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.
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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
Nick Cafardo / Boston Globe:
Drew, Red Sox continue negotiating contract — It was Dec. 5, at about 6:45 p.m., in the lobby of The Dolphin Hotel in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., when Scott Boras announced that J.D. Drew had agreed to a five-year, $70 million deal with the Red Sox. Today is Jan. 17, 2007.
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Tom Timmermann / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Series afterglow shines brightly at BBWAA dinner — RYAN HOWARD Phillies slugger gets MVP award. — RICK HUMMEL Baseball columnist receives an ovation. — CHRIS CARPENTER Kile Award winner reflects on Cards' title. — A year ago at the annual baseball writers dinner …
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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.
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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 …
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
Phil Sheridan / Centre Daily Times:
Will it be enough to heat up the super-cool Pat Burrell? — There isn't much chance the Phillies deliberately attempted to add energy and attitude to their roster by emulating the Eagles' mid-season resurgence. — So it's mere coincidence the Phillies traded for Freddy Garcia …
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Marcus Hayes / Philly.com:
Time to step up for some Phillies — THE FEEL-GOOD stories of the past three Phillies seasons are poised to take the next step - toward long-term, cornerstone status. — For Shane Victorino, his 2006 season marked a breakout year that led the Phillies to count on him as a solid outfielder …
Murray Chass / New York Times:
Unsigned Bonds Awaits Further Review — Six weeks after they agreed to terms on new contracts, Barry Bonds and J. D. Drew remain unsigned. Bonds hasn't signed with the Giants; Drew hasn't signed with the Red Sox. That prompts a thought. If both contracts were to fall through …
Dave Sheinin / Washington Post:
Nats, Snelling Agree; Other Deals Pending — The Washington Nationals agreed to a one-year, $450,000 contract with newly acquired outfielder Chris Snelling yesterday, thus avoiding an arbitration hearing with one of their six eligible players. However, none of the others is expected …
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Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Pirates, Sanchez far apart in arbitration — Gonzalez, Nady sign, but five others exchange salary figures — By Dejan Kovacevic, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette — The Pirates avoided arbitration with closer Mike Gonzalez and first baseman/outfielder Xavier Nady by agreeing to one-year contracts yesterday …
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ESPN:
Boston's Wily Mo quandary — Wily Mo Pena is eligible for arbitration, and the Red Sox are dealing with that. They are also dealing with the reality that Pena, an extraordinary talent who cannot improve if he doesn't get some at-bats, won't have a clear avenue to get at-bats consistently this year.
Discussion:
Fire Brand of the …
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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
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.
David O'Brien / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Big pay boost for LaRoche — Braves, first baseman $900K apart in arbitration offers — Adam LaRoche's career-best performance in 2006 helped earn the Braves first baseman what will amount to about a 700-percent raise for the upcoming season. — LaRoche asked for $3.7 million …
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
