Doolittle: I go back to one of the most epic deals in winter meetings history, when the Blue Jays sent McGriff and Fernandez to San Diego for Carter and Alomar. Toronto won back-to-back World Series in 1992 and 1993, with Alomar serving as a catalyst and Carter providing a historic World Series-ending homer in 1993.

So we started hunting around and found what we thought might be a promising lead: police reports in the area near where Chapman lived. One problem: They needed to be picked up in person. And, well, Nashville isn't exactly driving distance to Miami.Detroit Tigers Face Coverings

When Frank Thomas joined the Phillies in August 1964, he had already gained the reputation as a “needler.” Philadelphia Inquirer writer Sandy Grady once wrote of him, “He had an uncanny knack for saying the wrong thing at the wrong time to the wrong guy.” Allen was often the target of Thomas’ agitating. Once, after arriving at an airport in Los Angeles, Thomas flipped him a quarter and yelled, “Hey, boy, take my bags!” Allen recalled in a 1971 interview with Sporting News. Thomas thought it was funny. Allen wasn’t laughing. Eventually, they’d both be involved in one of the most infamous fights in baseball history.Los Angeles Angels Face Coverings

* Will MLB count independent teams? Ashwill explained, “Even in the Negro League era (1920-1948) there were many teams that operated outside of leagues, among them some of the most famous teams in Black baseball history, such as the Homestead Grays (before 1929 and in 1930-31) and the Kansas City Monarchs (1931-1936). These independent teams also played many games against league teams. Will these games count?”New York Mets Face Coverings

LSU will forgo participating in a bowl game this season, adding to the list of self-imposed sanctions stemming from the NCAA's investigation into improper booster payments to its football players.

We have to see how it all shakes out, but with the way he plays, we project him as being at the top of the lineup. His forkball percentage jumped this year as he dialed back his usage of the slider.He struggled mightily after the World Baseball Classic in 2017, slashing just .247/.364/.435, but has bounced back with two solid years.Kikuchi hit .325 in 2014 and .315 in 2016, the only seasons when he finished with an average of at least .300.Chicago White Sox Face Coverings

Kurkjian: My favorite trade of the winter meetings occurred on Dec. 4, 1988. The Orioles, the team I covered for The Baltimore Sun, sent star first baseman Eddie Murray to the Dodgers for pitchers Jay Howell and Brian Holton, and shortstop Juan Bell. Murray would be a first-ballot Hall of Famer just from his 12 years in Baltimore. It was an enormous deal for both teams, but it had been kept so secretive until we discovered that Roland Hemond, the GM of the Orioles, and Fred Claire of the Dodgers, had met in a hotel in Chicago shortly before the meetings to discuss the deal. When I called Hemond in his hotel room, he said, "You ask tough questions," and answered none of them. Hemond is an all-time favorite; he did everything honestly, by the book. So when I walked with him on his way to the podium to officially announce the Murray trade, I asked for the third player the Orioles were getting. Hemond said, "Sorry, I can't tell you until the deal is done.'' Ten seconds later, he announced the trade.