Top News:
Bill Shaikin / Los Angeles Times:
Drew opts to try out the market — Outfielder takes a $33-million gamble with his Dodgers contract to become a free agent. Colletti says, 'He wants out. He can have out.' — Outfielder J.D. Drew opted out of the final three years of his contract with the Dodgers on Thursday …
RELATED ITEMS:
Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
Teams Counting Down to the Matsuzaka Hour — The Yankees have full control over the future of Gary Sheffield, their right fielder of the past. They only wish they had control of Daisuke Matsuzaka, the pitcher they hope will be their ace of the future. — Major League Baseball closed …
Kevin Kernan / New York Post:
TOM DECLINES OPTION — BUT GLAVINE MAY STILL REMAIN A MET — Tom Glavine took care of some paperwork yesterday, filing provisionally for free agency. — Glavine still has not made up his mind whether he will return to the Mets in 2007 or opt to sign with the Braves, so he can be closer to home, a la Roger Clemens and the Astros.
Bill Plunkett / Orange County Register:
Drew backpedals: opts out of Dodgers deal — Six weeks after going on record as saying he had no plans to use the opt-out clause in his contract with the Dodgers, J.D. Drew did just that. — Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti said he was notified by Drew's agent, Scott Boras …
Ken Gurnick / MLB.com:
Drew surprises LA, becomes free agent — Team RBI leader exercises escape clause in contract — LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers essentially swapped 100 RBIs for $33 million Thursday when right fielder J.D. Drew exercised an escape clause to void the final three years of his $55 million contract and became a free agent.
Associated Press:Dodgers outfielder Drew opts out of contract
Discussion:
Fire Brand of the …, MLB Trade Rumors, Amazin' Avenue, Sabernomics, Baseball Musings and 3,079 Miles to Fenway …
Bill Plaschke / Los Angeles Times:This contract was never a good buy, so good riddance
Discussion:
6-4-2
Jan Hubbard / Dallas Star-Telegram:
Rangers may win bidding for Matsuzaka — In recent weeks, the Rangers have been depicted in national and international reports as major players in the Daisuke Matsuzaka sweepstakes — and they are exactly that. — A baseball official with knowledge of the process said Thursday that the Rangers …
RELATED ITEMS:
Nick Cafardo / Boston Globe:
Sox may pitch their attention at Drew — Roger Clemens, Daisuke Matsuzaka, and J.D. Drew — all three are at least currently linked to the Red Sox, though none could end up in Boston. — One major league source indicated last night that the prevailing talk in the international market …
ESPN:
Report: Red Sox may have top Matsuzaka bid — The Boston Red Sox may have posted the top bid for the right to negotiate with Japanese right-hander Daisuke Matsuzaka, ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney reported, citing Major League Baseball sources. — There has been no official announcement …
Washington Post:
Nats Stay In Touch With Acta About Job — New York Mets third base coach Manny Acta returned from Japan yesterday, exhausted from a long flight and lack of sleep, but still with the hope provided by the news that he is still in the running to become the next manager of the Washington Nationals.
RELATED ITEMS:
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:Nats likely to build from within in '07
Discussion:
Oleanders and Morning Glories
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Cardinals close to bringing back Edmonds — The World Series champion Cardinals, facing a deadline to decide on Jim Edmonds' future, are close to signing the center fielder to a two-year contract, FOXSports.com has learned. — Edmonds' average salary in the deal is expected to be comparable …
RELATED ITEMS:
Stamford Advocate:
Giambi likely DH — The Yankees will build toward the 2007 season with the idea that Jason Giambi is their designated hitter, general manager Brian Cashman said yesterday. That means the team will be in the market for a first baseman, preferably one who hits righthanded.
RELATED ITEMS:
Joe Frisaro / MLB.com:
Marlins ready for GM Meetings — With limited resources, Beinfest will be creative in '07 — MIAMI — With limited financial resources, the Marlins are not expected to make major free-agent signings. But retaining some of their standouts from this past season remains a priority.
RELATED ITEMS:
Bill Conlin / Miami Herald:
Just say SoriaNO — I HAVE COME to praise Alfonso Soriano, not to bury him. He is a special player with special skills. He is also a flawed player with special flaws. — In his first season in leftfield - he had to be dragged there kicking and screaming - Soriano was ranked No. 3 among …
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
Danny Knobler / MLive.com:
Tigers may be close to landing Sheffield — DETROIT — The Detroit Tigers have a new hitting coach. They may also be closing in on getting a new hitter. — Outfielder Gary Sheffield, a nine-time All-Star who won a world championship with Tigers manager Jim Leyland in Florida …
