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 …
Discussion:
Bronx Banter, Luck O' The Redbirds, Deadspin, Mack Avenue Tigers, Sports Scope and MLB Trade Rumors
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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
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 …
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 …
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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 …
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
Bill Shaikin / Los Angeles Times:
Angels bid for Japanese all-star pitcher — The most valuable player in the World Baseball Classic went 17-5 with a 2.13 earned-run average last season for the Seibu Lions. — The Angels bid for star Japanese pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka this week and could find out as soon as today whether they have won negotiating rights to him.
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 …
Peter Abraham / The LoHud Yankees Blog:Calm down, nothing has happened yet (2)
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com
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.
RELATED ITEMS:
Bill Shaikin / Los Angeles Times:Drew opts to try out the market
Discussion:
Tribe Report, Associated Press, Purple Row, MLB Trade Rumors and Can't Stop The Bleeding
Jim Williams / Examiner:
Changes coming in MASN booth — BALTIMORE - With the recent news that former Washington Nationals color analyst Tom Paciorek was let go, the big question is: Will the new Nationals' opening have an effect on Orioles broadcasts, now that both are on the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network?
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Dan Shanoff:
RRRRUUUUTTTTGGGGEEEERRRRSSSS! (How 'Bout No. 2?) — Make no mistake: Rutgers will be the No. 2-ranked team on my Top 25 ballot on Sunday. — (Talking more realistically, someone needs to explain why Rutgers SHOULDN'T replace Louisville at No. 3. If you watched the game …
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
Jeff Goldberg / Hartford Courant:
WTIC Negotiating With The Yankees — For the past 46 years, WTIC-AM (1080) and the Red Sox have been a featured pairing in Connecticut. But that could be changing soon. — Multiple sources said Thursday that WTIC might be close to severing its ties with the Red Sox and is exploring …
Bob Hohler / Boston Globe:
Many players regard firearm as a necessity — Concealed weapon licenses common — A tower of power, he stands 7 feet 1 inch, weighs 325 pounds, and bears a tattoo of Superman's signature "S" on his massive left arm. Yet NBA great Shaquille O'Neal protects himself off the basketball court …
