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.
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball, Bleed Cubbie Blue, NBCSports.com, MLB Baseball News …, MLB & FANTASY …, MLB Daily Dish, UPI and New York Post
RELATED:
Andy McCullough / Los Angeles Times:
Cubs add closer Craig Kimbrel and Dodgers get company in N.L. pennant race
Jack Pickell / Boston Globe:
Cubs win Craig Kimbrel sweepstakes, reportedly agree to deal with closer
Cubs win Craig Kimbrel sweepstakes, reportedly agree to deal with closer
Discussion:
FanGraphs Baseball, Cubs Den and Forbes
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.
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …, Camden Chat and Lone Star Ball
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 …
Jon Meoli / Baltimore Sun:
Orioles' Hanser Alberto having homecoming to remember against Texas Rangers
Orioles' Hanser Alberto having homecoming to remember against Texas Rangers
Discussion:
BaltimoreBaseball.com and Camden Chat
Chris Nelsen / Detroit Free Press:
Detroit Tigers' gaps on defense, at the plate pop up again in loss to Rays — Yes, he wants to win. Yes, errors and walks drive him crazy. Yes, he'd love to score six, seven runs a game. — But those days are far off in the Detroit Tigers' painful rebuild, and despite continued mistakes …
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.
RELATED:
Bobby Nightengale / Cincinnati.com:
Cincinnati Reds pitcher Luis Castillo takes advantage of extra days between starts
Mark Schmetzer / Cincinnati.com:
Top Cincinnati Reds games: No. 40 - Anthony DeSclafani's 2018 grand slam vs. Chicago Cubs
Top Cincinnati Reds games: No. 40 - Anthony DeSclafani's 2018 grand slam vs. Chicago Cubs
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …
Connor Byrne / MLB Trade Rumors:
Robinson Cano Re-Aggravates Quad Injury — Mets second baseman Robinson Cano departed the team's game against the Giants on Wednesday with a left quad problem, Deesha Thosar of the New York Daily News was among those to tweet. Cano suffered the injury while running down the first base line, as video from SNY shows.
Discussion:
New York Post, MLB Baseball News … and ESPN
RELATED:
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.
Discussion:
Arizona Sports and AZ Snake Pit
RELATED:
Greg Moore / Arizona Republic:
As Diamondbacks slip, Torey Lovullo should lead the charge against shifts, analytics
As Diamondbacks slip, Torey Lovullo should lead the charge against shifts, analytics
Discussion:
AZ Snake Pit
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)
George A. King III / New York Post:
The snag that may prevent Dallas Keuchel from joining Yankees — TORONTO — Dallas Keuchel has teams willing to go more than one year. The Yankees would like to add the free agent left-handed starter, but just for the remainder of what has a very good chance of being a special season.
Discussion:
New Jersey Online, South Side Sox, MLB Baseball News … and Pinstripe Alley
RELATED:
Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:
There's a chance Aaron Judge could return for the Yankees' game in London
There's a chance Aaron Judge could return for the Yankees' game in London
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley, Bluebird Banter and MLB Baseball News …
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 …
Discussion:
Purple Row and MLB Baseball News …
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
Discussion:
Athletics Nation and Orange County Register
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Jeff Fletcher / Orange County Register:
Angels' Justin Upton faces live pitching, moves closer to rehab assignment
Angels' Justin Upton faces live pitching, moves closer to rehab assignment
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
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,” …
RELATED:
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
Indians pitcher Carlos Carrasco out indefinitely after being diagnosed with blood condition
Discussion:
Let's Go Tribe and MLB Baseball News …
Walter Villa / Miami Herald:
Five FIU players selected in MLB Draft. Plus a recap of all South Florida players picked — FIU had five players selected in this week's MLB Draft, which concluded Wednesday. — The selections were: third baseman Austin Shenton (fourth round, Mariners); catcher Javier Valdes (21st round …
Ryan Divish / The Charlotte Observer:
Mariners bats erupt, Leake shuts down Astros in 14-1 romp — Mike Leake sauntered toward catcher Tom Murphy to shake his hand as those remaining in the announced crowd of 13,652 stood on their feet cheering to reward his work. His face showed no emotion - no anger, no happiness …
Discussion:
Lookout Landing
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.
Discussion:
Talking Chop
Keith Law / ESPN:
Draft heist of the century? How Mike Trout fell to the Angels — Mike Trout might be the best player in MLB history, but he wasn't even seen as the best player in his own draft class, or close to it. Ten years ago, he lasted until the Los Angeles Angels' back-to-back picks at Nos. 24 and 25 …
Discussion:
DRaysBay
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