Top News:
Jeff Fletcher / BBWAA:
Angels' Shohei Ohtani wins AL MVP unanimously — Shohei Ohtani, who starred as a hitter and pitcher for the Los Angeles Angels, won the American League MVP Award unanimously, becoming the 11th player to sweep the voting in the AL. — The other unanimous winners in the AL: Hank Greenberg …
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Alden Gonzalez / ESPN:
Shohei Ohtani of Los Angeles Angels unanimously wins AL MVP — Shohei Ohtani, coming off a largely unprecedented 2021 season, was crowned the American League's Most Valuable Player unanimously on Thursday night, cementing the two-way superstar as a global sensation.
Discussion:
BaltimoreBaseball.com
Jeff Fletcher / BBWAA:
Phillies' Bryce Harper wins his 2nd MVP — Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Bryce Harper was named the National League MVP, the second time he has won the award. Harper won in 2015 with the Washington Nationals. — It marks the eighth time a Phillies player has won the award …
Discussion:
True Blue LA, PHILLY SPORTS NETWORK, Bleacher Nation, Talking Chop and baseballmusings.com
Alden Gonzalez / ESPN:
Philadelphia Phillies superstar Bryce Harper captures second career MVP — Bryce Harper claimed his second Most Valuable Player Award on Thursday, edging out Juan Soto, Fernando Tatis Jr. and several others in what seemingly became a wide open race in the National League.
Steve Gardner / USA Today:
Phillies slugger Bryce Harper claims second NL MVP award
Phillies slugger Bryce Harper claims second NL MVP award
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News … and Sportsnet.ca
Juan Toribio / MLB.com:
Seager, Taylor both reject qualifying offer — LOS ANGELES — As expected, shortstop Corey Seager and super utility man Chris Taylor have officially rejected the Dodgers' $18.4 million qualifying offer before Wednesday's deadline. — Though Seager and Taylor are now officially …
Discussion:
98.5 The Sports Hub, BoSox Injection and NBCSports.com
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Matthew Roberson / New York Daily News:
Yankees prefer to sign stopgap at shortstop over star free agent, sources say — The MLB offseason has been dominated by speculation. — Speculation about the impending lockout, speculation about labor issues affecting free agency signings, and especially, speculation about where the top shortstops on the market will land.
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley, Newsday, MLB Trade Rumors, Bleacher Nation, Cubs Insider and Call to the Pen
Jeff Passan / ESPN:
New York Yankees' Hal Steinbrenner talks free agency, praises Aaron Boone, Brian Cashman
Ken Davidoff / New York Post:
Hal Steinbrenner addresses Aaron Judge question looming over Yankees
Hal Steinbrenner addresses Aaron Judge question looming over Yankees
Discussion:
Sports Illustrated
Jeff Fletcher / BBWAA:
Blue Jays' Robbie Ray wins AL Cy Young Award — Robbie Ray was elected as the American League Cy Young Award winner, the fifth time a Toronto pitcher has won. — Other Blue Jays winners were Pat Hentgen in 1996, Roger Clemens in 1997 and '98 and Roy Halladay in 2003.
Discussion:
ESPN, Athletics Nation, NBCSports.com, MLB Trade Rumors and baseballmusings.com
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ESPN:
Sources: Houston Astros keep ace Justin Verlander with one-year, $25 million deal
Sources: Houston Astros keep ace Justin Verlander with one-year, $25 million deal
Discussion:
MLB | NBC Sports
Jesse Yomtov / USA Today:
Blue Jays lefty Robbie Ray wins American League Cy Young Award
Blue Jays lefty Robbie Ray wins American League Cy Young Award
Discussion:
Sportsnet.ca, Jays Journal and MLB Baseball News …
Joel Sherman / New York Post:
Yankees face AL East competition in Justin Verlander pursuit
Yankees face AL East competition in Justin Verlander pursuit
Discussion:
Boston Herald, NBCSports.com, MLB Baseball News … and MLB Trade Rumors
Jeff Passan / ESPN:
Commissioner Rob Manfred says lockout could move MLB collective bargaining agreement talks forward — CHICAGO — Major League Baseball owners have not yet decided to lock out players if there is no new labor deal after the Dec. 1 expiration of the current one, commissioner Rob Manfred said Thursday …
Discussion:
The Athletic, Bleed Cubbie Blue, Sports Illustrated, MLB Trade Rumors and baseballmusings.com
Rick Stroud / Tampa Bay Times:
Bucs' Antonio Brown accused of obtaining fake vaccine card — A former live-in chef also says Brown, who missed one game this season after testing positive for COVID, owes him $10,000. — Updated Just now — TAMPA — Bucs receiver Antonio Brown obtained a fake COVID-19 vaccination card …
Discussion:
Sports Illustrated, CBS Boston, ProFootballTalk, Boston.com, New York Post, Bleacher Nation and CBS Pittsburgh
Associated Press:
New York Mets announce Billy Eppler as new GM on 4-year contract — NEW YORK — The New York Mets finally found a general manager, hiring Billy Eppler in a move announced Thursday night following their long and ridiculed search. — Eppler was fired as GM of the Los Angeles Angels a little …
Discussion:
USA Today, MLB Baseball News …, Sports Illustrated, CBS New York and baseballmusings.com
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Josh Norris / Baseball America:
Leases No More: MLB Teams Now Responsible for Minor League Housing — In September, owners approved a policy in which teams would be required to provide housing for all of their minor league players. On Thursday, a memo was sent to general managers, assistant general managers and farm directors outlining the details of that policy.
Discussion:
Beyond the Box Score
Detroit Free Press:
Michigan State working on historic 10-year, $95 million contract extension for Mel Tucker — Chris Solari David JesseDetroit Free Press — If all goes as planned, Mel Tucker will become the highest-paid coach in the Big Ten. And Michigan State will make a major show of strength that it plans …
Discussion:
Bleacher Nation, FanSided, CBS Detroit and Sports Illustrated
Sam Dean / Los Angeles Times:
Goodbye, Staples Center. Hello, Crypto.com Arena — Staples Center is getting a new name for Christmas: Crypto.com Arena. — The downtown Los Angeles venue — home of the Lakers, Clippers, Kings and Sparks — will wear the new name for 20 years under a deal between the Singapore cryptocurrency exchange …
Jeff Fletcher / BBWAA:
Rays' Kevin Cash wins back-to-back Manager of the Year honors, a first in the AL — Kevin Cash of the Rays was named American League Manager of the Year, making him the first in the AL to win the award in consecutive seasons. — Bobby Cox won the award in consecutive seasons with the Braves, in the National League, in 2004 and 2005.
Discussion:
Jeff Wilson's Texas … and baseballmusings.com
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Jeff Fletcher / BBWAA:
Gabe Kapler wins NL Manager of the Year after leading Giants to 107 victories
Gabe Kapler wins NL Manager of the Year after leading Giants to 107 victories
Discussion:
McCovey Chronicles, Brew Crew Ball, True Blue LA, Talking Chop and baseballmusings.com
Wall Street Journal:
Boston Red Sox Owner Fenway Sports in Talks to Buy Pittsburgh Penguins — Deal for the NHL franchise could be finalized later this week — Fenway Sports Group LLC, the holding company that owns the Boston Red Sox, is in advanced talks to buy the Pittsburgh Penguins hockey team, according to people familiar with the matter.