Mariners, Mets Close To Robinson Cano, Edwin Diaz Blockbuster  —  8:40pm: The trade is “expected to be completed by Friday,” tweets Passan.  He further clarifies that it's not yet clear how much money the Mariners would send to the Mets to help offset Cano's remaining contract.

Cubs trade Tommy La Stella to Angels  —  CHICAGO — The Chicago Cubs traded their best pinch hitter, infielder Tommy La Stella, to the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday for a player to be named later or cash considerations.  —  The trade comes one day after the Cubs acquired versatile infielder Ronald Torreyes from the New York Yankees.

Patrick Corbin meeting with Yankees “went very well” according to a source  —  Patrick Corbin's tour of the Northeast Amtrak Corridor took him to the Bronx on Thursday, where he was given the royal treatment at Yankee Stadium - his head photoshopped into a Yankees hat and pinstriped jersey …

Are Cincinnati Reds pursuing Noah Syndergaard trade?  Depends who you ask  —  The Cincinnati Reds have been mentioned in reports this week about a potential trade for New York Mets starting pitcher Noah Syndergaard.  —  Joel Sherman of NYPost.com and MLB Network reported that …

New Mets assistant GM Baird believes team ready to win now  —  NEW YORK (AP) — Allard Baird believes the New York Mets are ready to win now.  —  “You need impact starting pitching and they have it here.  That was one of the attractive things,” he said Thursday, a day after leaving …

Report: Cleveland Indians, L.A. Dodgers in talks for two-time AL Cy Young Award winner Corey Kluber  —  The Cleveland Indians and Los Angeles Dodgers reportedly have had talks about a trade for two-time AL Cy Young Award winner Corey Kluber.  —  CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Indians …

Tickets for Yanks-Red Sox in London in June cost $38-$493  —  NEW YORK — Major League Baseball is charging princely prices for its first games in Britain.  —  Premium seats at London's Olympic Stadium will cost 385 pounds ($493) for the games between the New York Yankees and World Series champion Boston Red Sox on June 29 and 30.

Rangers receiving frequent calls on Leclerc.  Should they consider trading him?  —  Jose Leclerc was one of the best relievers in baseball in 2018, and other teams took notice.  —  RODGER MALLISON  —  From the “No Player is Untouchable” file comes the latest dilemma the rebuilding Texas Rangers are facing.

MLB free agents: Breaking down the top players available  —  Baseball's winter meetings begin a week from Monday in Las Vegas.  A lot of ballplayers are going to become filthy rich.  —  Bob Brookover takes a look at the current free-agent market, outlining which players would be worth cost …

Cardinals' mighty mite Ramon Urias smacks three homers in Mexican League game  —  Infielder Ramon Urias, just added to the Cardinals' 40-man winter roster after playing at Springfield and Memphis this past season, walloped three homers and drove in seven runs in a Mexican Pacific League game on Wednesday.

Samsung Lions sign ex-MLB pitcher McGuire  —  South Korean baseball club Samsung Lions have signed a former major league right-hander, Deck McGuire.  —  The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) team said on Thursday the 29-year-old American has agreed to a one-year deal worth up to US$950,000.