Cubs 'won the lottery' with Jon Lester, now they need to win games SAN DIEGO — New Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon is the most popular man at these MLB Winter Meetings. Jon Lester is the most talked-about free agent at the meetings. They combined in spectacular fashion Tuesday night when we learned the Cubs had signed Lester for six years and $155 million. Shortly after, Maddon — used to … [Read more...]
Report: Max Scherzer is seeking more than $200 million
Report: Max Scherzer is seeking more than $200 million SAN DIEGO — You didn't think this dragged-out Jon Lester sweepstakes was going to be the big-money story of the offseason did you? Max Scherzer is looming and his payday is going to be even bigger. The Chicago Cubs agreed to pay Lester $155 million for six seasons Tuesday. Next, sometime between now and March, Scherzer's going to get a … [Read more...]
Draft Strategy: 2015 Category Sleepers: ERA
Draft Strategy: 2015 Category Sleepers: ERA Tuesday, December 09, 2014 The following is Week 5 of the 10-part series of sleepers for each 5x5 roto category (BA, HR, RBI, R, SB, W, ERA, WHIP, K, SV). The first five weeks have featured categories more dependent on skill than opportunity, but the Winter Meetings are sparking rapid offseason movement and a clearer picture of team opportunity. … [Read more...]
Giants miss on out Lester
Giants miss on out Lester SAN DIEGO -- The Giants have been informed they are out of the Jon Lester sweepstakes, as the field is narrowing. The Cubs and Red Sox are believed in, and possibly the mysterious Dodgers, as the sweepstakes come to a close. The Cubs have been very aggresive from the start, and a couple of Cubs-connected people seemed somewhat confident, though the Giants were thought to … [Read more...]
Rangers guarding against losing Russell Wilson in Rule 5 draft
Rangers guarding against losing Russell Wilson in Rule 5 draft What started out as a fun publicity stunt and lucrative merchandising opportunity has taken a more serious and perhaps even ridiculous turn. The Texas Rangers, who selected Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson in the Triple-A phase of the Rule 5 draft last season after he was left unprotected by the Colorado Rockies, are … [Read more...]
Giants say they’re out of the Jon Lester sweepstakes
Giants say they're out of the Jon Lester sweepstakes SAN DIEGO — Are we any closer to a decision from free-agent pitcher Jon Lester? Maybe, but we can't say for sure. But we do know that one team has been trimmed from his list of suitors. The San Francisco Giants are out, according to Bobby Evans, their assistant general manager. Speaking to reporters Tuesday night at MLB's Winter … [Read more...]
Phillies need to be ‘wowed’ to trade Cole Hamels
Phillies need to be 'wowed' to trade Cole Hamels SAN DIEGO — It's December and Ryne Sandberg already seems a bit tired of the question, because with the Philadelphia Phillies, it's the only question. How is this team going to get better? "Well, first of all," Sandberg said Tuesday during his media session at the MLB Winter Meetings, "I just see after the last couple seasons, and primarily … [Read more...]
BBWAA to recommend expanding Hall of Fame ballots from 10 to 12
BBWAA to recommend expanding Hall of Fame ballots from 10 to 12 With some type of change needed to help mitigate what has become a loaded Hall of Fame ballot, the Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA), which conducts the vote each season, will be making a strong push for a notable change to the Hall's voting process. During a meeting on Tuesday at the Winter Meetings in San Diego, … [Read more...]
Done Deals: Drew Butera goes to Anaheim in rare Dodgers-Angels trade
Done Deals: Drew Butera goes to Anaheim in rare Dodgers-Angels trade This is The Stew's running list of trades and signings that happen during baseball's Winter Meetings. We'll keep updating this post as the news happens. For more chatter and rumors, be sure to check out our Winter Meetings tracker. TUESDAY Angels acquire Drew Butera in trade with Dodgers The Los Angeles Dodgers and Los … [Read more...]
Cubs get their catcher, acquiring Miguel Montero in trade with D-backs
Cubs get their catcher, acquiring Miguel Montero in trade with D-backs Chicago is the center of the baseball universe right now, as Yahoo Sports' Tim Brown wrote Tuesday. So, Miguel Montero, come on down, you're the next guy coming to the center of the universe. It's the Chicago Cubs making a trade this time, acquiring Montero, the catcher they needed, from the Arizona Diamondbacks. It's a … [Read more...]