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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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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.
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 …
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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.
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Baseball Musings, Cincinnati Reds, Brew Crew Ball, Capitol Punishment and MLB Trade Rumors
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 …
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 …
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Capitol Punishment
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.
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FishStripes
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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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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 …
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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.
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Bucs Dugout
Eduardo A. Encina / St. Petersburg Times:
Big-league outlook a big 'who knows' — NAPLES - We don't know much about Akinori Iwamura, the Japanese third baseman the Rays have until Dec. 15 to sign after winning his negotiating rights with a $4.5-million bid last week. — Iwamura, 27, has been compared to White Sox second baseman Tadahito Iguchi …
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 …
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Lone Star Ball
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