Top News:
Jon Heyman / CBSSports.com:
Max Scherzer in talks with Nationals and others on 7-year deal; deal soon — Top free agent pitcher Max Scherzer is talking to the Nationals and at least one other club about potential seven-year scenarios, sources said. — The Nats have a chance to win the services of the top free-agent pitcher after coming out of nowhere.
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors, Washington Post, MLB Daily Dish, HardballTalk, Amazin' Avenue, Nats Insider, Bleacher Report and Hot Stove
RELATED:
MLB:
Scherzer to sign with Nationals, source says … Free-agent pitcher Max Scherzer has agreed to a seven-year contract with the Washington Nationals, a source confirmed Sunday night to ESPN.com's Jim Bowden. — A source had earlier told ESPN.com's Jayson Stark that the Nationals …
Discussion:
BBTF's Baseball Primer …
NY Daily News:
Coming back swinging! Mets hitting coach Kevin Long hurt by Yankees axing, ready to work — Although Long took the fall for the Yankees' offensive failures last season, he knows he's good at what he does, particularly in diagnosing problems and creating cures for them.
Discussion:
New Jersey Online and Metsblog
RELATED:
Andy Martino / NY Daily News:
Mets' Curtis Granderson swings for education — The outfielder's Grand Kids foundation is sponsoring an essay contest for Lincoln High this year, in which all 2,500 students wrote essays about their own “dream” to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. — Why is Curtis Granderson engaged on education issues?
Anthony DiComo / MLB.com:
Lagares, Granderson, Cuddyer key to New York's success in 2015 — MLB.com's Mets reporter Anthony DiComo talks about the Mets signing Michael Cuddyer to a two-year deal … NEW YORK — Last winter, the Mets signed Curtis Granderson to add legitimacy to the middle of their lineup. It didn't work.
Edward Creech / MLB Trade Rumors:
Rangers “On Verge” Of Acquiring Yovani Gallardo — 9:23pm: The Rangers have offered shortstop Luis Sardinas in several potential trades this winter, and it's possible he could be in the Gallardo deal, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports tweets. Sardinas, 21, struggled in a 2014 season split between Double-A …
Discussion:
Brew Crew Ball, JSOnline, Texas Rangers Blog and Al's Ramblings
RELATED:
Jerry Crasnick / ESPN:
Rangers close to landing Gallardo — The Texas Rangers are close to a trade to acquire right-handed pitcher Yovani Gallardo from the Milwaukee Brewers, a baseball source confirmed to ESPN.com on Sunday. — It was not immediately known which player or players would be going back to Milwaukee in the trade.
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball
NY Daily News:
Billy Beane's moves have Athletics good to go, while John Hart's deals have Braves gone for season — Beane did a similar dismantling of his club as Hart did, with nine deals with nine different clubs involving 27 players, but things are looking brighter in Oakland.
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball, BBTF's Baseball Primer …, Amazin' Avenue, Metsblog and New Jersey Online
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Sources: Blue Jays showing interest in RHP James Shields — FOX Sports — The Blue Jays are said to be interested in former Kansas City Royals starting pitcher James Shields. — As the price for James Shields drops, an increasing number of clubs are renewing their interest in him.
Discussion:
CBSSports.com, New York Times, MLB Trade Rumors, HardballTalk, Hot Stove, Bluebird Banter, ANDREWSTOETEN.com and MLB Daily Dish
RELATED:
John Lott / National Post:
Did the Toronto Blue Jays have a clubhouse problem? …
Discussion:
Bluebird Banter and ANDREWSTOETEN.com
MLB.com:
Yankees announce coaches for the 2015 Season; Name Jeff Pentland, Joe Espada and Alan Cockrell to staff — The New York Yankees today announced Joe Girardi's coaches for the 2015 season, with Jeff Pentland (hitting), Joe Espada (third base) and Alan Cockrell (assistant hitting) joining the staff.
Fox Sports:
Sources: Rockies dangling All-Star OF Blackmon in trade talks — FOX Sports — Blackmon set career highs in 2014 with 19 HR, 72 RBI and 28 SB while hitting .288. — The Colorado Rockies surrendered the most runs in Major League Baseball last year and began the offseason in a familiar position …
Discussion:
Camden Chat, MLB Daily Dish, HardballTalk, Sporting News Feed RSS, Purple Row, Hot Stove, Bleacher Report and MLB Trade Rumors
Joe Frisaro / MLB.com:
Marlins open to two-year deal with Ichiro — Ichiro Suzuki discusses his pursuit of 3,000 hits and how he is using it as motivation to continue playing — MIAMI — The Marlins have intensified talks with 10-time All-Star outfielder Ichiro Suzuki and are open to a possible two-year deal, MLB.com has learned.
Discussion:
Bleacher Report
Jake Kaplan / Philly.com:
Phillies, Ryan Howard unlikely to part ways soon — Speaking 35 days from the first player workout in Clearwater, Fla., Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. deemed it “likely” Ryan Howard will still be with the team come spring training. — That despite previously stating he told Howard …
Discussion:
Philly.com, CBSSports.com and HardballTalk
RELATED:
Ryan Lawrence / Philly.com:
Phillies GM Amaro stands by harsh warning to Howard
Discussion:
CBSSports.com and HardballTalk
