Top News:
Jim Street / MLB.com:
Source: Silva, Mariners agree to deal — The Mariners and free agent right-hander Carlos Silva have reached agreement on a multiyear contract, according to an American League source, and the deal could be finalized as early as Thursday, pending the outcome of a physical.
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John Hickey / Seattle Post-Intelligencer:
Mariners add Silva to rotation — Signing former Twins right-hander Seattle's first big move of offseason — When Carlos Silva officially joins the Mariners — that should be Thursday afternoon — he won't have to worry about being anybody's second choice.
John Hickey / seattlepi.com Mariners blog:
Silva signing could be announced by Thursday — When you look at Carlos Silva, you see a young veteran who has one of the best sinkers in the game. — Because of that, he gets lots of ground ball outs. How good a fit would that be in Safeco Field, a place that better accommodates fly ball pitchers?
Discussion:
Caffeinated Confines
Curt Schilling / 38 Pitches:
One players take on the Mitchell Report, Canseco, Clemens, records, looking back or going forward.... Barry Bonds, Jose Canseco, Roger Clemens, Andy Petite, Todd Pratt, Gary Bennett, Paul Byrd, Dave Justice, Fernando Vina, Alex Cabrera, Brian Roberts, Lenny Dykstra, and many more.
Discussion:
ShysterBall, River Ave. Blues, SOX & Dawgs, FanHouse, Boston Globe, Bats and Boston Globe
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John Thorn / The Biz of Baseball:
Our Champions — John Thorn is a contributing writer for The Business of Sports Network — It is now one week since the release of the Mitchell Report, culminating a 20-month, $20 million investigation (into secondary sources, largely ... how on earth was so much spent?) …
Associated Press:
Schilling: If Clemens guilty, take back Cy Youngs — BOSTON — Boston Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling called on Roger Clemens to give up the four Cy Young Awards he's won since 1997 if he can't clear his name from allegations that he used steroids to prolong and enhance his career.
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Lefty Mahay, Royals reach two-year deal — LIKE THIS STORY? — The Kansas City Royals, fortifying their bullpen, have reached preliminary agreement with free-agent left-hander Ron Mahay on a two-year, $8 million contract, according to major-league sources.
Dejan Kovacevic / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Pirates fall short in bidding for free agent Durbin — The Pirates keep coming up second. — Their bid for free-agent starter Chad Durbin, formerly of the Detroit Tigers, was turned down in favor of one made by the Philadelphia Phillies, a source disclosed today. The Pirates and Phillies were the two finalists.
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Dejan Kovacevic / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:Pirates Notebook: Dotel, Chacon on relief radar
Discussion:
Pittsburgh Lumber Co.
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Notes: Lopez looks to bounce back — Off-the-field issues plagued infielder's production last season — WASHINGTON — Infielder Felipe Lopez understands why the Nationals have been looking for a leadoff hitter this offseason. In 2007, the team's leadoff hitters hit a combined .243 with a .308 on-base percentage.
Will Carroll / Unfiltered:
Not Sandy! — Reader JS wrote in: “Sandy Koufax did steroids. He was given them by the Dodgers doctors, it's in Jane Leavy's book. It wasn't legal. That was forty years ago. I don't have any idea what Mickey Mantle was on. People are flawed. Baseball is imperfect.”
Discussion:
One More Dying Quail
Associated Press:
Mitchell Report doesn't affect Major League Baseball's credit rating — NEW YORK (AP) — The Mitchell Report had no effect on Major League Baseball's credit rating. — Fitch Ratings said Wednesday that it was affirming the “A” rating it assigned to the Major League Baseball Trust …
Discussion:
The Griddle
Jayson Stark / ESPN:
Keeping up with AL heavyweights impractical for most … We can sum up the difference between the National League and the American League these days with one little winter meetings anecdote. — We were speaking with a high-ranking official of an NL contender.
Charlie Nobles / MLB.com:
A-Rod to open education center — Facility named for Yankees star to be in hometown of Miami — MIAMI — Alex Rodriguez has long had a field named after him at the Southwest Miami Boys & Girls Club, where he learned the game as a youth. By early next baseball season …
Thomas Harding / MLB.com:
Rox talk to Giles about second base — Club discusses bringing in former All-Star to compete for job — DENVER — The Rockies have approached former All-Star Marcus Giles about competing for their opening at second base. — The Rockies are prepared to see if one of their in-house candidates …
Discussion:
The Bard's Room
Sports Illustrated:
The fallout continues — Clemens among big losers; redemption for Duquette — Roger Clemens' denials are getting louder and somehow less convincing as he attempts to extricate himself from the steroid allegations made against him in the bombshell, worth-every-penny Mitchell Report …
Discussion:
FanHouse
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