Astros Crawfish Boil: January 4, 2016

Astros News

AL Notes: Angels, Freeman, Astros, Vargas - MLB Trade Rumors
It was on this day in 1973 that George Steinbrenner and a group of investors purchased the Yankees from CBS.

Dallas Keuchel’s agent: No long-term deal this offseason - Ultimate Astros
Cy Young winner is eligible for salary arbitration for the first time this year.

MLB news and rumors: Keuchel, Astros haven't talked extension - CBSSports.com
AL Cy Young winner Dallas Keuchel and the Astros aren't talking extension, Cliff Lee needs a perfect situation to come back and Ian Desmond to San Diego? This and more in our nightly roundup.

MLB News

Cliff Lee might sit out 2016 because your team isn't the perfect fit - SBNation.com
Monday's Say Hey, Baseball includes Cliff Lee's free agency, more on the Aroldis Chapman trade, and a legendary announcer.

Washington Nationals Rumors: Will Jonathan Papelbon remain the Nats' closer? - Federal Baseball
FOXSports.com's Jon Morosi wrote early this morning that the Washington Nationals plan to have Jonathan Papelbon as their closer in 2016, so they're trying to trade Drew Storen, as many predicted they would. Storen reportedly asked for a trade last July.

Yankees could still improve starting pitching depth via trade - Pinstripe Alley
The Yankees could strike a deal with the Padres or Indians to improve their starting pitching depth.

It's 2016, and Mark Melancon is still a Pirate - Bucs Dugout
The Boston Globe's Nick Cafardo has something resembling an update on Mark Melancon: He has been available all winter in the right deal, but as time passes, it seems more and more likely that...