBNation.com
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
Matt Eddy / Baseball America:
Minor League Transactions: Dec. 24-Jan. 8 — Official minor league transactions, conveyed to Baseball America by Major League Baseball, for the period Dec. 24-Jan. 8. Arizona Diamondbacks Signed: LHP Jose Jose (re-signed), 1B Jordan Pacheco (re-signed), 2B [...]
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors, HardballTalk and Bucs Dugout
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.
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Richard Justice / MLB.com:
Acquiring left-hander could make St. Louis an early World Series favorite
Discussion:
Viva El Birdos and Phillies Nation
Jesse Spector / Sporting News Jesse Spector Feed RSS:
Why we picked the Cubs to win the 2015 World Series
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CBS Chicago, Sporting News Feed RSS and Chicago
Nick CafardoGLOBE / The Boston Globe:
Finally healthy, Daniel Bard prepared for a comeback — He was, with little debate, the best setup man in major league baseball in 2010 and 2011. It was tough to deny that Daniel Bard was a stud with that 97-mile-per-hour heat, where he'd be automatic in the eighth inning for the Red Sox before giving way to Jonathan Papelbon.
Discussion:
Bleacher Report, HardballTalk and MLB Trade Rumors
Spencer Fordin / MLB.com:
Play should be declared a catch by virtue of being secure in player's glove — Joe Torre joins The Rundown on Friday to discuss the adjustment MLB made to the interpretation of the transfer rule — Major League Baseball's Playing Rules Committee provided today a clearer interpretation …
Discussion:
Lookout Landing
Patrick Saunders / Denver Post:
More moves must be made by Rockies before spring training — 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.
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
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
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Greg Johns / MLB.com:
Former Seattle Steelhead played 10 seasons of baseball after serving in World War II
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
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
Jesse Sanchez / MLB.com:
US govt. clears Cuban flamethrower Lopez to sign — Cuban right-handed pitching prospect Yoan Lopez has been cleared by the United States government, and he is expected to sign with a Major League team before the start of Spring Training, according to industry an source.
Discussion:
Baseball Essential, Pinstripe Alley, River Avenue Blues, True Blue LA and MLB Trade Rumors
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Ben Badler / Baseball America:
First Showcase Scheduled For Hector Olivera
Discussion:
South Side Sox, Nats Insider, The LoHud Yankees Blog and MLB Trade Rumors
