Top News:
Toni Ginnetti / Chicago Sun Times:
Cubs coup, Cubs coup — Hendry lands top free agent as Soriano agrees in principle to 8-year, $136M deal — Cubs general manager Jim Hendry has reeled in the biggest fish in baseball's free-agent pond at an unprecedented total price tag for the franchise.
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Steve Henson / Los Angeles Times:
Dodgers glad to have Garciaparra in the fold — The 33-year-old gets a two-year deal for $18 million after L.A. refuses to match Cubs' offer to Soriano of $136 million for eight years. — Not that Nomar Garciaparra was plucked off the bargain rack, but the Dodgers felt fortunate to finish up a two-year …
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Cubs open wallet for Soriano — Cubs yank power-hitting Soriano off market with a $136 million contract — The Cubs did their best imitation of the New York Yankees on Sunday, making free-agent outfielder Alfonso Soriano an offer he couldn't refuse. — Soriano, the biggest name on the market …
Discussion:
The Cub Reporter, Bleed Cubbie Blue, The Crawfish Boxes, CubsNet.com, 1060west, Just A Nats Fan and Lone Star Ball
Murray Chass / New York Times:
Deal for Soriano Signals New Ownership for Cubs — News reports in recent weeks have indicated that the Tribune Company may sell its newspapers and its baseball team. A deal the Cubs have concluded with a free agent lends credence to that likelihood. If Tribune intended to hold onto the Chicago Cubs …
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.
Discussion:
Associated Press, GROTA, Royals Review, The Detroit Tiger Weblog, 1060west, MiracleMets.net, Baseball Musings, Bucco Blog, Go Crazy, Folks!, Balls, Sticks, & Stuff, The Cub Reporter, Lone Star Ball, Bucs Dugout, The View From The Bleachers, The Beltway Boys, Can't Stop The Bleeding, Talksox, True Blue LA, Where have you gone …, Phillies Nation, Bless You Boys and Cub Town
Mike DiGiovanna / Los Angeles Times:
Angels land Speier in $18-million deal — Veteran right-hander was 2-0 with a 2.98 earned-run average in 58 games for the Toronto Blue Jays last season, limiting opponents to a .235 average. — The Angels swung and missed again in an effort to bolster their offense, but they made solid contact Sunday …
Carrie Muskat / MLB.com:
Cubs close to huge deal with Soriano — Contract reported to be eight years, $135 million for free agent — CHICAGO — The Cubs appear to have landed one of the biggest free-agent names on the market, reportedly signing outfielder Alfonso Soriano to an eight-year, $135 million contract.
NY Daily News:
Mets, Glavine face freedom deadline — Tom Glavine will get the chance to talk contract with the Braves as a free agent as early as today, when the Mets must announce their expected decision to decline his $14 million contract option before midnight tonight.
Discussion:
Talking Chop
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Ben Shpigel / New York Times:
Mets' Free-Agent Pursuits Await a Decision by Glavine — True to form, the Mets have worked swiftly so far this off-season. They have locked in on a player, nabbed him with a hefty contract and then crossed that need off their list. But with Tom Glavine, the Mets have little control.
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com
David Lennon / Newsday:
Alou likely to get 1 year, over $8M — The Mets spent yesterday working on the final details of a contract for free-agent outfielder Moises Alou, with an announcement expected early this week. — After discussing a two-year deal with Alou, primarily to compete with his other suitors …
Evan Grant / Dallas Morning News:
Rangers bring back Catalanotto — Pending a physical, Frank Catalanotto will return to the Rangers after a four-year absence. — Catalanotto, 32, has agreed to a three-year deal with a club option for a fourth year, two baseball sources said Sunday. The only thing standing in the way is a physical …
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball
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Associated Press:
Dodgers to bring back Garciaparra for two more years — LOS ANGELES — Nomar Garciaparra is staying with the Los Angeles Dodgers, agreeing to a two-year contract. — The deal with the All-Star first baseman will be formally announced Monday, Dodgers spokesman Joe Jareck said Sunday night.
Mark Healey / Gotham Baseball:
Going Nine: The Road to Orlando — The recently concluded GM meetings were more active than in recent years, and the results are just starting to resonate throughout baseball. — It was a time to talk business amongst adversaries before the more-attention getting Winter Meetings …
Joe Kay / Associated Press:
Reds reach tentative agreement with Stanton — CINCINNATI (AP) — Left-handed reliever Mike Stanton has reached a tentative, two-year agreement with the Cincinnati Reds, a person familiar with the discussions said on Sunday. — Stanton, 39, played for Washington and San Francisco last season …
Discussion:
Metsquire
Associated Press:
Speier Agrees to Terms With Angels — ANAHEIM, Calif. — Reliever Justin Speier agreed to terms of a four-year contract Sunday with the Los Angeles Angels, who will become his seventh major league club. — The deal, worth about $18 million, is contingent on the 33-year-old free agent passing a physical.
Discussion:
FishStripes
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