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1:00 PM ET, January 31, 2025

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 Top News: 
New York Times:
Reds, White Sox couldn't find common ground on Luis Robert Jr. trade, plus more MLB notes  —  The Cincinnati Reds were the busiest team in baseball the past two days, reaching an agreement with free-agent outfielder Austin Hays, signing veteran left-hander Wade Miley to a minor-league deal and trading for lefty reliever Taylor Rogers.
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Kiley McDaniel / ESPN:
Top 100 MLB prospects for 2025, ranked by Kiley McDaniel  —  It's time to rank the top prospects in Major League Baseball for the upcoming season, some of whom will be in the majors in 2025 and others who will rise through the minors in the years ahead.  —  Many of the top prospects …
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Keith Law / New York Times:
MLB 2025 farm system rankings: Keith Law ranks all 30 teams, Mariners are new No. 1  —  As part of my top-10 MLB prospect rankings, I've also ranked all 30 major-league teams' farm systems here, with a brief explanation of why they're in this order — although I think you'll get an even clearer picture …
Keith Law / New York Times:
MLB prospects who just missed Keith Law's top 100 ranking: Caissie, Saggese and more
Jon Heyman / New York Post:
Reds could develop as dark horse Pete Alonso landing spot as free agency drags on  —  How about long-shot Reds as a Pete landing spot?  —  Could the Reds pursue Pete Alonso?  It's probably a long shot, but with Alonso's market not developing as expected, word is Cincy may consider it.
Associated Press:
14 from figure skating community killed in plane crash, six of them from Boston club  —  Two teenage figure skaters, their mothers, and two former world champions who were coaching at a historic Boston club were among the 14 members of the skating community killed when an American Airlines flight collided …
Jon Heyman / New York Post:
Mets in talks with Padres about Dylan Cease trade  —  The Mets showed they don't like long-term deals for pitchers when they didn't pursue Max Fried or Corbin Burnes, but they've been trying for Padres rental ace Dylan Cease (and presumably would also consider rotation mate Michael King).
Jeff Passan / ESPN:
Sources: Blue Jays reach deal with free agent Max Scherzer  —  Right-hander Max Scherzer and the Toronto Blue Jays are in agreement on a one-year, $15.5 million contract, sources told ESPN on Thursday, uniting the future Hall of Famer with a Toronto team trying to salvage the winter after missing on high-profile free-agent pursuits.
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Jorge Castillo / ESPN:
Better than 2024?  Why post-Juan Soto Yankees say they are  —  On Dec. 8, one month and nine days after a nightmare fifth inning torpedoed the New York Yankees' hopes of overcoming a 3-1 deficit to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series, the Yankees absorbed another franchise-shifting loss at the winter meetings in Dallas.
Associated Press:
MLB average salary rose 2.9% to record $4.66M last season  —  NEW YORK — The rate of increase for Major League Baseball's average salary slowed to 2.9% last year to a record $4.66 million, according to the annual report of the players' association.  —  The average of $4,655,366 …
Discussion: baseballmusings.com
Zachary D. Rymer / Bleacher Report:
Padres Ace Michael King's 10 Best Landing Spots and Trade Packages amid MLB Rumors  —  The San Diego Padres really are listening on everyone.  —  We knew from prior reporting that the Friars were receiving trade interest in batting champion Luis Arraez, pitchers Dylan Cease and Robert Suarez and infielder Jake Cronenworth.
Marc Dumont / Montreal Hockey Now:
Habs Highlights: Canadiens Fans Give Marc-Andre Fleury Ovation  —  The Montreal Canadiens hosted the Minnesota Wild on Thursday night, a game that would feature Sorel-native Marc-Andre Fleury starting at the Bell Centre for the final time of his career.  —  Head coach Martin St-Louis …
Greg Boysen / Chicago Hockey Now:
Taylor Hall: ‘I Was Happy to be Traded’  —  When the Chicago Blackhawks last played the Carolina Hurricanes, Taylor Hall suited up for them.  He will be on the other bench tonight after being traded to Carolina last Friday.  The trade came just a few days after the former Hart Trophy winner lamented staying …
 
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 More News: 
Evan Petzold / Detroit Free Press:
Detroit Tigers grade for Tommy Kahnle signing: Reliever a good fit, but big injury risk
 Earlier Picks: 
Jim Bowden / New York Times:
Twelve MLB breakout candidates I'm excited to scout in spring training
 

 
From WeSmirch:

Chris Morris / Variety:
Roberta Flack, '70s R&B Vocalist Known for ‘Killing Me Softly,’ Dies at 88

Daniel Arkin / NBC News:
Lester Holt is stepping down as anchor of ‘NBC Nightly News’ after a decade

Julee Wilson / Seventeen:
Growing Up Zaya Wade

 
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