Top News:
Mike DiGiovanna / Los Angeles Times:
Matthews is the centerpiece — After failing to land a slugger, Angels sign the slick-fielding outfielder to a five-year, $50-million contract. He might bat leadoff. — The Angels, convinced Gary Matthews Jr., won't be a one-year wonder, signed the free-agent center fielder to a five-year …
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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 …
Associated Press:
Cashing in — Matthews agrees to five-year, $50M deal with Angels — ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Gary Matthews Jr. had a tough decision, choosing between the Los Angeles Angels and San Francisco Giants. — Family won out. — Matthews, whose 7-year-old son lives in nearby Santa Monica …
Discussion:
Only Baseball Matters
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
Dean Chiungos / MLB.com:
Holiday Inn award honors utility pair — Eckstein, Inge named Look Again Players of the Year — An unheralded irony exists in a strange parallel between the film industry and the game of baseball. — In the movies, the year's best supporting actor gets an Oscar just for playing a role over a finite period of time.
Discussion:
FIRE JOE MORGAN
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Spencer Fordin / MLB.com:
Orioles ink Walker to three-year deal — Left-hander completes physical; veteran Parrish re-signs — BALTIMORE — The Orioles confirmed a long-standing rumor Tuesday when they announced that they had signed left-handed reliever Jamie Walker to a three-year contract worth $12 million.
Discussion:
The Crawfish Boxes
Roch Kubatko / Baltimore Sun:
Orioles go to bat in hunt for Lee … The competition for free-agent outfielder Carlos Lee appears to be down to three teams, including the Orioles, and the slugger could make a decision by the weekend. — The Orioles, Houston Astros and Philadelphia Phillies are viewed as the most serious bidders for Lee …
Discussion:
SportsJustice
ESPN:
Type A behavior — Justin Speier has 17 career saves in 459 outings in a career mostly spent in middle relief, and for that, he got a four-year, $18 million deal from the Angels. Ted Lilly, on the other hand, is 37-34 as a starting pitcher in the American League East the last three seasons …
Associated Press:
Colangelo confirms interest in buying Cubs — CHICAGO — Former Arizona Diamondbacks owner Jerry Colangelo would be interested buying the Chicago Cubs if Tribune Co. puts his hometown franchise up for sale. — Colangelo, chairman of the NBA's Phoenix Suns and former controlling owner …
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.
Associated Press:
Dodgers shell out $45 million for light-hitting Pierre — CBS SportsLine.com wire reports — LOS ANGELES — Center fielder Juan Pierre and the Los Angeles Dodgers finalized a five-year contract worth about $45 million on Wednesday, giving the team additional speed at the top of the lineup.
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
Tom Van Riper / Forbes:
A Modest Baseball Proposal — Would Microsoft pay an overseas competitor $26 billion just for the right to talk to one of its software engineers about a job? Not likely. Any board parting with 9% of its company's market value for an individual would face a lynch mob at the next shareholder meeting.
Yankees Chick:
And The MVP Award Goes to Derek Jeter! Justin MorNO HE DIDN'T! — "I didn't win?! FINE! I'M OUTTA HERE!" — In a world where a team with the most intimidating batting lineup I've seen in my lifetime cannot make it out of the first round of the playoffs and a scowling pitcher can be DFA …
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