Top News:
Jeff Zrebiec / Baltimore Sun:
Orioles, Bedard stall on contract — Talks on extension cool, but aren't over — Contract extension talks between the Orioles and Erik Bedard stalled yesterday, increasing the likelihood that team officials will spend part of next week's winter meetings contemplating trade offers for the ace left-hander.
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Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Angels could make run at Santana — LIKE THIS STORY? — The Angels' trade for Jon Garland and signing of Torii Hunter both were stunners. The acquisition of Johan Santana would qualify as an even bigger surprise. — The team's payroll currently is $123 million, according to a club source.
Jack Curry / New York Times:
It's Not About Money in Pettitte Wait — Seven weeks after Andy Pettitte's season ended with the Yankees, he is no closer to deciding if he will return and pitch for them again next season. Tom Pettitte, Andy's father, said yesterday that Pettitte has not determined if he will retire …
Associated Press:
Mets GM says he won't trade Reyes — NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Mets need pitching and they'd love to land Johan Santana. Not enough to trade star shortstop Jose Reyes, though. — "Jose Reyes is one of our core players," general manager Omar Minaya said Thursday.
Boston Globe:
Sox, Twins make some pitches — Santana talks are starting to heat up — Two-time Cy Young Award winner Johan Santana went 15-13 with 235 strikeouts for the Twins last season. (FILE/TONY DEJAK/Associated Press) — Though Jon Lester expressed a desire to remain with the Red Sox …
Jack Curry / New York Times:
Yankees and Red Sox Competing for Santana — The Yankees and the Boston Red Sox have been competing on and off the field for more than a century. So it is not surprising that the teams are now feverishly competing to acquire Johan Santana, the elite left-handed pitcher from the Minnesota Twins.
Troy E. Renck / Denver Post:
Torrealba signs deal for two years, option — The Rockies don't know what's on second after losing out on Kazuo Matsui and Mark Loretta, but are certain of who their catcher will be. Yorvit Torrealba's boomerang free-agent tour ended Thursday as he returned to the Rockies, signing a two-year …
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Jose De Jesus Ortiz / Houston Chronicle:
Astros set to sign 2B Kaz Matsui — Barring some unforeseen developments, the Astros will sign free-agent second baseman Kazuo Matsui, a person with knowledge of the negotiations confirmed to the Chron-icle. — The Chicago Cubs and Colorado Rockies, his current team, also have coveted Matsui.
Bruce Miles / Daily Herald:
Report: Astros beat Cubs to Matsui — Did the Houston Astros steal a free agent away from the Cubs or save the Cubs from themselves? — That question apparently will be answered over the next three years. The Astros reportedly have agreed with free-agent second baseman Kaz Matsui on a three-year contract worth $15 million.
Discussion:
SportsJustice, You can't script baseball, MLB Trade Rumors, The Transaction Guy, Mets Refugees and Hot Foot
Scott Merkin / MLB.com:
Rowand keeping options open — Chicago cult hero waiting for free-agent market to play out — LAS VEGAS — You can take Aaron Rowand out of Chicago but you can't take Chicago out of Aaron Rowand. — Sitting in a Las Vegas resort over lunch Wednesday, Rowand came dressed …
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Buster Olney / ESPN:
Source: Reliever Riske close to agreeing to multiyear deal with Brewers … David Riske, the veteran relief pitcher who compiled a 2.45 ERA in 65 games for the Kansas City Royals last season, is on the verge of agreeing to a multiyear deal with the Milwaukee Brewers, according to a club source.
Discussion:
River Ave. Blues, MLB Rumors, Fox Sports, MY BASEBALL BIAS, Brew Crew Ball, Al's Ramblings and Mets Refugees
Joe Frisaro / MLB.com:
Marlins announce spring schedule — Team will open against University of Miami on Feb. 26 — MIAMI — Marlins pitchers and catchers will undergo their physicals for Spring Training on Feb. 17, and workouts will begin the next day at the Roger Dean Stadium complex in Jupiter, Fla.
Discussion:
FishStripes
Denver Post:
Deals in place for key cogs in playoff run — Torrealba, Herges OK deals with Colorado — Catcher Yorvit Torrealba and reliever Matt Herges have reached contract agreements with the Rockies and returned to Denver on Wednesday for physicals, multiple sources told The Denver Post.
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Dick Kaegel / MLB.com:
Yabuta signs two-year deal with Royals — Japanese reliever should help solidify back end of bullpen — KANSAS CITY — Now the Royals will have at least two imports from the Japan League next season. — Relief pitcher Yasuhiko Yabuta passed a physical examination in Kansas City …
Discussion:
Hot Foot
USA Today:
It's time for Marvin Miller to get his Hall of Fame pass — Thirty-some years ago, the Philadelphia Phillies' player representative slipped me a document during spring training that listed the salary of every player on the team. — I was shocked at the numbers — Mike Schmidt was earning $560,000 …
Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
New voting format gives Herzog another shot at Hall — Whitey Herzog is getting another shot at the Baseball Hall of Fame. — Herzog, 76, who directed the Cardinals to three National League championships and one World Series title in a six-season span in the 1980s, came up well short …
Jeff Passan / Yahoo! Sports:
Hot stove philosophies align regardless of payroll — Not too long ago, Oakland A's general manager Billy Beane could count on his peers to make him look smart. An entire book was written about Beane's brilliance at attacking market inefficiencies while his brethren waltzed with tradition …
Maury Brown / The Biz of Baseball:
Could MLB Get a Pass on the Mitchell Report? — With the end of November upon us, the much anticipated Mitchell Report on performance enhancing drugs in Major League Baseball will be released shortly. Sources with the Mitchell investigation have confirmed that the report will be released …
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Tim Dierkes / MLB Trade Rumors:
Brewers Rumors: Rolen, Andruw, Mench — MLB.com's Adam McCalvy posted a Brewers article yesterday that's worthy of discussion. — One reliever Doug Melvin has considered that I hadn't heard before: Eddie Guardado. Hey, at least he'd come cheap. — Players like Rickie Weeks, J.J. Hardy, and Corey Hart won't be moved.
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Tom Haudricourt / Brewers Blog:Doesn't hurt to ask — As GM Doug Melvin checks around for ways …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
