Elephant Rumblings: Winter Meeting Deals Continue; When Will A’s Get Involved?

Pineda and Smyly are both now off the board.

A’s Coverage:

• How the A’s are handling Bruce Maxwell situation after ‘unfortunate incident’...
• A's view Maxwell as primary catcher in '18; seeking outfield, bullpen help at Winter Meetings...
• Haley Alvarez becomes A’s first female talent evaluator...
• Twitter rant costs Jose Canseco his job as A’s TV analyst...
• Oakland Athletics 2018 top-50 prospects: Wandisson Charles, RHP...

MLB News:

• Twins sign former Yankees pitcher Michael Pineda...
• Angels' Shohei Ohtani had platelet-rich plasma injection in pitching elbow, GM confirms...
• Source: Drew Smyly takes $10M, 2-year deal with Cubs...
• Mets agree to two-year deal with Anthony Swarzak...

Baseball Interest Stories:

• Scott Boras says Marlins have turned into a 'pawn shop'...
• There is no obvious fit for Jake Arrieta...
• MLB rumors: Orioles open to Machado trade and he wants to play shortstop...
• Bob Costas wins Hall of Fame's Frick Award for broadcasting...
• The Pirates Should Move Gerrit Cole (and the A’s should be interested!)

Today in Baseball History:

• 1956 - The Dodgers trade Jackie Robinson to the cross-town rivals, the Giants, for pitcher Dick Littlefield and $35,000. Jackie, according to some accounts had already decided privately to leave the game to work for Chock Full of Nuts, publicly retires from baseball rather than accept the trade.
• 2010 - The A's sign oft-injured starting pitcher Brandon McCarthy to a one-year contract.