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5:25 AM ET, June 6, 2019

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 Top News: 
Mark Polishuk / MLB Trade Rumors:
Cubs To Sign Craig Kimbrel  —  9:06PM: The deal pays Kimbrel $10MM this season, and $16MM in both 2020 and 2021, ESPN.com's Jeff Passan reports (Twitter link).  There is a vesting option for 2022 that pays Kimbrel $16MM if it vests, Heyman reports (via Twitter), while it becomes a club option if it doesn't vest.
RELATED:
Jack Pickell / Boston Globe:
Cubs win Craig Kimbrel sweepstakes, reportedly agree to deal with closer  —  After more than seven months of on and (mostly off) negotiations, rampant rumors and lonely bullpen sessions far away from any big league stadium, seven-time all-star closer Craig Kimbrel appears to have reached …
Discussion: Cubs Den, Forbes and Bleed Cubbie Blue
Andy McCullough / Los Angeles Times:
Cubs add closer Craig Kimbrel and Dodgers get company in N.L. pennant race  —  On Wednesday morning, the Chicago Cubs loomed as one of the few teams capable of challenging the Dodgers for supremacy in the National League.  Only three years removed from their curse-breaking World Series triumph …
Stu Durando / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cards need starting pitcher for Sunday; Wacha's in the mix  —  As often happens when a spot in the Cardinals rotation is open, manager Mike Shildt fielded questions that attempted to narrow down the contenders.  —  And as usual, Shildt deftly avoided answering so that the speculation would linger for another 24 hours.
RELATED:
Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cardinals notebook: Wacha says he didn't do anything different in strong relief stint  —  Cardinals pitcher Michael Wacha (52) throws a pitch in the seventh inning of a game against the Cincinnati Reds at Busch Stadium Tuesday, June 4, 2019.  (Photo by Laurie Skrivan, lskrivan@post-dispatch.com)
Stu Durando / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:   Cardinals recall Helsley, send Cabrera to Memphis
Jeff Wilson / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
Solid outing will keep Minor in rumor mill.  Here are his thoughts on a possible trade  —  Mike Minor knows he hasn't been as good of late as he was earlier this season for the Texas Rangers, but the stuff has still been there and opposing teams haven't been making much hard contact against him.
RELATED:
Jeff Wilson / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
DeShields' revamped swing produces walk-off win, pathway to sticking with Rangers  —  The Baltimore Orioles are in town, which means it's reunion time.  —  The roster crossover isn't what it once seemed to be, but there are four Texas Rangers players, one former draft choice, and two coaches who returned to Globe Life Park.
Discussion: MLB Baseball News …
Evan Grant / Dallas-Fort Worth Sports News:
Rangers could call top pitching prospect to make major league debut on Saturday
Discussion: MLB Trade Rumors
Bobby Nightengale / Cincinnati.com:
Cincinnati Reds pitcher Luis Castillo takes advantage of extra days between starts  —  After a couple of uncharacteristic starts that featured too many walks and not enough strikeouts, Luis Castillo had three extra days to work with pitching coach Derek Johnson than usual.
RELATED:
Bobby Nightengale / Cincinnati.com:
Evaluating some of the Cincinnati Reds' picks in the 2019 MLB Draft  —  ST. LOUIS - After three days and 40 rounds, Reds scouting director Brad Meador completed his first Major League Baseball Draft in his new position.  —  They Reds leaned on experienced talent, selecting 28 collegiate players and 12 high schoolers.
Mark Schmetzer / Cincinnati.com:
Top Cincinnati Reds games: No. 40 - Anthony DeSclafani's 2018 grand slam vs. Chicago Cubs  —  Reds pitcher Anthony DeSclafani discusses his third-inning grand slam in an 11-2 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Saturday.  It was the first grand slam by a Reds pitcher since 1959.  —  CONNECT
Discussion: MLB Baseball News …
Michelle Gardner / Arizona Republic:
Rookie Jon Duplantier settling in nicely as Diamondbacks starter  —  The first two months of the season have been a little chaotic for Diamondbacks rookie pitcher Jon Duplantier.  He is on his fourth stint with the major league club, with three trips to Triple-A Reno in between.
RELATED:
Greg Moore / Arizona Republic:
As Diamondbacks slip, Torey Lovullo should lead the charge against shifts, analytics  —  Torey Lovullo has a chance to do something major between now and September.  —  Relax, nobody's trying to say he's going to guide the Diamondbacks into contention, not even after his team salvaged …
Richard Morin / Arizona Republic:
Live updates: Jon Duplantier allows two-run homer in third inning
Discussion: AZ Snake Pit
Chris Nelsen / Detroit Free Press:
Detroit Tigers on 2019 top pick Riley Greene: ‘Enjoy it and stay true to who you are’  —  Nobody can predict Riley Greene's future with the Detroit Tigers.  But he's off to a good start, receiving high praise from “Mr. Tiger” himself, Al Kaline.  —  Before Tuesday's game at Comerica Park …
RELATED:
MLB Baseball News, Scores, Standings …:
Morton tames Tigers as Rays end 4-game skid
Discussion: DRaysBay and Detroit Free Press
Anthony Fenech / Detroit Free Press:   Detroit Tigers sign top draft pick Riley Greene to $6.18M contract
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cardinals rounding out rosters, completing their ‘portfolio’ with in Day 3 of draft  —  The word that Cardinals' draft helmsman Randy Flores used late Tuesday night was “portfolio,” and after a pitcher-heavy start to the 2019 Major League Baseball Draft that is exactly what he'll use Day 3 to fill out for the club.
