Top News:
ESPN:
Report: Cubs agree to $136M deal with Soriano … CHICAGO — The Chicago Cubs' ownership is showing new manager Lou Piniella that they are serious about winning. — Chicago radio station ESPN 1000 reported Sunday that the Cubs have agreed to an eight-year contract worth approximately $136 million with outfielder Alfonso Soriano.
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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.
Rick Gano / Associated Press:
Report: Cubs land Soriano … CHICAGO // Free agent Alfonso Soriano and the Chicago Cubs have reached a preliminary agreement on an eight-year contract worth about $136 million, a major league official told The Associated Press on Sunday. — The deal is contingent on Soriano passing a physical …
Barry Svrluga / Washington Post:
Soriano, Cubs Agree to 8-Year, $136 Million Deal — Deal Contingent on Physical; Could Be Announced as Early as Monday — Washington Nationals outfielder Alfonso Soriano has agreed to an eight-year, $136-million contract with the Chicago Cubs, according to two major league sources …
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Angels ink Speier to deal — Francisco Rodriguez, Scot Shields and now Justin Speier. — The Angels, adding to one of the game's top bullpens, have agreed with Speier on a four-year, $18 million free-agent contract, FOXSports.com has learned. — The length of the contract …
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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, True Blue LA, Tribe Report, Can't Stop The Bleeding, DRays Bay, Let's Go Tribe and Hot Foot
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 …
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
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
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball
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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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 …
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 …
