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 …
RELATED ITEMS:
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 …
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.
Sports Illustrated:
Red Sox win battle for Matsuzaka with $51 million bid — NARITA, Japan (AP) -Japanese pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka was "relieved'' to hear the Boston Red Sox had won the bidding battle to negotiate a $51.1 million offer for him to play in the major leagues. — "I was very surprised when I heard …
Michael Silverman / Boston Herald:
Sox win bidding war — $51.11M to talk to pitcher Matsuzaka — NAPLES, Fla. - The battle to spring Daisuke Matsuzaka free from Japan was won by the Red Sox last night for a cool 6 billion yen. — Now, they have until Dec. 15 to forge a long-term contract with super-agent Scott Boras on a rich …
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."
Discussion:
Tales Of A Transplanted …
RELATED ITEMS:
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.
Ben Shpigel / New York Times:
Mets Retain Father Figure and Ignore Father Time — The Mets are investing $12 million through 2008 in a pitcher many believe to be 41 years old. But for them, 40 is the new 30. With Tom Glavine still expected to be re-signed, the Mets locked up Orlando Hernández on Tuesday in a deal teetering between risky and creative.
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Acta named manager of Nationals — One-time coach with franchise returns as skipper — WASHINGTON — The Nationals formally named Manny Acta their manager on Tuesday. — The Washington position will be Acta's first managerial job in the Major Leagues.
RELATED ITEMS:
Barry Svrluga / Washington Post:Incoming Acta Has Outgoing Style
Discussion:
MLB.com, Washington Times, Capitol Punishment, District of Baseball and William F. Yurasko
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 …
RELATED ITEMS:
Chris De Luca / Chicago Sun Times:
Cubs want to put Soriano front and center — Had the Cubs failed to step up Sunday and meet Aramis Ramirez's demands, the Los Angeles Angels likely would have held a news conference today to introduce their new power-hitting third baseman with a seven-year, $100 million-plus contract.
RELATED ITEMS:
NY Daily News:
Yanks heed Moose call — NAPLES, Fla. - While the Yankees lost out on Japanese pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka last night, their talks with Mike Mussina are "in the red zone," according to the pitcher's agent, Arn Tellem. — "It's moving along," Tellem added. "We're doing well."
Discussion:
Bronx Banter
RELATED ITEMS:
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 …
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
RELATED ITEMS:
Bill Plaschke / Los Angeles Times:
Contrite Beimel wants to mend shattered hearts — Any day now, the tattoo will be carefully needled into his upper right arm. — Don't tell Joe Beimel he's crazy, because he's not changing his mind. Of all the strange things that have happened to him in the last couple of months, nothing makes more sense.
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
Joel Sherman / New York Post:
BOMBERS SHOULD REVERSE ROCKET, PETTITTE MIGRATION — There had been a feeling around the majors that if Clemens returned for the 2007 season, he wanted to complete a full-circle journey with the Red Sox. It is possible, though, now that the likely addition of Matsuzaka would financially preclude Boston from exacting that reunion.
