Top News:
T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com:
Hamilton dealt from Reds to Rangers — Cincinnati gets Volquez, Minor League pitcher in return — The Rangers acquired outfielder Josh Hamilton from the Reds on Friday in exchange for right-hander Edinson Volquez and Minor League left-hander Danny Herrera.
Discussion:
Baseball America, Bucs Dugout, MLB Rumors, Shea Nation, River Ave. Blues and Redleg Nation
RELATED:
ESPN:
Rangers acquire Hamilton from Reds for Volquez — ARLINGTON, Texas — The Cincinnati Reds agreed Friday to trade outfielder Josh Hamilton to the Texas Rangers for pitcher Edinson Volquez and a minor league pitcher. — The trade was to be announced later Friday, according to a team official familiar …
Evan Grant / Dallas Morning News:
Texas Rangers power up in deal with Reds — Team sends Edinson Volquez to Cincinnati for promising outfielder Josh Hamilton — egrant@dallasnews.com — The Texas Rangers spent most of 2007 trying to build up the starting pitching depth in the organization. Friday, they put that depth to use.
T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com:
Notes: Rangers close on Guardado? — GM Daniels also looking to shore up the rotation, outfield — ARLINGTON — Reliever Eddie Guardado appears to be what the Rangers are getting for Christmas. — The Rangers are still trying to upgrade their bullpen and are expected to have something done …
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
Scott Merkin / MLB.com:
Sox reportedly cut deal with Ramirez — Versatile Cuban can play shortstop, second and center field — CHICAGO — Two baseball sources have confirmed to MLB.com that the White Sox have agreed in principle on a four-year, $4.75 million deal with Alexei Ramirez.
RELATED:
Enrique Rojas / ESPN:
Source: ChiSox sign Cuban exile to four-year deal … ORLANDO — The Chicago White Sox and Cuban exile Alexei Ramírez have agreed to a four-year contract, pending a physical exam, according to a source who spoke to ESPNdeportes.com on condition of anonymity.
Ian Browne / MLB.com:
Drew wins postseason play of the year — Outfielder's slam in Game 6 of ALCS voted TYIB's top play — BOSTON — Yes, there was some amount of dread when a bases-loaded, nobody-out rally suddenly became two outs and the batter left to rescue the Red Sox and salvage some runs was J.D. Drew.
RELATED:
ESPN:
Chat with Jerry Crasnick — Welcome to The Show! On Friday, ESPN baseball writer Jerry Crasnick will drop by to take your questions. — Jerry is the author of “License to Deal: A Season on the Run With a Maverick Baseball Agent” which chronicles the ins-and-outs of what happens off the field.
ESPN:
Yanks' Jeter, Chamberlain defend Clemens — Two of Roger Clemens' teammates on the New York Yankees defended the embattled pitcher on Thursday, the same day his lawyer unleashed another attack on media reports linking the seven-time Cy Young Award winner with the use of performance-enhancing drugs.
RELATED:
Sports Illustrated:
AL rotation rankings — Angels, Red Sox lead the pack; Rays will surprise — It's hard not to look at even the best American League starting rotations and see question marks where you'd prefer exclamation points. — When the top staff in the league can't even find five experienced arms …
Discussion:
Rays Anatomy
Slate:
AN INTERACTIVE FEATURE ON THE MITCHELL REPORT. — Sen. George Mitchell's 409-page report on performance-enhancing drugs in baseball describes a thriving underground market for steroids and human growth hormone. What began with just a few players and trainers expanded into a network of dozens …
Discussion:
Gaslamp Ball
Ben K. / River Ave. Blues:
Olney: Yanks plan to start Joba in the pen — Scroll past the PED talk in Buster Olney's latest blog entry, and you will arrive at a tidbit about Joba Chamberlain. The Yankees, Olney reports, plan to start the season with Joba in the pen. They just can't quit him. … Our initial reaction is one of fear.
Discussion:
On the Yankees beat, Replacement Level …, WasWatching.com, Depressed Fan, MY BASEBALL BIAS, FanHouse and The Bronx Block
YOU BEEN BLINDED:
ALEX RODRIGUEZ HISTORICAL PERFORMANCE — Back in the day.. Before Alex Rodriguez fired Scott Boras, before Alex Rodriguez opted out of his Yankees contract during the World Series, before Jose Canseco said he had steroid related dirt on A-Rod, before Alex was seen with the chick with the tig 'o bitties …
Tracy Ringolsby / Rocky Mountain News:
MitchellReport has upside — Once the court of public opinion takes a deep breath and realizes the Mitchell Report is a he-said, she-said document, there is some value that can be taken from it. — No, commissioner Bud Selig can't suddenly start handing out suspensions, given the lack of legal verification of Mitchell's accusations.
Discussion:
The House That Dewey Built
