Top News:
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Yankees not ruling out moving A-Rod — The Yankees aren't ruling out a blockbuster involving third baseman Alex Rodriguez, according to major-league sources. The impetus for a deal, however, would need to come from Rodriguez and his agent, Scott Boras, both of whom say A-Rod isn't going anywhere.
Discussion:
WasWatching.com
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Sports Illustrated:
No Sheff delight — Sullen slugger has only himself to blame for plight
No Sheff delight — Sullen slugger has only himself to blame for plight
Discussion:
6-4-2
George King / New York Post:
BERNIE MAY GO BYE-BYE — A year ago it was a lot easier …
BERNIE MAY GO BYE-BYE — A year ago it was a lot easier …
Discussion:
Bronx Banter
Andrew Baggarly / Mercury News:
Getting Matthews tops Giants' to-do list — The Giants are making free-agent center fielder Gary Matthews Jr. a top priority this winter, believing he can energize the top of the lineup and bring a dynamic presence to an outfield defense that was among the worst in the major leagues this year.
Discussion:
obsessivegiantscompulsive
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Kat O'Brien / Dallas Star-Telegram:
RANGERS NOTES — Matthews preparing for bidding to begin — It may seem like the baseball off-season just began, since the World Series ended Friday, but Gary Matthews Jr. will begin working out today for next year. — Matthews said he has "business to take care of."
Evan Grant / Dallas Morning News:
Hillman: 'I've managed MLB-type talent' — The first month of the Rangers' managerial search comes to an end today when bench coach Don Wakamatsu becomes the fifth candidate to interview for the job. — Rangers officials spent Tuesday with Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters manager Trey Hillman.
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball
Jeff Sackmann / Hardball Times:
Putting a Price on Matsuzaka — If you don't yet know the name Daisuke Matsuzaka, you will soon. The Seibu Lions, his team in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB), are likely to make him available to major league clubs through the posting system, which allows teams to bid on the right …
Discussion:
Hot Foot
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Adam Rubin / NY Daily News:
Glavine likes Mets' pitch — Near deal for 2 years, $25M — TOKYO - Not only does Tom Glavine appear poised to remain a Met, he apparently intends to pitch in Flushing through the 2008 season. Glavine and the Mets are deep in discussions about a two-year, $25 million contract …
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Kevin Kernan / New York Post:
RETURN TO METS AN OPTION FOR GLAVINE
RETURN TO METS AN OPTION FOR GLAVINE
Discussion:
Tales Of A Transplanted …
Thomas Harding / MLB.com:
Rockies have three up for Frick Award — Fans can vote for favorite broadcaster through November — The Rockies are still considered young as a franchise, but they bring plenty of experience to the broadcast booths. — In fact, they have three broadcasters that have qualified …
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Jack O'Connell / MLB.com:
Vote for your favorite MLB broadcaster
Vote for your favorite MLB broadcaster
Discussion:
Can't Stop The Bleeding
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Coaches Page, Knorr back to Minors — WASHINGTON — Hitting coach Mitchell Page and bullpen coach Randy Knorr will work in the team's Minor League system next season. Page will be the team's hitting coordinator, and Knorr will return as manager of Class A Potomac.
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Gordon Edes / Boston Globe:
Sox rank first in their class — Baseball America says their draft was best of '06 — Further evidence that the Red Sox' commitment to drafting and developing their own players is not just eyewash, as Jimy Williams would say, comes this week in Baseball America, the trade publication …
Discussion:
Surviving Grady
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Mike Petraglia / MLB.com:
Baird tabbed as Epstein's assistant
Baird tabbed as Epstein's assistant
Discussion:
El Guapo's Ghost Rambles …
New York Times:
Steinbrenner Is Doing Well After Hospital Stay — George Steinbrenner, the Yankees' principal owner, was hospitalized Sunday after feeling faint as he watched his granddaughter perform in "Cabaret" at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. — It was the second time in three years …
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Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Heilman on Cubs' radar — Carlos Zambrano and Rich Hill appear to be the only two certainties for the Cubs rotation next spring, so general manager Jim Hendry is likely looking to fill three spots this winter. — Hendry will try to bring in one or two front-line starters through free agency …
Discussion:
GROTA
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Deadspin:
The Skinny On The Harold Reynolds Lawsuit — Steelers Choose To Stay The Course — We should be saving this for our Heartfelt Fridays post, but, you know, we couldn't wait. So ... sorry. In the Steelers' press conference on Tuesday, coach Bill Cowher said that he is officially taking …
Sun-Sentinel:
Marlins' Allison in trouble again, faces 3 charges — Marlins minor league pitcher Jeff Allison is in trouble again. — Allison faces three felony charges — one count for heroin possession and two for possession of stolen vehicles — stemming from separate incidents last week in North Carolina …
Discussion:
FishStripes
Tom Krasovic / San Diego Union-Tribune:
Giants hire Flannery as third-base coach — Another longtime Padre has joined the rival Giants. — Tim Flannery, a popular former player and coach, agreed yesterday to become Bruce Bochy's third-base coach, just five days after San Francisco hired Bochy as its manager.
Discussion:
Gaslamp Ball
Joe Strauss / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cards go to work on 2007 — What honeymoon? — Barely 48 hours after enjoying a parade and rally celebrating a World Series title, Cardinals general manager Walt Jocketty on Tuesday concluded a second day of offseason planning with his lieutenants and manager Tony La Russa.
Discussion:
Redbirds Fun
Baseball Prospectus:
Internet Baseball Awards — Staff Ballots — It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. Travis Hafner posted the highest OBP in the AL while nobody noticed, while Neifi Perez ended up getting playoff PT. The young guns had their day and then some.