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.
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Washington Post:
Nationals complete deal with free agent pitcher Max Scherzer — The Washington Nationals radically altered the baseball landscape Sunday night, ending a winter of relative inactivity by agreeing to a seven-year contract with free agent pitcher Max Scherzer, according to a person with direct knowledge of the talks.
Discussion:
Providence Journal, New Jersey Online and Federal Baseball
Jeff Sullivan / FanGraphs Baseball:
Nationals Build Potential Super-Team, Add Max Scherzer — Here's maybe the simplest way to put this: a season ago, by his peripherals, Tanner Roark was about a three-win pitcher. By his actual runs allowed, he was about a five-win pitcher. He actually finished with a higher RA9-WAR …
Discussion:
Federal Baseball, baseballmusings.com, HardballTalk, Bless You Boys and South Side Sox
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Scherzer part of Rizzo's grand plan, or Lerner's all-in play for 2015? — FOX Sports — Knowing whether it was Nats GM Mike Rizzo (left) or owner Ted Lerner who ultimately made the call on acquiring Max Scherzer could be the biggest barometer for the club's true intentions for the roster this season.
Discussion:
Bleacher Report
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:
ESPN and BBTF's Baseball Primer …
Jon Heyman / CBSSports.com:
(USATSI) — Top right-handed starter Max Scherzer and the Nationals …
Discussion:
The Big Lead and The LoHud Yankees Blog
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Cubs acquire Dexter Fowler from Astros — The Chicago Cubs intensified their push toward 2015 playoff status by acquiring switch-hitting leadoff center fielder Dexter Fowler from the Houston Astros in exchange for infielder Luis Valbuena and pitcher Dan Straily.
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com and Ultimate Astros
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Charlie Wilmoth / MLB Trade Rumors:
Cubs Acquire Dexter Fowler For Valbuena, Straily — The Astros and Cubs have officially announced that the Astros have traded outfielder Dexter Fowler to Chicago for infielder Luis Valbuena and righty Dan Straily. It's a win-now move for both teams, with the Cubs trading from depth to upgrade …
Discussion:
The Crawfish Boxes, HardballTalk, OutsidePitchMLB LLC, Amazin' Avenue, MLB Daily Dish, Bleed Cubbie Blue and Lone Star Ball
Carrie Muskat / MLB.com:
Cubs acquire Fowler from Astros for Valbuena, Straily — Dexter Fowler swats a deep drive to help power the MLB All-Stars in their 8-7 victory over Japan in the 2014 All-Star Series exhibition game — CHICAGO — The Cubs upgraded their outfield, acquiring veteran Dexter Fowler on Monday …
Discussion:
Purple Row and Cubs 101
Edward Creech / MLB Trade Rumors:
Rangers “On Verge” Of Acquiring Yovani Gallardo — MONDAY: The Rangers and Brewers have a deal “in principle,” but they're currently reviewing medicals, Joel Sherman of the New York Post tweets. — SUNDAY 9:23pm: The Rangers have offered shortstop Luis Sardinas in several potential trades this winter …
Discussion:
JSOnline, Brew Crew Ball, The Brewer Nation, Lone Star Ball and Al's Ramblings
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Jerry Crasnick / ESPN:
Rangers close to landing Gallardo
Discussion:
MLB.com, Fort Worth Star-Telegram and Lone Star Ball
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
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Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Wacha says he's ‘extremely healthy’ — Before he grabbed a pen to sign autographs at the Cardinals' Winter Warm-Up, pitcher Michael Wacha spent an hour or so of his offseason where he spent so much of the season. — Wacha had another MRI scan Sunday morning so that team physicians could pry …
Discussion:
HardballTalk
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:
BBTF's Baseball Primer …, Lone Star Ball, New Jersey Online, The Mets Police, Amazin' Avenue and Metsblog
DJ Bean / Big Bad Blog:
Sources: Bruins to host Canadiens in 2016 Winter Classic at Gillette Stadium — The Bruins and Canadiens will meet in the 2016 Winter Classic. (Getty Images/WEEI.com) — The Bruins will host the Canadiens in the 2016 Winter Classic at Gillette Stadium, WEEI.com has learned from league sources.
Discussion:
NESN.com and Sporting News Feed RSS
