Top News:
Sports Illustrated:
Tigers trade for Sheffield — Yankees acquire three pitching prospects in return — The Yankees and Tigers have agreed on a Gary Sheffield trade, SI.com has learned. — In return, the Yankees will acquire highly touted right-hander Humberto Sanchez and Class A pitchers Kevin Whelan …
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ESPN:
Tigers deal three pitchers to Yankees for Sheffield — The Detroit Tigers have acquired Gary Sheffield from the New York Yankees for three righthanded pitching prospects, the Tigers announced Friday. — In return for Sheffield, the Tigers sent Humberto Sanchez, Kevin Whelan and Anthony Claggett to New York.
Ronald Blum / Associated Press:
Yankees trade Gary Sheffield to Tigers for 3 pitching prospects — NEW YORK (AP) — Gary Sheffield was traded from the New York Yankees to the Detroit Tigers on Friday for three pitching prospects. — The Yankees exercised Sheffield's $13 million option last weekend to prevent him from becoming …
MLB.com:
Yankees acquire RHP Humberto Sanchez and two other prospects from Detroit Tigers in exchange for outfielder Gary Sheffield — The New York Yankees announced today that they have acquired right-handed pitcher Humberto Sanchez, right-handed pitcher Kevin Whelan and right-handed pitcher Anthony Claggett …
Discussion:
U.S.S. Mariner
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 …
Discussion:
Boston Globe, Clubhouse Insider, Matsuzaka Watch, Baseball Musings, AZ Snakepit, The Feeding the Monster Blog, Yankees 2000, Keep Your Sox On In Brooklyn, Peter's Red Sox Forever, Bay City Ball, Pending Pinstripes, The Joy of Sox, MLB Trade Rumors, YANKEE MANIA, The GYS Network, Yanksfan vs Soxfan and 6-4-2
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Peter Abraham / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
Calm down, nothing has happened yet (2) — I have no clue where Matsuzaka ends up. But I find it hard to believe the Red Sox would bid $45 million. A few points: — 1. Boston would not spend money on Johnny Damon. They have a system of determining the value of a player and not spending above that.
Christina Kahrl / Baseball Prospectus:
Matsuzaka Madness — Watching and Waiting — The free-agent shopping season is beginning to heat up, but before it's even really begun, we're already witnessing a frenzied pursuit of a potential Japanese Leagues import, right-handed starting pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka, pitching ace of the Seibu Lions.
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball
Nick Cafardo / Extra Bases:Matsuzaka mania — There's growing steam behind a report …
Discussion:
Can't Stop The Bleeding
Jim Street / MLB.com:
Jeter, Beltran among Silver Sluggers — New York stars among 13 first-time winners of award — The influx of young, productive hitters into the Major Leagues continues to grow, and big-league managers and coaches are definitely noticing. — First-time winners far outnumbered previous winners …
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Joe Strauss / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Edmonds gets two-year extension from Cardinals — The Cardinals took a first step toward retaining the core of their world championship team Friday by finalizing a two-year contract extension for center fielder Jim Edmonds, the team's longest-tenured player as well as its RBI leader the past postseason.
Mark Sheldon / MLB.com:
Reds sign former Yankee Crosby — Veteran outfielder's one-year contract worth $400,000 — CINCINNATI — The Reds made their first acquisition of the offseason on Friday, signing outfielder Bubba Crosby to a one-year contract worth $400,000. — By signing him to a Major League deal …
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Acta on verge of becoming Nats' manager — Mets third-base coach Manny Acta is on the verge of becoming the Nationals' new manager. — Acta withdrew Friday from his interview for the A's managerial opening, FOXSports.com has learned. — A source with knowledge of the negotiations confirmed …
Discussion:
Capitol Punishment
Bill Plaschke / Los Angeles Times:
This contract was never a good buy, so good riddance — After two years of floating transparently through Chavez Ravine summers, J.D. Ghost has finally done something with passion, with strength, with heart. — He quit. — He ordered his agent to tell the Dodgers on Thursday …
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Jerry Crasnick / ESPN:
Deal or no deal? Cubs' Ramirez seeks six-year contract … Third baseman Aramis Ramirez took advantage of an out clause in his contract to walk away from the two years and $22.5 million still owed him by the Chicago Cubs. — He'll be looking for a considerably longer, more generous commitment in his next deal.
Tim Marchman / New York Sun:
'Aces' or Not, Top-Tier Pitching Is Priceless — As we wait eagerly for something, or anything, to happen this off-season, the woolgathering has turned, as it usually does, to pitching, and how badly the Mets and Yankees need it. This, as it usually does, has turned to woolgathering …
Discussion:
Purple Row
