Check out Mini-Ballbug for simple mobiles or Ballbug Mobile for modern smartphones.
8:25 PM ET, January 31, 2025

Ballbug

 Top News: 
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 …
RELATED:
Kiley McDaniel / ESPN:
2025 MLB farm system rankings: Prospect insights, analysis  —  Now that we have ranked the top 100 MLB prospects heading into the 2025 season (along with a look at the potential breakout players in the Nos. 101-200 range), let's look at how all 30 farm systems stack up.
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 …
Keith Law / New York Times:
MLB prospects who just missed Keith Law's top 100 ranking: Caissie, Saggese and more
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.
RELATED:
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.
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.
RELATED:
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 …
Patrick Mooney / New York Times:
Brandon Hughes finalizing return to Cubs on a minor-league deal: Source  —  Brandon Hughes is finalizing a return to the Chicago Cubs on a minor-league deal, a league source briefed on the contract told The Athletic on Friday.  Hughes had emerged as the team's closer during the second half …
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.
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.
Bob Nightengale / USA Today:
Stare down between free agents Pete Alonso, Alex Bregman with their former teams should end soon  —  PHOENIX − Just eight days remain until pitchers and catchers begin reporting to spring training, but after 93 days since the start of free agency, two of the biggest free-agent infielders remain unsigned …
 
 Archived Page Info: 
This is a snapshot of Ballbug at 8:25 PM ET, January 31, 2025.

View the current page or another snapshot:


Page version:
 
 See Also: 
Ballbug: site main
Ballbug River: reverse chronological Ballbug
Ballbug Mobile: for phones
Ballbug Leaderboard: Ballbug's top sources
 
 Subscribe: 
Ballbug RSS feed
 
 
 More News: 
Marc Dumont / Montreal Hockey Now:
Habs Highlights: Canadiens Fans Give Marc-Andre Fleury Ovation
Greg Boysen / Chicago Hockey Now:
Taylor Hall: ‘I Was Happy to be Traded’
Associated Press:
MLB average salary rose 2.9% to record $4.66M last season
Discussion: baseballmusings.com
Evan Petzold / Detroit Free Press:
Detroit Tigers grade for Tommy Kahnle signing: Reliever a good fit, but big injury risk
 Earlier Picks: 
 

 
From WeSmirch:

TMZ.com:
Gene Hackman, Wife Betsy Deaths Called ‘Suspicious’

TMZ.com:
Michelle Trachtenberg Cause of Death Undetermined, Family Refuses Autopsy

Aisha Bowe / Blue Origin:
Blue Origin Announces Crew For New Shepard's 31st Mission

 
Sister Sites:

Techmeme
 Top news and commentary for technology's leaders, from all around the web
Mediagazer
 Top news and commentary for media professionals from all around the web
memeorandum
 What US political commentators are discussing online right now
WeSmirch
 The top celebrity news from all around the web on a single page