Top News:
Associated Press:
Japan's baseball owners looking for ways to keep talent from leaving — CBS SportsLine.com wire reports — TOKYO — Japan's baseball owners are looking for ways to reduce the talent drain to the major leagues. — Under Japanese baseball rules, a player cannot become a free agent until …
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
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Murray Chass / New York Times:
Yanks Hope to Get a Jump in China — The Yankees are coming, the Yankees are coming. That's what the Chinese are shouting in China today because the Yankees are heading there in their latest international exploration. Vasco da Gama and Magellan had nothing on them.
Discussion:
MY BASEBALL BIAS, Pinstripe Alley, Bronx Banter, Baseball Musings and The Biz of Baseball
Jim Allen / yomiuri.co.jp:
SPECIAL REPORT: Talent pool left shallow by lack of leagues — The times have certainly changed since 1995, when Hideo Nomo left Japan for the majors and was branded a traitor by the baseball establishment. Although Nomo left through a loophole, movement of Japanese stars to the majors is now an accepted part of the game.
Marty Noble / MLB.com:
Mets, Randolph agree to new deal — Manager to get three-year contract with a club option for 2010 — NEW YORK — In the moments of exalt that followed the Mets' elimination of the Dodgers from the postseason in October, Willie Randolph spoke about how much he enjoyed watching his players celebrate.
Discussion:
SportsWorldNY
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Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Pirates near two-year deal with Sanchez — Team also in talks with free-agent pitcher Jeff Weaver — By Dejan Kovacevic, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette — The Pirates and National League batting champion Freddy Sanchez are close to agreement on a two-year contract.
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Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Pirates add concerts to thick list of promotions — Fans' response leads to some adjustments — By Dejan Kovacevic, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette — The Pirates' 2007 promotional schedule, released yesterday, will include five bobblehead giveaways, six fireworks nights, three SkyBlast shows and the introduction of postgame concerts.
Discussion:
MY BASEBALL BIAS
Adam Rubin / NY Mets Blog:
The Wit and Wisdom of Cliff Floyd — I sure hope Moises Alou knows how to talk, because we're losing a great, quotable guy with Cliff Floyd signing with the Cubs. My all-time favorite Floyd quotes: — "Things just ain't looking bright. You have to find a bright spot.
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Brian Borawski / Hardball Times:
Business of Baseball Report — MLB Close to Deal With DirecTV Over Extra Innings — In a somewhat surprising move, MLB is close to an agreement with DirecTV that would give the satellite television company an exclusive agreement for the league's Extra Innings baseball package.
Discussion:
Al's Ramblings
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Dave Studeman / Hardball Times:
Historical WSAB: 41 through 80 — Last week, I presented a ranking of everyday players based on a new twist on Win Shares: Win Shares Above Bench. I believe this is a definite improvement over basic Win Shares (as discussed last week). Although it's not perfect, it's pretty darn good for ranking the all-time best.
Scott Merkin / MLB.com:
Focused Thome looks ahead to 500 — Slugger acknowledges landmark while preparing to stay strong — PEORIA, Ill. — Jim Thome looks ahead at his illustrious baseball career and quickly realizes there are more years in baseball behind him than ahead of him.
John Hickey / Seattle Post-Intelligencer:
Mariners Notebook: Felix looking fit; Hargrove fired up — Hernandez set for spring after losing 20 pounds — The Mariners showed off a trimmed-down Felix Hernandez and a newly fired-up manager Mike Hargrove on Wednesday at their annual pre-spring training media get-together.
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
Ken Davidoff / Newsday:
Low price could mean Zambrano returns — The Mets, aware that their starting rotation is replete with questions, hope to sign one more low-cost free-agent starting pitcher, a person familiar with the situation said yesterday. Victor Zambrano, best known for being on the wrong side …
Gordon Edes / Boston Globe:
There's a mound of candidates for bullpen — The Red Sox now have nine relievers under contract after avoiding arbitration with Brendan Donnelly, who agreed to a one-year, $1.4 million deal Tuesday. Under terms of the contract, Donnelly is to receive an additional $25,000 for 25 games finished and $25,000 for 30 games finished.
Barry Svrluga / Washington Post:
Nats Proceed With Caution — Sitting earlier this week at a forum at his alma mater, Washington Nationals owner Theodore Lerner likened his family's first year at the helm of the District's Major League Baseball franchise to freshman year at college, full of unexpected experiences and adjustments.
Associated Press:
Tigers agree to minor league deal with LHP Eischen — DETROIT (AP) — The Detroit Tigers agreed to terms with left-hander Joey Eischen on a minor league contract Thursday. — The Tigers also have invited catcher Dusty Ryan to major league camp in Lakeland, Fla., where pitchers and catchers are to report Feb. 15.
Discussion:
TigerBlog
Michael Silverman / Boston Herald:
Sox make Cash call for backup — Playing the role of Ken Huckaby as the Red Sox [team stats]' backup to the backup catcher this year will be Kevin Cash, who signed a Triple-A deal with Pawtucket, the Red Sox announced yesterday. — Cash, 29, received an invitation to spring training …
