Top News:
Tony Massarotti / Boston Herald:
Matsuzaka, Sox oceans apart — Talks could affect other deals — The Red Sox and Daisuke Matsuzaka still have nearly three weeks to come to terms on a contract, but preliminary indications are that the sides may have to overcome an initial gap as wide as the Pacific Ocean.
RELATED:
Jeff Zrebiec / Baltimore Sun:
Sources: O's agree to deal with Baez … The Orioles have struck out to this point in adding a slugger to the middle of their lineup, but they are having no such problems in overhauling their bullpen. According to club sources, the Orioles have agreed in principal to a three-year deal …
Henry Schulman / San Francisco Chronicle:
From Barry to ... Manny? Giants talking to Red Sox about a deal for Ramirez — As the Giants work to complete a three-year contract with center fielder Dave Roberts, they are talking to the Red Sox about acquiring one of Roberts' former teammates in Boston, a big fish named Manny Ramirez.
Hartford Courant:
Red Sox, Drew Close To Deal — The Red Sox might be within days of signing outfielder J.D. Drew, filling their need for a right fielder less than a week before the winter meetings begin in Orlando, Fla. — The Boston Globe and SI.com reported over the weekend that the Red Sox and Drew were close to an agreement.
Discussion:
Purple Row
Tony Massarotti / Boston Herald:
Not Manny outs left — If you believe actions are louder than words, then here is what the Los Angeles Angels said last week: They would rather have Gary Matthews in center field (with ample pitching) than Manny Ramirez in left (without), even if it means Matthews earning an average of $10 million over the next five seasons.
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Dodgers near deal with Wolf — The Dodgers, angling to protect themselves against the possible loss of free-agent right-hander Greg Maddux, are the front-runners to sign free-agent left-hander Randy Wolf, FOXSports.com has learned. — Maddux, 40, wants a two-year deal, major-league sources say …
RELATED:
Ken Mandel / MLB.com:
Reports: Wolf to sign with Dodgers — California native may have spurned bigger offers to head home — PHILADELPHIA — In the end, it might have come down to just wanting to go home for Randy Wolf. — Multiple published reports, citing unidentified sources, said late Sunday night …
Todd Zolecki / Centre Daily Times:
Wolf may sign with Dodgers — The lefty lives near L.A. and may take less money to go home. — The Phillies struck out on Alfonso Soriano, and now Randy Wolf. — Two baseball sources said yesterday that Wolf, a free agent who the Phillies hoped would fill the vacancy in their rotation …
Baseball America:
Detroit Tigers — Baseball America's Top 10 Prospects lists are based on projections of a player's long-term worth after discussions with scouting and player-development personnel. All players who haven't exceeded the major league rookie standards of 130 at-bats or 50 innings pitched (without regard to service time) are eligible.
Discussion:
The Detroit Tiger Weblog
David Gassko / Hardball Times:
Present Value — Damn. Eight years, $136 million? For Alfonso Soriano? What? — Those, approximately, were the first words to come out of my mouth after hearing about the Cubs signing the soon-to-be 31-year-old slugger. After a few offseasons of fiscal sanity …
Discussion:
Yanksfan vs Soxfan
Matt Eagan / Hartford Courant:
TheBigStory — Derek Jeter gets entirely too much credit for being Captain Intangibles and not enough for being one of the best offensive players of our generation. — Those who follow the Yankees only on YES know he is treated with the sort of reverence reserved for players of another era …
David O'Brien / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Glavine: Make a decision, already — This is a crappy blog I'm sending from the Las Vegas airport at about 9:40 p.m. Pacific Time on Sunday, before I catch a red-eye flight to the city of raised middle fingers. — OK, kidding _ about it being the city of raised fingers, not about this being a weak blog.
Discussion:
It's Outta Here!
John Erardi / Cincinnati.com:
Robinson: Vote no on Big Mac — Performance enhancers taint McGwire, others, Reds great says — Reds great Frank Robinson said this weekend at a card show at Moeller High School that Mark McGwire should not be elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
RELATED:
Joe Hamrahi / baseballdigestdaily.com:
Defensive Metrics: How Objective Data Can Support Subjective Evaluations — Each year the anticipation grows building up to the Gold Glove (GG) awards presentation. And each year, it seems, the awards announcement is shrouded in controversy and debate. You are almost certain to hear …
Marc Normandin / Amazin' Avenue:
Ben Johnson Profile — Posted on Sun Nov 26, 2006 at 02:45:52 PM EST — Last week the Mets sent Royce Ring and Heath Bell to the Padres in exchange for outfielder Ben Johnson and reliever Jon Adkins. Johnson is the most promising of the four players, and Marc Normandin of Beyond the Box Score …
Discussion:
Mike's Mets
