Elephant Rumblings: A’s Announce 2019 FanFest Information, and More Kyler Murray Buzz

A’s Coverage:

• Schulman: A’s announce plans for 2019 FanFest at Jack London Square...
• McWilliams: Q&A with Charlie Ward - On giving up football after winning the Heisman and his thoughts on Kyler Murray... ($)
• Kleinschmidt: Kyler Murray could potentially play two sports in 2019, says Greg Papa...
• S.F. Chronicle: As the clock winds down on 2018, The Chronicle profiles 10 “Influencers” who will shape next year’s Bay Area sports landscape...
• Hall: Blake Treinen’s sinker named 2nd-nastiest pitch of 2018...

MLB News:

• Morosi: Giants, Crew have talked Bumgarner trade...
• ESPN: Kelvin Herrera, White Sox agree to 2-year, $18 million deal...
• ESPN: White Sox to sign Jon Jay to one-year, $4 million contract
• ESPN: Dodgers acquire pitcher Jaime Schultz from Tampa Bay Rays...
• Nightengale: Free agent Bryce Harper set for meeting with Phillies...
• Rosenthal: Twins to sign reliever Blake Parker to one-year, $3.2 million contract...

Baseball Interest Stories:

• Corcoran: What we can learn from the history of 10-year MLB contracts, from Garland and Zisk to Canó and Stanton... ($)
• Perez: College student says she ‘felt harassed’ by Indians pitcher Trevor Bauer on Twitter...
• Brisbee: It sure stinks to be a free agent second baseman in 2019...
• Edwards: The Missing Free Agents...
• Shusterman: Where did all the Bobs in baseball go?

Today in Baseball History:

• 1952 - The U.S. Marines announce they will recall Boston Red Sox star Ted Williams into active duty to serve in the Korean War. Williams will play briefly during the 1952 season but will not return to the Red Sox lineup on a full-time basis until late in 1953. As a pilot in Korea, Williams will fly 39 missions and will survive a crash-landing brought about by enemy fire.
• 2013: For only the second time since 1971 (the other was in 1996), no one is elected in the BBWAA voting for the Hall of Fame. In what is dubbed the “steroids ballot”, because a number of leading contenders for induction are considered by many to be tainted by association with the steroids scandal of the late 1990s and early 2000s, Craig Biggio is the leading vote-getter in his first year of eligibility, with 68.2%, followed by Jack Morris, who is down to one final year of eligibility, with 67.7%, with 75% needed for election. Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens, who would have been elected without a second thought were it not for the taint of steroids, finish well down in the ballot, as voters continue to give a clear message regarding their discomfort with players alleged to have used performance-enhancing drugs.

Best of Twitter:

• The Diamondbacks apparently think this is a good idea, and I’m excited to see how it plays out...

• We knew the A’s had interest in Vallejo native C.C. Sabathia, but this is certainly interesting...

• Your Willians Astudillo update for the day...