Top News:
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Angels sign Gary Matthews Jr. for $50 million — In yet another eye-popping free-agent signing, the Angels have reached agreement with center fielder Gary Matthews Jr. on a five-year, $50 million contract, FOXSports.com has learned. — The 32-year-old Matthews, who still must pass a physical …
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Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
D-Rays have what other teams want — Think the Red Sox's Manny Ramirez is a bargain with only two years left on his contract? Discerning shoppers on the trade market should check out the Devil Rays' stash. — Left fielder Carl Crawford is signed for $27.5 million over the next four years, including two club options.
Mike Scarr / MLB.com:
Angels, Matthews agree to five-year deal — Switch-hitting outfielder cashes in with $50 million contract — The Angels landed a centerpiece for their holiday table with the addition of free agent Gary Matthews Jr. on Wednesday. — Matthews agreed to a five-year, $50 million deal …
John Nadel / Associated Press:
Speier gets 'dream job' with Angels — ANAHEIM, Calif. — Justin Speier thinks general managers around the majors realize more than ever the importance of a strong bullpen. That concept landed the 33-year-old right-hander a four-year, $18 million contract with the Los Angeles Angels.
Discussion:
Lookout Landing
Mike DiGiovanna / Los Angeles Times:
Angels high on Matthews' list — The Angels have emerged as the favorites to land free-agent center fielder Gary Matthews Jr., whose career year with the Texas Rangers has put him in line for a four- or five-year deal that will probably net him at least $10 million a year.
Mike DiGiovanna / Los Angeles Times: Angels agree to deal with Gary Matthews, five years for $50 million
Mike DiGiovanna / Los Angeles Times:Q&A WITH ANGELS' JUSTIN SPEIER
Discussion:
Chronicles of the Lads
Aaron / AaronGleeman.com:
MVP! MVP! MVP? — Yesterday afternoon I got an instant message from someone whose job allows them to know such things before everyone else, telling me that Justin Morneau was about to be named the American League MVP in a couple hours. I was certainly very surprised …
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Tim Marchman / New York Sun:
Another MVP Foolishly Given To the Guy With All the RBI — The selection, announced yesterday, of Minnesota first baseman Justin Morneau as the American League's Most Valuable Player is dumb and indefensible, good evidence of why no one takes baseball writers seriously.
Discussion:
Always Amazin'
Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
Morneau Wins M.V.P. Over Jeter in Close Vote — Last month, Derek Jeter hit .500 in the division series but could not stop the Yankees from losing. On Saturday, he watched helplessly from the sideline as his favorite college football team, Michigan, lost at Ohio State. — Yesterday brought another letdown.
Tracy Ringolsby / Rocky Mountain News:
Francis' four-year deal is in line with Rockies' long-term plan — The Rockies have taken the next step in their efforts to sign up their homegrown players and create long-term cost certainty by reaching a contract agreement with left-handed starter Jeff Francis.
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Denver Post:
Rockies reward Francis with four-year contract — Lanky lefty Jeff Francis, one of the poster boys of the Rockies' youth movement, should be around long enough to see if the club's strategy pans out. — The Rockies and Francis agreed in principle Tuesday to a four-year contract worth $13.25 million.
Discussion:
Bad Altitude
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Up next at pay window — Zambrano figures to benefit from Soriano deal with Cubs — The second-happiest Cub, after Alfonso Soriano, is probably Carlos Zambrano. — Soriano scored big with his $136 million contract and Zambrano stands to become the next beneficiary of general manager Jim Hendry's spending spree.
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Jeff Schultz / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Time right to return to Glavine — Four years ago, the split made sense. Tom Glavine was 36. He was coming off a playoff fizzle. He wanted one last fat contract, and there was a team in New York (duh) willing to give it to him. — Glavine's negotiations with the Braves began …
Discussion:
It's Outta Here!
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The Big Lead:
Michael Irvin Does His Best Jimmy the Greek Impression on the Dan Patrick Show — Once the suits at ESPN hear the latest garbage to emit from Michael Irvin's mouth, Christmas may come early for NFL fans who have long grown tired of his idiotic shtick: Maybe they'll fire his ass.
Barry Svrluga / Washington Post:
Acta Completes His Staff — Nats Manager Adds Ex-Skipper Corrales, Retains Page — Manny Acta officially filled out his coaching staff for his first season as the Washington Nationals' manager yesterday, hiring former major league manager Pat Corrales as his bench coach on a staff …
Discussion:
District of Baseball
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Murray Chass / New York Times:
Moment Is Right for Miller to Move From Ballot to Hall — The 110-page booklet arrived in the mail the other day. Its list of recipients is an exclusive group, the 84 members of the veterans committee of the Hall of Fame. The booklet contains biographies of 27 former players and the 15 men …
Dave NewhouseSTAFF / insideBayArea:
La Russa looks at variety of subjects — Cardinals' run to title, steroids, best player he has coached — ALAMO — The view from the top of baseball's mountain: Tony La Russa enjoying a strawberry smoothie on a Sunday morning at Starbucks. — But La Russa feels as high as Mt. Diablo at the moment …
Discussion:
Luck O' The Redbirds
Dan Shaughnessy / Boston Globe:
Sox should make move on Manny — Rats. I was pretty sure Manny Ramírez was going to win the MVP award. Too bad he was topped by winner Justin Morneau, runner-up Derek Jeter, David Ortiz, and an ensemble cast of American League worthies. — Here in Red Sox Nation …
Discussion:
Surviving Grady
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David Lennon / Newsday:
Floyd has no hard feelings — Cliff Floyd's stay with the Mets ended without a phone call Monday when general manager Omar Minaya officially introduced Moises Alou as the team's new leftfielder. — As much as Floyd enjoyed the Mets' turnaround over the last two years, and hoped for a return to Flushing …
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com
