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.
RELATED:
Michael Silverman / Boston Herald:
Manny and few remain: Lee signing tightens market — Now that the Houston Astros ponied up and paid $100 million yesterday to bring Carlos Lee into the fold for six seasons, Manny Ramirez for at least two more years at approximately $17 million per year is looking better than ever.
Discussion:
Talking Chop
Andrew Baggarly / Contra Costa Times:
Lee passes on Giants' big offer, goes to Astros — SAN FRANCISCO - The Giants swung and missed at another free agent, and this time they took the mightiest of cuts. — According to a well-placed source, they offered Carlos Lee what would have ranked as the largest contract in franchise history …
Roch Kubatko / Baltimore Sun:
$100M puts Lee in Astros' orbit as O's concede … Before the Orioles had a chance to write Carlos Lee's name into their lineup, they first had to draw a line. — What were they willing to spend on the free-agent outfielder? How much was too much? — Apparently, six years and $100 million was further than they wanted to go.
Tom Haudricourt / JSOnline:
Roberts to pick Giants over Brewers — thaudricourt@journalsentinel.com — It appears the Milwaukee Brewers have finished as the runner-up in the contest to sign free-agent centerfielder Dave Roberts. — Reports Friday out of San Francisco indicated that Roberts was prepared to sign a three-year contract with the Giants.
Discussion:
Brew Crew Ball
RELATED:
Henry Schulman / San Francisco Chronicle:
Aurilia, Roberts signings close Giants also looking at free agents Weathers, Loretta — Infielder Rich Aurilia is on the verge of returning to San Francisco, and outfielder Dave Roberts, a 2004 postseason hero in Boston, appears ready to join him. — According to major-league sources …
Gordon Edes / Boston Globe:
Progress made in talks between Drew and Sox — Length of deal is seen as one possible hurdle — Don't be deceived by the silence. The Red Sox are quietly but aggressively trying to close a deal for outfielder J.D. Drew, who opted out of the last three years and $33 million of his contract …
Discussion:
Can't Stop The Bleeding, Surviving Grady, BBTF's Baseball Primer …, Hot Foot and Lone Star Ball
Jordan Bastian / MLB.com:
Report: Jays close to deal with Barajas — Free-agent catcher could be introduced as early as Tuesday — The Blue Jays are reportedly closing in on a two-year deal with free-agent catcher Rod Barajas. According to the Toronto Globe and Mail, the contract could be worth between $5.5 million …
RELATED:
Jeff Blair / globesports.com:
Blue Jays close to signing Barajas — Rod Barajas is on the verge of becoming the Toronto Blue Jays' everyday catcher. — According to multiple sources, the Blue Jays are close to signing the 31-year-old free agent to a two-year contract worth between $5.5-million and $6-million …
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.
Phil Rogers / Chicago Tribune:
Garden of errors — White Sox need help in left, center after unproductive '0 — When the Detroit Tigers added Gary Sheffield, giving the defending American League pennant winners a 3-4-5 lineup of Ivan Rodriguez, Sheffield and Magglio Ordonez, White Sox general manager Ken Williams shrugged off this seeming improvement.
Geoff Baker / Seattle Times:
Prices high, prospects low for Mariners — This offseason already has proven nightmarish for major-league teams desperately needing to fill a starting rotation spot via free agency. — So, consider the sleep patterns of a Mariners squad actually trying to plug two gaping rotation holes …
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball
Bucco Blog:
Free Agent Money Spent By Team — Small market team fans I advise you to sit down before you read this post. — The median free agent salary and contract length for the first 28 players signed as of November 24th is: $21,520,357.14 over 2.6 years. The median age of the player is 33.
