At the annual Rule 5 Draft, OF Victor Reyes is the first pick, by the Tigers from the Diamondbacks, but after that it’s a pitching smorgasbord as 15 of the other 16 players taken in the major league phase are pitchers. The most recognizable names are Ps Burch Smith and Albert Suarez, who both have major league experience, and former major league OF Anthony Gose who is hoping to make it back to the Show as a pitcher.

ByTom

At the annual Rule 5 Draft, OF Victor Reyes is the first pick, by the Tigers from the Diamondbacks, but after that it’s a pitching smorgasbord as 15 of the other 16 players taken in the major league phase are pitchers. The most recognizable names are Ps Burch Smith and Albert Suarez, who both have major league experience, and former major league OF Anthony Gose who is hoping to make it back to the Show as a pitcher.

In other happenings on the final day of the winter meetings, the Twins sign 40-something reliever Fernando Rodney to a one-year contract while the Cardinals send OF Stephen Piscotty to Oakland in return for a pair of prospects, one day after acquiring OF Marcell Ozuna from Miami.

ByTom

In other happenings on the final day of the winter meetings, the Twins sign 40-something reliever Fernando Rodney to a one-year contract while the Cardinals send OF Stephen Piscotty to Oakland in return for a pair of prospects, one day after acquiring OF Marcell Ozuna from Miami.

The Marlins seem to be conducting yet another fire sale as they send OF Marcell Ozuna to the Cardinals for P Sandy Alcantara and three other prospects. Unimpressed, agent Scott Boras says that the Marlins “have turned into a pawn shop,” as they have already traded OF Giancarlo Stanton and 2B Dee Gordon in cost-cutting moves this off-season.

ByTom

The Marlins seem to be conducting yet another fire sale as they send OF Marcell Ozuna to the Cardinals for P Sandy Alcantara and three other prospects. Unimpressed, agent Scott Boras says that the Marlins “have turned into a pawn shop,” as they have already traded OF Giancarlo Stanton and 2B Dee Gordon in cost-cutting moves this off-season.

The Tigers trade All-Star 2B Ian Kinsler to the Angels for two prospects, P Wilkel Hernandez and OF Troy Montgomery, as they continue a rebuilding trend begun late last season when they traded J.D. Martinez, Justin Upton and Justin Verlander.

ByTom

The Tigers trade All-Star 2B Ian Kinsler to the Angels for two prospects, P Wilkel Hernandez and OF Troy Montgomery, as they continue a rebuilding trend begun late last season when they traded J.D. Martinez, Justin Upton and Justin Verlander.

National broadcaster Bob Costas is the winner of the Ford Frick Award while long-time writer for the Akron Beacon Journal Sheldon Ocker wins the J.G. Taylor Spink Award. They will both be honored at the Hall of Fame induction ceremony next July.

ByTom

National broadcaster Bob Costas is the winner of the Ford Frick Award while long-time writer for the Akron Beacon Journal Sheldon Ocker wins the J.G. Taylor Spink Award. They will both be honored at the Hall of Fame induction ceremony next July.

The Yankees continue to be the most active team at the Winter Meetings as they trade IF Chase Headley and P Bryan Mitchell to the Padres in return for OF Jabari Blash. The deal is a transparent move to shed payroll after adding the multimillion-dollar contract of Giancarlo Stanton a day earlier.

ByTom

The Yankees continue to be the most active team at the Winter Meetings as they trade IF Chase Headley and P Bryan Mitchell to the Padres in return for OF Jabari Blash. The deal is a transparent move to shed payroll after adding the multimillion-dollar contract of Giancarlo Stanton a day earlier.

2017 – The Veterans Committee of the Hall of Fame, looking at players from the “Modern Era” fropm 1970 to 1987, elects long -time Detroit Tigers teammates Jack Morris and Alan Trammell. They receive 14 and 13 of 16 votes respectively and will be inducted into Cooperstown in 2018 along with anyone elected via the BBWAA ballot. Ted Simmons misses election by one vote.

ByThis Day in Baseball

2017 – The Veterans Committee of the Hall of Fame, looking at players from the “Modern Era” fropm 1970 to 1987, elects long -time Detroit Tigers teammates Jack Morris and Alan Trammell. They receive 14 and 13 of 16 votes respectively and will be inducted into Cooperstown in 2018 along with anyone elected via the BBWAA ballot. Ted Simmons misses election by one vote.

Yankees have acquired superstar slugger Giancarlo Stanton from Miami

ByTom

2017 – The rumor in today’s morning news is that the Yankees have acquired superstar slugger Giancarlo Stanton from Miami. The Yankees take the inside track after Stanton reportedly nixed tentative deals with San Francisco and St. Louis by refusing to waive his no-trade clause to join either team, while the Yanks are apparently on the short list of teams he would be prepared to join. The question is what New York is prepared to give up to make the trade happen, and if simply picking up the remainder of Stanton’s huge contract, with some token players thrown in, may be enough, given the Marlins are mainly seeking salary relief – on-field competitiveness be damned. The trade will be made official in two days.

In one of the most anticipated signings of this off-season, P/DH Shohei Ohtani agrees to a deal with the Angels. Because he is not yet 25, international bonus rules apply to him, so the deal will be for a paltry $2.32 million and he will be paid the major league minimum salary his first season. The Angels will need to pay his former team, the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, the $20 million posting fee, however. He will go on to win Rookie of the Year honors.

ByTom

In one of the most anticipated signings of this off-season, P/DH Shohei Ohtani agrees to a deal with the Angels. Because he is not yet 25, international bonus rules apply to him, so the deal will be for a paltry $2.32 million and he will be paid the major league minimum salary his first season. The Angels will need to pay his former team, the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, the $20 million posting fee, however. He will go on to win Rookie of the Year honors.

Mike Fiers, who pitched the most innings this season for the World Series champion Houston Astros but was left off their postseason roster, signs a one-year free agent deal with the Tigers worth $6 million.

ByTom

Mike Fiers, who pitched the most innings this season for the World Series champion Houston Astros but was left off their postseason roster, signs a one-year free agent deal with the Tigers worth $6 million.