Top News:
Gordon Wittenmyer / Cincinnati.com:
Cincinnati Reds' slumping Elly De La Cruz benched for crucial game vs. Minnesota Twins — Elly De La Cruz, the long-slumping Cincinnati Reds rookie shortstop, was benched Wednesday for the third time in eight games, first against a right-handed starter for the switch-hitter who has struggled against lefties since his June 6 debut.
Discussion:
Yahoo Sports and Twinkie Town
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Charlie Goldsmith / Cincinnati.com:
'I've been built for these situations': Hunter Greene is embracing expectations — For three weeks in July, Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Hunter Greene woke up early, went to the gym at the Reds spring training complex and tried to do a core muscle exercise that at times felt impossible.
Discussion:
Yahoo Sports, Redleg Nation and Red Reporter
Charlie Goldsmith / Cincinnati.com:
Pitching plans don't play out in Reds loss to the Twins. Reds out of playoff spot for now.
Pitching plans don't play out in Reds loss to the Twins. Reds out of playoff spot for now.
Discussion:
Yahoo Sports, Red Reporter, Twinkie Town, Redleg Nation and DraftKings Network
LaMond Pope / Chicago Tribune:
Chicago White Sox expected to add 3 new front office members: Josh Barfield, Brian Bannister and Gene Watson — WASHINGTON — Chicago White Sox manager Pedro Grifol lauded Josh Barfield's presence, Brian Bannister's creativity and Gene Watson's wealth of knowledge.
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors, Yahoo Finance and South Side Sox
The Athletic:
How the $445 million Mets crashed and burned — It was May, barely a month into the Mets season, and the visiting clubhouse at Comerica Park was silent. The typical frenzy of a getaway day had been replaced by introspection, players sitting at nearly every locker, heads down as they scrolled through their phones.
Discussion:
Burn City Sports, New Jersey Online, Bleacher Nation, Yahoo Sports, The Good Phight and New York Daily News
Joel Sherman / New York Post:
MLB qualifying offer getting increase to record high — The Major League Baseball qualifying offer will rise to approximately $20.5 million for players on the upcoming free-agent market, The Post has learned. — An exact figure must be agreed to by MLB and the MLB Players Association …
Discussion:
THE BATFLIP, MLB Trade Rumors, Phillies Nation and The Good Phight
Tim Keown / ESPN:
Oakland vs. the A's: The inside story of how it all went south (to Las Vegas) — AT 6 P.M. ON Wednesday, April 19, Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao was driving home from an event for the opening of a local business when she received a call from A's president Dave Kaval. — “Hey, just a heads-up,” Thao recalls Kaval saying.
Discussion:
Lookout Landing
Meghan Montemurro / Chicago Tribune:
Jed Hoyer laments Chicago Cubs' recent skid that ‘came out of nowhere’ — but adds 'now we've got to recover from it' — Halfway across the world, president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer followed the Chicago Cubs' toughest loss of the season on his phone.
Discussion:
The Athletic, Bleacher Nation and Chicago Sun Times
Joe Reedy / Associated Press:
Detroit rookie Reese Olson pitches the Tigers past the Dodgers 4-2 to avoid a sweep — Reese Olson continues to make his case for being a part of the Detroit Tigers rotation next season. The rookie won for the third time in his last four starts, combining with two relievers on a three-hitter …
Discussion:
Yahoo Sports, Bless You Boys, DraftKings Network, Bleacher Nation and Detroit Free Press
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Tigers Name Jeff Greenberg General Manager — The Tigers announced Thursday morning that they've hired Jeff Greenberg as their new general manager. The 37-year-old Greenberg worked with current Tigers president of baseball operations Scott Harris with the Cubs, serving as the team's director …
Discussion:
Detroit Free Press, Bless You Boys, Sportsnet.ca, Yahoo Sports, Bleacher Nation and Baseball-Reference.com
Jim Alexander / Orange County Register:
It's not the job of USC's Lincoln Riley or any news source to dictate coverage — The two-week ban of Southern California News Group reporter Luca Evans is a gross overreaction to procedural missteps — LOS ANGELES — Maybe Lincoln Riley forgets that he is now coaching in the No. 2 media market …
Discussion:
Los Angeles Times and Greensburg Tribune-Review
Pete Caldera / NorthJersey.com:
Giancarlo Stanton's uncertain Yankees future, Clarke Schmidt's workload, Chad Green's visit — NEW YORK - Trotting around the bases is Giancarlo Stanton's specialty, but he's a good distance past being the impact offensive force the Yankees once envisioned. — This isn't anything new.
Discussion:
New York Daily News, New York Post, New Jersey Online, Yahoo Sports and MLB.com
ESPN:
Burger hits game-winning single in 9th, Marlins beat Mets 4-3 after blowing late lead — MIAMI — Jake Burger hit a game-winning single in the bottom of the ninth inning and the Miami Marlins beat the New York Mets 4-3 on Tuesday night after blowing a late lead.