Top News:
Julia Poe / Chicago Tribune:
Andre Drummond returns to the Chicago Bulls lineup after getting ‘very antsy’ recovering from a shoulder injury — Chicago Bulls center Andre Drummond was eager to return to the court for the first time in six games Wednesday against the New Orleans Pelicans.
Discussion:
Chicago Sun-Times and Bleacher Nation
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Shakeia Taylor / Chicago Tribune:
DeMar DeRozan scores 33 points and Zach LaVine adds 23, but the Chicago Bulls fade late in a 115-111 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans — ExpandAutoplay — 1 of 16 — Bulls forward DeMar DeRozan lies on the floor after he had his shot blocked by Pelicans forward Zion Williamson late …
Discussion:
The Bird Writes, Blazer's Edge, CHGO, Blog a Bull, Chicago Sun-Times, Bleacher Nation and DraftKings Nation
Chad Jennings / The Athletic:
Red Sox rotation starting to take shape as James Paxton, Garrett Whitlock join the group — LAS VEGAS — The Red Sox rotation remains unsettled, but it is perhaps not the blank slate it appeared to be a few days ago. — On Wednesday, veteran lefty James Paxton accepted his $4 million player option …
Discussion:
NBCSports.com, Union-News, MLB Baseball News …, BoSox Injection, Sports Illustrated, Boston Herald, MLB Trade Rumors and NESN.com
Sopan Deb / New York Times:
Kyrie Irving Is Not Antisemitic, N.B.A. Commissioner Adam Silver Says — Irving, the Nets guard, met with Silver this week after promoting an antisemitic film on social media last month. Silver said Irving's actions were damaging. — WASHINGTON — N.B.A. Commissioner Adam Silver …
Discussion:
NESN.com, Daily News, NetsDaily, New York Post, New Jersey Online, Sports Illustrated, Basketball Forever and TMZ.com
Alden Gonzalez / ESPN:
Source: Clayton Kershaw staying with Dodgers on 1-year deal — The Dodgers and Clayton Kershaw reached agreement on a one-year deal Thursday, bringing the future Hall of Fame left-hander back to Los Angeles for a 16th season, a source confirmed to ESPN. — The Athletic first reported the agreement.
Jeff Passan / ESPN:
Passan's MLB offseason predictions: Which teams will spend big? Who are favorites for Judge and deGrom? — LAS VEGAS — True free agency in baseball begins today at 5 p.m. ET, when the five-day period during which teams have exclusive negotiating rights with their pending free agents expires.
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors and Sports Illustrated
Bruce Levine / audacy.com:
Jose Abreu, Corey Kluber among those on Cubs' radar as free agency opens — (670 The Score) Improving offensively is a priority for the Cubs this offseason after they were 22nd in runs per game in 2022. — Live On-Air — Ask Your Smart Speaker to Play six seventy the score — 670 The Score
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue, Bleacher Nation, Cubs Insider, Sports Illustrated and MLB Baseball News …
Associated Press:
Pirates acquire 1B Ji-man Choi in trade with Rays — MLB, Pittsburgh Pirates, Tampa Bay Rays — PITTSBURGH — The Pirates acquired first baseman Ji-man Choi from the Tampa Bay Rays on Thursday in exchange for minor league pitcher Sam Hartman. — The move gives the Pirates a veteran bat …
Discussion:
MLB.com, BR Bullpen, Greensburg Tribune-Review, MLB Trade Rumors, DRaysBay, Bucs Dugout and baseballmusings.com
John Shea / San Francisco Chronicle:
To restock the roster, A's could shop catcher Sean Murphy and deal from depth — Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate — LAS VEGAS — As the Oakland Athletics dismantled their roster last spring to begin a rebuild, parting with their premier pitchers and hitters …
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News … and Sports Illustrated
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Joon Lee / ESPN:
Justin Verlander declines player option, becomes free agent — The MLBPA announced that Justin Verlander, Mychal Givens, Tommy Pham and Jordan Lyles resolved option decisions in their contracts and are now free agents. — Verlander opted out of the last year of his deal with the Houston Astros …
Discussion:
Boston Herald and MLB Trade Rumors
Kiley McDaniel / ESPN:
How much for Aaron Judge?! Rankings, contract projections for the top 50 MLB free agents — Welcome to the offseason! Here's a quick rundown of what you need to know about these 2022-23 MLB free agent rankings and projections, since I think you'll likely scroll immediately to the players …
Discussion:
USA Today, McCovey Chronicles, NBCSports.com, San Francisco Chronicle, Lone Star Ball, Cubs Insider, NESN.com and MLB - The Athletic
Bob Nightengale / USA Today:
‘Great for the game’: MLB's hot stove has a very different vibe this winter — LAS VEGAS — There were no free-agent signings, and only a couple of small trades, but when the Major League Baseball General Manager meetings ended in Las Vegas on Thursday, there was a different sense something than the past few years.
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …
Mike Puma / New York Post:
Mets to move right field fences in as part of new Citi Field fan experience — LAS VEGAS — Hitters at Citi Field will receive a boost of just over 8 feet from a segment of right field beginning next season. — The Post previously reported the Mets' plan to bring in the fence for a new fan experience, but the scope was unclear.
Khobi Price / Orlando Sentinel:
Franz Wagner leads Magic in win over Mavericks despite Paolo Banchero's absence — The Orlando Magic had to play without rookie forward Paolo Banchero, their leading scorer, for the first time in Wednesday's home game vs. the Dallas Mavericks. — While his absence was felt, especially offensively …
Discussion:
Orlando Pinstriped Post, Boston Herald, Mavs Moneyball and Padres
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Khobi Price / Orlando Sentinel:
Magic add Paolo Banchero to injury report for home game vs. Mavericks
Magic add Paolo Banchero to injury report for home game vs. Mavericks
Discussion:
Mavs Moneyball, DraftKings Nation and Orlando Pinstriped Post