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, Over the Monster, The Musings and Prophecies …, MLB Trade Rumors, Wrigleyville23 and MLB Rumors
RELATED:
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
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
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.
RELATED:
Marty Noble / MLB.com:
Mets sign Schoeneweis, Sosa — Minaya says club may be done dealing after latest signings — 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
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.
RELATED:
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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Jack Etkin / Rocky Mountain News:
Rockies hit .800 in avoiding arbitration — Colorado signs four but team can't agree on deal with Fogg — The Rockies avoided arbitration with four players Tuesday only to receive an unexpected surprise with a fifth. — Left fielder Matt Holliday, with a 2007 salary of $4.4 million …
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Alyson Footer / MLB.com:
Lidge avoids arbitration by signing deal — Reliever to earn $5.35 million in 2007, plus incentives — HOUSTON — The Astros wiped another arbitration-eligible player off their "to sign" list when they inked closer Brad Lidge to a one-year deal worth $5.35 million on Tuesday.
Discussion:
The Crawfish Boxes
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Associated Press:
A's avoid arbitration with 1-year deals for Bradley, Scutaro, Calero — OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — The Oakland Athletics agreed to one-year contracts with outfielder Milton Bradley, infielder Marco Scutaro and right-hander Kiko Calero on Tuesday, avoiding arbitration for all three regulars.
Discussion:
Athletic Supporters
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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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.
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.
