Top News:
Baseball America:
2024 MLB Farm System Talent Rankings — Image credit: Jackson Holliday (Photo by Isaiah Jones) — For the second consecutive year, the Orioles enter the season with the best farm system in baseball. — Baltimore is built for the long run. The Orioles are coming off a 101-win season …
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Kiley McDaniel / ESPN:
2024 MLB farm system rankings: Prospect insights, predictions — Now that we have ranked the top 100 MLB prospects heading into the 2024 season, let's see how all 30 major league farm systems compare. — While it's nice to have baseball's best farm system, it is still one degree removed …
Discussion:
redsminorleagues.com, True Blue LA and Lone Star Ball
Brendan Coffey / Sportico:
Theo Epstein Returns to Fenway Sports as Part Owner, Advisor — One-time Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein is returning to the organization, taking part ownership of Fenway Sports Group and joining in the role of senior advisor, FSG will announce Friday morning.
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The Athletic, Cubs Insider, This Is Anfield, NBC Sports Boston, Associated Press, Last Word On Baseball, New Jersey Online, Over the Monster, New York Post, ClutchPoints, NESN.com, DraftKings Network, masslive.com, Boston Herald, MLB.com, MLB Trade Rumors, Bleacher Nation, Bleed Cubbie Blue, Yahoo Sports and The Boston Globe
Morning Call:
Groundhog Day: Punxsutawney Phil doesn't see his shadow, forecasting early spring — Punxsutawney Phil didn't see his shadow Friday, predicting an early spring from Gobbler's Knob, Pennsylvania, the scene of the country's largest and best known Groundhog Day celebration.
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CNN, masslive.com, Washington Post, Associated Press, KGW-TV, LevittownNow.com, New York Daily News, Mercury News, New York Post, KTVX-TV, Decider, New Jersey Online and Plain Dealer
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John Misinco / Morning Call:
Replay: Groundhog Day 2024: Did Phil see his shadow? — UPDATE: Groundhog Day: Punxsutawney Phil doesn't see his shadow, forecasting early spring — Groundhog Day has arrived, and all eyes are on Punxsutawney Phil as he makes his annual weather prediction Friday morning.
Discussion:
Chicago Sun Times, KTVX-TV, masslive.com, Plain Dealer, KUSA-TV, New Jersey Online and Associated Press
Jake Fischer / Yahoo Sports:
This year's NBA trade market hindered by a lack of significant activity — Less than a week remains before the NBA's trade deadline, and yet news and noise around the league has been few and far between. The Houston Rockets trading the injured Victor Oladipo and his expiring contract …
Discussion:
masslive.com, Bleacher Nation, Silver Screen and Roll, Hoops Rumors, ClutchPoints, Canis Hoopus, Bullets Forever and Sactown Sports
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The Athletic:
How the Rockets rebuild is accelerating ahead of schedule — with Houston star hunting at the trade deadline
How the Rockets rebuild is accelerating ahead of schedule — with Houston star hunting at the trade deadline
Discussion:
The Dream Shake, ClutchPoints, NESN.com, masslive.com, Hoops Rumors, Arizona Sports, CelticsBlog, Associated Press and Bleacher Nation
Michael Scotto / HoopsHype:
NBA Trade Deadline Rumors: Knicks, Clippers, Jazz, Rockets, Hawks, Nets, Wizards
NBA Trade Deadline Rumors: Knicks, Clippers, Jazz, Rockets, Hawks, Nets, Wizards
Discussion:
NetsDaily, ClutchPoints, Liberty Ballers, Brew Hoop, Hoops Rumors, Bullets Forever, The Athletic and New York Daily News
Jeff Passan / ESPN:
Orioles acquire former Cy Young winner Corbin Burnes from Brewers — MLB, Baltimore Orioles, Milwaukee Brewers — The Baltimore Orioles have acquired former Cy Young winner Corbin Burnes in a trade with the Milwaukee Brewers, the teams announced Thursday, giving up infielder Joey Ortiz …
Discussion:
The Athletic, Just Baseball, MLB.com, The Baltimore Banner, FanGraphs Baseball, MLB Trade Rumors, MASNsports.com, Baltimore Sun, DraftKings Network, ClutchPoints, BaltimoreBaseball.com, New York Post, Brew Crew Ball, Camden Chat, Bleed Cubbie Blue, New Jersey Online, Yahoo Sports, NESN.com, Pinstripe Alley, Last Word On Baseball, Dodgers Nation, Lone Star Ball, Bluebird Banter, Boston Herald, New York Daily News, Baseball America, masslive.com, Bleacher Nation and baseballmusings.com
New York Times:
Tartine's Country Bread — 2 weeks (or 2 days with active starter) — The country bread from Tartine Bakery in San Francisco has reached cult status among passionate bakers, and deservedly so. Based on traditional principles, Mr. Robertson has developed a way to get a tangy …
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Denver Post
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Tiney Ricciardi / Denver Post:
Denver baker demystifies baking sourdough bread at altitude
Denver baker demystifies baking sourdough bread at altitude
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Mercury News
Will Sammon / The Athletic:
Mets close to agreement with reliever Jake Diekman: Sources — The New York Mets are close to an agreement with left-handed reliever Jake Diekman, league sources told The Athletic on Thursday. — Diekman would fit the profile the Mets were said to be looking for in their bullpen …
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Andy Martino / SNY:
Mets likely putting finishing touches on offseason work
Mets likely putting finishing touches on offseason work
Discussion:
New Jersey Online, MLB Trade Rumors and Yahoo Sports
The Athletic:
Industry analysts and MLB insiders on the Orioles' $1.725 billion valuation: ‘Low’ — Around baseball, the reaction to the valuation of the Baltimore Orioles at $1.725 billion was one of surprise and in some cases disbelief. — Seven industry analysts and rival officials …
Discussion:
Sportico, FanGraphs Baseball, Baltimore Sun, The Athletic, The Baltimore Banner and BaltimoreBaseball.com
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ESPN:
Sources: Twins, first baseman Carlos Santana agree to deal — The Minnesota Twins added a veteran bat on Friday, agreeing to a deal with free agent first baseman Carlos Santana, sources confirmed to ESPN's Alden Gonzalez. — Santana's contract is for one year and worth $5.25 million, according to multiple reports.
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com, Bleacher Nation, MLB.com, MLB Trade Rumors and The Athletic
Alden Gonzalez / ESPN:
Diamond Sports agrees with Rangers, Guardians, Twins on cable contracts — MLB, Texas Rangers, Minnesota Twins, Cleveland Guardians — Diamond Sports Group, the regional sports operator hoping to emerge from bankruptcy, reached agreements with the Texas Rangers, Cleveland Guardians …
Discussion:
Twinkie Town, Plain Dealer, Sportico and MLB Trade Rumors
Jeff Agrest / Chicago Sun Times:
Marquee Sports Network will broadcast majority of Cubs spring-training games remotely — The lead tandem of Jon Sciambi and Jim Deshaies will be in Arizona for the first weekend of games at the end of this month. Most of the remaining games will be called remotely.
Discussion:
Bleacher Nation, Cubs Insider and Bleed Cubbie Blue
Trevor Neufeld / Calgary Hockey Now:
Calgary Flames Trade Elias Lindholm to the Vancouver Canucks — Per TSN insider Chris Johnston, veteran Center Elias Lindholm was traded to the Vancouver Canucks on Wednesday night. — Heading back to Calgary is Russian winger Andrei Kuzmenko in a multi-asset deal. — Full Lindholm Trade