Top News:
Joe Strauss / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Negotiations heat up to bring back Weaver — The Cardinals could still use another starting pitcher. — Jeff Weaver could use a team. — What appeared to be a long-shot re-signing as recently as two weeks ago now appears to be the defending World Series champions' final offseason priority.
RELATED:
John Beamer / Hardball Times:
Did the Rocket win St Louis the World Series? — If you read the THT mailbag last Wednesday you probably noticed Anthony Weekley's question asking whether the Astros would have made the postseason had Clemens returned at the start of the season rather than waiting until June 22.
Jeff Horrigan / Boston Herald:
Sox still plan to make a pitch for Rocket — The Red Sox [team stats] arguably will have the strongest starting rotation in the American League heading into spring training, but that will not preclude them from pursuing Roger Clemens one more time. — Owner John W. Henry confirmed …
Discussion:
Dodger Thoughts, Lone Star Ball, Peter's Red Sox Forever, Ben Maller's Sports … and MLB Trade Rumors
Bob Klapisch / NorthJersey.com:
Mets' skipper deserves better — This was early December, after the gloomy haze of the Mets' playoff loss to the Cardinals had evaporated. The organization was compiling its 2007 to-do list, which included signing Willie Randolph to a multiyear contract extension.
Discussion:
The Eddie Kranepool Society
Childs Walker / Baltimore Sun:
WBAL: O's wanted control of shows … The Orioles wanted creative control of all pre- and post-game programming on WBAL Radio (1090 AM), and the station's objection to that was a major reason its 19-year relationship with the club ended, said WBAL vice president and station manager Jeff Beauchamp.
Dejan Kovacevic / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Nuttings' stake grew bid by bid — Gradual buyout of partners led to control of Pirates — Pirates CEO Kevin McClatchy and chairman of the board Bob Nutting discuss the "change of control" within the Pirates. — The Pirates' ownership is not the most open of operations.
Sal Baxamusa / Hardball Times:
Inside Job (Part 2) — I goofed! In last week's look at the short inside-the-park home runs of 2006, I noted the "standard distance" of home runs rather than the "true distance." According to Hit Tracker, the standard distance is corrected for wind, temperature, and altitude.
NY Daily News:
Big Mac breaks silence on Hall of Fame snub — Mark McGwire had little to say about being left out of Cooperstown in his first public comments since the Hall of Fame announcement. — The former slugger talked briefly to the Cal State Fullerton student newspaper, the Daily Titan …
Discussion:
the metropolitans
RELATED:
Marc Stein / ESPN:
Pistons win sweepstakes, will sign Webber Tuesday … Chris Webber is going home. — Literally. — Webber told ESPN.com on Monday via e-mail that he has chosen to sign with the Detroit Pistons, which will officially happen Tuesday after he clears waivers at 2 p.m. ET.
Discussion:
I've Made a Huge Tiny Mistake
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
New-look Cubs ready to make rounds — Fans to get an earful about all the changes — The Cubs come out of hibernation this week for the annual off-season spinfest known as the Cubs Convention, hoping to assure a shell-shocked fan base that last year's 96-loss disaster won't be repeated.
Barry Jackson / Miami Herald:
Marlins make moves, plan others — Checking out what's percolating in center field, the bullpen and elsewhere with Marlins spring training five weeks away: — • General manager Larry Beinfest believes free agent pickup Alex Sanchez has a realistic chance to win the starting spot in center field …
Discussion:
FishStripes, The Good Phight, We Should Be GM's, Ben Maller's Sports …, MLB Trade Rumors and Baseball Musings
Bill Center / San Diego Union-Tribune:
Padres give two Greenes some green — The Padres' future got Greener yesterday. — Not only did the club avoid arbitration by reaching a one-season contract agreement with shortstop Khalil Greene, the Padres signed catcher Todd Greene to a minor league contract.
Jon Paul Morosi / Detroit Free Press:
Prospects are trade bait — Pitchers vie for shot in big leagues — Of course, Jordan Tata and Virgil Vasquez talked about it. How could they not? Scouts were there, scrutinizing their Arizona Fall League games, serving as reminders that the planning and plotting of the baseball off-season was under way.
