Top News:
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Ramirez staying put after all — Rather than test free agency, third baseman Aramis Ramirez has decided to remain with the Chicago Cubs. — Ramirez, 28, has agreed to a five-year contract with a vesting option, FOXSports.com has learned. While exact terms of the deal were not immediately available …
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Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Ramirez, Wood back with Cubs — The Cubs got a two-for-one special on Sunday, re-signing free agents Aramis Ramirez and Kerry Wood. — Ramirez agreed to a five-year deal on Sunday with a mutual option for 2012, ending a months-long saga about his future. Wood agreed to a one-year deal loaded with incentives.
MLB.com:
Cubs agree to five-year deal with Ramirez — The Chicago Cubs on Sunday announced that the club has agreed to a five-year deal with Aramis Ramirez that will keep the third baseman with the Cubs through the 2011 season. The contact also includes a mutual option for the 2012 season.
Chris De Luca / Chicago Sun Times:
Ramirez now anyone's prize — With a midnight deadline looming, the Cubs couldn't close a deal with free-agent third baseman Aramis Ramirez late Saturday night, meaning a complicated offseason just got a whole lot tougher. — The Cubs no longer have exclusive negotiating rights with Ramirez.
Discussion:
1060west
Bill Shaikin / Los Angeles Times:
Angels are set to dive right in — Team plans to submit opening bids so high today that it will sign free agents right away. — The auction starts today, and the Angels already have their hands up. Today is the first day teams can bid upon free agents, and the Angels plan to submit opening bids …
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
Jeff Zrebiec / Baltimore Sun:
O's agree to trade for Wright … The Orioles have agreed to trade reliever Chris Britton to the New York Yankees for starting pitcher Jaret Wright and cash, according to two team sources. — While the specifics of the deal have been worked out, the trade won't be official until it gets …
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ESPN:
Wright move? O's reportedly to acquire Yanks' righty — Jaret Wright reportedly will be staying in the AL East next season — but not with the Yankees. — New York will trade the right-handed starting pitcher to the Baltimore Orioles, according to newspaper reports out of New York and Baltimore.
NY Daily News:
Trachsel's wife files for divorce — When Steve Trachsel left the Mets on the eve of the playoffs, he said it was for personal reasons that had nothing to do with his marriage. — On Thursday, however, his wife, Sarah Trachsel, filed for divorce in San Diego.
Discussion:
Hot Foot
Chris De Luca / Chicago Sun Times:
Enter the arms dealer — White Sox general manager Ken Williams remains a popular figure among his peers — mainly because of his gunslinger mentality and eagerness to deal. But when general managers gather this week in Naples, Fla., for their annual administrative meetings, Williams will be more popular than ever.
Nick Gates / Knoxville News-Sentinel:
Padres issued balk on Balsley — San Diego Padres general manager Kevin Towers and pitching coach Darren Balsley are embroiled in a contract negotiations stalemate and money isn't at the heart of the impasse. — Darren Balsley, a former minor league pitcher with the Knoxville Blue Jays …
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
Evan Grant / Dallas Morning News:
Rangers free agency analysis — Rangers need prices to be right in filling their off-season needs — Free Agency Depot officially opens its doors today. The Rangers probably won't be able to qualify for the express checkout line. — The Rangers have a basket full of needs.
Troy E. Renck / Denver Post:
Big-ticket item on GM plates — Young Japanese star holds MLB in awe with his presence, five-pitch arsenal — America's last memory of Daisuke Matsuzaka, the pitcher to whom fans devote entire blogs and websites, is of the silver, blue and red confetti swirling around Petco Park on March 20 …
Discussion:
Purple Row
Sheldon Ocker / Akron Beacon Journal:
Sizemore gets nod for Man of Year — Tribe center fielder's do-everything offense helps to set him apart — In 2005, Grady Sizemore's first full year in the majors, White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen anointed the Indians' center fielder as the best player in the league.
Discussion:
Let's Go Tribe
Ken Davidoff / Newsday:
Acta leaving Mets for Nats — It looks as if the Mets will be searching not only for new players but a new third-base coach. — Manny Acta, the Mets' third-base coach for the past two seasons, will become the new manager of the Washington Nationals, an official from an American League team …
Discussion:
It's Outta Here!
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New York Times:
Mets' New Park to Be Named CitiField — The Mets and Citigroup have agreed on a 20-year sponsorship deal to call the team's new stadium CitiField. — The announcement will be made at a groundbreaking ceremony tomorrow, a baseball official who was briefed on the ceremony said, confirming a report on the deal Friday by Bloomberg News.
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Marty Noble / MLB.com:Report: Mets strike stadium naming deal
Discussion:
The Musings and Prophecies …
