Top News:
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.
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Sports Illustrated:
Garciaparra and Dodgers agree to $18.5 million, two-year deal — LOS ANGELES (AP) -Six-time All-Star Nomar Garciaparra and the Los Angeles Dodgers agreed Monday to an $18.5 million, two-year contract. — The 33-year-old Garciaparra, the NL comeback player of the year …
Ken Peters / Associated Press:
Garciaparra signs; Dodgers court Pierre — LOS ANGELES - After ensuring Nomar Garciaparra would be back, the Los Angeles Dodgers turned their attention to free-agent center fielder Juan Pierre. — Garciaparra's $18.5 million, two-year contract was finalized on Monday by the Dodgers …
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 …
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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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
San Francisco Chronicle:
Soriano, Cubs near deal Giants not allowed to match $136 million offer, sources say — Free-agent Alfonso Soriano and the Chicago Cubs have reached a preliminary agreement on an eight-year contract worth about $136 million, a major-league official told the Associated Press on Sunday.
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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, Go Crazy, Folks!, The Baseball Zealot, WELCOME TO and Can't Stop The Bleeding
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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, U.S.S. Mariner and Baseball Musings
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.
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Joe Frisaro / MLB.com:
Marlins bolster 'pen with pair of trades — Fish acquire Lindstrom, Owens from Mets; Gregg from Angels — MIAMI — By pulling off a pair of trades on Monday afternoon, the Marlins better positioned themselves in their quest to reconstruct their bullpen. — In two separate deals …
Discussion:
BBTF's Baseball Primer …
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
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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
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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