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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Gordon Edes / Boston Globe:
Fact plus fiction, it's a great story — First of all, let's drop all talk of the "gyroball," the wonder pitch Daisuke Matsuzaka is said to throw. — He doesn't. No pro, here or in Japan, has been documented as throwing one. It's appeared only in anime, Japanese animation.
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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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.
Discussion:
MLB.com, CubsNet.com, St. Louis Cardinals Blog, Talking Chop, 1060west, GROTA, Chicago Cubs Blog and Cub Town
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Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Cubs bracing for busy off-season — NAPLES, Fla. - The Cubs, the most aggressive club at the general managers' meetings, are just getting started. — The team's ideal blueprint, according to new manager Lou Piniella, includes the addition of two more hitters and two starting pitchers.
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 …
Scott Miller / CBS SportsLine.com:Webb's Cy Young an example of reliever bias
Discussion:
AZ Snakepit
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
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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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."
Ed Sherman / Chicago Tribune:
Hall? Yeeesss! Well, maybe — Harrelson among those eligible for Frick consideration — Ken Harrelson isn't going to the Hall of Fame as a player, not with a .239 career batting average. But Harrelson could merit inclusion in Cooperstown as an announcer with a little help from his fans.
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!
