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, Lookout Landing and BaltimoreBaseball.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
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
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:
Sports Illustrated, 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:
Yanks Go Yard, Newsday, Pinstripe Alley, 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
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
Discussion:
Bless You Boys and MLB | NBC Sports
Jesse Yomtov / USA Today:
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
Discussion:
Boston Herald, NBCSports.com, MLB Baseball News … and MLB Trade Rumors
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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Jeff Passan / ESPN:
Noah Syndergaard, Los Angeles Angels reach 1-year, $21 million deal
Discussion:
New York Post, Chowder and Champions, Sports Illustrated and MLB Baseball News …
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:
New York Post, ProFootballTalk, USA Today and Denver Post
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 …
