Aaron Hicks (Yankees), John Jaso (Pirates) and Rich Hill (A’s) are among the best offseason moves getting little attention.
Rumor roundup: Fowler on Chicago minds
The Hot Stove may be cooling down, but many players still remain unsigned. One such player is outfielder Dexter Fowler, who is drawing interest from both the Cubs and White Sox.
Daniel Norris: Lived in van, beat cancer, ready to pitch
Daniel Norris beat thyroid cancer. Then he surfed in Nicaragua. He also went back home to Johnson City, Tenn., where he served as the grand marshal for the annual holiday parade.
Grateful Cespedes reaches out to fans
As Mets fans revel in Yoenis Cespedes’ return to New York, the outfielder took to social media to assure them that the feeling is mutual.
Cincinnati to host RBI World Series in ’16, ’17
A major youth baseball and softball event will be coming to Cincinnati over the next two years. It was announced on Wednesday that the Reds will host the 2016 and ’17 RBI World Series tournament.
2016 Prospect Watch: Top 10 shortstops
Dodgers’ Corey Seager impressed during a September callup last year and tops the 2016 Shortstops Prospects list. The Phillies’ J.P. Crawford and Milwaukee’s Orlando Arcia follow Seager on the list.
MLB’s No. 1 prospect? The case for Giolito
Lucas Giolito will rank as baseball’s top right-handed pitching prospect for a second straight year when MLBPipeline.com’s list of the Top 100 prospects for 2016 are finally unveiled Friday. Scouts don’t like to use the term “ace” when projecting young pitchers because it creates an unrealistic and virtually unattainable ceiling. In Giolito’s case, however, it’s appropriate.
7 cities where you can live on (or near) streets named after your favorite baseball players
Joe Carter Avenue, here we come.
7th-inning fetch: Ballpark pup goes Hollywood
Hank should actually star in every movie that’s ever made.
SoE: 10 years of key February signings
Francisco Liriano, Nelson Cruz and Joaquin Benoit were all post-January signings that paid big dividends.
Calhoun, Angels agree to 1-year deal, avoid arbitration
The Angels avoided arbitration with Kole Calhoun on Tuesday night, signing their right fielder to a $3.4 million contract for 2016 and thus taking care of all their arbitration-eligible players, a source told MLB.com.
Schwar, what is he good for? Cubs have ideas
One of the hot topics this offseason has been where Kyle Schwarber will play for the Cubs in 2016. It won’t be third base, but Schwarber will do whatever the team wants, and he’d prefer to catch. That’s where Borzello projects him, and not just because the 22-year-old has the physical skills.
Rumor roundup: ‘Lazarito’ nearing decision
Cuban prospect Lazaro Robersy Armenteros Arango, known as “Lazarito”, could be nearing a decision on his baseball future.
MLB’s most improved: Retooled Tigers
The Tigers’ moves this offseason haven’t been as splashy as the ones Dombrowski made while finding his way around Fenway Park. But score the first round to Al Avila. Detroit heads my list of most improved teams.
Newest National Bronson Arroyo made his Major League debut as a pinch-hitter — in sneakers
That’s one way to make an entrance.
Arroyo inks incentive-laden Minors deal with Nats
Free agent pitcher Bronson Arroyo will not be getting back together with the Reds, but he will be reunited with a central figure from his old team. Arroyo agreed to a Minor League contract with the Nationals that will have him pitching for former Reds manager Dusty Baker.
Yo know it! Cespedes’ NY return now official
The Mets announced Tuesday night they have re-signed 30-year-old outfielder Yoenis Cespedes to a three-year contract. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but sources previously told MLB.com the contract is worth $75 million with an opt-out clause after the upcoming season.