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ESPN:
Sources: Red Sox bid high of $42M for Matsuzaka — The Red Sox bid $42 million for the right to negotiate with prized Japanese pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka, sources told ESPN's Peter Gammons. Boston's bid far exceeded any other team's offer. — Matsuzaka will learn Tuesday whether …
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Sports Illustrated:
Boston places highest Matsuzaka bid — Red Sox have 30 days to negotiate contract with ace — NAPLES, Fla. — The Boston Red Sox have won negotiating rights for Japanese League star Daisuke Matsuzaka, SI.com has confirmed. — The winning bid is thought to be for between $34 million and $38 million.
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The LoHud Yankees Blog, Fire Brand of the …, Clubhouse Insider, Extra Bases, Pinstripe Alley and YANKEE MANIA
Anthony McCarron / NY Daily News:
Yanks, Mets move on — With Daisuke on way to Sox, market opens — NAPLES, Fla. - As the general managers' meetings got underway yesterday, the Yankees and Mets both seemed to be moving beyond the Daisuke Matsuzaka sweepstakes, which the Daily News has learned has been won by the Red Sox …
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com
Mike DiGiovanna / Los Angeles Times:
Angels lose out in bidding for Japanese pitcher — The Angels were among the eight or so teams that submitted bids for the highly regarded right-hander, but it appears the Red Sox posted the high bid. — The Angels are on the verge of falling to 0-2 this off-season.
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Bucco Blog
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Red Sox should be smart with their money — NAPLES, Fla. - From every indication, the Red Sox are going as nuts for Japanese right-hander Daisuke Matsuzaka as Borat did for Pamela Anderson. Their final payout for Matsuzaka could exceed $25 million per season, a sum that is as breathtaking as it is extreme.
Discussion:
3,079 Miles to Fenway …
Nick Cafardo / Boston Globe:
Sox get the word today — Decision on Matsuzaka expected to go their way — NAPLES, Fla. — The lure for the Japanese baseball fan will be watching the matchup between Daisuke Matsuzaka and Hideki Matsui. — Evidently, a Japanese rivalry within the Red Sox-Yankees rivalry is blockbuster good.
NY Daily News:
Wild pitch to Japan will cost — NAPLES, Fla. - The winning Red Sox bid just for the negotiation rights to Japanese pitching prodigy Daisuke Matsuzaka, according to my sources, is "upwards of $50 million." Numerous other sources around the general managers' meetings also confirmed the number yesterday …
Murray Chass / New York Times:
Red Sox Foil Yanks in Bidding for Pitcher — This is about the Boston Red Sox and Daisuke Matsuzaka, but first a word about George Steinbrenner, a sad word. Despite all the denials from the Yankees, he is not the man he used to be. Whether old age or illness is the cause …
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New York Post
Ben Shpigel / New York Times:Prize-Winning Red Sox Bid for a Big Off-Season
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South Side Sox
NY Daily News:
Willie isn't antsy over new pact — Willie Randolph would like a contract extension, and the Mets would like to give him one to eliminate any lame-duck attachments to the final year of their manager's original three-year deal. — But neither side appears to be in much of a rush …
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Ken Davidoff / Newsday:
Valentin back in the fold — STAFF CORRESPONDENT; Staff writer David Lennon contributed to this notebook. — NAPLES, Fla. - The Mets are bringing back Jose Valentin, their pleasant surprise at second base, for 2007. But Valentin won't necessarily be the Mets' starting second baseman next year.
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com
Joe Frisaro / MLB.com:
Ramirez named NL Rookie of the Year — Hanley nips Zimmerman for BBWAA honor — MIAMI — To fully appreciate Hanley Ramirez's rookie season, some historical perspective is needed. — The gifted 22-year-old Marlins shortstop posted some first-year numbers that rival some of the game's all-time greats.
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Jason Beck / MLB.com:Verlander wins AL Rookie of the Year
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Associated Press:
Girardi returning to Yankees broadcast booth — NEW YORK — Joe Girardi's next move is back into the broadcast booth with the New York Yankees — rather than seeking another managing job. — Fired by the Florida Marlins after one season as their manager, Girardi will rejoin …
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Tales Of A Transplanted …
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Joe Capozzi / Palm Beach Post:
Marlins will talk, but not about Willis — NAPLES — If there Marlins make any trades this winter, chances are they'll tap their surplus of young pitchers. But don't expect Dontrelle Willis to be dangled as trade bait just yet. — Despite speculation that the Marlins left-hander could be moved …
Discussion:
Hot Foot
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Latest notes from the GM meetings — NAPLES, Fla. - Notes from the general managers' meetings: — How hot is free-agent right-hander Gil Meche? His agent, Casey Close, says that more than half of the teams in the majors have expressed interest in the pitcher, with about one-third …
Tom Krasovic / San Diego Union-Tribune:
Hoffman has Cy Young shot — Trevor Hoffman has a fighting chance of winning his first Cy Young Award today. Four of six voters polled said they listed Hoffman first on their three-deep ballot. — Thirty-two members of the Baseball Writers' Association of America cast votes at regular season's end.
Troy E. Renck / Denver Post:
Rockies retain Matsui with one-year contract — Naples, Fla. - The Naples Grand Resort bills itself as nouveau chic - smart, stylish and deeply inspired. That applies to the property, not baseball's 30 major-league general managers who filed out of the lobby wearing flowered Hawaiian shirts for a bowling tournament.
Discussion:
Purple Row
T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com:
Notes: Rangers' Matsuzaka bid in doubt — Offer for negotiating rights with Japanese star may fall short — ARLINGTON — Major League Baseball has not yet officially announced who has won the rights to negotiate with Japanese pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka. — But the Rangers are dealing …
