Top News:
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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Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Morneau's fine, but feel free to argue — I am fine with the choice of Twins first baseman Justin Morneau as American League MVP. I also would have been fine with the selection of Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter or Twins catcher Joe Mauer. The whole thing is completely subjective and debatable …
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball
Kelly Thesier / MLB.com:
Morneau upsets field in AL MVP race — Twins first baseman tops Jeter, Ortiz and Thomas — MINNEAPOLIS — Justin Morneau had some stiff competition when it came to earning American League Most Valuable Player honors, and that was just on his team. — But while the Twins had multiple candidates …
Discussion:
Baseball Musings, It's Outta Here!, The Joy of Sox, Mack Avenue Tigers, Lone Star Ball, Lookout Landing and A Red Sox Fan …
ESPN:
Morneau edges Jeter to win AL MVP — NEW YORK — Minnesota's Justin Morneau edged the New York Yankees' Derek Jeter to win the American League's Most Valuable Player Award on Tuesday. — Morneau received 15 first-place votes, eight seconds, three thirds and two fourths for 320 points …
Aaron / AaronGleeman.com:Countdown to Complain — The American League MVP gets handed out this afternoon.
T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com:
Rangers take step to fill leadoff spot — Catalanotto signs $13.3 million deal with former club — ARLINGTON — The Rangers realize that the chances of re-signing center fielder Gary Matthews are decreasing as the offseason goes along. — They still aren't sure who will play center field …
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball
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Dallas Morning News:
No bargains in free-agent shopping — You have undoubtedly looked at the paper or the Web site - or at least we in the newspaper industry all pray that you have - in the last couple of weeks and seen numbers that make you do spit takes. — Boston paid $51.1 million to talk, yes, just to talk, to Daisuke Matsuzaka.
Anthony McCarron / NY Daily News:
Picture Lilly back in Bronx — There is a theme to the Yankees' search for starters this winter, so much so that if they were placing a classified ad it would read, "Wanted: pitchers who can beat the Red Sox." — While this is a mandate in George Steinbrenner's world every year …
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Acta selects his coaching staff — Surrounds himself with 'a good mix of experienced people' — WASHINGTON — Manager Manny Acta added Rick Aponte, Pat Corrales, Jerry Morales, Mitchell Page and Tim Tolman to his coaching staff on Tuesday. — Corrales will be Acta's bench coach …
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MLB.com:
Nationals manager Manny Acta names 2007 coaching staff — The Washington Nationals today completed their 2007 coaching staff by hiring six gentlemen who bring energy, experience, familiarity and diverse baseball backgrounds to the club's dugout and clubhouse.
Discussion:
District of Baseball
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Happy days, indeed — Newest Cub loves Chicago, Piniella, leading off, outfield — When the Cubs celebrate the 100th anniversary of Wrigley Field in 2014, Alfonso Soriano should be entering the final year of his $136 million contract. — After signing his megadeal Monday morning at Wrigley …
Discussion:
GROTA
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Jerry Crasnick / ESPN:
Rockies, Francis agree to four-year, $13.25M deal … Pitcher Jeff Francis has reached agreement on a four-year, $13.25 million contract with the Colorado Rockies, a source told ESPN.com. The contract includes a fifth-year club option that could bring the total value of the deal to more than $20 million.
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StatsGuru / Baseball Musings:
Probabilistic Model of Range, First Basemen, 2006 — Here's how PMR ranks the first basemen: — Probabilistic Model of Range, First Basemen. Model is Based on 2006 Data Only. Minimum 1000 Balls in Play. — Player In Play Actual Outs Predicted Outs DER Predicted DER Difference — Kendry Morales
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StatsGuru / Baseball Musings:Probabilistic Model of Range, Centerfielders, 2006
Discussion:
Chronicles of the Lads
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.
Discussion:
Halos Heaven
Joe Sheehan / Baseball Prospectus:
At These Prices, Who Can Say No? — At this rate, there'll be nothing to talk about next month in Orlando. — Free agents have been reaching agreement on contracts at a pace that far surpasses anything we've seen in recent years. Alfonso Soriano is just the biggest and most recent one …
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Mike DiGiovanna / Los Angeles Times:
Q&A WITH ANGELS' JUSTIN SPEIER — Fresh off the signing of a four-year, $18-million contract with the Angels, right-handed reliever Justin Speier addressed his new deal and his role with his new team on a conference call with the Southern California media Tuesday.
Ken Gurnick / MLB.com:
Dodgers add three to 40-man roster — Pitching prospects Hull, Hammes, Megrew protected — LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers added pitchers Eric Hull, Zach Hammes and Mike Megrew to the 40-man roster Tuesday. — Hull, who will be 27 in December, is a 5-foot-11, 185-pound right-hander.
Joel Sherman / msgnetwork.com:
Jeter's MVP snub may be related to A-Rod — For years admirers of Derek Jeter have tried to persuade the detractors that there was more to the Yankee shortstop than any stat sheet could reveal. He was Mr. Intangible. Either you believed in such things and admired all that he brought …
