Top News:
George King / New York Post:
LIE NEEDLE — TRAINER RIPS CLEMENS ACCUSER, SAYS ROCKET WAS CLEAN — According to Rohan Baichu, Brian McNamee has severe problems. Baichu believes those problems led McNamee to fabricate stories about injecting Roger Clemens with performance enhancing drugs.
RELATED:
Nick Cafardo / Boston Globe:
Pettitte does the right thing — Pitcher comes clean; what about Clemens? — Andy Pettitte did the honorable thing late yesterday when he admitted, in the wake of the Mitchell Report, that he took human growth hormone on two occasions while recuperating from an elbow injury in 2002.
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
NY Daily News:
Andy Pettitte can spare us the crocodile tears and contrived 'regret' — A little over a year ago, it was reported in the Los Angeles Times that a former Yankee pitcher named Jason Grimsley had accused some major-league players of using performance-enhancing drugs in a federal agent's affidavit.
Associated Press:
Pettitte admits to trying HGH on two occasions — NEW YORK — Andy Pettitte used human growth hormone to recover from an elbow injury in 2002, the New York Yankees pitcher admitted two days after he was cited in the Mitchell Report. — Pettitte said he tried HGH on two occasions …
Stan Grossfeld / Boston Globe:
Mitchell: 'There are very, very many others'
Mitchell: 'There are very, very many others'
Discussion:
Peter's Red Sox Forever, Boston Sports Media Watch, NY Daily News, Red Sox Chick and Boston Herald
Jim Reeves / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
Searching for a cure to these Hall of Fame ballot blues — Every December my Hall of Fame ballot arrives in a plain brown manila envelope. This year, that seems especially fitting. — So I'm sitting here, staring at the 25 names listed on the ballot, wondering what I'm going to do.
RELATED:
Woody Paige / Denver Post:
Help Woody cast his Hall votes — I'm sitting here, looking out the window and pondering the snow, the sun, the creek, the peak and the Baseball Hall of Fame ballot. — I've got the Global Colding thing figured out, but not the ballot. — I need your help.
Discussion:
Purple Row
ESPN.com:
Dodgers, pitcher Kuroda agree to three-year deal — LOS ANGELES — Fulfilling one of their major offseason goals, the Los Angeles Dodgers agreed to terms with Japanese free-agent right-hander Hiroki Kuroda on a three-year, $35.3 million contract. — Kuroda, who turns 33 in February …
Discussion:
Baseball Musings, The MLB Source, Beyond the Box Score, Lone Star Ball, Fox Sports and Los Angeles Times
RELATED:
Dylan Hernandez / Los Angeles Times:
It's only money, as Dodgers add Kuroda
It's only money, as Dodgers add Kuroda
Discussion:
U.S.S. Mariner
Carlos Frías / Palm Beach Post:
'Select A Seat' turns lonely for Marlins — 'Twas 10 days before Christmas And the Marlins were relying On a handful of fans But no one was buying. — The Marlins may have chosen the wrong weekend to open Dolphin Stadium for their annual "Select A Seat" day.
Kobrien / On the Yankees beat:
Cano playing winter ball — Robinson Cano is playing winter ball for Las Estrellas Orientales (the team in his hometown of San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic). He made his season debut Friday, going 2-for-4. He also played yesterday, going 0-for-3 with a walk.
Dejan Kovacevic / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Hot Stove: We will ... come up with a new slogan — Anyone taking jabs at the Pirates in 2008 will have to find a fresher approach than poking fun at the marketing slogan. — In other words: — We will ... find new material. — Yes, the "We will" slogan, born in early 2006 and stamped …
George King / New York Post:
YANKEES STAND FIRM IN SANTANA TRADE TALKS — Even though the Yankees and Twins have talked about Johan Santana since Hank Steinbrenner's self-imposed Dec. 3 deadline, one thing hasn't changed: The Yankees will not give up two young pitchers to get the best pitcher in baseball.
Christian Red / NY Daily News:
For Mets' Moises Alou, race track no place to horse around — SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic - The black Mercedes sedan with tinted windows weaves in and out of traffic along the main highway leading out of the Dominican capital, making its way toward the Hipodromo V Centenario race track.
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com
Dejan Kovacevic / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Pirates add minor-league reliever Beam — The Pirates continued to add organizational pitching depth, agreeing to a minor-league contract yesterday with right-handed reliever T.J. Beam. — Beam, 27, is 6 feet 7, 215 pounds and best known as a hard thrower, capable of reaching 97 mph with his fastball …
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Nationals add roster depth — Team signs reliever King, infielder Orr to Minors deals — WASHINGTON — The Nationals added more depth by signing left-hander Ray King and infielder Pete Orr to non-guaranteed Minor League contracts with an invitation to Spring Training.
Discussion:
The Nationals Report