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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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:
New York Times, PHILLY SPORTS NETWORK, Brew Crew Ball, True Blue LA, Bleacher Nation, Talking Chop and baseballmusings.com
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:
Call to the Pen, BaltimoreBaseball.com and Lookout Landing
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
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 …
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Evan Drellich / The Athletic:
Rob Manfred says offseason MLB lockout different than one that cancels games; ‘Time is becoming an issue’ — CHICAGO — With Major League Baseball potentially two weeks away from its first work stoppage in 26 years, commissioner Rob Manfred on Thursday drew a distinction between a work stoppage …
Discussion:
Marc Normandin …, Bleacher Nation and True Blue LA
Childs Walker / Baltimore Sun:
Ravens QB Lamar Jackson feeling ‘much better,’ aiming to catch up for game vs. Bears after return from illness — There was no prolonged mystery as the Ravens began practice Friday. Lamar Jackson bopped around the field in his familiar black No. 8 jersey, tossing spirals despite the blustery chill in Owings Mills.
Discussion:
Boston Herald
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Jonas Shaffer / Baltimore Sun:
Ravens QB Lamar Jackson misses second straight practice with illness; WR Marquise Brown still absent — Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson missed his second straight practice Thursday, as an illness unrelated to the coronavirus continued to sideline the team's most important player.
Discussion:
ProFootballTalk, Mercury News and Boston Herald
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, Sports Illustrated, 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
Yankees prefer to sign stopgap at shortstop over star free agent, sources say
Discussion:
Newsday, Pinstripe Alley, MLB Trade Rumors, Yanks Go Yard, 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:
Bless You Boys and 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 …
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, Los Angeles Times, Bleacher Nation and CBS Pittsburgh
Dennis Young / New York Daily News:
Ex-Jets RB Zac Stacy on the run after video shows him violently assaulting ex-girlfriend — Zac Stacy, a former Jets running back, violently assaulted his ex-girlfriend on Saturday, punching her in the head and then throwing her against a television and their son's chair.
Discussion:
The Tennessean, New York Post, ProFootballTalk, USA Today and Denver Post
Keith Pompey / The Philadelphia Inquirer:
Sources: James Harden and Jerami Grant are on Sixers' latest list of Ben Simmons trade targets — DENVER — How do you feel about the 76ers bringing Jerami Grant back to Philly? Better yet, what about the Sixers making another attempt to acquire James Harden in exchange for Ben Simmons?
Discussion:
NBCSports.com, Detroit Bad Boys, Hoops Rumors, Celtics Wire, PHILLY SPORTS NETWORK and Liberty Ballers