Top News:
ESPN:
Source: Astros sign Lee to six-year, $100M deal — Carlos Lee is staying in Texas, but not with the Rangers. — A source told ESPN's Jayson Stark that the Houston Astros were set to announce Friday afternoon that they have signed the free-agent slugger to a six-year, $100 million deal.
Discussion:
Mack Avenue Tigers, DRays Bay, Sports Frog, Where have you gone …, Lookout Landing and Hot Foot
RELATED:
Jim Molony / MLB.com:
Astros reportedly reel in Lee — Veteran slugger to ink six-year deal with Houston — HOUSTON — Free-agent slugger Carlos Lee has agreed to terms on a six-year contract with the Houston Astros, according to a Houston television station. — KRIV-TV, citing Major League Baseball sources …
baseballthinkfactory.org:
Two Texas Teams Lasso Leftfielders — Texas Rangers - Signed OF Frank Catalanotto to a 3-year, $13.5 million contract. — Houston Astros - Reportedly have signed OF Carlos Lee to a 6-year, $90 million contract. — Carlos Lee's a better player, but if you're telling me that …
Associated Press:
Astros sign Carlos Lee to 6-year deal — HOUSTON —Outfielder Carlos Lee, one of the top free agents on the market, has signed with the Houston Astros, a source close to the negotiations said Friday. — Lee signed a six-year, $100 million deal with the Astros, the source told The Associated Press.
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
Rocky Mountain News:
Ringolsby: Non-elite players are now big deal — The offseason headlines have gone to Boston's $51.1 million bid for the chance to try to sign Japanese right-hander Daisuke Matsuzaka; the Cubs' eight-year, $136 million deal with outfielder Alfonso Soriano, and the pending free-agent frenzy for left-hander Barry Zito.
RELATED:
Janie McCauley / Associated Press:
Pat Dobson, former 20-game winner with Orioles, dies at 64 — SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Pat Dobson was part of an illustrious pitching staff in Baltimore and a savvy scouting department with the San Francisco Giants, touching everyone from Earl Weaver to Brian Sabean along the way.
USA Today:
Former Orioles pitcher Pat Dobson dies — Staff and wire reports — Pat Dobson, 64, special assistant to San Francisco Giants general manager Brian Sabean, died Wednesday after being diagnosed a day earlier with leukemia, his wife, Kathe Dobson, said. — Dobson, best known in baseball …
Jack Curry / New York Times:
Bat Maker Wants to Sell Company on His Terms — Sam Holman started making maple baseball bats in his garage in Ottawa 10 years ago because he was trying to win a bar challenge. Holman wanted to prove to a baseball scout that a bat made from the wood of a rock maple tree would be more durable …
Anthony McCarron / NY Daily News:
Ready for Long haul — New Yank hitting coach can't wait to get started — Spring training is still months away, but Kevin Long already has begun work in his new job as the Yankees' hitting coach. He has had lunch with Alex Rodriguez to plan an offseason routine and will visit A-Rod …
Discussion:
Pride of the Yankees
Sean McAdam / ESPN:
Current market could spark flurry of trades — The free-agent spending spree is roughly only a week old, and already, the deals are staggering. Alfonso Soriano got $136 million. Aramis Ramirez got $75 million. J.D. Drew is looking for $56 million. Frank Thomas got $18 million.
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
Fox Sports:
Market watch: Best, worst free agents — So this year's free-agent frenzy is about to get cranking. — We've already seen a couple of major signings, and the intrigue is only going to increase as the days go by. To give you some additional perspective on the forthcoming frenzy …
Discussion:
It's Outta Here!
