Top News:
NY Daily News:
The Barry next thing — With Glavine iffy, Mets zoom in on Zito — The very real possibility of Tom Glavine going back home to Atlanta to finish his Hall of Fame career with the Braves has got the Mets in full pursuit of Barry Zito. And while they continue to take a public stance of hoping …
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Nick Cafardo / Boston Globe:
Gonzalez heads to Reds as Sox angle for catcher — While the Red Sox were losing shortstop Alex Gonzalez, who agreed to a three-year deal worth $14 million-$15 million with the Cincinnati Reds, they were close to signing 35-year-old veteran catcher Alberto Castillo to a minor league deal …
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball
Nick Cafardo / Boston Globe:
Checking the shopping lists — Tigers finish up early; others just starting — There aren't many teams that can say their offseason pursuits have been concluded before Thanksgiving, but the Detroit Tigers are one. — "We're pretty well set," said Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski …
ESPN:
Angels to add Jays' Speier to already deep bullpen — The Angels are set to add another arm to their already deep bullpen Sunday. — ESPN's Peter Gammons is reporting that Los Angeles agreed to a four-year contract with Justin Speier, formerly of the Toronto Blue Jays.
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors, Can't Stop The Bleeding, Batter's Box Interactive …, DRays Bay, Let's Go Tribe and Hot Foot
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Dan Connolly / Baltimore Sun:
Agent: O's in mix for Speier … Free-agent right-hander Justin Speier would like to sign a new contract soon and the Orioles are "right there in the mix," according to his agent, Chris Arnold. — Arnold said Speier, considered one of the best relievers on the open market, has narrowed his suitors to …
Peter Botte / NY Daily News:
Holy Moises! — Alou, Mets near 1-year deal — The Mets aren't getting any younger, but their offseason work is steadily moving toward completion. — In another sign that top prospect Lastings Milledge could be dangled as trade bait for a front-line starter, veteran outfielder Moises Alou …
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Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Reds reinforce bullpen with Stanton — The Reds, moving to reinforce their bullpen, have reached agreement on a two-year contract with free-agent left-hander Mike Stanton, FOXSports.com has learned. — The deal, pending a physical, will include a vesting option for a third season.
Discussion:
Redleg Nation
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Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Cubs close to landing Soriano — The Cubs are on the verge of signing free-agent outfielder Alfonso Soriano, FOXSports.com has learned. — Soriano, 30, is believed to be seeking an eight-year deal for approximately $17 million per season, which could put the total value of his package in the range of $135 million.
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
Murray Chass / New York Times:
Managing Jobs: Recycling Seems Color Coded — With the managerial hiring season completed, Major League Baseball's scorecard on minority hiring will not win it any awards. — Three members of minorities, two Hispanics and one black, were hired for the 2007 season after three minority managers …
Tom Haudricourt / JSOnline:
Yost picks Sveum as bench coach — Team needs first, third base coaches — thaudricourt@journalsentinel.com — Milwaukee Brewers manager Ned Yost didn't have to look far to find his next bench coach. — Yost, who hopes to fill the remaining vacancies on his staff this week …
Discussion:
Brew Crew Ball
Todd Zolecki / Philly.com:
Howard Aims for a Second Best — Time hasn't made the experience any less of a blur or any less surreal. — It still seems like a whirlwind. — "You had a bang to start your career," former Baltimore Orioles shortstop Cal Ripken Jr. said in a telephone interview Thursday.
Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
Yankees Begin Retreat From Winning at All Costs — Consider, for a moment, the case of Ted Lilly, a free-agent pitcher from the Toronto Blue Jays. — He is 30 years old, left-handed and won 15 games last season for the team that finished second to the Yankees in the American League East.
Alan Schwarz / New York Times:
When Being Medium Is No Mean Feat — It is baseball's award season, with headlines and hardware bestowed upon each league's best rookie, pitcher and what-not. Tomorrow and Tuesday will bring the ever-anticipated Most Valuable Player awards, the season's ultimate prizes …
