Top News:
Marty Noble / MLB.com:
Mets acquire pair of lefties from Marlins — New York trades Owens, Lindstrom for Vargas, Bostick — NEW YORK — The Mets got what they wanted Monday — a left-handed starting pitcher from the Marlins. And it didn't cost them Aaron Heilman or Lastings Milledge.
RELATED ITEMS:
Peter Botte / NY Daily News:
Alou in, Glavine inches out — Moises Alou officially became a member of the Mets yesterday, but Tom Glavine may have moved a step closer to leaving Flushing and returning to the Braves. — In keeping with his transaction-a-day approach over the last week, Omar Minaya finally announced …
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com
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 …
Ben Shpigel / New York Times:
Alou Signs 1-Year Deal to Play Left for Mets — The Mets' front office could not contain its excitement after signing Moises Alou, so some members spread the news among the players. Pedro Martínez and Carlos Delgado received telephone calls, as did Billy Wagner, Carlos Beltrán and a few others.
Discussion:
Archie Bunker's Army
Jerry Crasnick / ESPN:
Source: Dodgers, CF Pierre agree to five-year deal … Free agent center fielder Juan Pierre has agreed to a five-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers, a source told ESPN.com on Monday. The deal is believed to be worth $44-45 million. — The deal will become complete when Pierre passes a physical exam, the source said.
RELATED ITEMS:
Steve Henson / Los Angeles Times:
Pierre, Dodgers close in on deal — Sources say the club and the center fielder have agreed to terms on a five-year contract believed to be worth about $44 million. — With the free-agent landscape for power hitters becoming increasingly bleak, the Dodgers moved quickly to obtain speed …
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Soriano says wanting to win led to exit — Former Nats slugger reiterates he enjoyed time in Washington — WASHINGTON — Left fielder Alfonso Soriano said on Monday that remaining with the Nationals was his top priority, but he decided to sign an eight-year, $136 million contract with the Cubs instead.
RELATED ITEMS:
Rick Gano / Associated Press:
Soriano, Cubs agree to $136 million, 8-year deal — CHICAGO (AP) — Serious about winning, the Chicago Cubs have become big spenders and have agreed with Alfonso Soriano on the richest contract in club history. — A blend of power and speed, and just the fourth player in major league history …
Ed Eagle / MLB.com:
Bucs make 40-man roster adjustments — Three make first appearance for Rule 5 Draft protection — PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Pirates announced their 40-man roster late on Monday night, just prior to the midnight ET deadline for rosters to be submitted.
RELATED ITEMS:
Jason Beck / MLB.com:
Vasquez final piece of Tigers' roster — Inclusion on 40-man list protects right-hander from Rule 5 Draft — DETROIT — The Tigers finalized their 40-man roster on Monday. They just happened to do it with 39 players. — By purchasing the contract of right-hander Virgil Vasquez from Triple-A Toledo …
Discussion:
Bless You Boys
Anthony Castrovince / MLB.com:
Francisco, Martin added to roster — Pair joins 40-man slate to be protected from Rule 5 Draft — CLEVELAND — Under the terms of the old collective bargaining agreement, the Indians would have had no shortage of top-tier prospects needing to be placed on the club's 40-man roster to be protected from the Dec. 7 Rule 5 Draft.
Discussion:
Tribe Report
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.
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley, Philadelphia Will Do, The700Level.com, The Griddle, MetsBlog.com and Baseball Musings
RELATED ITEMS:
Ken Mandel / MLB.com:Howard's huge year nets him NL MVP
Discussion:
Viva El Birdos, Go Crazy, Folks!, Amazin' Avenue, The Baseball Zealot, WELCOME TO and Can't Stop The Bleeding
Gordon Edes / Boston Globe:
Pitcher gets taste of the US — Sox brass flies out to dine with Matsuzaka — From the team that made a working dinner out of Thanksgiving (Curt Schilling) and conducted high-wire negotiations on a Dominican airport tarmac (Pedro Martínez) comes news of another potentially portentous meeting …
Thomas Boswell / Washington Post:
National Pastime Getting World Serious — On my desk, as a reminder of baseball's biggest trend, sits the hat of the team that could claim it was world champ this year. The cap does not say "St. Louis." It reads "Japan," the country that beat Cuba to win the World Baseball Classic in March.
Discussion:
William F. Yurasko
Associated Press:
Yankees, Mussina agree on two-year, $23M deal — NEW YORK — Mike Mussina and the New York Yankees reached a preliminary agreement Monday on a $23 million, two-year contract. — Mussina is scheduled to take a physical Tuesday that would allow the deal to be finalized.
Discussion:
Bronx Banter
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cards cut Bigbie, add 4 to roster — Outfielder Larry Bigbie's injury-riddled, frustrated and brief time with the Cardinals likely ended Monday as the team requested release waivers on him as part of a handful of moves. Bigbie missed all but 25 at-bats of the season because of various injuries …
Discussion:
Viva El Birdos
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?
RELATED ITEMS:
