Top News:
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:
Andrew Baggarly / Mercury News:
Lee is latest bat to spurn Giants — SOURCE: CONTRACT WOULD HAVE BEEN TEAM RECORD — 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 …
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 …
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.
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 …
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
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.
Steve Gilbert / MLB.com:
D-backs pull off six-player swap — Arizona nets two pitchers and outfielder from Brewers — PHOENIX — The D-backs acquired pitchers Doug Davis and Dana Eveland along with outfielder Dave Krynzel from the Brewers on Saturday in exchange for catcher Johnny Estrada and pitchers Claudio Vargas and Greg Aquino.
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball
RELATED:
Joe Hamrahi / Baseball Digest Daily Blog:
Brewers - D-Backs Pull Off Big Swap — The Milwaukee Brewers today acquired C Johnny Estrada, RHP Claudio Vargas and RHP Greg Aquino from the Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange for LHP Doug Davis, LHP Dana Eveland and OF David Krynzel. — Estrada, 30, finished his sixth Major League season in October …
Adam McCalvy / MLB.com:
Brewers swing six-player deal — Former All-Star Estrada coming to Milwaukee from Arizona — MILWAUKEE — Unable to keep up with the recent free agent spending spree, the Brewers instead swung a six-player trade with the Arizona Diamondbacks on Saturday and added three players likely to play major roles with the big-league club.
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 …, Lone Star Ball and Hot Foot
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:
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.
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.