RELATED:
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cardinals target potential on final day of MLB draft  —  The pitcher the Cardinals made their seventh-round draft pick didn't throw a pitch in competition his first two seasons at UCLA, didn't have a role because his coach told the Los Angeles Times bluntly he “wasn't good enough,” …
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:   True to form, Cardinals load up on college starting pitchers in draft
Steve Herrick / Associated Press:
Roberto Pérez's homer caps comeback as Cleveland Indians beat Minnesota Twins 9-7  —  Jordan Luplow and Francisco Lindor also homered to help complete the Tribe victory  —  CLEVELAND (AP) — Roberto Pérez hit a solo homer in the seventh inning to drive in the go-ahead run …
Discussion: MLB Baseball News …
RELATED:
Tyler Carey / WKYC-TV:
Indians pitcher Carlos Carrasco out indefinitely after being diagnosed with blood condition
Tom Withers / MLB Baseball News, Scores …:
Indians starter Carrasco diagnosed with blood condition
Discussion: MLB Daily Dish
Joe Reedy / MLB Baseball News, Scores …:
Garneau's double in 9th gives Angels 10-9 win over A's  —  Dustin Garneau's ground-rule double with two outs in the ninth inning scored  —  Brian Goodwin with the game-winning run and gave the Los Angeles  —  Oakland Athletics on Wednesday night.  —  Oakland left fielder
RELATED:
Jeff Fletcher / Orange County Register:
Angels' Justin Upton faces live pitching, moves closer to rehab assignment
Discussion: MLB Trade Rumors
Jordan McPherson / Miami Herald:
Miami Marlins pleased with their draft class.  Now, the players have to produce  —  DJ Svihlik can finally take a step back and breathe.  —  After three days and 41 picks, the Miami Marlins' 2019 MLB Draft class — the first under Svihlik director as the Marlins' director of amateur scouting — is complete.
RELATED:
Jordan McPherson / Miami Herald:
As the 2019 MLB Draft reaches final day, meet the newest Miami Marlins draft class
Discussion: Fish Stripes and Brew Crew Ball
Associated Press:
Bote's career-high 7 RBIs lead Cubs over Rockies 9-8  —  David Bote drove in a career-high seven runs to lead the Chicago Cubs to a 9-8 win over the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday night.  —  Bote had four hits, including a three-run homer and bases-clearing double to hand the Rockies …
Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:
There's a chance Aaron Judge could return for the Yankees' game in London  —  TORONTO — Aaron Judge is hitting in a batting cage at the Yankees' minor league complex in Tampa.  It's a step forward for the slugger, who has been out since April 21 with a strained left oblique.  —  But Big Ben is ticking.
David Wilson / Miami Herald:
A look at the Marlins' 17-game power surge and how it compares to their first 41 games  —  Ryan Braun didn't even bother to backtrack to the left-field fence in the fourth inning Tuesday when Garrett Cooper launched a solo home run out of Miller Park.  It was a no-doubter for the outfielder …
Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cardinals will throw Mikolas-Flaherty-Waino at first-place Cubs after rainout shuffles rotation  —  The rotation for the Cardinals' weekend series in Chicago took on a different look when Wednesday night's scheduled game with Cincinnati was rained out.  The postponement means that Dakota Hudson,
Associated Press:
Haseley's first hit lifts scrambling Phils over Padres 7-5  —  Andrew Haseley and Andrew McCutchen shared a quiet moment in the Philadelphia clubhouse on Wednesday.  The 23-year-old Heasley made his big league debut a day earlier because of McCutchen's season-ending knee injury.
Discussion: The Good Phight and Gaslamp Ball
Paul Halfacre / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Hillsboro's Brewer leads trio of area players picked on final day of MLB draft  —  Liberty's Chase Krogman (24) bats against Francis Howell, Wednesday, May 15, 2019, at Francis Howell High School in Weldon Spring, Mo. Michael Gulledge, Special to STLhighschoolsports.com
Gabriel Burns / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Braves' Snitker on struggling Gausman: We need to get him right  —  When Kevin Gausman joined the Braves from the Orioles last July, he was a reclamation project of sorts.  He went on to provide 10 starts down the stretch, earning a 2.87 ERA for the National League champs.
 
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 More News: 
Lauren Campbell / NESN.com:
Steven Wright Nearing Return For Red Sox After 80-Game PED Suspension
Connor Byrne / MLB Trade Rumors:
Robinson Cano Re-Aggravates Quad Injury
Scott Richey / News-Gazette:
Troike first of many Illini drafted on third day
Nick de la Torre / GatorCountry.com:
Feleipe Franks taken in 2019 MLB Draft
Discussion: Over the Monster
Associated Press:
Giants put Posey put on IL with hamstring strain
Discussion: MLB Baseball News …
 Earlier Picks: 
Corpus Christi Caller-Times:
MLB Draft: Texas A&M-Corpus Christi pitcher Lacaze selected by Diamondbacks in 21st round
Drew Davison / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
The Rangers' 2019 first round draft pick named a finalist for this prestigious award
Chandler Rome / Houston Chronicle:
Big decision awaits Astros' high school draftee Colin Barber
Discussion: Houston Chronicle
Tommy Birch / Des Moines Register:
MLB Draft: Iowa native plans to sign with Yankees
Neil Greenberg / Chicago Tribune:
With MLB's current safety netting standards, danger is just a second away
 

 
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