Top News:
Chicago Tribune:
Dye, Crede win Silver Slugger awards — White Sox third baseman Joe Crede and right fielder Jermaine Dye were among 13 first-time winners of the Silver Slugger award. — The award honors the best offensive performers at every position in each league as voted on by managers and coaches.
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
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Mark Feinsand / MLB.com:
Jeter, Cano nab Silver Slugger Awards — Middle infielders recognized for their hitting excellence in '06 — NEW YORK — Derek Jeter's romp through postseason awards continued on Friday, as the Yankees' shortstop earned the first Silver Slugger Award of his career.
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Decisions, decisions — Staying course not bad idea for 90-win team, but Sox GM not afraid to shake things up — Baseball's free-agent bidding starts Sunday, but it's only one of several considerations facing general manager Ken Williams as he attempts to sculpt the White Sox into a 2007 title contender.
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 …
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Red Sox, Yankees fighting it out again — The Red Sox didn't make the playoffs. The Yankees didn't escape the first round. — Not to worry. — Another manic off-season is underway, and the game's fiercest rivalry is returning to its usual frenzied state.
Discussion:
WasWatching.com
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Jack Curry / New York Times:
Conflicting Reports on Matsuzaka Bids Put Yankees Out — The mystery about which team will win the right to negotiate a contract with Daisuke Matsuzaka, the Japanese pitcher, continued yesterday. The Seibu Lions know the amount of the highest bid, but, as of last night …
Ken Davidoff / Newsday:
Report: Red Sox No. 1 bid for Matsuzaka — The baseball world probably will have to wait until Monday to learn for certain which team won the bidding to speak with Daisuke Matsuzaka. But on Friday, clubs appeared to believe a report that the Red Sox prevailed with a bid of about $40 million.
NY Daily News:
Yanks doubt report of Daisuke to Sox — The last time the Yankees and Red Sox clashed for an international superstar pitcher, the Yanks signed Jose Contreras, leaving Boston executives so frustrated they smashed furniture in their Nicaragua hotel room - depending on who you believe, anyway.
Discussion:
Pride of the Yankees
Phil Rogers / Chicago Tribune:Cubs bid for Matsuzaka, may settle for lefty
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com
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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Jason Beck / MLB.com:
Tigers acquire Sheffield for prospects — Veteran outfielder agrees to two-year extension through 2009 — DETROIT — The Tigers' Hot Stove season search for a big-name slugger ended before the stove was really warm. But it didn't come cheap. — Detroit made the first headline move …
ESPN:
All-Star Edmonds agrees to 2-year deal with Cardinals — ST. LOUIS — The St. Louis Cardinals agreed Friday to a $19 million, two-year contract with center fielder Jim Edmonds, their first major move since winning the World Series. — The 36-year-old Edmonds had filed provisionally …
Discussion:
Viva El Birdos
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St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Edmonds, Cards agree on two-year extension — The Cardinals took a first step toward retaining the core of their world championship team Friday by finalizing a two-year, $19 million contract extension with center fielder Jim Edmonds, the team's longest-tenured player as well as its RBI leader the past postseason.
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
Jeff Zrebiec / Baltimore Sun:
Benson won't seek trade … The Orioles have had talks with the New York Yankees about acquiring 30-year-old pitcher Jaret Wright, according to an industry source. The Orioles likely would have to part with a reliever in return for Wright, who has fallen out of favor in New York after two inconsistent seasons.
Tom Haudricourt / JSOnline:
Hall might get new diamond setting — GM considers moving infielder to outfield — thaudricourt@journalsentinel.com — The likelihood of Bill Hall starting in the outfield for the Milwaukee Brewers on opening day 2007 increased over the past week. And in Japan of all places.
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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
Newsday:
Mets stadium: CitiField? — Citigroup is the likely winner for the naming rights of a new Mets stadium. — Shea what? — The Mets have struck a naming-rights deal with Citigroup for their new stadium, according to a person familiar with the situation, and the new ballpark — set to open in 2009 — will be called CitiField.
