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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Nick Cafardo / Boston Globe:
Green light — For $51m, Sox get go-ahead on Matsuzaka — NAPLES, Fla. — What did the Red Sox accomplish in outbidding the Yankees and Mets, among others, for the rights to negotiate with Japanese ace Daisuke Matsuzaka? — "If they can sign him, they've got the best pitcher in the market …
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
Tyler Kepner / New York Times:Top Bid for Matsuzaka Gives Boston a Jolt of Life
Discussion:
Yanksfan vs Soxfan
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 …
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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.
Kevin Baxter / Miami Herald:
MLB's `highest priority' — With most stadium issues resolved, baseball president Bob DuPuy said: `We want to keep baseball in South Florida.' — NAPLES - With the Oakland Athletics having resolved their stadium situation by announcing plans Tuesday for a new ballpark in Northern California …
Discussion:
FishStripes
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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.
Joe Capozzi / Palm Beach Post:
MLB vows help with ballpark — NAPLES — With the Oakland Athletics set to build a ballpark in Fremont, Calif., Major League Baseball plans to concentrate on helping the Marlins get a new ballpark. — "We want to keep baseball in South Florida," Bob DuPuy, the league's president and chief operating officer, said Tuesday.
Discussion:
FishStripes
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:
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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Scott Miller / CBS SportsLine.com:Webb's Cy Young an example of reliever bias
Discussion:
AZ Snakepit
Tracy Ringolsby / Rocky Mountain News:
Jennings, Rockies talk, weigh options — NAPLES, Fla. - The Rockies are reaching a crossroads in their relationship with right-handed pitcher Jason Jennings. — The Rockies have begun talks with Jennings' agent about a multiyear contract extension. If no progress is made …
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MLB.com:
Scully chats with Dodgers fans — Vin Scully, the legendary broadcaster for the Los Angeles Dodgers, participated in a live chat on Nov. 14. The Hall of Famer spoke about the highlights of his career, Dodgers players, his most memorable ballplayer, and the move from Brooklyn to Los Angeles.
Discussion:
Dodger Thoughts
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NY Daily News:
Mets appear bit gun-shy — Slow to overpay — NAPLES, Fla. - Although by virtue of their $38 million posting bid the Mets clearly viewed Daisuke Matsuzaka as a No. 1-type starter, they now appear prepared to go to Plan B for their rotation next year and that is "strength in numbers."
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 …
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ESPN:
Giants pursuing NL hits leader Pierre … Here's the latest news from Jerry Crasnick at the GM meetings: — • The Phillies, looking to sign a pitcher from the second tier of free-agent starters, spoke with representatives for Adam Eaton on Tuesday in Naples.
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.
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!
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).
Discussion:
Hot Foot
