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 …
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Hot Stove Report: A Baby-Bear Market — Before he hooked arguably the biggest fish in the free-agent pond Sunday, Chicago Cubs general manager Jim Hendry told reporters at last week's meetings in Naples, Fla., what was prompting his assertive plunge into free agency. — It wasn't just the Cubs' worst-in-the-league finish.
Discussion:
Redbird Ramblings
ESPN:
Howard beats out Pujols to win NL MVP award — Ryan Howard won the NL Rookie of the Year Award in his first season. He topped that in his second season by winning the MVP award. — After being named the top rookie in 2005, Howard elevated his performance to a new level in 2006.
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Ken Mandel / MLB.com:
Howard's huge year nets him NL MVP — Phils slugger led Majors in homers, RBIs in first full season — PHILADELPHIA — The sheer force of Ryan Howard's gargantuan home runs cannot accurately be measured in speed or total distance, only by the gasps from those watching such a spectacle.
Discussion:
Viva El Birdos, Amazin' Avenue, Can't Stop The Bleeding, WELCOME TO and Baseball Musings
Ronald Blum / Associated Press:
Howard wins NL MVP award — NEW YORK (AP) — Ryan Howard of the Philadelphia Phillies was voted the National League's Most Valuable Player on Monday after leading the majors in home runs and RBIs, beating out the St. Louis Cardinals' Albert Pujols for the honor.
ESPN:
The missing piece? Mets ink Alou to one-year deal — The New York Mets have signed free agent outfielder Moises Alou to a one-year, $7.5 million contract with a club option for 2008, the team announced Monday. — The son of former San Francisco manager Felipe Alou …
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Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Dodgers closing in on Pierre; Roberts on move? — The Dodgers are close to signing free-agent center fielder Juan Pierre, possibly paving the way for free-agent outfielder Dave Roberts to sign with the Giants, Brewers or Rangers, FOXSports.com has learned. — The Orioles are on the fringes …
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T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com:
Mailbag: Free agent comings and goings — Bagwell, Nixon, Pujols, Jennings even Ryan, on fans' minds … We could have re-signed Mark DeRosa for similar money that we are paying Frank Catalanotto. Why? What is the logic here and does it signal the end of Gary Matthews Jr.'s stay with Texas?
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Ken Gurnick / MLB.com:
Garciaparra returns to Dodgers — Veteran agrees to two-year contract with Los Angeles — LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers on Monday will announce the re-signing of National League Comeback Player of the Year Nomar Garciaparra to a two-year contract. — Already looking for one power hitter …
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John Hickey / Seattle Post-Intelligencer:
Mariners may join Igawa sweepstakes today — The official first day of posting for Japanese left-handed pitcher Kei Igawa is today, and the Mariners could be among those bidding. — General manager Bill Bavasi won't say one way or another, but club sources indicate Seattle is leaning toward getting …
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David Leonhardt / New York Times:He's a Star, a Free Agent and, Rarer Yet, Only 26
Discussion:
The Feeding the Monster Blog
MLB.com:
Cubs add two to the 40-man roster — The Chicago Cubs have announced that the club has added right-handed pitcher Rocky Cherry and left-handed pitcher Clayton Rapada to their 40-man roster. The Cubs' 40-man roster now stands at 40 players. — Cherry, 27, spent the majority of the 2006 season …
Discussion:
The Cub Reporter
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
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com
MLB.com:
Mets acquire left-handed pitchers Jason Vargas and Adam Bostick from Florida — The New York Mets today acquired two, 23-year-old lefthanded pitchers, Jason Vargas and Adam Bostick from the Florida Marlins in exchange for a pair of righthanded pitchers, Henry Owens and Matt Lindstrom.
Bill Chastain / MLB.com:
Devil Rays add three to 40-man roster — Waechter removed to make room for Dukes, Johnson, Talbot — ST. PETERSBURG — Three players were added to the Devil Rays' 40-man roster Monday, but in doing so, the Rays removed right-hander Doug Waechter, leaving him available for other teams to claim.
Discussion:
DRays Bay
Maury Brown / Baseball Prospectus:
The Ledger Domain — The Sale of the Cubs — Within the industry, the Cubs are something of a mystery. They are the happy residents ensconced within the game's great jewel, Wrigley Field; they are seen by millions via WGN; they have money to burn. For all that, they've had little to show for it since 1908.
MLB.com:
Royals acquire catcher Jason LaRue from Reds — Kansas City sends Minor League player to be named to Cincinnati — KANSAS CITY - - The Kansas City Royals have acquired catcher Jason LaRue from the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for a minor league player to be named, Royals Senior Vice President …
Discussion:
BBTF's Baseball Primer …
