Longtime Chicago Cubs radio voice Pat Hughes was named the winner of the Ford C. Frick Award on Wednesday, joining Jack Brickhouse and Harry Caray among the all-time broadcasting greats.

Here’s a link to the story at the Chicago Tribune.

Chicago Cubs President Jed Hoyer assuredly said all the right things about catcher Willson Contreras after his agreement with the St. Louis Cardinals was revealed.

Here’s a link to the column at Chicago Tribune.

The latest major checkpoint of the MLB offseason is freshly behind us. The Royal We speak of the recently concluded Winter Meetings in San Diego. Teams, agents, and some prominent players available for hire joined the annual hootenanny, and as is typically the case some major pairings came out of it.

Here’s a link to the story at CBS Sports.

SAN DIEGO — The catcher who wanted a chance to sell the Cardinals on his ability to follow Yadier Molina behind the plate at Busch Stadium will get that chance.

Here’s a link to the story at St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

ELMONT, N.Y. — Thomas Greiss couldn’t have picked a better time for his best game of the season.

Here’s a link to the story at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

The Chicago Cubs have made their second free agent slash of the Winter Meetings. The Cubbies and right-hander Jameson Taillon have agreed to a four-year contract worth $68 million, reports ESPN. Chicago signed former NL MVP Cody Bellinger to a one-year deal worth $17.5M on Tuesday and they’re said to be in the mix for the top free agent shortstops as well.

Here’s a link to the story at CBS Sports.

SAN DIEGO — It was a brief explanation, spoken softly about a big stick, offered by Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol as he fielded a question on how to change the look of the offense and he mentioned a new addition at catcher could be that answer.

Here’s a link to the story.

NEW YORK — Terrence Shannon Jr. scored 12 of his 16 points in overtime, including the tiebreaking 3-pointer with 3:34 remaining, and No. 17 Illinois rallied to hand second-ranked Texas its first loss of the season, 85-78 on Tuesday night in the Jimmy V Classic.

Here’s a link to the story at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

The Philadelphia Phillies have landed a coveted star shortstop. The Phillies and two-time All-Star Trea Turner have agreed to an 11-year contract worth $300 million, reports ESPN.

Here’s a link to the story at CBS Sports.

Houston retained its spot at No. 1 in Monday’s updated AP Top 25 men’s college basketball rankings, holding off cross-state foe Texas, which gained ground on Houston’s grip for the top spot but held steady at No. 2. Houston received 37 first-place votes to Texas’ 14 after the gap was a 45-8 advantage in favor of the Cougars last week.

Here’s a link to the story at CBS Sports.