Elephant Rumblings: A’s 2019 International Plans, Reminiscing on the Gio/Swisher Trade

A’s Coverage:

• Mexico City, Japan could be in A's travel plans for 2019...
• Oakland Athletics 2018 top-50 prospects: James Naile, RHP...

MLB News:

• Sources: Dodgers hire Mark Prior as bullpen coach...
• Cubs sued for better wheelchair access at Wrigley Field...
• Report: Derek Jeter's Project Wolverine claims Marlins will increase attendance, turn profit in 2018...
• Report: ESPN looking to poach Alex Rodriguez from Fox Sports...

Baseball Interest Stories:

• Hall of Fame countdown: Johnny Damon's compelling, but incomplete case...
• Sawchik: MLB Teams Have Learned to Wait on Free Agents...
• 2018 Baseball Hall of Fame Ballot: The cases for and against Omar Vizquel...
• The Physics of Carry at Dodger Stadium...
• Baseball Therapy: Why The Shift Persists...

Today in Baseball History:

• 1973 - A group of investors, headed by shipbuilder George Steinbrenner, purchases the New York Yankees from CBS for $10 million.
• 2005 - Hoping to make the team appeal to a broader marketplace, the Angels announce the franchise will now be known as the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Officials from Anaheim, CA threaten to file a lawsuit to block the change, believing the new name violates the terms of the team's 33-year lease with the city.
• 2007 - The Oakland Athletics make their second trade of an established player for prospects of the off-season. They send Nick Swisher, who once hit 35 home runs, to the Chicago White Sox for Fautino De Los Santos, Gio Gonzalez and Ryan Sweeney.

Best of Twitter:

• One of baseball’s most underrated...

• Buster’s explanation for the slow off-season...