Top News:
Janie McCauley / Associated Press:
Giants agree to terms with second baseman Durham — The San Francisco Giants and Ray Durham agreed to a two-year contract Friday that will pay the second baseman between $14 million and $15 million. — The 35-year-old Durham, a switch-hitter and two-time All-Star, is coming off his best season in years.
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Henry Schulman / San Francisco Chronicle:
Giants said to be after Bengie Molina — With Mike Matheny a longshot to overcome his post-concussion syndrome and play in 2007, major-league sources said the Giants are in serious negotiations to sign free-agent catcher Bengie Molina, a 32-year-old who played for Toronto in 2006 after seven seasons with the Angels.
Yahoo! Sports:
Mets re-sign LHP Glavine to one-year deal — FLUSHING, NEW YORK (TICKER) — The New York Mets may not have ace righthander Pedro Martinez for at least half of the 2007 season. But ace lefthander Tom Glavine will be back. — Glavine on Friday signed a one-year contract worth $10.5 million with the Mets.
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ESPN:
Source: Glavine, Mets reach 1-year, $11 million deal … The New York Mets may not have ace righthander Pedro Martinez for at least half of the 2007 season. But ace lefthander Tom Glavine will be back. — Glavine on Friday agreed to a one-year contract with the Mets.
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Glavine, Mets agree on one-year, $10.5M deal — So much for the romantic notion of free-agent left-hander Tom Glavine returning to the Braves. — Glavine is returning to the Mets on a one-year, $10.5 million contract, FOXSports.com has learned. — The deal includes a vesting option …
Corey Brock / MLB.com:
Mariners looking into Thomson — Seattle requests medical files on free-agent right-hander — SEATTLE — In their pursuit to add starting pitching, the Mariners are believed to be targeting former Braves right-hander John Thomson. — Sources have confirmed that the Mariners have had contact …
Discussion:
U.S.S. Mariner
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Richard Sandomir / New York Times:
Merely Talking to Japan's Best Is Big Business — Mediocre athletes rarely leave a legacy, but Hideki Irabu, the Japanese right-hander, did. And it was for more than being called a fat toad by George Steinbrenner when Irabu misplayed a ground ball in spring training in 1999 …
Discussion:
Pride of the Yankees
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Scott Merkin / MLB.com:
Sox ink Podsednik to one-year deal — Speedy outfielder avoids arbitration by signing for $2.9 million — CHICAGO — The White Sox search for an upgrade at the leadoff slot in their potent lineup appears to have been solved by a familiar face from within their own organization.
Discussion:
The Bard's Room
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Dave van Dyck / Chicago Tribune:
Sox re-sign Pods for '07 — Disdaining the high-priced free agent market, the White Sox re-signed left fielder Scott Podsednik to a one year, $2.9 million contract. — What to do with the leadoff hitter, whose statistics fell off this summer from the 2005 championship season, was one of the main priorities of early winter.
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Padres won't trade Peavy in possible Manny deal — The Padres will not include right-hander Jake Peavy in a trade for Red Sox left fielder Manny Ramirez, according to a source with knowledge of the discussions. — In fact, the source says, talks between the teams have cooled in recent days …
Sports Illustrated:
Winter Meetings storylines — Manny widens his wish list; Bonds, Zito and more — Also in this column: — This baseball offseason was supposed to be a dud. But we already have two $100 million contracts. And heading into the annual Winter Meetings next week at Disney World …
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Gordon Edes / Boston Globe:Sox: Nixon in '07? — Team may offer him arbitration
Discussion:
Providence Journal, Yanksfan vs Soxfan, Chad Finn's Touching …, MetsBlog.com, A Red Sox Fan … and The Soxaholix
Jordan Bastian / MLB.com:
Competition for Lilly heating up — Lefty has received offer from Cubs; Jays still in the mix — TORONTO — The race for Ted Lilly's services is heating up. According to Lilly's agent, Larry O'Brien, the Chicago Cubs have put a four-year deal on the table in an attempt to lure the free-agent starter to the National League.
Rick Morrissey / Chicago Tribune:
Big Mac won't get a taste of Hall of Fame — Mark McGwire has as much chance of making the Baseball Hall of Fame as I do of making the Hip Hop Hall of Fame. — Hmmmm ... DJ Jazzy Rick? Nah. I can't rap, let alone rhyme, busta. And McGwire can't dance around the fact he refused …
Sean McAdam / ESPN:
Small-market teams know their limitations — Think of the winter meetings, which begin Monday in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., as a giant shopping mall. — At one end, there are the high-end department and luxury stores where most big-market general managers will head in search of expensive gifts, their credit is practically unlimited.
Discussion:
Bad Altitude
