Top News:
Enrique Rojas / ESPN:
Sources: Rangers offer minor league deal to Sosa … The Texas Rangers have offered Sammy Sosa a minor league contract and invited him to spring training, where the veteran slugger would have the chance to make the major league club, a source told ESPNdeportes.com Tuesday.
Discussion:
Bucs Dugout, The Musings and Prophecies …, MLB Trade Rumors, Wrigleyville23 and MLB Rumors
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Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Sosa gets an offer from Rangers — The Rangers' decision to pursue outfielder Sammy Sosa wasn't based on his workout for club officials Monday in Arlington, Texas. — His actual audition occurred approximately two weeks ago, when Sosa displayed his skills to Rangers scout Don Welke in the Dominican Republic.
Discussion:
The Baseball Zealot
Richard Durrett / Dallas Morning News:
Rangers offer Sosa minor league deal — Sammy Sosa may get a chance to show the Rangers he's capable of playing in the major leagues again. — Rangers general manager Jon Daniels confirmed that the club has offered Sosa a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training.
Marty Noble / MLB.com:
Mets sign Schoeneweis, Sosa — Chavez also agrees to one-year deal to avoid arbitration — NEW YORK — The Mets are finished. That's it for them. They're done. — The acquisition of Jorge Sosa says so, and so does their general manager — kind of.
Discussion:
Take the 7 Train
Associated Press:
Big names seek big bucks in arbitration — NEW YORK (AP) - Chicago Cubs pitcher Carlos Zambrano asked for a raise to $15.5 million while batting champions Joe Mauer and Freddy Sanchez also sought big hikes in salary arbitration Tuesday. — AL MVP Justin Morneau and Florida star Miguel Cabrera looked …
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
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Carrie Muskat / MLB.com:
Cubs notes: Ohman signs two-year deal — Jones to be honored by high school alma mater on Friday — CHICAGO — The Cubs avoided arbitration with Will Ohman, signing the left-hander to a two-year, $2.5 million deal on Tuesday, and exchanged figures with Carlos Zambrano and Mark Prior, who are seeking raises.
Associated Press:
Zambrano asks for $15.5 million in arbitration; Ohman agrees to $2.5 million, 2-year contract — CHICAGO (AP) -Cubs right-hander Carlos Zambrano sought $15.5 million in salary next season, while the Chicago Cubs asked Mark Prior to take a pay cut in arbitration figures submitted on Tuesday.
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Pitching still a major concern for most teams — Major league teams have increased their spending to outrageous new levels, and for what? — The free-agent market is nearly dry, spring training is a month away and a significant number of teams are still worried about their starting pitching.
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
RELATED:
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Could Wells end up a Blue Jay again? — Complete Story Version While the Padres remain the overwhelming favorites to sign free-agent left-hander David Wells, the pitcher also is drawing interest from the Blue Jays, another of his former clubs. — The Jays would like to sign Wells …
Jordan Bastian / MLB.com:
Toronto exchanges figures with three — Rios, Johnson, Downs remaining arbitration-eligible Jays — TORONTO — J.P. Ricciardi has never gone to arbitration with a player in his tenure as Toronto's general manager. He currently is three contracts away from keeping that streak alive.
Discussion:
Batter's Box Interactive …
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Pirates agree to contracts with Gonzalez, Nady — By Dejan Kovacevic, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette — The Pirates today reached agreement on one-year contracts with closer Mike Gonzalez and first baseman/outfielder Xavier Nady, leaving them with five arbitration-eligible players …
Discussion:
Where have you gone …
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Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
The All-Star Game has changed since its last visit here — The last time the baseball All-Star Game was played in St. Louis, in 1966, Allan H. "Bud" Selig was neither an owner nor a commissioner. — Selig, the current Major League Baseball commissioner and former owner of the Milwaukee Brewers …
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Buster Olney / ESPN:
Sources: Yankee Stadium to host '08 All-Star Game … Yankee Stadium will be the site of the 2008 All-Star Game, sources in baseball said, in the last year of the ballpark. — The new Yankee Stadium is scheduled to open in 2009, and old Yankee Stadium closed, 86 years after the ballpark …
Ken Mandel / MLB.com:
Phillies, Rowand agree to one-year deal — Infielder Utley, pitchers Myers, Geary headed to arbitration — PHILADELPHIA — While Aaron Rowand avoided an arbitration hearing by agreeing to a one-year, $4.35 million contract on Tuesday, the same can't be said about Chase Utley, Brett Myers or Geoff Geary.
RELATED:
John Delcos / The LoHud Mets blog:
January 16: Minaya conference call — Just got off the phone with Omar Minaya, and here's what's going on: — Scott Schoeneweis is signed. Minaya said he's a ground ball pitcher and would fill the same role as Chad Bradford from last year. Schoeneweis gives the Mets two lefty options in the eighth …
RELATED:
Sports Illustrated:
Devil Rays' Dukes charged with possession of marijuana — TAMPA, Fla. (AP) -Tampa Bay Devil Rays prospect Elijah Dukes was arrested this week and charged with misdemeanor marijuana possession after a traffic stop. — The 22-year-old Dukes, who lives in nearby Brandon …
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Angel Bucks / MLB.com:
Angels sign Rodriguez and Shields to one-year contracts — Club also signs Robb Quinlan to a two-year deal — ANAHEIM, Calif. — The Angels Tuesday agreed to terms on one-year contracts through 2007 with right-handed pitchers Francisco Rodriguez and Scot Shields.
RELATED:
Jason Dearen / Associated Press:
A's owner outlines new ballpark plans in first public meeting — FREMONT, Calif. (AP) — Oakland Athletics co-owner Lew Wolff invoked visions of Boston's Fenway Park and Chicago's Wrigley Field as he outlined an ambitious development plan for a new ballpark Tuesday.
Jeff Zrebiec / Baltimore Sun:
Orioles submit arbitration figures … The Orioles submitted arbitration figures to the commissioner's office before Tuesday's deadline for their three eligible players, including second baseman Brian Roberts, whom the club still hopes to sign to a contract extension.
Discussion:
Camden Chat
David Laurila / Baseball Prospectus:
Prospectus Q&A — Bill James — Bill James is the author of many books, including The New Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract, and Whatever Happened to the Hall of Fame. … David Laurila: What are your thoughts on this year's Hall of Fame voting? — Bill James: Well, Gwynn and Ripken are obvious Hall of Famers.
