Top News:
Associated Press:
Red Sox's winning bid for Matsuzaka — $51.1 million — NAPLES, Fla. — The Boston Red Sox emerged Tuesday night as winners of the bidding for Daisuke Matsuzaka with a $51.1 million offer and have 30 days to sign the Japanese pitcher to a contract. — The Seibu Lions of Japan's Pacific League announced …
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Joel Sherman / New York Post:
THE RIGHT MOVES — YANKS NOT GETTING BURNED BY BOSOX HOT-STOVE PLAY — NAPLES, Fla. - So far, the Yankees have gotten the offseason right, which for them means they have gotten pitching right. — They turned two players they had no intention of keeping for 2007 - Gary Sheffield and Jaret Wright …
Jerry Crasnick / ESPN:
There's no turning back for Red Sox … NAPLES, Fla. — If Boston general manager Theo Epstein made one thing eminently clear at the Daisuke Matsuzaka press conference, it's that the Red Sox are a respectful bunch. — After confirming that Boston had won the rights to negotiate …
Associated Press:
Mets keep El Duque with two-year, $12M deal — NEW YORK — The New York Mets have so much confidence in 41-year-old Orlando Hernandez, they're ready to keep him for two more seasons. — Hernandez and the Mets agreed Tuesday to a $12 million, two-year contract, filling a spot in an aging …
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Associated Press:
D-Backs' Webb wins wide-open NL Cy Young race — NEW YORK — Brandon Webb of the Arizona Diamondbacks won a wide-open race for the NL Cy Young Award, beating out San Diego closer Trevor Hoffman on Tuesday. — One of six pitchers who tied for the league lead with a pedestrian total of 16 wins …
Lindsey Frazier / MLB.com:
Webb takes home NL Cy Young — Right-hander beats out Hoffman, Carpenter for honor — PHOENIX — Arizona right-hander Brandon Webb made his first All-Star appearance in 2006 and ran off a 30-inning scoreless streak. Now he has capped the year off with his greatest achievement.
Scott Miller / CBS SportsLine.com:Webb's Cy Young an example of reliever bias
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AZ Snakepit
Associated Press:
Nationals name former Mets coach Acta manager — WASHINGTON — Manny Acta began preparing to be a major league manager when he was the only kid with a catcher's mitt in his neighborhood back in the Dominican Republic. — "So I was like, 'I'm running the game, or I'm taking the glove away,' " Acta recalled Tuesday.
Discussion:
Washington Post
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Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Nationals turn to Acta, naturally — One-time coach with franchise returns as manager — WASHINGTON — The Nationals formally named Manny Acta their manager during a news conference at the Washington Square Building on Tuesday afternoon. He will wear No. 14, the same number he wore …
ESPN:
DeRosa cashes in on career year, to sign with Cubs — Mark DeRosa is poised to cash in on his career year. — The Chicago Cubs have reached an agreement on a three-year contract with DeRosa worth approximately $13 million, a team official familiar with the deal told ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney.
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Associated Press:
Roundup — Mariners sign Ordonez to minor-league contract — SEATTLE (AP) — Former major leaguers Rey Ordonez, Jesse Foppert and Tony Torcato were among nine players signed by the Seattle Mariners to minor league contracts Tuesday. — Ordonez, who hasn't played in the majors since 2004 …
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Paul Hoynes / PD Sports:
D-Rays win rights to Iwamura — News, notes and quotes from the general managers meetings at the Naples Grande Resort and club. — * It appears Tampa Bay has won the bidding right for Japanese third baseman Akinori Iwamura. The Devil Rays reportedly outbid the Indians, San Diego and Boston for the left-handed hitter.
USA Today:
Boras is baseball's bigger deal man — Bob Nightengale, USA TODAY — NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. — Los Angeles Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti is screaming insults on the telephone. The Japanese media are demanding the whereabouts of major league-bound pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka.
Discussion:
It's Outta Here!
NY Daily News:
Hey, no 'Shea'? That's an error — You mean they're actually doing it, after all? They're tossing the name of Shea Stadium in the trash and replacing it with "Citi Field"? — I object! What a rude thing to do in this city and what an insult this is to Bill Shea.
Discussion:
the metropolitans
Mark Healey / Gotham Baseball:
The Rumor Mill: Meeting Your Expectations — Both have been hard at work after their respective teams were ousted from the postseason, and both face a long several weeks of work before Christmas Day (and in Cashman's case, there's no guarantee that the Big Stein will give him that day off).
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Hot Foot
