Top News:
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Blue Jays reach agreement with Clayton — The Blue Jays, acting to solidify their middle-infield defense, have reached agreement with free-agent shortstop Royce Clayton on a one-year, $1.5 million contract, FOXSports.com has learned. — The deal, which is pending a physical …
RELATED:
Rob Gillies / Associated Press:
Blue Jays: Barajas backed out after signing terms sheet — TORONTO (AP) — Blue Jays general manager J.P. Ricciardi claimed Wednesday that catcher Rod Barajas backed out of a deal with Toronto after signing a terms sheet with the team. — Toronto agreed to a $7.25 million …
Jordan Bastian / MLB.com:
Jays reportedly ink Clayton — Veteran shortstop said to receive one-year deal — TORONTO — The Blue Jays have reportedly signed free-agent shortstop Royce Clayton. According to online reports, Toronto and Clayton reached an agreement on a one-year deal worth $1.5 million on Wednesday.
Discussion:
The Baseball Files
Jordan Bastian / MLB.com:
Barajas signed deal before backing out — GM Ricciardi says catcher, Jays had 'more than a handshake' — TORONTO — As far as the Blue Jays were concerned, they had signed free-agent catcher Rod Barajas. After all, he had signed an agreement. — On Tuesday, Toronto general manager J.P. Ricciardi …
Michael Silverman / Boston Herald:
Complicated matter: Many sides to Sox trading Manny — The Red Sox are busy, busy, busy these days, weighing blockbuster trades (Manny Ramirez), negotiating across the Pacific Ocean (Daisuke Matsuzaka), crossing the T's and dotting the I's on a free agent mega-deal (J.D. Drew) …
Discussion:
The Feeding the Monster Blog
RELATED:
Chad Finn / Chad Finn's Touching All The Bases:
Say hello, wave goodbye — This time, I'm afraid, all the experts, insiders, and rumor pushers are right. Like one of his legendary moonshots toward the Mass Pike, Manny Ramirez is going, going, gone. — Now, unless this is your first visit to this warped corner of cyberspace …
Jeff Goldberg / Hartford Courant:
Lucchino Makes Trip To Far East — Confirms Offer To Matsuzaka — As the halfway point of their window to negotiate with pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka approaches, the Red Sox traveled halfway around the world to help facilitate an agreement. — Red Sox president Larry Lucchino met in Japan …
Discussion:
Boston Herald
Jimmy Golen / Associated Press:
Matsuzaka bid will stand — BOSTON (AP) — The Boston Red Sox cannot reduce their $51.1 million bid for Daisuke Matsuzaka in order to sign him, even if his Japanese team agrees to take less, baseball officials said Tuesday. — "There are no side deals in the situation," said Jimmie Lee Solomon …
Gordon Edes / Boston Globe:Sox, Drew close
Discussion:
Yanksfan vs Soxfan, The House That Dewey Built, Baseball Musings and Can't Stop The Bleeding
Jeff Horrigan / Boston Herald:Manny gets backing: Papelbon hopes team holds onto slugger
Discussion:
The Joy of Sox
Bucco Blog:
Kip Wells and Tidbits — Kip Wells signed with the Cardinals today. Good for the Kipper. Unfortunately, he won't be able to do much hunting in St. Louis so I wonder what he'll do in his off time? Kip's a great person and I wish him luck. — Wells had offers from the Astros and Rangers …
RELATED:
Fox Sports:
The worst deals this off-season ... so far — Baseball teams are in possession of a verdant and expansive grove of money trees. — What other explanation could there be for what we've seen transpire this winter? Baseball owners, showing the fiscal restraint of Dennis Kozlowski on a meth bender …
John Hickey / Seattle Post-Intelligencer:
Garcia re-registers on Mariners' radar — Price of pitchers in a dwindling pool improves Freddy's lot — The news just keeps getting worse for the Mariners. They haven't signed a free-agent starting pitcher, nor are they particularly close to doing so.
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Q&A with Nats president Stan Kasten — Free agency, Soriano, Winter Meetings among topics discussed — Despite all the money being spent on Major League free agents, Nationals president Stan Kasten has not wavered from his philosophy, which is rebuild the farm system.
Discussion:
Capitol Punishment
Jerry Crasnick / ESPN:
Phillies back out of deal with Borowski after physical … The Philadelphia Phillies backed away from a multiyear agreement with free-agent reliever Joe Borowski because of concerns over Borowski's shoulder after the pitcher took a physical, several baseball sources told ESPN.com.
Mark Healey / Gotham Baseball:
The Rumor Mill: Prelude to a Miss? — For much of the last two baseball seasons, there has been a lot of talk - and endless speculation — about the possibility of left-hander Barry Zito coming to New York. — With just a few days left before the start from MLB's Winter Meetings in Orlando …
Richard Durrett / Dallas Morning News:
Yankees outbid Rangers for Japanese pitcher — NEW YORK - The New York Yankees won the bidding for Japanese pitcher Kei Igawa when the Hanshin Tigers accepted their offer of just more than $26 million on Tuesday. — Igawa, a 27-year-old left-hander, could compete for a spot in New York's rotation next season.
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball
Florida Times Union:
As far as newcomers go, Jags win — You know what tomorrow is, right? — At precisely 4:12 p.m. Thursday, you should take your hands off the keyboard, lean back in your chair and raise your insulated coffee mug in commemoration of the seminal moment in Jacksonville sports history …
Discussion:
NY Mets Blog
