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.
Discussion:
Associated Press, GROTA, Royals Review, The Detroit Tiger Weblog, MiracleMets.net, Baseball Musings, Bucco Blog, Lone Star Ball, Go Crazy, Folks!, The Cub Reporter, Bucs Dugout, Balls, Sticks, & Stuff, The View From The Bleachers, The Beltway Boys, Can't Stop The Bleeding, True Blue LA, Where have you gone …, Phillies Nation, Bless You Boys and Cub Town
RELATED ITEMS:
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, 1060west, The Crawfish Boxes, CubsNet.com, Just A Nats Fan and Lone Star Ball
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.
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:
Baseball Musings, Cincinnati Reds, Brew Crew Ball, Capitol Punishment and MLB Trade Rumors
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Nationals to move on without Soriano — Free-agent outfielder agrees to eight-year contract with Cubs — WASHINGTON — Left fielder Alfonso Soriano often talked about how much he wanted to stay with the Nationals because of the friendships he made and how comfortable he was in Washington, but his future now will be in Chicago.
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 …
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 …
RELATED ITEMS:
Peter Botte / NY Daily News:
Holy Moises! — Alou, Mets near 1-year deal
Holy Moises! — Alou, Mets near 1-year deal
Discussion:
Chicks Dig The Pitchers' Duel
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
RELATED ITEMS:
T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com:
Catalanotto comes back to Rangers — Veteran agrees to three-year, $13M deal pending physical — ARLINGTON — The Rangers have an agreement with free-agent outfielder Frank Catalanotto on a three-year contract worth $13 million plus a club option for a fourth year, according to club officials.
Discussion:
Bucs Dugout
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.
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
RELATED ITEMS:
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 …